Page 135 of The Pushy Pixies Are Going Down
“That’s why I’ve stayed in contact with the attorney. She’s good at her job, and anytime I need help protecting a kid, I go to her before I even tell Booth.”
My eyes widened at that. “And he lets you get away with that?”
“He doesn’t have a choice. I went over his head to Frye for some insurance, and he knows I’m trying to keep kids safe.”
Holy shit. Higgins was actually making a difference over there, wasn’t he?
“Anyway, point being, Ainsley and I are actually friends now. We go out for coffee a couple of times a month when our schedules line up. So if you… if you need help, whether you’re taking those kids in, or you find someone else who will, I promise you, I can make it happen. I’ll make sure they get placed in a good home. I’ll protect those kids just as hard as you will.”
He didn’t even know them, but I knew he spoke the truth. Not only could I hear it in his voice, I knew the man. Maybe we hadn’t spoken much in the past few years, but I knew what a good person he was.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do, but thank you. I’ll let you know if I need help.”
“Please do. Ainsley is a great person. I know she’ll help you. And if you want to look her up—and I know you want to—her full name is Ainsley Larsen.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Apparently, I was predictable. “How about you text me her name so I have the correct spelling.”
He snorted.“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Thanks. And thank you for everything, Higs. I mean it.”
“Anytime. And you know I mean that too.”
We chatted for a few more minutes before I hung up and tapped my phone on my lips, staring into Lyric’s backyard as a million things ran through my mind.
The kids were runaways, which likely meant they were unhoused. I doubted they’d find a place to rent when they were underage.
Where were they staying? Were they squatting in a house somewhere? Or were they sleeping on the streets? Maybe they were living in their car. The car they weren’t legally old enough to drive. Fuck.
No wonder they were so skinny.
And… if they didn’t have a home and had been missing for six months, that had to mean they weren’t going to school anymore. Guess that explained why they were evading all our questions about it.
“Hey.” Winter came over and put his hand on my lower back. “What happened?”
“Higgins finally got the info on the kids.”
“Yeah?”
I cringed. “They’re listed as runaways. They’ve been missing from their foster homes for six months.”
He stared at me for a long moment before he simply drew me into his arms and held me against him. “We’ll figure out how to help them.”
I nodded against his chest even though I had no idea how we were going to be able to do that.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Miles
The next day, Aeson came to visit the kitten—and probably check on the egg—and I was… unsure of how to bring it up. He’d shown up right after I’d gotten out of the shower after work—it had been a long and disgusting day, so I’d taken a second shower because who the hell wanted to be covered in goblin slime all night long?—and even though I wanted to just crash on the couch and order takeout for dinner, I did my best to offer him a welcoming smile.
“Come on in, Ace.” I’d actually thought it was Win at the door—I really should give him a key.
He gave me a look and hesitated. “Are you sure? I don’t have to if you’re busy—”
“No, no. Of course you can come in. Sorry. It’s been a long day, but I’m sure Confetti will love to see you. Plus, you can wear her out so maybe she’ll sleep tonight.” She liked to wake me up in the middle of the night by jumping on top of my head and trying to play with me, the little turd. Cute turd, but definitely a turd.
That got a grin out of him, and he came inside. “Morty’s working tonight, so I thought I’d come over.”
