Page 105 of Rescued Heart

Eddie leaned into the turn into the police station’s parking lot. He’d thought he’d long buried the stuff with Mary, but he’d only masked his dealings with their past.

Had buried his bitterness instead of surrendering it all.

Inside the police station, they were brought to Will, who sat hunched in a chair in a back office.

Officer Ramble explained the situation and rose from a desk in the corner. “I’ll give you guys a minute.” He closed the door behind him.

Will shrugged. “Don’t know why everyone’s making this into a big deal. The gang said no one has lived there for months.”

Eddie flinched. “Like a real gang, or the group of boys Bianca saw you with on the bikes? The ones that call you Jimmy. Did you pick a lock to get inside that house?”

Will crossed his arms and faced the clock on the wall. “It wasn’t a big deal. I learned it from my dad.”

“Not a big deal? Your dad’s in jail because of his bad habits.” Eddie threw his arms up. “You damaged someone’s property.”

Naomi leaned against Eddie’s side. “How about you find us both a coffee?” She winked at Eddie. “While I do some open-heart surgery in here.”

Will stole a peek at Naomi before bringing his knees to his chest, making him look even younger.

Eddie understood how cold that metal chair beneath Will felt. Like sorrow and fear. All the while trying to mask it all and pretend the world around him wasn’t crumbling. That was when Grand-ma’am had shown up and introduced a volunteer firefighter to hang out with Eddie. It had changed his life.

With a clenched jaw, Eddie left and met Conroy, who’d been leaning against the wall in the hall. “Hey, sir.”

Conroy motioned his chin toward a door down the hallway. “Let’s catch up in my office.”

“Sure, Chief.”

Once Conroy closed his door, Eddie took a seat in one of the open chairs in front of the chief’s desk. “I’ve got to get that youth center built, or this is going to keep happening.”

Conroy frowned. “A new fancy gym isn’t going to fix any child long-term. But?—”

“It’s got to be the starting point.” Eddie raked his fingers through his hair. “How else are we going to keep these kids safe? I promised Will’s father I’d keep his son out of trouble.”

“Rice, this isn’t your fault.” Conroy leaned his elbows on an open folder on his desk. “Will made the decision to hang out with those kids. With his mother picked up for drugs this morning, and his father in jail…”

Eddie stood. “Will’s being put into the foster system?”

Conroy gave him a fatherly look. “There’re good homes in the system. You know that.”

He did. But what if Will didn’t get a good foster parent? “I’ll take him.” The words flew out of his mouth before he could even process what that would mean. “I don’t like my studio apartment anyway. I’ll get a bigger one.”

Conroy made his chair rock back and forth. “I’m assuming you aren’t currently certified as a foster parent, but a temporary guardianship might work if both parents sign off on it. Though, not sure how your job would work with your shift times.”

Naomi’s words came back to him.God has brought us both together at this very moment for this specific purpose and this child.

“Will’s already friends with Naomi’s grandkids. They’re on the same team. We’ll get this figured out. I don’t want Will to feel alone.”

Conroy stood along with Eddie. “This sounds like a promising plan, but remember that Will still has to decide to live as he should. God is the only One who can truly save him. Not a youth center. Not even you.”

Eddie nodded. “I can’t change his heart, but I can hopefully be a good example to follow.” Which meant examining his own heart.

Had Naomi been right? Did his own heart need mending?

Eddie’s gaze landed on the picture on Conroy’s desk. He tilted his head. “May I?”

Conroy handed him the photo. “Recognize anyone?”

The picture was of Roger Pointe with two other men. The shorter one had his back turned. The taller one with suspenders and a dimpled jaw popped into Eddie’s memory. “That’s the guy from the masquerade fundraiser.”

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