“No,” he said reflectively. “Somehow, I didn’t think you would. You surprise me more and more every day.”
The tickling sensation was back.
A knock at the door broke the moment. “Come in,” she called.
When the door opened, it was the boy who’d been last out of the room, the one comforting Kennedy.
Lucas stood. “What can we do for you, Judah?” he asked.
“Dr. Vaughn, is there any way you can avoid calling Kennedy’s father? It… well, she’s going to get in a lot of trouble if she gets an ISS. And an OSS? It could be really bad.”
“Perhaps she should have thought about that before involving herself in the raid last night.”
The young man ran one of his hands through his hair. “Please, sir. I’ll take her punishment. Double the days of punishment and let me pay her ticket. Just… just don’t call her dad.”
Elyxandre took a step toward the boy. “Is Kennedy in danger, Judah?”
His eyes went wide as if he realized what he’d given away. “I?—”
“It’s okay, Judah,” she said gently. “No one will know that you told us.”
He swallowed and nodded. “Kennedy’s dad. He drinks. A lot.” He flashed a look at the principal. “Ever since her mom left them. I mean, he wasn’t really a prize to start with, but he pretty much treats her like she’s his wife.”
Elyxandre felt herself stiffen. “You say he treats her like a wife?”
“No! I’m sorry. He hasn’t done… at least, I don’t think he’s done anything like that. She tells me everything, and she’s never said that he’s… touched her like that. I just meant, she has to do everything at the house—the cooking, the cleaning, parenting her little brother—and if everything isn’t just so, he… Let’s just say he lashes out first, then yells.”
He turned to Lucas and pleaded with him again. “Please, sir. She was only there because I asked her to come along. After theaccident last month, he never lets her come out or do things with her friends. I thought it would be harmless. Her dad was home, drunk and passed out. He’d never know she was gone. I didn’t think anyone would do any actual vandalism. Kennedy and I, we were only responsible for the window paint. I know we got caught, and you have to punish us all equally, but please. Please cut Kennedy a break. Let me take her punishment. If nothing else, give her an ISS for all of the days, but please don’t call him.”
Heat rushed from Elyxandre’s center mass to all her extremities. Her fingers itched with the need to clench into a fist and punch something, but she knew she couldn’t let her anger show. “Does Kennedy have any marks on her that you know of? Bruises? Cuts? Anything like that?”
Judah shook his head. “No. Not that I’ve seen. But I swear, if you call home, even if you give her an ISS for a few days, she won’t be back for at least a week.”Flashing a look at Lucas, she begged him to speak—to reassure the boy that they’d protect Kennedy.
“I’m sorry, Judah,” he said. “I can’t hide a consequence. That would be falsifying a school record. If he lays hands on her again, though, she needs to come forward and say something. Then we can pursue it.”
Judah’s eyes filled with hurt and anger. “So, in other words, she has to get hurt for you to do anything? All because of some spray paint and broken picnic tables? That’s worth more than Kennedy’s safety?”
Lucas truly did look sorry, but she, more than anyone, knew that his hands were tied. He would report the accusation to child protective services, and they would decide whether or not to investigate based on the written law regarding domestic abuse. If she didn’t have any proof or witnesses, there was little they could do. It broke Elyxandre’s heart, but it was true.
“Judah,” she started. “Have you ever seen Kennedy’s father hurt her? Grab her by the arm. Slap her. Push her. Has anyone seen him do anything?”
“No. She’s not allowed to have anyone over at the house. Claims it disturbs him when he’s trying to relax.”
“Might anyone have any pictures of her with a visible bruise or injury? Even if it wasn’t recent.”
He shook his head. “The one time someone called CPS, he threatened them with a gun when they came to the door. He was arrested, but when he got home, we didn’t see Kennedy for two weeks. She failed a bunch of classes because it was at the end of the school year. She really can’t afford to be hurt again. I’m worried he’ll kill her.” His last sentence was a whisper.
She looked at Lucas again. He stared back at her.
“Go back to the ISS room, Judah. Stay with Kennedy.”
He nodded, then slunk out of the room, his shoulders hunched in defeat and a face filled with worry.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Lucas hung his head, a hand going behind his neck. “Shit,” he muttered.
Shit, indeed. This had all the signs of becoming a cluster of epic proportions. “You know Kennedy’s dad at all?” she asked.
He grimaced. “Not personally. Everyone knows he’s got a record. A lot of drunk and disorderly type stuff. He’s got a no-trespass order for school grounds after an incident at a football game during Kennedy’s freshman year. She’s a cheerleader, and he created quite the scene. Since then, I’ve had her in class twice, but he doesn’t respond to phone calls or emails, and he’s never been to a parent-teacher conference that I’m aware of. He never contacted me either.”
