Page 11 of Cash
“Stop!”I demanded, keeping my voice level despite the rage building inside me.I positioned myself closer to Eliza, a physical reminder she wasn’t alone anymore.
Ms.Winters turned toward me, her lips thinning with recognition and annoyance.“Mr.Kingston.This doesn’t concern you.”
Lily’s crying paused momentarily as she spotted me, her eyes opening wide.“Cash!”she called out, her voice going shrill as she kicked and thrashed to get away from the officer.The big man crouched beside her, talking softly but still holding her gently around the waist.Lily shook her head violently, trying to get free.
“Her lawyer’s on the way,” I said, addressing both the social worker and the officer.“Lana Thompson.You have to wait for her.”
“We have a court order,” Ms.Winters replied coolly, holding up a document.“This isn’t up for debate or delay.”
“You’re in a safe place.Lily isn’t in imminent danger.Waiting five minutes right here isn’t going to make much of a difference.”
I glanced at Eliza, whose eyes were red-rimmed but dry, as if she’d moved beyond tears to a place of numb shock.She took a small step toward me, her voice barely audible.“They waited until visiting hours were over.Said it would be easier on everyone this way.”
The officer shifted uncomfortably, his expression suggesting he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the situation.He was young, probably new to the force.His wedding ring caught the fluorescent light when he moved his hand.
“Officer,” I said, addressing him directly, “Ms.Jans has legal representation who is en route right now.She was with me when Ms.Jans called and sent me ahead of her.Surely you can wait five minutes to make sure everything’s being done by the book.”
“The paperwork is in order,” he replied, but the uncertainty in his voice was evident.“I don’t really have a reason to delay.”
Ms.Winters stepped between us.“The placement has been arranged, the foster family is waiting, and it’s already past the child’s bedtime.Further delay only prolongs everyone’s distress.”
I refrained from pointing out if they’d waited until the morning,the childwould have already been asleep.Just.
“I want my mommy,” Lily sobbed, fresh tears streaming down her pale face as she struggled against the officer’s gentle hold.“Cash!Make them let me go!”
The sound of her distress cut through me like a knife.I’d heard the same desperate plea from kids in the system, kids who disappeared into foster care and came out the other side harder, more damaged.Some never came out at all.
“Look,” I tried again, struggling to keep my voice even, “Ms.Thompson is a respected attorney with connections throughout the family court system.If you proceed without allowing her to review the order, you’re risking legal consequences of your own.”I winced.That might not have been the best route to go.And, honestly, I could just park my fucking bike between the car and any way they wanted to go for five fucking minutes.
“Are you threatening me, Mr.Kingston?”Ms.Winters asked, her eyebrow arching.“Because threats would be unwise, particularly given your history.”
The implication hung in the air between us.My record.My status.The power imbalance couldn’t have been clearer if she’d drawn a diagram.
“Not a threat,” I replied, keeping my voice carefully controlled.“Just a fact.Legal representation is both Eliza and Lily’s right.”I raised my eyebrows at Lily, for some reason hoping the six-year-old knew about shit like that.I mean, did they still have School House Rock or something?
The officer glanced toward the exit ramp, clearly hoping for some resolution to appear.“How long until the lawyer gets here?”
“Minutes,” I said, seizing on his hesitation.“She was leaving right behind me while she made phone calls.”I had to throw the whole phone calls bit in there because, why not?I’d already basically threatened the lady.
Ms.Winters checked her watch with exaggerated patience.“We’ve already accommodated more delays than reasonably expected.Officer Martinez, please put the child in the car.”
“Lily.”I gave the older lady a firm look.“Not ‘the child’.Lily.If you’re going to rip someone away from their mother while she screams and cries for you not to, you should at least know her name.”
Finally, something hit the way I wanted and Ms.Winters sucked in a breath, her hand going to her chest as if I’d fucking stabbed her.I knew she was doing a thankless job where she had to work too many hours and see very little improvement in society, but enough was enough.
Ms.Winters lifted her chin and I thought she might protest again, but instead she took a breath and shook her head slightly.“No.I’m sorry, but this is happening.”
Eliza made a small, broken sound and stepped forward, but Ms.Winters moved between them.“Ms.Jans, please don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be.You’ll have an opportunity to present your case at the hearing.”
I caught the officer’s gaze again.“Man to man,” I said quietly, “just give the lawyer time to arrive.Five minutes.You know this ain’t right.”
I could see he wasn’t on board with leaving.He held my gaze a long moment.“You know I’m a beat cop, right?I’m literally on babysitting duty with this.I’m the transport.Nothing more.”He shrugged.“I’m sorry, man,” he said, meeting and holding my gaze with an intent look.“She’s the boss on this run.”
I growled my frustration, already working on the other plan of using my bike to block the cruiser.This would be close.
Lily’s small body disappeared as the officer helped her into a booster seat and fastened the seat belt, her sobs muffled by the closing car door.The officer walked around to the driver’s side while Ms.Winters lingered, her expression unreadable as she handed Eliza a business card.
“The contact information for family services is here.Your supervised visitation will be arranged through this office, pending the judge’s decision.”Her voice was professionally detached, as if she hadn’t just torn a family apart.“I suggest you focus on cooperating with the investigation if you want a favorable outcome.”
