Page 34 of Give Me Strength

“Leland Roberson,” I tell her.

Her eyes widen slightly, and she leans back in her chair, her expression serious. “Yes. I heard about the arrest. A troubling situation, indeed.”

“It’s more than troubling,” I say, my frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Stalkers don’t just stop, they escalate. He already did, so why is he back?”

She sighs, adjusting her glasses. “Even criminals are entitled to an education.”

“I see.” I nod. “So, it was you who uttered that nonsense to Ashlynn.”

Her spine stiffens. “I did no such thing.”

I lift a brow. “‘Let bygones be bygones?’ That’s your solution?”

“He served his time.”

“This isn’t the only high school in the district. You could just as easily have had him rerouted to any of the other schools, or even the one closest to his home. I know for a fact that Bluegrass is the furthest from where he lives, so why is he here?”

“He likes it here.”

“Of course he does. He has easy access to his victim here.”

“And he knows to stay away from her.”

“Is that why he’s currently sitting in a jail cell for doing the exact opposite of that? And don’t even give me the ‘he was being a good friend’ speech.”

She sighs again, adjusting her glasses. “What exactly are you proposing?”

“You can start by putting some protective measures in place,” I say, my tone firm. “Security systems, maybe even a bodyguard for Ashlynn for when she’s on school grounds.”

I am serious about the first two. The last one was to gage her reaction.

Her brows knit together in a frown. “Gilbert, this is a public high school, not a fortress. Our budget is already stretched thin. We can’t afford those kinds of expenses.”

“That sounds like a you problem.” I lean forward, our gazes lock. “Which, frankly, could have been avoided if you hadn’t re-admitted him. In doing so, you put her safety in jeopardy. Don’t you care about that?”

Her gaze softens slightly, but she remains resolute. “Of course, I care. But I also have to be realistic. I have a school to run, and our finances are limited. However, it would help if she chipped in a little.”

Her meaning isn’t lost on me.

“That will not be happening. Are you suggesting that this is somehow her fault?”

“Of course not.”

“It sounded like you were blaming the victim.”

“No, the things you are asking for cost money. I was implying she could pay for her own security, or go somewhere else. There’s no reason for her to be slumming it at a public high school, when private school would be more suited for her needs.”

I can’t believe my ears.

It’s so much clearer now, all the things Ashlynn hasn’t saying.

“You know, it’s not just Leland I take issue with.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Her father’s housekeeper was assaulted a few years back because students from this school tried to force their way into her house when she wasn’t home. That wasn’t an isolated incident.”

“And those students were dealt with accordingly. Look, it’s not realistic to expect me to know what goes on off campus.”

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