moon_custafer | more about Nine

Not sure where this is going:

One day Nine’s mother took her into town to go to the store, with some trepidation, as she knew the child never came when her name was called. Nine skipped along beside her happily enough, though she wouldn’t hold her hand. The store was owned by two brothers, Jake and Bill. Nine hid behind her mother when Jake said, “What’s your name, sweetheart?” and held out a handful of raisins; but she walked straight up to Bill and threw her arms around him, although he was a sombre man who spoke to few people besides his brother. Bill grunted in surprise, and steered the girl back to her mother with a curt nod.
“Why don’t you go play out front, Nine, while I do the shopping.”

After a while Nine came back in, and pulled at her mother's sleeve.
“Mommy,” she asked, “why is that lady outside crying?” Everyone stepped to the front window.
“There’s nobody there, honey.”
“But I see her. She’s wearing a green dress and a brown hat, and she’s staring through the glass at Mr. Bill,” Nine insisted, adding “She really ought to clean that dress. It’s got blood on it.”
Bill’s glance met Jake’s. Nine’s mother thought she saw suspicion dawning between the two, but could not tell in which direction it travelled.