Brooklyn didn't know what tarred and feathered meant, but it sounded like a bad thing. She was sad about it because Joey had been her friend and even though he'd tricked her and she still didn't want bad things to happen to him.

She sniffled softly and put her head down on Richard's shoulder; after being scared for so long she was really, really tired all of the sudden.

Still on the phone, Alex hurried over to the car and opened the back door so Richard could load the little girl inside. "The police are gonna meet us at Children's," she informed him quietly, referring to a local pediatric emergency room. "I'm trying to call ahead so they--yes, I'm still here." Her tone shifted as she stepped away and circled the car, someone having clearly taken her off hold. "Uh-huh. Great. Okay. Thank you. We'll be there as soon as we can. You should sit with her," she added, her voice softening again as she hung up. "I'll drive."