Page 28 of Breathless
“I did. He ran into me, but it wasn’t a confrontation like yesterday,” she explained. “He still got a little worked up before he ran off because he felt threatened that he was going to lose Josie if he leaves The Village. He was blaming me for being sent away.”
“And then when he couldn’t find Josie he went to the girls’ dorm, I take it?” Rawlins said.
“Yeah, that is what I understand,” Chaney confirmed. “And he really started blaming me and saying he was going to kill me.”
“Shit,” Rawlins said. “I’m glad Tom was able to get him to come in to talk to him peacefully. And we took him to the isolation room to stay until he leaves.”
“I’m worried about Josie,” Chaney said. “Tiffany and Amber said she packed her things and said she was out of here. What if she ran off and she is out on the streets again thinking that will be safer than being here with Roger threatening her?”
“Why would she go to the streets when she knew Roger was leaving tomorrow?” Rawlins asked. “No. I think there must be another explanation as to why she packed up. And why Hannah is suddenly gone for the afternoon.”
“You think?”
He nodded.
By five o’clockHannah was back. Lydia had asked Mindy to call her as soon as she returned. She and Chaney hurried down the hall to the director’s office eager to discuss the events of the afternoon. However, when they arrived, Hannah was already in a meeting, and they had to wait.
“Mindy, who is in there?” Lydia demanded.
“Tom,” she said. “Hannah wanted to see him right away. You’ll have to wait.”
Lydia sat in the chair, tapping her fingers on the arm, waiting her turn. Chaney stood, back against the wall wondering what was going on. She didn’t know if she should be party to this or not, but she wanted to know if anyone had any news on Josie or not before she left for the day. Would Hannah know? Lydia had been hopeful earlier that she might.
Rawlins appeared at the door, seeing them he smiled and nodded, but went over to Mindy. “I was told Hannah wanted to see me.”
“You can go on it.”
He tapped on the office door before he opened it and entered.
Hannah stood behind her desk, tidying up the papers while Tom sat in one of the two chairs on the opposite side. “Glad youcould join us,” she said, finally sitting. “Have a seat. I wanted to let you know that Josie is safe. She entered the foster care system today.”
“How?” Tom asked.
“We’ve been working on this for weeks,” Hannah said. “Meeting to discuss her getting a ‘GED’ when we were really talking about foster care as a way to get away from Roger. She’s been hesitant to say the least about it. Unsure up to the very end. But when a placement came open this time in Greeley, she jumped at the opportunity.”
“Greeley,” Tom repeated. “That does put some miles between them, plus he’s going to a new facility across town so he won’t be the wiser.”
“Yes. And I’d like to keep it that way,” Hannah said. “So, this information should not leave this room.”
“Absolutely,” Tom agreed.
“I guess I’m unsure why I’m here,” Rawlins said.
“Because, Josie wrote a letter for Chaney. Can you give it to her off the premises and explain to her she has to keep this private?”
“Of course,” Rawlins said, taking the envelope Hannah reached him.
“Good,” Hannah said. “If anyone has any concerns about Josie’s placement you shouldn’t. It’s with a relatively young couple, late thirties, who had a teen who died of an illness several years ago. They have been eager to foster a teen in need. Thoroughly vetted and I believe Josie will be a good fit for them.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Tom agreed. “And it isn’t like she will be there forever. At sixteen she'll age out in about eighteen months.”
“Yes,” Hannah said. “Okay. Now I have to deal with Lydia. Oh, the questions she’ll have for me.”
Rawlins opened the door and Tom followed him out and left the front office. Rawlins took Chaney’s hand in his. “Ready to go home?”
“I–uh…well,” she stammered.
“Lydia, you can go in now,” Mindy said.
