Ms. Abigail Finch, age 60 years,

foster mother, beloved in her community.

Suddenly, of a heart attack.

Maggie watched as her neighbourhood of narrow streets and painted brick row houses disappeared into the side-view mirror. As a veteran of foster-family hopscotch, the ginger-haired girl had lived her first twelve years in big houses with multiple bathrooms, and small houses with multiple rodents. She had known a kind hand and a cruel fist. Aware that on any given day of the week she could be picked up and delivered to any address entered into the appropriate case file, Maggie left her few belongings in cardboard boxes, and used her suitcase as a travelling dresser. Now, with all she owned heaved into the back of a camper van, twelve-year-old Maggie MacCormack, ward of the city, case number 7861, was again consigned to the charge of persons unknown.

But as far as Maggie’s life was concerned, the death of Ms. Finch had already changed everything.