“Maybe I should call the police or check hospitals,” Hazel said.
Clara shook her head. “Not the police. They’ll call DFCS and they might take Iris away. That would kill Minnie.”
Hazel sighed warily. “True. Minnie’s been so devoted to little Iris, I can’t imagine what would drive her back to alcohol. And if Iris is with her, she must be safe.”
Clara nibbled on her lower lip as if she wanted to say something then glanced away from Hazel in a defensive mechanism.
Hazel had learned to read the girl over the last few months. “What is it, Clara? If you know something, please tell me.”
Clara rubbed circles over her swollen belly.
“Clara?” Hazel said with a stern eyebrow raise.
“I think she might have met a guy,” Clara blurted. “I don’t know where but maybe in that AA group.”
Not a good idea. Hazel squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, and when she opened them, attempted to mask a reaction as she strove for calm. Working with these teens required patience and understanding. Most of them had already experienced disapproval from others and were fragile and vulnerable, many starved for love. “Do you know his name or anything about this guy? Or was it a man?”
Clara shook her head. “No. Minnie said she didn’t want to talk about it, then clammed up.”
Hazel’s worry mounted. If Minnie had met up with another alcoholic or addict, their relationship might have triggered her to fall off the wagon.
The chair creaked as Hazel sank into it, facing Clara. If she called the police, they might also call Minnie’s parents and Hazel was well aware Minnie didn’t want that to happen. Unless she had gone to see them… “But we need to do something. What if something’s happened to her? What if she had an accident and she’s hurt?”
Clara patted Hazel’s hand. “Let’s give her a little more time, okay? Maybe she’ll call or show up.” She gestured to Iris. “If she’s not back by night, I’ll go to the AA meeting and see if anyone’s seen her.”
“Good idea,” Hazel said.Have faith in Minnie, Hazel.
Clara’s phone buzzed and she checked the number.
“Is that her?” Hazel asked, her heart racing with worry.
Clara shook her head no. “Sorry, no. It’s a friend I met in the online accounting class I’m taking. Be right back.”
Hazel stared into her coffee, grateful Clara had made a friend. When she’d first joined Sanctuary, she was withdrawnand depressed. She’d matured both socially and emotionally since she’d moved in.
So had Minnie. She’d also won Hazel’s heart with her determination to be a good mother.
Still, Hazel had a sick feeling that Minnie was in trouble and needed her.
Suddenly Clara burst back into the room, her phone in hand, face so pale she looked as if she might faint. “Oh my God, Hazel.”
Fearing the young girl was going into labor, Hazel helped Clara sit down. “What is it, hon?”
“Look at this.” Clara flipped her phone around for Hazel to see. She swallowed hard as she realized it was a press conference from earlier. The reporter was at the police station with Detective Ellie Reeves.
Then Minnie’s photo appeared. Hazel staggered back in horror. Dear Lord, no.
Minnie was dead.
TWENTY-ONE
Lookout Mountain
Beth Ann was reeling as she drove to her parents’ house. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin, and she snatched a tissue from the box on the driver’s seat. For the dozenth time since she’d learned Minnie was dead, she cursed herself for not going to the police about her sister. If she had and they’d found her, she might still be alive.
Her stomach churned but not from the winding road. Her little sister was dead. And she had a child.
A missing little girl named Iris. Her own niece. One Beth Ann hadn’t even known existed.
