Jackson held out a hand to stop the tirade before his brother started crying or got really fired up. His kid brother looked ready to go into a full-blown meltdown. Jackson didn’t want it on display for anyone to see, especially not the judge or anyone who might report back to him.
“I know, Dylan. We can talk about this later, when we’re not out in public. For now, let’s move outside.”
“Sorry,” Dylan muttered, ducking his head.
“You did nothing wrong. I just think this might be a longer conversation. I want to talk about it though. It’s important.” Jackson’s eyes stung. He blinked. He hadn’t lied. Dylan was all the family he had left.
“Come on, Dylan.” Cynthia prompted Dylan to move toward the door. “Let’s head home. It’s been a long day.”
She gave Jackson a sympathetic smile as she and Dylan moved past him.
“I’ll call you, Dylan. I need to head back to the station. I left in the middle of my shift.”
Dylan nodded, but Jackson could tell his brother wasn’t happy. Not that he blamed him. He wished he’d taken the rest of the day off, but he’d promised the chief he’d be back as soon as the hearing ended.
Discouraged, he made his way out to his truck. He caught his reflection in the window and grimaced. His short dark-blond hair had blood in it. Blue eyes peered out of a grimy face. No wonder Gavin had looked so shocked to see him.
It had never occurred to him that he’d be returning feeling like there was a hole in his heart.
Maria Turner, known as Mia to her friends, drove past the Renegade School District sign, hands clenched on the wheel and a mission in her heart. When she rounded the corner that passed the high school, she slowed. A lone figure trudged toward the street in threadbare jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers so old that the back half of the soles flopped every time she lifted her feet.
She knew this girl. Emma Stacy. Mia had never had her in class, but she’d seen her in the halls. Emma’s smile had always lit up the room. Now, however, tears tracked down her pale cheeks.
Making a split-second decision, Mia pulled the car to the edge of the drive and hopped out. “Emma? Emma!”
The sophomore spun toward her, rubbing the tears off her cheeks. “Miss Turner. Hi.”
Awkwardly, Emma ducked her head and shoved her hands in her pocket.
“Is there something wrong, Emma? Something I can help you with?”
“No, ma’am. I’m fine.”
Mia stepped closer and kept her voice low and calm. “I can see that you aren’t. You were crying. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
The girl’s eyes flooded again. “Nobody’d come. My stepmom doesn’t have time for me, and Xavier just dumped me. Like I was nothing. And he said he loved me.” Emma sniffed and touched her stomach.
Mia’s breath caught in her throat. Oh no. She knew what had happened. Better than most, she knew the situation. The shame. And the despair. “Emma. Are you pregnant?”
Emma’s eyes flared wide, and her mouth fell open in a surprised O. But she didn’t deny it. “Yeah. Xavier told me to get an abortion. But I don’t want to, so he left me here. It’s two miles to my house. And I don’t know what my stepmom will say.”
It was like living her past mistakes all over again.
“Look, let me drive you home.” Mia had never let a student into her car. She couldn’t abandon her on the side of the road though. Docile as a pet dog, Emma trotted after her, back to her car. She got in and buckled when Mia told her to. “Would you be willing to talk to Mrs. King?”
“The school nurse?”
“That’s right. She’s an old friend of mine.”
Emma shrugged one shoulder. “I guess.”
Mia tried to ask a few more questions, but Emma seemed to have shut down. Mia sighed and gave up. “Where do you live?”
Emma stared out the window and mumbled the address in a hopeless voice. Mia knew the street. She drove without attempting to engage again so she wouldn’t alienate the teenager to the point where she’d refuse to confide in Mia in the future.
When they arrived at the house, there were no cars in the driveway.
“Oh, good. She’s not home.”
