Page 36 of Cash
Hannah stepped closer to Eliza, placing a supportive arm around her shoulders.“Ms.Winters, consider how traumatic another removal will be for Lily.She’s already been through this once.At least let her mother explain what’s happening, to prepare her.”
For the first time, Officer Martinez spoke up without prompting.“She has a point.Last time was rough on her.”He turned his gaze forward.“Especially when she got hurt.”
Ms.Winters turned to him, her expression hardening.“Your concern for the child’s comfort is noted, Officer.However, my concern is for her safety in an environment where violence clearly erupts without warning.”She gestured toward my now-bruising jaw and Ash, still restrained by Knuckles.“As we’ve just witnessed.”
Eliza found her voice at last, though it trembled with barely contained emotion.“Please, just wait for Lana.”
“Every moment we delay potentially exposes Lily to further harm.”The woman looked both smug and put out at the same time.
“Harm?”Pippa’s voice rose in disbelief.“The only person who has physically harmed Lily is you, when you dislocated her shoulder the last time.”
Ms.Winters flinched almost imperceptibly, the first crack in her facade.“I’m not even certain it happened in my care.Could have happened in the hospital.It’s one of many things we’re looking into.”
“What’s the real agenda here, Ms.Winters?Because this sure as hell isn’t about Lily’s welfare.”I kept my voice soft and made sure to not move.I had to keep my control as well as not make any moves the officer could interpenetrate as aggressive.I could really give a fuck about Ms.Winters.
Her gaze met mine with cold calculation.“Mr.Kingston, your presence is exactly part of the problem.You have no business forming attachments to vulnerable children or their mothers.The court order specifically mentions your growing influence over Ms.Jans and her daughter as a cause for concern.”
The words hit like a physical blow.She had been watching us, documenting every interaction, turning my attempts to help into evidence against Eliza.Worse, my presence in their lives was now being used as a weapon to separate them.
Hannah must have seen the realization on my face.She squeezed my arm in warning before turning back to Ms.Winters.“This is absurd.Cash has been nothing but protective and supportive.”
“Is that what you call his relationship with Ms.Jans?”Ms.Winters countered, her implication hanging in the air between us.My skin burned with anger and shame.How much did she know about last night?Or was she simply fishing?Could go either way.
“Enough,” Eliza said suddenly, her voice stronger than I expected.“My personal life is not relevant to my ability to care for my daughter, and Cash served his sentence.”
“I won’t ask again.This is happening right now.Step aside.”
Pippa held her ground for another moment, then looked at Knuckles.A silent communication passed between them before she reluctantly moved aside.I understood their calculation immediately.Physical resistance would only make things worse, provide more evidence of the “dangerous environment” Ms.Winters was so eager to document.
“I’m coming with you,” Eliza said firmly as Ms.Winters started down the hallway with Officer Martinez following.No one tried to stop her.
I moved to follow as well, but Hannah caught my arm.“Let her go alone first,” she whispered.“Don’t give Winters more ammunition about your influence.”
The wisdom of her advice didn’t make it any easier to stay behind.I watched Eliza walk down the corridor, her back straight despite the devastation I knew she felt.My chest ached with the need to protect her, to fix this somehow.
“Knuckles,” I said quietly, “can we do anything?We all made promises not to let this bitch take Lily.”
He released Ash, who slumped against the wall, the fight drained out of him.“Not right now,” Knuckles replied, his voice pitched low.“Not like this.We play by their rules for now, then we destroy them with their own system.We’re not letting them have Lily any longer than strictly necessary.”
“And if playing by the rules doesn’t work?”I asked.
His eyes met mine, cold and certain.“Then we try something not in their rule book.”
Several agonizing minutes passed before Eliza reappeared at the end of the hallway, her face ashen.She nodded once, a small, broken movement telling us everything we needed to know.Ms.Winters followed, her expression neutral despite the victory she had just secured.Officer Martinez came last, leading Lily by the hand.
My heart clenched at the sight of her.She clutched Mr.Flopsy against her chest, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.She wore a pink shirt with butterflies making her look even smaller, more vulnerable.When she spotted me, her face crumpled.
“Cash!”she cried, trying to pull away from Officer Martinez.“I don’t want to go!”
The officer maintained his gentle hold on her hand but didn’t force her forward.Instead, he knelt down to her level, his face filled with genuine compassion.
“Hey kiddo,” he said softly, “remember me?We need to take another little trip.”
Lily’s lower lip trembled, tears filling her eyes as she looked between her mother and me.“But I want to stay with Mommy.And Cash.I don’t want to go in the police car again.”
Officer Martinez glanced up at me, something like an apology in his expression.“Your buddy Cash will get everything worked out,” he told Lily quietly.“You’ll see.”
The promise made my throat tighten painfully.This cop was trying to comfort Lily by using her trust in me, reassuring her I’d fix a situation I felt powerless to change.
