Page 40 of One Last Secret

“I don’t think so. You’ve failed to conduct a wellness check and a psychological evaluation of Miss Holloway. I feel safe assuming you’ve failed to conduct a background check of her intended guardians as well. You’ve failed to allow Miss Holloway the legal advocacy to which she’s entitled. You’ve trespassed on her property, and you’ve—”

“I get your point,” Jasmine interrupts. Ooh, I don’t like her at all. “We have screened her grandparents, and prior to placement, we will conduct a psychological evaluation. As far asa wellness check, based on what I’ve seen, she is veryunwell. I’m considering recommending hospitalization.”

“And Iwillbe making a formal complaint about how the state has handled her case. May I have your supervisor’s number?”

“Like I said, you can take the number, but it won’t change what happens here.”

I direct my attention to the officers standing next to her. “Officer, do you have the legal right to forcibly remove Miss Holloway from the home knowing what I’ve just told you?”

The officer shifts his feet nervously. “The court order does say she needs to be removed.”

“May I see that order?” I ask Jasmine.

She hands me a file, somewhat reluctantly. I look through it and see that all of the items I’ve pointed out have been checked. I meet her eyes. I no longer wear a façade of sweetness. “This information is falsified. That’s fraud.”

Her lower lip twitches once. “I’m just here to pick her up. They handed me the paperwork and said go pick her up.”

“You aren’t her caseworker?”

“I am, but—”

“Then aren’t you responsible for all of these items being completed?”

“I am. But it’s not uncommon for the preliminary work to be completed prior to the first meeting. It expedites things.”

“Then I’d like to speak with your supervisor and make him aware that theyhaven’tbeen completed.”

Jasmine hesitates. She appears to wrestle with whether or not to acquiesce or press the issue. Unfortunately, she chooses to press the issue. “Miss…”

I don’t reply. I’m in no mood to be polite to her. She frowns and continues, “Miss.I have a court order to take Miss Holloway from the premises and deliver her to her grandparents. Thatwillhappen. If you’d like to file a complaint, you may do so, but I will carry out my instructions.”

“And I will call every news agency in Northern California and tell them that you forcibly removed a grieving young woman from her home without following a single step in the legal process required to do so. I will name you personally and detail your arrogance, petulance and lack of any concern or regard for the girl under your care, including your admitted negligence in ensuring that the pre-transfer care Miss Holloway is supposed to receive atyourhands was completed. Further, I will contact a friend of mine who is an excellent private investigator. He will scour every case you’ve ever managed and discover every single shortcut you’ve taken, every rule you’ve broken, everything you’ve done that is even the slightest bit unethical and he will publish those findings nationwide.”

She pales. “That’s illegal.”

“He’s very adept at finding legal ways to hold people accountable for their actions. Since you are a public servant, I imagine it will be very easy for him to find such a way in your case.” I turn to the officers. “The same, of course, applies to you. I don’t hold you two any ill will, but that girl was placed into my care by her father, and I will be as vicious as any mother if she is harmed due to this woman’s negligence and your choice to enforce it.”

The officers lookveryuncomfortable now. I turn to the discomfited Jasmine and say, “Now. For the final time, I would like your supervisor’s—”

“No!”

The shout is loud enough to carry through the door and interrupt my conversation. It’s followed by a crash and a scream. My heart falls to my feet. I turn and sprint into the house.

Evelyn is on the floor of the living room. I see red, and for a terrifying moment, I think she’s bleeding, but when I look again, it’s only a red coffee mug that’s been shattered.

“What happened?” I cry out. “Where’s Celeste?”

“She’s run,” Evelyn says, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I tried to stop her, but she panicked again, and she wouldn’t listen.”

“Where did she go?”

“She went downstairs. She said she’s going to the vanishing point.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A chill ripples through me. I forget about Evelyn. I forget about Jasmine and the officers outside. I forget about Victor and Lisa and Sean. In my terror, I even forget about Annie.

I rush down the stairs, ignoring the people calling my name above me. I shout for Celeste as I scramble onto the basement floor and onto the deck. I lean over the railing and look for her, but I don’t see her.

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