They followed Anita and Harry outside.
Ashley’s eyes widened. “Wow. This is incredible.” Rows of summer vegetables were growing in an area that would have been as big as the warehouse. An old wooden fence separated the garden from the other red-brick buildings surrounding them.
Matthew crouched down. He picked up a handful of dirt and rubbed it between his fingers. “It’s good soil.”
Anita stood beside them. “It wasn’t when we started. We had to add fertilizer and other nutrients until our worm farm was up and running.”
Harry walked toward a group of teenagers on the far side of the lot.
“What are they doing?” Ashley asked.
Anita shielded her eyes with her hand. “They’re planting beets and carrots. They’ll be ready for harvesting before it gets too cold. The man with them is William Chalmers. He was a rancher for fifty years before he moved to the city to be close to his daughter. He loves it here.” Anita pointed to the rows of vegetables. “The beans, broccoli, eggplant, lettuce, and spinach are ready for picking. Whoever helps in the garden can take their share of the vegetables home. The children make their own soup and eat it after school with fresh bread that the teenagers make in the mornings.”
“Aren’t you worried about people stealing the vegetables?” Ashley asked.
“I was worried before we started, but so far, we haven’t noticed large amounts of vegetables being taken. When the youth center is closed, the residents who live around here keep an eye on the garden.”
Matthew wiped his hands on his jeans. “I’ll be back soon. I’d like to speak to Mr. Chalmers.”
Ashley had a feeling he’d be outside for a while. “Would you mind if I went inside and asked the teenagers some questions?”
“That’s fine, as long as you don’t use their full names in your story. Harry is being careful with the photos.”
They walked inside together. Ashley wanted to talk to the teenagers in the kitchen and ask them why they came here. Hopefully, with some careful prodding, she’d get some great quotes for her story.
She stepped into the main meeting area and froze. Jasmine Alfredo was standing by the computer desks, talking to one of the teenagers.
“You’re in luck,” Anita said. “The chairperson of The Reaching High Foundation is here.”
Ashley turned toward the garden. “I forgot to ask Matthew something. Thank you for letting us visit the center.” She ran through the sports area. Goodness knows what Anita thought of her, but they needed to leave. If they moved quickly, they could make it back to the car before Jasmine knew they were here.
By the time she found Matthew, she was out of breath.
He took one look at her face and turned to Mr. Chalmers. “I need to leave. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Not at the moment.”
Ashley jumped over two rows of freshly planted seedlings and ran further down the garden. “Harry,” she hissed. “We’ve got to go.”
Without asking what had happened, he shoved his camera into its bag and pointed to a wooden fence. “That way.”
Matthew ran beside her, grabbing hold of her arm when she nearly tripped over a row of eggplants.
When they reached the fence, Harry cupped his hands. “Put your foot in here, Ashley.”
“I’m a country girl,” she wheezed as she grabbed hold of the top rail. “I can climb a fence.” Her confidence was slightly dented when she caught her foot on a paling, but at least she didn’t fall.
“You’re rusty,” Matthew said from behind her.
“Just move,” she muttered as she looked at the youth center. At least no one was running after them.
Harry jumped the fence and pointed to a narrow alleyway between two buildings. “Stand there where no one can see you. I’ll get the car and meet you on the street.”
Ashley ran toward the red-brick buildings with Matthew. She hoped Anita didn’t tell her boss who’d been visiting the youth center. Jasmine wasn’t a fool. She’d know something was happening and wouldn’t stop asking questions until she had the answer she needed.
“I didn’t talk to the men who live across the street,” Ashley said with a sigh.
“They’ll talk to you another day.” Matthew pulled out his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Anita. If we don’t let her know we’ve left, she’ll definitely tell Jasmine we’ve been there. At least this way it might buy us some time.”
While Matthew was talking to Anita, she peered around the edge of the wall, searching for Harry.
If they made it back to the hotel without seeing Jasmine, she’d be happy.
