Page 37 of Once Removed (Blackhawk Security)

Glancing at her calendar, she phoned her last client of the day. Clearing her throat, Lainey said, “Ms. Winston, I was hoping you’d be able to reschedule your appointment. I have a family emergency.” The words made Lainey’s heart beat a little faster. Caused a tiny pinch in her chest. She wished Phoebe really was her family.

“Of course, Lainey,” the woman said. Do you have any openings tomorrow?”

Lainey scheduled her for ten AM, then smiled a few minutes later when her next client walked in. Finally, ten minutes before the high school dismissal bell would ring, she climbed into her car and drove to the high school.

She arrived just as students began spilling out of the building. A bunch of them climbed into cars or trucks and drove away. A handful swung into waiting cars -- probably their parents. Buses loaded on the side of the building.

Finally, Phoebe trudged out of school with an armful of books, and Lainey made a mental note to get her a backpack, too. When Phoebe got into her car, she snapped on her seat belt and hugged the books to her chest.

“How did it go?” Lainey asked, unnerved by Phoebe’s silence.

“Good,” she said after a long moment. “My teachers didn’t hassle me about missing three weeks of school, but I have a lot of work to catch up on. Tons of homework.” Her shoulders relaxed, and she set the books on her lap. Glanced at Lainey out of the corner of her eye. “One of my friends is in a bunch of my classes. She’s going to help me catch up.”

“That’s great, Phoebe,” Lainey said, and the anxiety that had hovered all day began to dissipate. “Those mean girls give you a hard time?”

She lifted one shoulder. “Only a couple of them are in my classes and my lunch period.”

Lainey clenched her teeth, knowing that Phoebe was probably glossing over what had happened. She vowed to herself that she’d make sure Phoebe got the latest fashions at Target. And that she bought only clothes that made her look fabulous. “You have time to pick up some things from your house and go shopping?”

“Yeah. I need my own clothes.”

“Let’s swing by your house first. Then we’ll hit a few stores and find some new things for you.”

Phoebe directed her to her house, but as they turned down her street, her fingers clenched on her books and her shoulders tensed. “That’s my father’s truck in the driveway,” she said in a low voice.

Lainey noticed she hadn’t called him dad. “Do you want to see him?” she asked.

“No.” Phoebe’s hair flew from side to side as she shook her head vigorously.

“Then we’ll just keep going,” Lainey said. But she looked carefully at the dark brown truck as they passed. Memorized the license plate. She’d keep an eye out for that truck.

Ah hour later, they emerged from Target with several bags holding clothes, school supplies and a new backpack. They’d stopped in the department store first, but Phoebe hadn’t been interested in the clothes there. Lainey had agreed with her. They weren’t teen clothes. Target had a much better selection.

After they’d stowed the bags in the back of her SUV, Lainey turned to Phoebe. “Do you want to check your house again? See if your father’s gone so you can pick up what you need?”

Phoebe stared out the window for a long moment, then nodded. “But park on the street,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “So he can’t block us in if he comes back.”

Dear God, what had happened between Phoebe and her father? Lainey touched the girl’s arm. “If you want to talk about it, I’ll be happy to listen to you. Or I’ll find you a therapist you can talk to.”’

Phoebe’s shoulders hunched. “I don’t know.”

“Not pushing, Phoebe. Just telling you help’s available if you want it.”

Phoebe squared her shoulders. “Okay. Thanks.” She swallowed and stared out the window, her face hidden from Lainey.

What should she say? How could she ease Phoebe’s pain? Lainey’d had a normal teen-aged life. The usual conflicts with parents, run-ins with her school’s mean girls, but nothing like what Phoebe must have endured.

Helplessness washed over Lainey. As much as she cared about Phoebe, Lainey had no idea how to help her.

Lainey entered Phoebe’s address on the phone’s map app, and when they reached Phoebe’s street, she saw the girl tense. The street was empty. No brown truck. So Lainey pulled over at the curb. “You want me to come in with you?” she asked quietly.

Phoebe turned her head to look at Lainey. After a long moment, she nodded. “As long as you’re not afraid to come in.”

“Of course I’m not afraid,” she said, and thought again, What had Art Larsen done to his daughter? Based on her reactions today, Lainey was certain Phoebe was glad her father had abandoned her. “Do you want to empty a couple of those big bags and bring them inside? For your stuff?”

“That’s a good idea,” Phoebe said, her head swiveling from side to side as she studied the neighborhood. “I don’t want to take the time to find the suitcases.”

This poor child. “Okay. Let’s empty two of the bags, then we’ll make a stealth raid into the house.”

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