Page 93 of Lost Lake
“We take placements from social services for children who most foster homes don’t want to deal with. Kids who are neglected or abused or have behavioral issues. We also provide temporary placements referred by social workers.”
Such a shame that these children had already been through so much then had to live in such a depressing place. If she believed donating money to the home would perk the place up, she’d do it, but she only feared Tinsley would use it for his office or his needs.
Tinsley jutted out his chin. “Are you satisfied now, and I can get back to my work?”
“Yes, thank you for the tour,” El said.
He walked out the door, his pace brisk in the hallway. She followed, Gabe behind her. Three early teen girls were walking toward them, heads bowed together and chatting.
Tinsley didn’t seem to notice them, but continued down the hall.
El said hello in passing and continued after Tinsley. One of them tugged on the back of her jacket, stopping her. El turned.
The girl glanced in Tinsley’s direction then stepped closer and motioned for El to lower her head.
“We need help,” she whispered, abject fear in her eyes. “They take kids who don’t have anyone. Kids like me.”
El couldn’t be more shocked and didn’t know how to respond.
Was this girl telling the truth?
El opened her mouth to ask her name.
“Girls!” Tinsley bellowed down the hall at them. “Move along now. You should be in class. And you, Detective, should be on your way.”
“Please help,” the girl whispered and rushed away with the others, who also gave El a silent plea as they passed by.
El followed them down the hall. Was this girl right? Were they actually taking kids for some purpose? Maybe trafficking them or selling them for adoption? Should she believe the girl?
She didn’t know, but one thing was sure. She had to follow up. Not only for the children’s sake, but because it could be related to their investigation, and the reason Kenna had been murdered.
22
Outside on the sidewalk, Gabe looked around to be sure he was alone with El. Satisfied no one could overhear them, he took hold of her arm to slow her down. “What happened back there with the girl? Your demeanor changed completely.”
“That’s because of what she said to me.” El’s troubled gaze looked up at him. “She said, and I quote, ‘They take kids who don’t have anyone. Kids like me.’”
“Wow!” Gabe shook his head. “Do you think she was legit?”
“She seemed legitimately scared but could just be a good actor. However, the other girls didn’t say anything, but their expressions seemed to confirm what she told me.”
“So do you want to follow this lead or stick with finances?”
“I’ll have to refer it to social services but as for us, I don’t think we have enough information to go on. For now we stick with finances, then we go back to Hayden. See what he’s learned about Safe Harbor and New Tide.”
He nodded his agreement with her plan when he just wanted to charge back to Tinsley and shake him until he admitted what they were doing with these children.
El shifted to stare across the parking lot. “Since we’re here, we’ll try to interview Sloan and Trent.”
“Lead the way,” he said, honoring her decision again.
She started to cross the parking lot to the New Tide office, also a house, but this one was very contemporary.
A black van whipped into the parking lot. The front side door held the Safe Harbor logo. She turned to Gabe. “Is that a Ford?—”
“Transit 350? Yeah, it is, but the plates don’t match the ones in Mason’s pictures.”
“They could’ve switched plates, or they have additional vans. And we don’t even know if the van in Mason’s pictures is the one that ran Kenna off the road.” El ended their conversation and raced toward the vehicle.
