tell somebody, and then they’d come and—’’ A knock on the door downstairs cut off what I was about to say. Katie’s eyes got big as plates. ‘‘Go on . . . you got to,’’ I said. ‘‘Tell him as little as you can. If he sees me, maybe he’ll think I’m your mama’s house slave. Go on, Miss Katie. He’s gonna start wondering pretty soon.’’ Another knock sounded on the door, a little louder this time. Slowly Katie got up and walked out of the room toward the stairs. I crept after her and stopped at the landing