by Kathy Harris
“Watch your step. I don’t want to lose you to some street punk because you’ve let your heart rule your head.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
Caleb didn’t waste time leaving Ridge’s office. Vindicated. He had been vindicated!
Now to find out how Robert Evans had come to be acquainted with Max Roman, alias Edwin Burton.
CHAPTER 28
The next day – April 16
Danni was disappointed when Caleb called to say he wouldn’t be taking her to the Hope and Grace Resource Center this evening, especially after he had told her he had new information to share about Edwin Burton, the man Rob had presumably hired to follow her.
It had taken every ounce of restraint she had to keep from calling Rob and giving him a piece of her mind. But Caleb had warned her not to say anything. He had said it would be harmful to the case, and it could put her in more danger. Another reason she wished Caleb could be with her tonight. His presence brought her comfort. More than any other agent. And certainly more than Rob ever had.
In Caleb’s stead, Agent Jamie Wade would be picking her up in the Rutherford lobby at seven o’clock to take her to the resource center, and when Agent Wade arrived exactly at seven, it gave credence to Danni’s theory that punctuality was a required gene in law enforcement DNA. Caleb, and every other agent Danni had met so far, had always arrived on time. Not a minute early. Not a minute late.
The slender blond agent drove a white Volvo and asked to be called by her first name. Although Jamie looked to be several years younger than Danni, after Danni heard about the younger woman’s career accomplishments, and that she was married and had a newborn baby girl, Danni suspected the young woman had already lived a full life.
She told Danni she had paid for a criminal justice degree while working part time as a cosmetologist. And that she subsequently used her salon skills in undercover work for the TBI.
“You know how clients tell their hairdressers and manicurists everything,” Jamie laughed. “That’s how I get a lot of my information.” The young agent’s face grew serious. “Do you have any questions about tonight?”
“I’m not sure what to expect.” Danni didn’t want to admit that her stomach was in knots. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“You’ll do great.” Jamie stopped at a red light and glanced in her direction. “Just be yourself.”
“I guess that’s all I can do.” Danni relaxed back into her seat as the sun prepared to take its final bow on the horizon. “It’s just that I’m usually more analytical than spontaneous.”
“My guess is that these girls will bring out your emotional side.”
The thought piqued Danni’s interest. “Tell me more about them.”
“They’re all recovering addicts.” Jamie maneuvered through the remnants of rush hour traffic, which seemed to be lingering this evening. “Some were transitioned to the center after prison. Others came from directly off the street. A few of the lucky ones are there because their families still cared enough about them to encourage them to seek sobriety.”
Danni hesitated. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“The majority of the women at HGRC have severed ties with their family. Usually not by their own choice.”
“That’s sad.” Danni thought about her mother, who had cut off all familial ties.
“Let me restate that.” A mist of rain obscured their view, and the agent engaged her wiper blades. “Indirectly it was their choice. At one point they gave drugs, alcohol, or both priority over everything else in their lives, including their families.”
“I get it. But it’s still sad.” Danni shook her head.
“You’re right. It is. And although the girls you’ll meet tonight have moved beyond the initial physical aspects of their addictions, they still have a long way to go toward recovery. At the center, they’re being taught life-coping skills, learning how to make new friendships, and establishing self-worth.”
“All of that is necessary because they were addicted to drugs or alcohol?” Danni asked.
“Absolutely. It’s difficult for us to understand which came first: the lack of social skills or the addiction.”
“Makes sense.” Danni feared she was in over her head. Or was that her heart? She could somewhat relate. Losing her mother at an early age hadn’t exactly instilled confidence in her either, especially when it came to lasting relationships.
“While at the center each of the girls is evaluated by counselors and mental health professionals. If all goes well, they will eventually be reacclimated into society, and that includes helping them find work.” Jamie continued. “And some will be reunited with family.”
“How did you and Caleb . . . Agent Samuels, learn about the center?”
“Narcotics and crime go hand in hand.” Agent Wade pulled the Volvo into the parking lot of a nondescript, three-story brick building. Switching off the engine, she turned to Danni. “Many drug abusers die because of their addiction. But some, who don’t, will lose more than that. They will lose their freedom, their mental or physical health, and quite possibly the people they love.”
Danni nodded in the near darkness of the evening.
“Their entire support system, including their self-image, may disappear.” Jamie opened her car door and the light came on. “A lot of these young women, some younger, some older than us, are fighting for more than their lives. They’re fighting for the lives of their children who have been taken away from them.”
Danni nodded. “They’ve lost a lot, haven’t they?”
“Yes.” Jamie offered a reassuring smile. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Danni opened the passenger side door and stepped into a drizzling rain. She pulled her sweater closer to her waist and sprinted toward the front entrance of the resource center.
Jamie rang the doorbell to the left of the double metal doors, and within seconds someone buzzed them inside. A female guard at the entryway desk greeted them and added their names to the visitor sheet. Then they took a seat along the sidewall.
