Harry stood beside Ashley. “And an excellent example of that is the sale of this building. It’s hard to imagine the warehouse being used for anything other than a youth center. I wonder how the staff and volunteers feel about it being sold.”
The entrance doors opened and Anita walked toward them.
“We’ll know soon enough,” Ashley said.
Harryshook Anita’s hand. “I didn’t know if we would be welcome. I’m sorry we left so suddenly the last time we were here.”
Anita didn’t smile, but she wasn’t hostile either. “You had your reasons. At least the article on the center was positive. We’ve had a lot of support from people who didn’t know we were here. Hopefully, the next owners appreciate what we do in the community.”
“So the Foundation is selling the property?” Ashley asked.
“They will as soon as the FBI’s investigation is finished. I spoke with someone from the Foundation yesterday. The bank accounts are still frozen.”
“How are you getting paid?” Harry asked.
“We aren’t. Our next pay is due in four days, but no one knows if the money will go through.”
“That’s terrible,” Bonnie said. “Can we do anything to help?”
“Keep writing stories about the center. The more people that are aware of our situation, the more pressure it puts on the FBI to finish their investigation. I’m lucky—with my husband’s salary and some savings, we’ve got enough money to cover our rent and food, but other staff aren’t so fortunate. Most of the people who work here are looking for other jobs.” Anita opened the front doors. “Come inside out of this heat.”
As soon as Ashley walked into the main activity room, she smiled. At least fifty children were working in different areas. “You’ve got a full house today.”
Anita nodded. “There are another thirty kids in the sports area. Becoming famous is wonderful, but it has brought a lot more children into the center. It would be great if we had the funding to support them, but we don’t.”
Ashley pulled out her notebook. “Can you tell us anything about the people who are interested in purchasing the property?”
“The staff at the Foundation’s head office aren’t saying much. All I know is that a property developer has made an offer to purchase the warehouse and the vacant lot beside it. They say they want to keep the youth center operating, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Harry took his camera out of its case. “That must give you some hope?”
Anita shrugged. “I’ll wait until we know exactly what’s happening before I start celebrating.”
“Can we look around and speak to some of the children?” Ashley asked. “I didn’t get a chance to interview them when we were here the other day.”
“No problem. When you’re finished, come into the kitchen. We made cookies a couple of hours ago.”
Harry grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
He left with Bonnie, and Ashley headed toward the computer desks. If the children told her what difference the youth center was making to their lives, she knew it would make another great story. And later today, if she was really lucky, someone from the Foundation might tell her who had made an offer on the property.
***
“You’ve been home for two weeks. You can’t mope around forever.”
Matthew scowled over the top of his book at his brother. “I’m not moping. I’m reading.”
Sean sipped his cup of coffee. “You haven’t gone anywhere since you got back from New York.”
“It’s not as if we live in the middle of Bozeman. Besides, I like it here.”
“So do I, but everyone needs to get away once in a while.”
The front door banged open and Catherine rushed into the living room. “Uncle Matthew! Uncle Sean! Look what I’ve got.”
Catherine skidded to a stop beside Matthew’s chair. She was holding a green cushion against her chest. “Ashley sent me this. Isn’t it cool?” She put her hand inside the cushion and a red worm poked his head out of the apple shaped fabric.
Sean laughed. “Looks as though a worm’s taken a bite out of the Big Apple.”
