One Tough Texan. Barb Han
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Название: One Tough Texan
Автор: Barb Han
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Зарубежные детективы
isbn: 9781474061681
isbn:
“Which is the reason you didn’t think too much about her blowing off a meeting with you?” he asked.
“I should’ve realized she was in trouble or that something had happened right then. She was dependable. I should’ve known that she would’ve shown if she’d been able to.” Alice couldn’t hold back the tears threatening any more than she could stop the heavy feeling pressing down on her chest. “I should’ve sounded the alarm right then and maybe we would’ve found her before she was taken out of town.”
“Hold on there a second,” the cowboy said. “Had she ever missed a meeting with you before?”
“Well, yes. Once or twice at midterms,” she supplied, trying to tamp down her guilt before it overwhelmed her and tears flooded.
“So, this time was no different than before. Experience had taught you that when Isabel got stressed she could get distracted like any normal human being, let alone a fifteen-year-old.” His words stemmed the flow of tears burning the backs of her eyes.
“I guess you’re right. I just keep replaying that day over and over again in my mind trying to figure out what I could’ve done to stop all this from happening in the first place,” she admitted, unsure why she was dumping the truth on a complete stranger. Maybe it was easier to confess her sins to someone she didn’t know and would never see again once she left Bluff, Texas.
“Unless you have some kind of crystal ball that’s not possible.” His tone was matter-of-fact.
She took a minute to let those words sink in.
The cowboy spoke first. “When did you realize she was missing?”
“Not until the next morning when her foster parents called, Kelly and Bill Hardings. Kelly assumed that she’d gone home with me to spend the night. When the school called the next morning to say she didn’t show up, they called to find out what was going on.”
“Sounds like they cared about her,” he said and she could tell he was reaching for something positive out of the situation.
“I think they were more worried about them looking bad to the state. They’d already talked to her caseworker about having her removed from their house and replaced with someone younger,” she said, frustration rising.
“Why would they do that? She sounds like the perfect foster kid. Studied hard. Got good grades.”
“She’s also fifteen, which pretty much means moody and self-absorbed. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great kid. But teenagers aren’t exactly the easiest people to deal with. Plus, Isabel still hadn’t gotten over missing her parents so she didn’t really open up to them like they’d hoped.”
“Why take her on in the first place? They had to know what they were getting into.”
“I’m not sure they did. They were new. After reading her file I think they thought she’d be a good way to get their feet wet with foster care. And then when she didn’t bond with them right away they got discouraged.” Alice knew that scene a little too well.
“I don’t understand that thinking. I mean, either you want to help or you don’t. These are human beings we’re talking about not pieces of furniture.” She appreciated the outrage in his tone because she felt the same way.
“The caseworker said the couple is asking for someone quite a bit younger next time.” Alice bit back her anger. “Isabel is a good kid and she doesn’t deserve any of this.”
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