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“He doesn’t want me to say his name. It took me a while to get it out of him. He’s terrified that he’s going to be sent back. But he also doesn’t want any attention from law enforcement. He says the law is the enemy. I guess that’s what his parents say.”
Of course the Chilkoots would believe that.
“Where is he now?”
“Hopefully he’s still at Daniel’s place. I told him I was only going to tell one person, someone who might be able to help, and that I’d come back with some food. He’s been eating Daniel’s canned goods, but he’s getting tired of Beef-a-Roni.”
He thought she looked a little wistful at the mention of food. “Are you hungry, after all that running?”
She smiled wryly. “Is it that obvious? Sorry. It’s been a crazy day, I might have forgotten to eat in the middle of all that.”
He went to the fridge and pulled out bread, cheese and a package of sliced ham. Heating up a pan with some butter, he added, “Let’s get some calories into you. No hungry late-night visitors on my watch.”
“It’s ten. That’s hardly late-night. In New York the clubs wouldn’t even be open yet. Oh my god, that smells good,” she added as the bread sizzled in the butter. “Is that really just bread and butter?”
“They don’t have bread and butter in New York?”
“They have everything in New York. Along with a thousand articles telling you not to eat it. Anyway, back to my problem. I’m hoping he trusts me enough to wait until I get back. I need to come up with a plan for him as soon as possible.”
Sam added cheese to the grilled sandwich and put a lid over the pan so it would melt properly. This situation complicated things. If he really wanted to earn the Chilkoots’ trust, he’d bring the boy back to them. It would be a no-brainer.
Except the very idea made him queasy.
He looked up from the pan to see Molly’s sharp gaze on him. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing, just…I need to know more about the situation.”
She bolted to her feet. “You’re thinking of taking him back to his family.”
“No.”
“Be honest.”
But he couldn’t be. Not completely.
Molly strode past him, heading for the side door. No doubt hoping for a walk, Buttercup lurched to his feet.
“Buttercup. Living room,” Sam commanded. “Molly, wait. Just hear me out.”
“No. You hear me out. That boy is not going back to his family unless a judge says he has to.” Fire shone in her eyes, in her body language, in her voice. “If a kid is miserable enough to run away, and terrified enough not to say why, he shouldn’t have to go back there. And I will make sure a judge understands that.”
She was magnificent, in her gray joggers and sweat-matted hair. Something twisted in his heart, something beyond admiration. He dismissed it. Probably just a glitch.
“You’re in charge.” He inclined his head. “Nothing happens without your say-so.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” He gestured toward the table. “Come on, sit down and have some food.”
After a long moment, she stepped back to the table and sat down. Phew. He didn’t want her to leave. Now that she was here, he was realizing how much he’d missed being around her.
He slid the sizzling sandwich on a plate and set it in front of her. “You seem familiar with situations like this.”
“I’ve done pro bono work with kids for years. It’s my specialty. All the family courts in the New York metropolitan area know me. It’s why I became a lawyer. Well, that and the money.”
He waited, because he knew there was more to the story. This was personal to her.
She picked up the sandwich he’d made for her. Sam noticed that her hands were trembling. Definitely a sore spot for her, but maybe she didn’t want to tell him yet.