A few minutes later, Danni watched a tall brunette taking long strides toward them. Her enormous smile immediately put Danni at ease.
“Jamie, great to see you!” She said, before reaching to shake Danni’s hand. “I’m Angela Tomas, the facility manager. And you’re Danielle, right?”
“Yes. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Tomas.”
“Please call me Angela. If you’re a friend of Caleb and Jamie’s, you’re welcome here. Caleb is one of our biggest supporters.” She smiled at Agent Wade. “We love Jamie too. I wish the good people in law enforcement were commended more by the news media. They’ve given us a lot of support and shown a lot of compassion for our girls and others like them.”
“Thank you.” Jamie’s face lit up.
“Danielle, are you ready for a tour?” Angela asked.
“Please call me Danni.”
“Of course. Danni, we have a night class this evening, and I thought we would sit in for a few minutes.”
They followed the facility manager down a long, central hallway, and Danni noticed that the building was immaculately kept and ultramodern.
“We’re teaching basic accounting tonight.” Angela said, turning to Danni as they walked. “I understand that’s your area of expertise.”
“It is. I plan budgets in my sleep.” She laughed. “No, let me rephrase that, when I should be sleeping.”
Her companions laughed.
“That’s one of the things we teach, how to set up a budget. When the girls are released from here, we don’t want them to have to commit a crime to pay their bills. Or to resort to drugs to compensate emotionally when they can’t provide for themselves.”
“I understand. It’s an important skill,” Danni agreed.
On their way to the lecture, Angela pointed to various rooms in the building—the library, a cafeteria, and a small chapel.
“We use the main thea
ter for classes as well as Sunday worship.” She paused in front of the chapel, with its stained-glass door and windows. “But our little chapel is open all day, every day until room curfew.”
Danni couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Maybe Caleb and Jamie didn’t tell you, but we’re a faith-based program. We’re partially funded by area churches.”
“I had no idea.” Danni said, realizing there was a lot about this place she didn’t know. “What are the girls’ rooms like?”
“Like a college dorm room. Actually, nicer than the ones I had.” Angela chuckled and gestured toward the elevators at the end of the hall. “The dorms are on the second and third floors. Two girls share a room and a bathroom, with a central lounge on each floor to facilitate community.”
Their tour guide stopped in front of what appeared to be the entrance to the main theater. “We don’t allow television or Internet access anywhere in the building. Some people might call that cruel and unusual punishment,” her eyes crinkled when she smiled, “but we don’t want the world intruding on them at this stage of recovery.”
Angela put her fingers to her lips to request silence.
“Let’s slip in here and watch some of the class.” She opened the door to the theater, and Danni and Jamie followed her inside.
“After class is finished,” Angela whispered. “I’ll introduce you to a few of the girls. Hopefully you will have a chance to talk with one of them.” She gestured toward the back row of seats. “Don’t be surprised if they open up to you. It’s cathartic for them.”
The three women took seats in the back, and for the next forty-five minutes listened to a basic presentation from the instructor, followed by questions from the girls. Danni estimated the class was the equivalent to Accounting 101, which could have put her to sleep except for her fascination with the girls. They were sponges, soaking up the teacher’s advice on balancing a checkbook, maintaining a budget, and planning for financial ups and downs. Many of the young women took notes. Some frowned. Others smiled and nodded their heads as though they finally understood a great mystery.
Angela occasionally broke into the teaching to whisper a word of explanation in Danni’s ear. Then, after the session was over, when the lights went up and the girls began to file out, she stood and faced Danni, beaming with pride.
“I hope that gave you some idea of the education we provide for our girls. We don’t want to send them out into the world unprepared.” She held the door so they could step back into the hallway. “Our program is comprehensive. We’re all about helping our girls grow not only physically, emotionally, and spiritually but also as future contributors and even leaders in society.”
“And they do a great job.” Jamie said, returning the compliment Angela offered earlier. “They address the many aspects of drug and alcohol abuse. Some people fall prey to addiction because they’re bored. Others use it as a crutch to escape reality. But far too many just want to be like everyone else, which is why building a good self-image is important.”
Angela agreed with a nod. “We believe God is big enough and gracious enough to fill all of the empty places inside them. And us.” She gave Danni a reassuring smile. “We also believe it’s our responsibility as Christians to serve with love and to help our residents understand they aren’t alone.”
“Everything you do makes sense.” Danni said. “I’m impressed.”
“Everyone on our full-time staff is certified by one, if not several, agencies to work within their field of rehabilitation. And—”
Angela stopped when she noticed Caleb walking toward them.
“Several of our staff members have law enforcement backgrounds, because most of our women, young and older, have been incarcerated at least once. Many are trying for the second or third time to break free of self-defeating behaviors.”
“How are you, ladies?” Caleb asked when he reached them.
Angela extended her hand. “We’re better now that you’ve decided to join us, aren’t we?”
Jamie and Danni smiled and nodded.
“Sorry I’m late. I had urgent business at the office.” He turned to Danni. “Have you learned anything?”
