The edge of panic in Addy’s voice had Savannah shooting to her feet and heading to her office for her purse and keys.
“Slow down, Addy. I can’t understand you and I want to help.”
“Aunt Savannah, the police are here to arrest Mom, and they’re ready to call Child Protective Services. Please don’t let them.” There was a ragged edge and then a hiccup. “I can’t go with them.”
“Is your mom there?”
“No.”
“Okay. I’m on my way. Can they wait for me to get there?” She glanced at her watch and groaned. It was four thirty, which meant rush hour would be well under way. It could take forty-five minutes for her to reach Stasi’s apartment.
“I don’t know. Hurry.” Addy hung up before Savannah could ask her to put one of the officers on the phone.
She rushed from her office, stopping at Hayden’s door long enough to fill her in. “Can you let Bella know I’m out the rest of the day?”
“Absolutely. Do you need anything?”
“Other than this month to stop?” She blew out a lungful of air. “Prayer would be great.”
“You have it. Always.” And the crazy thing was Savannah knew that was true.
“Thank you.”
“Now go get your niece.” Hayden’s eyes were filled with concern. “Don’t worry about anything here.” As Savannah stood rooted in place, Hayden came around her desk and eased Savannah toward the door. “Really, we have it covered.”
“You do.” Savannah nodded and snapped back into motion. “Thanks, Hayden. I’m glad you’re here.” She clutched her bag closer and then moved toward the back door. She had to keep moving or she’d crumble. This was the final pebble that had filled her jar to overflowing.
She climbed into her car and reversed out of the parking lot. As she drove, one question tormented her. What was she supposed to do when she arrived at Stasi’s?
Addy shouldn’t be a ward of the state, but how had things gotten so bad that was even an option?
Had she failed her niece and sister that much?
Savannah felt the pressure crushing her until she had to remind herself to breathe. Her lungs had forgotten how to do the function on their own. At a red light she leaned her forehead against the steering wheel. Where had the nascent peace she’d felt gone?
Even in the absence of peace, she had a choice. Trust God or take control.
Her instinct was to take it herself, but she couldn’t, not anymore. You can handle whatever situation you’re walking into, Savannah, because God is already there. Please, God, be there with Addy.
A horn startled her, and she moved the car forward through the green light.
The rest of the drive passed in a blur of stop-and-go traffic as she traveled to Bailey’s Crossroads and then turned along Carlin Springs Road to the apartment complex. When she’d found this place for Addy and Stasi, it had seemed perfect, right down to the pool where Addy could relax. It also wasn’t too far from the shopping all around Bailey’s, making it easier for Addy to navigate on her own if she needed.
That was probably why the officers were threatening to remove Addy from the home. She’d been left on her own one too many times. That had to be it, right?
The drive into the neighborhood was quiet. A couple of mothers with small children bundled in coats and mittens chatted at the pocket-sized playground. She followed the curve and neared the cluster of three buildings where the apartment was located.
Two Falls Church Police squad cars and an unmarked car sat near Stasi’s building.
Savannah’s lone hope that Addy had misunderstood disappeared like a mist. This was a real threat, one she had to address now. She pulled her car into a visitor slot and took a moment to pray before climbing out. It felt like a hundred-pound weight had settled across her shoulders, and she had to force herself forward. One cruiser held an officer, but the other two were empty as she walked past.
She used her key to enter the building and then climbed the stairs to the third-floor apartment Stasi had insisted on for safety. No garden apartment for her sister. Anyone could break in, Stasi had said.
Rather than let herself into the apartment, she rapped briskly on the door. A moment later she heard heavy footsteps followed by the door opening. A young officer who couldn’t have been more than twenty-five stood there, hand on his gun as he gave her a quick visual inspection. “You are?”
“Savannah Daniels, Addy’s aunt. She called and asked me to come.”
“I’ll need some ID.” He held out his hand as she dug through her purse.
“I should have had it ready. Sorry about that.” She kept her motions slow and hopefully nonthreatening. After she found her wallet and pulled it free, she showed him her license. “Her mother, Stasi, is my sister.”
The man took her wallet and began talking into his shoulder radio. Then he waved her in while he continued to talk. Savannah scanned the living area with its couch, coffee table, and TV. Where was Addy? Her thoughts began to spin as her niece was noticeably absent. “Addy?”
The officer came back over. “Here’s your wallet.”
“What happened?”
The man considered her. “The minor’s mother went to the girl’s school and got in an altercation with the staff.”
“What?”
“Her mother made a visit to her school today and threatened the principal. He’s pressing charges, so your sister is coming down for booking.”
“For a threat?” Savannah wanted to argue it couldn’t be true, but unfortunately it was the kind of thing Stasi would do while out of her mind.
The man’s attention didn’t flicker. “The black eye the man is sporting indicates it was more than a threat.”
“Can’t she be released on her own recognizance?” Savannah rubbed her throat trying to dislodge the lump that was growing.
“If bail is low enough, but that doesn’t fix the problem of a fourteen-year-old being alone.”
“She won’t be. I’m here to take her home with me if you’ll explain why she can’t stay here.” Savannah tucked her wallet away and scanned the small kitchenette. Still no Addy. “Where is my niece?”
“Packing a bag.” This officer wasn’t a man of many words.
A door opened and Addy dashed to Savannah’s side. “Please don’t let me go.” She held on so tight, Savannah couldn’t see her face.
“Of course.” She rubbed her niece’s back. “Are you okay?”
“Mom’s done it this time,” Addy whispered. “She was drunk. Maybe more.”
“Why was she at your school?”
Addy shrugged. “Can we please leave? I’ve seen too many police officers lately.”
The officer’s eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean?”
“She found her father’s body. It may be a suicide, but the investigation is ongoing.” She sounded like an attorney, even in the middle of a family crisis. What was wrong with her? She put an arm around Addy and pulled her back in. “It’s all right if we leave?”
“Yes.” He turned to Addy. “You shouldn’t be left on your own.” As Addy started to protest, he held up his hands. “I can tell you’re mature, but you still have a right to have someone take care of you. Let your aunt do that when your mom can’t.” He focused his attention on Savannah. “Your sister could be out tomorrow. We took her in as much to help her get off whatever high she was on.”
Addy leaned more tightly into Savannah’s side, and Savannah studied her. “Why was your mom at the school?”
“I have no idea, but I wish she’d stayed drunk on the couch.” She huffed. “I used to think that was bad enough. I was wrong. There’s a whole other level of bad.”
“All right.” Savannah would deal with Addy’s emotions later, because she couldn’t do it with a police officer watching every move and listening to each word. “We’ll figure this out as soon as we get to my place.” She turned to the officer and handed him her business card. “Please call if you need anything further. Thank you for staying with my niece until I could arrive.”
“Ma’am.”
A woman walked out of Addy’s room and eyed Savannah cautiously. “I’m starting a child-in-need-of-services investigation. You might warn your sister this kind of behavior catches our attention.” She handed Savannah a card, then joined the officer and they walked out.
As soon as the front door closed, Savannah urged Addy back to her room. “Get as much as you’ll need for school for the rest of the week.”
Addy nodded, the fight in her evaporating.