Page 104 of Road Trip
“Abra? Do you have any ideas?”
All eyes turned on me.Fuck.I suddenly realized that this just might be a situation where my job and Kelly’s clashed. Perhaps even the first of many. As a counselor, I had to maintain my students’ trust and there were confidentiality issues involved. This was going to be tough.
“I might,” I said reluctantly. “Let me make some calls and I’ll see what I can find out.”
Kelly’s eyes on me felt cold. I didn’t like this. I mean, why not at least call me, or text me, and say “hey, coming to your work,” or something? He cleared his throat again.
“Could you do that, please, and ask if he’ll come down to the station? Or we can come to him?”
I frowned and sat back from the table a little bit. “Or, I could see if he’d come here, as long as I was able to sit in on the conversation. I have a close relationship with Sergio and I can tell you now, you’ll have better luck getting him to come here. He runs with some hardcore people.”
Kelly might not like it, but I was going to stand up for my student.
“Very well,” the giantess said, “but it’s not necessary for you to be present.”
Okay, ew.I didn’t like her tone at all. I would do my best to remain civil because she was Kelly’s partner, but…
“It may not be necessary, but I don’t think he’ll talk to you. I’m trying to help you here. He’s not the most trusting kid when it comes to cops.”
Kelly looked between the two of us nervously. The giantess started to speak, but he beat her to it.
“It would be fine for you to be present. We will be recording the interview, if he allows, and it would be important for you to remain silent.”
I nodded. “I can do that. If you want to give me a couple of minutes?”
“Yes, of course,” Geri said, trying to ease the tension. “You do that, Abra. Can I get you both some coffee or water?”
I heard the giantess ask for coffee and I knew Kelly’s answer would be a polite, “no, ma’am.” He was just like that.
I went to my office next door and made a couple of calls before I had luck.
“Hey, Ms. Mora! How’s your summer?”
“Fine, Julian. I’m back at work, though, so playtime is over. How did the job at the recycling plant go?”
Julian had been accepted into a paid internship at a local processing plant for the summer. It was owned and operated by a wonderful member of the community who liked to help kids like ours get some job experience and earn some confidence in their skills.
“It’s great, Ms. Mora. I’m saving up to buy my Chevy.”
I laughed. He’d been talking about buying his uncle’s Bel Air and fixing it up for the entire past school year. I’d even talked him into taking an Auto Body Repair course through our Regional Occupational Program this coming school year.
“Hey, Julian. I need a favor. I need to talk to Serg. You have any idea where I can find him?” It was quiet on the other end of the line. “Julian? Did I lose you?”
“Nah. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I know he trusts you. There’s been some bad shit at his home, you know? His stepdad is involved in some bad shit. He flipped the fuck out a couple days ago and beat up Sergio and his mom. Then he took all of their money and disappeared. After that, Sergio’s little sister told their mom that some bad stuff happened.”
My heart hurt hearing this familiar story. “I really need to talk to him, Julian. Do you know where he is?” I heard him yell at someone in the background.
“I can bring him to you, Ms. Mora. Are you at school?”
I told him I was, and he said they’d be there within the half hour. I thanked him profusely, and he hung up. I went back into the conference room and found Kara chatting with Geri, and Kelly standing in the corner talking on the phone.
“I got a hold of another student and he’s bringing him here. They should be here soon.”
Kelly turned around and put his hand over the bottom of the phone.
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Is there someplace I can make another call?”
I nodded and gestured for him to follow me. He hung up with whoever he was on the line with and excused himself. Once out in the hallway, he totally invaded my personal space. We went into my office, and he pulled the door partially closed.
