Walking into work a short while later Annabelle hands me a coffee and a bottle of water I keep behind my desk. “Is everything okay, Annabelle?”
“Yes. Mr. Mackintosh canceled his appointment. I think we both knew that was going to happen,” Annabelle smirks, and I admit I do too. “Mr. Wallis has left a report on your desk and asked that you see him once you’ve studied it.”
“Thank you, Annabelle.” I rush into my office, take my jacket off and lay my purse on the chair behind the door.
After taking my seat behind the desk, I open the folder and start to read.
Mrs. Tilly Grosvenor was killed in a car accident. The driver was well over the limit. She also died at the scene.
Mr. Kyle Grosvenor had a breakdown after losing his wife. Placed his daughter in care while he underwent counseling. He has maintained his job, and the company he works for supported him throughout it all.
Katherine Grosvenor, daughter, eight years of age. Has become timid, and is under counseling due to the demand of Kyle Grosvenor’s doctor. It seems the doctor is worried about the child's mental health because her usual animated self has declined. He doesn’t think this is due to the loss of her mother. It developed after being placed in foster care.
Miss Forsyth, the social worker, is under investigation. That has been brought about by Mr. Wallis’ intervention in the case. She has been removed from Katherine’s case, and Mrs. Witherspoon is now leading the case. A meeting is arranged with her in two days. Mrs. Witherspoon is also in the process of having Katherine placed back with her father, much to the foster parents' annoyance.
The foster parents are under investigation by Mrs. Witherspoon and the local law enforcement, after it was verified they were only taking children who had large inheritances. They were not interested in fostering any other children. It solidifies the evidence against Miss Forsyth.
“The P.I., Sterling, has been busy,” I mumble to myself. I close the folder and pick it up. I walk out of my office and quickly head to speak with Mr. Wallis.
Sitting across from Mr. Wallis I listen to what he feels will be the conclusion to this mess. “The powers that need to be involved, are now involved. I think we will see the social worker and the foster parents arrested, along with more foster parents. I don’t care about them. I care about the children they took into their homes for nefarious reasons.”
“Will the children get their inheritances back? The ones that are old enough to have it,” I ask.
“The foster parents' bank accounts have been frozen, and assets will certainly be considered when this hits court. I’m going to do my best to get a judge on this case thatknows what needs doing,” Mr. Wallis snarls, then looks at me with an expression so determined that I have no doubt he is going to make these people pay for their crimes.
Back in my office I can’t help but hope that Mr. Wallis is right and these criminals, because that is what they are, get what is coming. Karma needs to bite some butt, and I hope she leaves scars.
The evening meal is unexpected, but welcome. Whitney has made her mouthwatering meatloaf with smashed potatoes and green beans.
“How come we are having meatloaf today?” Clem asks with his mouth full, so it sounds muffled.
“I got finished early, and just fancied doing something. Oren loves my meatloaf, so I wanted to spoil him some,” Whitney states while giving Oren a wink.
Oren is busy stuffing his face, and I’m sure he’s enjoying this because he’s not said a single word since he sat at the table. He manages a nod for Whitney, however.
“I have a new sign idea for the garage. I’ll show you after we’ve eaten, Lee,” Whitney gives me a bright smile so I know she likes the design, and I’m sure if she likes it, I also will.
An hour later, I’m still at the table but looking at the image Whitney has laid out. “I really do like it, Whitney. It’sbold, clean, and right to the point. It doesn’t have silly icons and stuff on either. It is just as I said — clean lines that state it is Barstow Brothers Auto Repair. Right to the point.”
“We should hear something soon on the mortgage,” Clem says from where he’s standing next to Whitney.
“You’ll have the ripping out of everything to do then. We can all help on the weekends. Both of us can do smaller things that are needed while you do all the heavy stuff,” Whitney offers, and I nod in agreement.
“Dan and Synthia are going to help too, so we’ll have plenty of hands,” Myles adds.
“I’m helping,” a small voice pipes up, and we all give Oren a smile, and a hidden grimace because he’s going to get into mischief that is for sure. He’ll need to be watched closely, and that will be mine and Whitney’s job.
“Are we all happy with this sign?” Whitney asks, and we all easily give her the go-ahead. Her artistic friend is going to do the painting himself, so that means we just pay him, and it’ll be off our hands. “Oh, he doesn’t want to be paid, by the way. He wants to be able to bring his vehicle in as an emergency whenever it’s needed instead,” Whitney drops into the quiet like it’s something that happens all the time. I walk into the living room out of the way in case there is any kind of explosion from Clem and Myles.
Chapter 15
Myles
The week had passed so quickly that when we heard we were to sign for the mortgage I was astounded. We wasted no time getting it done and felt very satisfied that we had completed this.
We’ll have to give Lou something nice to thank her for all her effort. Without her input, we probably would not have gotten the place and at such a reduced price.
Walking into the living room, I pick up my phone where I’d left it last night on the arm of the couch. No better time than now to call Dan, and it only takes a couple of rings before he picks up.
