Page 65 of Passion’s Song

“I didn’t want my mom here,” the girl finally murmured, her eyes still focused on the table.

“And who is this?” April asked, gesturing to the other girl who’d also decided that being mute was the way to go.

“Erica,” Linsey said.

Finally, Linsey looked up at her. Her bottom lip trembled.

“You know what will happen to you if the owner of that store decides to press charges, don’t you?” April asked.

She nodded, and then burst out crying.

As Linsey’s shoulders shook with her sobs, April wanted to feel sorry for her, but that wall of disappointment and anger still blocked all other emotions. Between the vandalism, Damien’s betrayal and now Linsey’s arrest, it was just too much for one day. It felt as if everything she’d worked for over these past two years meant nothing. Had she made one bit of difference?

When she’d first started at A Fresh Start, April knew it would be impossible to prevent every kid from going down the wrong path. But she thought she was on the right track with Linsey. She’d seen something in the young teen, and had worked so hard to cultivate it, hoping the music would be her saving grace in the same way it had saved April.

Yet, look where they were. Linsey sure as hell couldn’t practice the cello in jail.

“We’re going to have to call your mother,” April said.

“I know,” Linsey replied in a small voice. She hiccupped and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

Such a childlike gesture.

She was a child. But she would learn a very adult lesson today. Linsey would have to learn that actions had consequences.

April released a tired breath. She was suddenly exhausted.

“I’ll go get Officer Pickney. He’ll need to call both of your parents.”

She turned for the door, but was stopped by Linsey’s soft-spoken voice.

“Ms. April?” the girl called.

April turned around.

“I’m sorry.”

Emotion welled up in her throat, making it hard to swallow. April knew speaking was out of the question. Instead, she nodded and left the room.

She found Officer Pickney at the coffee station, adding an enormous amount of sugar to a small foam cup. He spotted her and gestured his cup toward the room.

“The store owner decided not to press charges,” the officer said.

The tension that had built up in April’s shoulders released in a wave of relief. “Thank goodness,” she said. “I don’t know the other girl, but Linsey is a good kid.”

The officer shrugged. “I could tell. She didn’t mouth off like some of them do. Probably just got caught up in the moment. You know how kids are.”

“You’re being very understanding. I appreciate that.”

“The store owner wants to speak to you. He needed to get back to work, but said he’d like to talk about maybe partnering with the youth center. Said maybe if he gives the kids jobs, they wouldn’t turn to stealing.” Officer Pickney smiled. “I’ve known Mr. Johnson for a long time. Before, he would have had those girls face a judge. I’d say what you all are doing over at A Fresh Start is having an impact on attitudes throughout the entire community.” He winked. “Good job.”

The knot returned to April’s throat. She managed to give him a small smile, but as she left the police precinct she still couldn’t shake the awful feeling that hit her the moment she saw Linsey sitting at that scarred wooden table.

She got into her car and gripped the wheel, but she didn’t start it. Instead, she looked out at the police cars lining the street outside the building, imagining other kids from A Fresh Start in the backseat. Did she have what it took to prevent that? Or was she wasting her time?

Just as April reached to start the ignition, her phone rang. It was her agent, Carlos.

There was an uptick in her heartbeat as she stared at the phone. Carlos usually texted her. He only called when he wanted to hear her reaction.