Page 15 of Uproot

Daniel lets out a breath, putting back on his reading glasses, and flipping to the next page. I had my P.I. Antonio email me over all of the documentation he found on Maria's death from a police department in New Jersey.

"I'm just trying to figure out why Charlie wasn't notified sooner?" He finally asks, looking up at me.

"Maria didn't have any more living family members for them to contact since her father died, and apparently she also didn't even have a cell phone, or wallet when they found her in some foreclosed house. They only identified her because they found some records from her fingerprints with some old warrants, and an arrest she had on file back in New York," I explain.

Daniel nods, looking down at his desk, seeming lost for a moment, "This is truly horrible news. But sadly, it's not shocking considering her history," he finally responds. "I'll have to let Charlie know. I already have a meeting scheduled with him this afternoon. He's going to be transferred to the state prison in Charlestown tomorrow until his trial."

He puts the paperwork back into the folder on his desk before addressing me again, "This is going to change things quite considerably as far as Edison is concerned, Mr. Kade."

"Yeah, no shit," I snap, getting up and leaving the table. "We will talk about that part tomorrow. I need to be at school in 10 minutes."

Daniel stands up, giving me a sympathetic look, "I'll be in touch. I wasn't sure.. do you want to come and see your brother before he's transferred tomo-"

"Does he want to see Edison?" I interrupt. "Because otherwise I have no desire to lay eyes on him again. Especially not right now that he has fucked up and truly left his son without a parent."

Daniel hesitates, looking uncomfortable. "Charlie has requested not to have any visitation with Edison while he is in jail. Not before he is transferred, or afterwards when he is in the state prison."

I twist my jaw, disgusted that Edison was born to such self-centered people who seem to have never cared about him. "Well then I have no reason to see him either," I respond, moving to open the door.

"Tell him I said good luck, and don't drop the fucking soap."

???

I get to Upwood Elementary right as the last bell rings. I walk past the cars lined up for carpool pick up and get a few curious glances from moms standing outside before I get buzzed in through the front doors.

I quickly sign in and head to Edison's classroom. The halls are abuzz with student's making their way to the bus lines, or out front to meet their parents. I make it to Edison's classroom and see him playing at the sand table with two other boys. The class is mostly empty now, with just a few other kids gathering their things.

I go inside and search for Selah, seeing her cleaning up a long table by the sinks. She looks up as I approach her, and the shysmile I love grows on her face as she sets down the paper towels in her hand.

My eyes move over her as I close the space between us, my fingers eager to touch her again like I did this morning, but I know this isn't the time. "H-hi Beckett. How has your day been?" she asks as I come to stand in front of her.

"It was..eventful. Do you think we can talk for a minute in private once the other kids have cleared out?" I ask, glancing around the room.

She furrows her eyebrows hearing my serious tone. "Of course. All of these children are in the after-school program except for Edi. I'm going to be taking them down to the gym in just a minute," she explains.

"Ok then," I nod, handing her the box in my hand. "I picked this up for you earlier from Coco's. Not sure what kind of desserts you like."

She takes the box from me and smiles as she opens it, revealing the pink and white cupcake I bought that matches her outfit. "It looks delicious, Beckett.," she says, her dark eyes shining up at me.

I was thinking the same thing.

And it wasn’t about the cupcake.

"You're welcome," I mumble, staring down at her and pushing aside my illicit thoughts.

We stand there transfixed with one another until Edison comes running over, pulling me out of my daze. "Uncle Beckett! I drewa picture for you today. Want to see it?" he asks, looking up at me expectantly.

"Of course I do, buddy," I say, walking with him as he tugs my hand, taking me over to the back of the classroom. I glance back at Selah to see her going to her desk.

Edison shows me his picture and a few others he has collected in a box he calls a "cubby" that holds all of his things.

Selah comes over to us just as he's showing me a picture he made of Leonardo, "I'm going to just walk the kids down to the gym and I'll be right back," she says.

“No problem,” I respond, watching her gather the other children and head out of the door.

Edison and I get his things together, and then play with some Lego's until she returns. A few minutes later she comes back inside and walks over to where we are sitting.

"Edi, how about you do the reading program on the computer for a bit while I talk to your Uncle Beckett, ok?" she says, coming over and taking his hand.

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