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Gene pulled her further away to make sure the kids couldn’t overhear them.
“That’s strange. What did she mean by that?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t get her to tell me who they were and who would they hurt. The police? Their parents?”
“It’s gotta be something to do with the parents.”
Gene’s jaw tightened as he swallowed the bitter bile in his throat. He knew the most common reason children ran away was abuse.
“Maybe, but I have this feeling we’re missing something.” Amanda looked at the closed curtain. “Mona was escaping from someone when I almost hit her. If it was her father, wouldn’t she be relieved if the police or social workers get involved?”
“Not always. I’ve seen cases where the parents convinced the authorities the kids were delusional and acting like spoiled children. Affluent parents especially could get away with it more. They tend to be respected members of the community. It’s hard to believe someone with a good public image may be rotten inside.”
Uncertainty still colored Amanda’s face.
“Did they find any signs of physical abuse on Beau? Because there’s nothing on Mona.”
“Parental abuse isn’t always physical. Besides, the doctor didn’t order X-rays. There’s no reason for them. Who knows what might’ve happened before? Injuries heal. And if we couldn’t give them a thorough examination, we would never know the whole story unless they told us.”
“Mona won’t talk.”
Gene put an arm around Amanda’s back and rubbed her arm.
“Not yet. Maybe she’ll open up to the social worker. They should come soon.”
“If she doesn’t want us to call the police, why do you think she would respond well to a social worker?”
“It’s out of our hands, Amanda,” Gene said. “Whether we like it or not, we’ll have to trust the social worker and Patrick to do what’s best for them.”
“I’m not leaving until I know for sure they’ll be okay,” Amanda stubbornly said.
Gene smiled. “I didn’t think you would.”
Smiling back at him, Amanda was appreciative that he understood her.
“Talking about Patrick, have you heard from him?” Gene asked. “I was focused on Beau, but I did text him we found the kids.” He fished out his phone from his pocket and checked for messages. “Nothing from him. I got a bunch from my mom.”
“I also got messages from Liam, Jo, and your mom. But not Patrick. I called him, but it went straight to voicemail.”
“Strange.” Gene wondered what was going on. “He said he’d check out the parents this morning. That’s why he wasn’t at the park searching with us.”
“Right. That shouldn’t take all day, should it?” Amanda glanced at the hospital clock. “It’s almost one.”
“I think you’re right. There’s something going on we don’t know about.”
twenty-three
“Miss Walker, what will you do with them?” Amanda asked the social worker who finally arrived.
“Since you are neither a parent nor a guardian, I can’t talk to you about a case,” the middle-aged woman said. One of her shoulders sagged with the weight of her briefcase.
“They’re not a case. They are terrified children,” Amanda stated. “I may not have any relation with them, but I was the one who has been actively looking for them. Not the police, not the Children’s Services, and obviously not their parents.”
“I understand you may feel responsible for them, Miss Garner.” Miss Walker softened her voice. “But I haven’t spoken to the children yet. Once I get the general picture, I’ll figure out the best way to handle the situation.”
“They don’t want to talk to you or the police. They’re afraid of something.”
“Unfortunately, they don’t have a choice. We’re their best option at the moment until we know for sure why they ran away from home.”
