Page 116 of Steadfast
It took a few minutes to calm down. A nagging feeling set in, because I realized how odd the situation really was. Someonehadgiven Jude’s request the VIP seal of approval. But who?
Politically, drug treatment was a big topic in Vermont right now. The governor had made it a priority. But if Jude was some kind of test case, my boss would know about it. He would have approved it himself.
Jude had no allies in the world except for me. And the Shipleys, of course. But at the time of his appeal, he hadn’t even met them yet.
Then who?
I was still sitting there behind the wheel, fuming and confused, when Denny emerged from the building. But there was no happy bounce in his step. I saw him pace slowly toward his car, his gaze cast down, his mouth tight.
Before I could think better of it, I opened my door and got out.
The movement caught Denny’s attention. He stopped on the asphalt beside his car, looking torn.
“What?” I barked into the wind, running toward him. “What happened?”
He cast his gaze toward his shoes. “I’m out,” he said, his voice rough. “He didn’t say it, but I think the job is yours.”
“What?” That made no sense.
His brown eyes flipped up to meet mine. “It was me. I moved Jude to the top of the waiting list this past spring. Norse asked, and I confessed.” He swallowed hard. “Because I knew he’d think you did it.”
“You…” All the air squeezed out of my lungs. “Why?” I gasped. That made no sense at all.
Big brown eyes blinked at me, and there was hurt in them. “He was hooked onheroinand headed back to town. I didn’t want you to have to deal with that. The waiting lists at those places are as long as a year.”
A different version of this year flashed before me—Jude back in Colebury, his body demanding heroin. A Jude who was still thin and unhealthy, hoping to get off a waiting list somewhere before it killed him.
I shivered in the wind. “But Denny, you risked…” Everything. “Why?”
He closed his eyes. “If you don’t get it by now then I really can’t explain it to you.” He turned away from me and yanked on the car’s door handle. When the door opened, he got inside. A half second later the motor was running. He backed away while I was still standing there trying to make sense of it.
Mind. Blown.
I walked back to my car, freezing now. I started the engine and let it warm up for sixty seconds, just as Jude had always advised me. My phone rang while I waited, and the display showed Norse’s office number.
“Hello?”
“Sophie, I’m terribly sorry to doubt you. It was…”
“Denny,” I warbled. “I wish he hadn’t done that.” Tears threatened again.
“I wish he hadn’t either. If he’d met with me about it instead, we might have been able to find the patient a treatment program without breaking all the rules.”
“Is there anything you can do for him?” I begged. “He’ll need a recommendation.”
There was a beat of silence on the line. “I’m not sure what I’ll be comfortable writing,” he said. “I’ll speak to Denny again later this week after I’ve had time to think.”
“All right,” I said softly.
“The job is yours, Sophie. Come to work for me full time. You’ll be terrific at it.”
I knew I would, but my eyes leaked nonetheless. “It should be Denny.”
“Not necessarily,” he said. “You were always in the running. I won’t press you on it today, but call me later in the week so we can go over the job and the benefits, and you can tell me your decision.”
“Okay,” I said dutifully.
“Talk soon,” he said. “And chin up.”
