Page 98 of Dare to Dance
Tears slid down Alex’s cheeks. “Trent promised me if I did this one last task, he would give me the answers I’d been searching for on the death of my sister. I’m sorry. I’m not asking you to forgive me. What I did was awful and low and so out of my league. I’d always prided myself on helping people. That’s why I helped Ruby and Norma. I couldn’t bear to see them living on the streets like my sister. It was just a matter of time before they ended up like her.” She glanced at Ruby. “I tried to keep you both shielded from Trent. If only you’d stuck to waitressing and not fighting.”
Red spots colored Ruby’s neck. “Are you saying it’s my fault?”
Alex shook her head. “God, no. Look, I’m not a bad person. When I heard your message, something in me snapped. I realized that the mission to find who killed my sister wasn’t worth hurting others in the process.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes at Alex. “I appreciate you giving Norma and me a place to stay. From the first time I met you, I knew you were a kind person. I get your need for closure with your sister, but you put a little girl’s life in jeopardy. You frightened my little girl. She might have nightmares over all this.”
I draped an arm over Ruby. Granted, Raven wasn’t physically harmed, but Ruby had a point. Raven’s emotional stability could have been compromised. Regardless of her motives, Alex needed to pay for what she’d done.
I turned to Detective Rayburn. Lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. “Can you shed some light on what evidence you had to arrest Trent?”
Ruby planted a hand on my stomach.
“We were about to serve a warrant to Trent when I got a call from Pete, the bartender at Firefly.”
Ruby and I exchanged what-the-hell looks.
“Apparently, after you left Firefly, Trent showed up. Tommy confronted Trent about the kidnapping. Then they got into a heated argument. Trent said no homeless woman was going to screw him out of money, and that she would get her kid when he got his money. So Pete called his cop buddy, Roy, and filled him in. Now I have Pete and Alex to testify in court against Trent.”
I barked out a laugh. “You are talking about that bruiser, Pete?”
“Yeah, dude. The same guy that beat your ass that night at Firefly.” Rayburn smirked. “Roy told me what happened.”
“Oh my God. I punched Pete in the throat.” Ruby’s voice was strangled. “I need to apologize.”
We both did. Then I needed to thank him.
Rayburn walked over to Alex and gripped her arm. “Let’s go.”
She rose, trepidation written all over her ghostly face. “Again, I am truly sorry.”
I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her actions. Ruby clung to me, not saying a word.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Rayburn said. “I got a call before you came out from the locker room. A Ms. Waters is on her way here to pick up Raven. Before you go ballistic, Raven is legally a ward of the state until you get your court case worked out.”
No sooner had he said her name than Ms. Waters clicked her heels against the floor, the sound grating on me. Ruby’s heartbeat ramped up, pounding against my side. Or maybe it was my own. I didn’t want Raven to be taken away again.
“We’ll be in touch,” Rayburn said as he ushered Alex out of the building.
It was time for the next battle. Ruby and I met Ms. Waters near the daycare room. Her face was clear of makeup. Her smile was as tight as the bun twisted on top of her head.
“Ms. Waters, can’t we keep Raven for the night?” Ruby asked in a wobbly voice.
She shoved her hands into her coat pockets. “I’m afraid not.”
My throat constricted. “Ma’am, how are we supposed to trust that Raven won’t get kidnapped again? It’s clear Mrs. Santos was distracted at the Boston Public Garden.”
“Mrs. Santos won’t be taking Raven to the Boston Public Garden anymore, and with the kidnapper in jail, Raven will be fine,” Ms. Waters said.
“Ms. Waters,” Ruby said. “I would never intentionally put my daughter in harm’s way. I hope you know that. I was trying to survive, and in the process, I screwed up. I’ll take whatever punishment you deem necessary.” Tears cascaded down Ruby’s cheeks.
Ms. Waters pressed her lips together as pity flashed in her eyes. “I’ve witnessed just how much you love Raven. If the tables were turned, I might’ve made the same choices you did. But it’s not up to me to decide how this case plays out. That’s for a judge to decide. For now, my recommendation to both of you is to find a suitable home for Raven. Do anything you can do to show the court you’re ready to be parents. I’m here to help.”
Then our next move was to go house hunting.
31
Ruby
