“No. He was kind enough to let me stay with him. It’s only temporary until I get a job and find a place.”
“A job?” Laverne repeated words as if Katherine had told her she was about to start turning tricks.
“Yes, a job. You’re in law school. You do plan on getting one of those one day, right?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Listen, Laverne. I have to go. I have some runs to make.”
Katherine gave Laverne a pacifying smile and walked away before she sounded even more like a princess. A trip down the hall and a couple of corners later, she was walking out the door. Halfway down the steps, she noticed Gabby, who appeared to be waiting for her.
“Gabby? What are you doing here?”
“Katie, I need to talk to you.”
Gabby looked around as if she was making sure she wasn’t being watched. Her behavior was stranger than the fact that she was actually standing on the steps of her school.
Katherine gestured for Gabby to walk with her to her car. For the entire walk to the parking lot, she looked around nervously. When they got to the car, Katherine unlocked the passenger door for Gabby, then walked around and let herself in the driver’s side.
“Has something happened to my parents, Gabby?”
Katherine wasted no time with small talk. She was more than curious as to why her parents’ housekeeper had shown up at her school.
“No. Your parents are fine. I’m here about the girl.”
Katherine’s heart began to race. She trembled with fear at the thought of Maddie living under her father’s roof. “What happened?” she asked, terrified of the answer.
“You know what’s happening to her. Someone has to do something.”
Katherine released a frustrated breath. “What can I do? I called the police. They didn’t do anything. I mean… even her own mother wouldn’t do a damn thing to help.”
Gabby turned to her with a terrified look in her eye. “Katherine, I believe Miss Evelyn is condoning Mr. Chase’s actions.”
Katherine sighed. It was hard to hear, but not hard to believe. After the way her aunt had rebuffed the police and scolded her, it was painfully obvious.
“Why on earth would a mother allow a man to abuse her child?” Katherine wondered out loud.
“I’m quiet. I mind my business, but I hear everything. I overheard your aunt telling your father that her last husband took her for everything and left her in trouble with the IRS.”
Katherine’s mouth flew open. “How could that happen? My aunt’s trust was too big to lose.”
“Apparently not. The IRS has seized her homes and frozen her accounts.”
“Oh, my God.”
News of Evelyn losing her fortune was unbelievable, but Katherine didn’t have an ounce of sympathy for her. No amount of money should have been enough to convince someone to barter a child.
“You gotta come to the police with me,” Katherine implored.
Gabby shook her head frantically. “You said, yourself, the police won't do anything. Besides, there’s more. Your father has hooked up with some dangerous people, powerful people, just like him. If I get involved, your father will have me deported back to El Salvador.”
Katherine frowned. “What can I do?”
“Come back home,” Gabby urged. “For appearances alone, your parents will take you back.”
Katherine shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
“You have to, Katie. There are more children involved.”