“A lot. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
“But she hasn’t talked to one of our girls yet.” Angela looked around. “Oh, here you go. Rachel?” She reached out to a young woman who was walking past them. “I’d like you to meet some people.”
The woman, who appeared to be in her midtwenties, looked more poised than the majority of the women Danni had seen so far.
“This is Danni, Jamie, and Caleb. Danni is visiting us for the first time tonight. I would love it if you would show her around . . . the cafeteria, the library, the chapel.”
Angela turned back to Danni. “Rachel has been with us for almost eight weeks now, so she knows her way around.”
Rachel squared her shoulders. “I’d be happy to give you a tour.”
She turned to retrace the route Caleb had just walked. And as soon as Danni had caught up with her, she began walking at a leisurely pace.
“How do you like it here?” Danni asked, hoping she wasn’t being too forward.
“It’s a great place.” She studied Danni before she continued. “Not everyone has a second or third chance in life.”
Danni nodded, waiting for Rachel to continue.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes.” She fixed her gaze on something at the end of the corridor. “And I’ve lost a lot, but my life is turning around thanks to Angela and her staff.”
Rachel opened the door to their immediate left. “This is the cafeteria. We also have activities here that are a lot of fun.” She flipped the switch back to her personal life. “No one in my family wants anything to do with me. Not even my daughter.”
Danni wasn’t sure what to say. A picture of her mother walking out the door came to mind. “I-I’m sorry,” she finally said.
“My parents take care of her.” Rachel walked quickly from the cafeteria to the chapel. She held the door open for Danni. Once inside, she placed her hands on the back of the last row of pews. “This is our chapel. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yes, it is.” Danni said, stepping up beside her. “Lovely.”
Rachel nodded and smiled. “It’s so peaceful in here.” She paced to the front of the room and took a seat in the first row of pews, directly in front of the altar. “Sometimes I just come here to sit, think, and pray.”
Danni took a seat across the aisle, wondering if Rachel would continue to unravel small pieces of her past.
The younger woman remained silent for a minute and then turned to Danni. “I’m grateful to everyone who has done so much to help me. There were times when I didn’t appreciate them enough.” Her eyes glazed over, but she didn’t cry, and her focus drifted to the altar. “They’ve got a lot of nerve believing I can make it this time. But if they believe I can . . .” She turned back to Danni. “Then I have to believe it too.”
“Of course, you can make it.” Danni reassured her, not certain if she really meant it.
“Why?” Rachel challenged.
Danni swallowed hard, digging into the depths of herself to find encouragement. “Because you’re in a good place. I’ve heard a lot about it here. And—”
Memories of her childhood rushed back to her. How her own mother had failed, despite the help of those who had loved her. Really loved her and wanted her to come home. They would have taken her back anytime.
Danni thought about how much Chloe, her dad, and she had needed Grace Kemp. Needed and wanted her to return, yet—
“And?” Rachel seemed to be hanging on her words.
“And . . .” Danni turned to look at her. “You have to make it. Because your daughter needs her mother, despite what you or she might say or think right now.”
The younger woman startled, as though not expecting such a direct response.
Danni continued, looking first at the floor and then directly at the hurting young
woman. “You also have to make it because, whether you realize it or not, your family really does love you.”
Rachel sat back in her seat and looked down, her lower lip trembling. “How do you know that?”
“I know . . .” Danni’s words were barely more than a whisper. Could she admit everything to Rachel?
“I wish I believed it.” Rachel shifted her gaze. “But you have no idea.” Her hands shook despite being anchored to her lap.
“Actually, I do.” Danni leaned forward to lessen the distance between them. “I know because my mother was an addict.” She took in a deep breath. “I know because my sister and I, as well as my dad . . . we all loved her and would have taken her back any time.”
Rachel looked up, her dark brown eyes brimming with tears, and searched Danni’s face, hoping to see the truth written there.
“Believe me,” Danni breathed a silent prayer that she would make a connection, “it’s true. You need to go home to them. To your family. To your daughter. She needs you even more than you can imagine.”
Rachel wrung her hands. They were no longer shaking.
Finish your story, Danni. “I know because my mother never made it home to me.” Danni fought to control her emotions. “She died in an automobile accident, and I miss her, just like your daughter misses you.”
“I’m so sorry—” Rachel wiped moisture from her eyes. “Thank you for giving me hope.”
Danni smiled. “Don’t ever doubt the bond of family.” She knew she was speaking to herself as much as she was speaking to Rachel. “It never goes away.”
CHAPTER 29
Jamie and Angela were waiting when Danni and Rachel walked into the lobby.
“Where’s Caleb?” Danni glanced toward the seating area.
“He has an early meeting in the morning. He went on home.” Jamie gave her a curious look. “You okay riding home with me?”
“Of course.” Danni bit her lip and turned to Rachel. “I’ll be praying for you and your daughter.”
For the first time tonight, the younger woman’s smile reached her dark brown eyes. “Thank you.”