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“Yeah, she’s right downstairs. But that’s not a long-term option, Arch. That’s where we put kids while we wait for social services to turn up. They’re the kids whose parents have been arrested. Or killed. Or who’ve ditched town and abandoned their kids. Mia’s not like th—”
“It’s just temporary,” I repeat. “And she’s gonna be having more fun down there with the caregivers and toys and food than she’d have at home while Jada sleeps off her night. When you get numbers for nannies, we can work through their background checks together. Make sure we’re upgrading and getting Moo the very best.”
“Sure thing,Daddy.” Snickering in the back of his throat, he sits back in his chair and takes his hands from his face. “I called a certain place this morning. Ridgewood Retreat?” He shrugs. “It’s a rehab place Minka mentioned. They have vacancy now, they’re not far away, and they’ll accept Medicaid to pay for most of it.”
“That works. She just needs a little time, Fletch. To get away, to get clean and not have the stresses of the outside world stomping her down. Then when she’s out, she can come back, you can bring Mia over, and you can tiptoe back to how it’s supposed to be.”
“Does it annoy you when Minka does shit like she did last night, but ends up being right?”
“Infuriates me.” Chuckling, I shake my head, knowing he can’t possibly have any clue about the things that cross my mind in this minute. Justin Dowel, and Preston James. The late Mayor Tribble, and Diane Philips.
Minka has justifications for everything she does, and in some aspects, her actions are right. But according to the very law I uphold, she’s criminally wrong.
“She pisses me off more often than not, Fletch.”
Looking at the clock on the wall of the pit, I count back how long I’ve sat out here, and when I realize my time is up, I exhale an exhausted sigh. “Do you wanna come in and take a swing at Garret with me? Or do you have something else you gotta do right now?”
“I’ll come.” He pushes up to stand so our movements are almost in sync. “Mia will be good for the next few hours, and by the time we come out, Jada will probably still be asleep, and I might have answers for what to do next.”
“Sounds good enough to me.”
Snagging my silent phone and dropping it into my pocket, I step around my desk and wait for Fletch to catch up so we can cross the bullpen. “It’s kinda cute, though, right? Having Mia around more. She’s the prettiest thing in the world, and she’s so fucking chill. I swear, I’ve never heard her whine.”
“Kids are supposed to whine,” he groans. “Normal, healthy children are supposed to be secure enough to be able to complain. So the fact she doesn’t…” He stops outside the interview room with his hand on the door. “Means she’s never been heard. Or allowed to speak up. It means she’s never felt safe enough.”
Closing his eyes, he shakes his head. “I let her stay there, Arch, because taking her away would’ve been too much hard work, and I was afraid to hurt Jada’s feelings.”
“Mia’s fine.” I clap his shoulder and wait for his eyes to flicker open. “She’s safe now, and we’re gonna do right by her. Jada is a grown woman who doesn’t much care aboutanyone’sfeelings but her own. So we’ll get her into rehab and give her a chance to straighten herself out.”
“And if she doesn’t?” he counters. “If she refuses to go, or can’t kick this addiction? What then?”
“Then I get to be the coolest, most hands-on uncle ever.”
I smile and let that future play out in my mind, because although his world is falling apart—and similarly, while Minka refuses to choose me, mine is too—the thought of having that sweet little girl around all the time makes me hopeful.
My best friend needs support, and for him to take on this task, he needs someone to tell him they believe in him. God knows his family won’t stand up and say it, so this is where I’ll be.
“It’s gonna work out,” I tell him. “Plus, we know Jada beneath the shit, and she’s actually pretty cool. She made some stupid choices. She threw her family away for an asshole cop who wanted to get laid. And now she’s choosing to escape the consequences of her actions by getting high every night. She’s weak right now. But once her head is clear again, I reckon she’ll choose right.”
“Do you really think so?” His voice isn’t as strong as it typically is. Not nearly as humored. “I don’t want my wife back, Arch. But I want Mia to have a mommy who treats her right.”
“I really think so. And until Jada straightens out, you can wear a skirt around the apartment and be the chick in Mia’s life.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Rolling his eyes, he opens the interview room door and moves in ahead of me. “Mr. Mulroney. How’s it going in here?”
