Page 10 of Petite Fleur

I love helping people, plus it would have gone to waste anyway. So why not help others?

Feeling a little better about myself, Shelby and I continue our walk to my apartment, but I'm still feeling crappy.

This day really couldn't have gone much worse. I'm hungry, embarrassed, and most of my friends ditched me for the night, but at least Shelby vowed not to ditch me. At least someone saw me and didn't just see the background person following Carlie and Sean around.

Although I'm already dreading taking her back to my apartment, it's embarrassing to bring someone home and only have water, sparkling water, coffee, and a few snacks to eat.

Hopefully, she isn't the judgemental type. She doesn't seem like it, but none of them do at first.

Everyone seems sweet until they feel comfortable letting the mask slip.

Chapter 4

Leon Aldon

I've been in a fucking terrible mood for the last two weeks, I'm irritable, exhausted, and overscheduled.

Luckily, my patient load is lower a few days this week, which gives me the time I need to take a little drive to Arlington.

I've been planning this trip for weeks, ever since that almost patient of mine killed herself.

I've just been a little too busy to get it done until now.

I hate that.

I hate that this girl's father is under the impression that he got away with how he treated her, but he basically has.

Until now.

Denise had shown up at the police station that night with fresh strangulation marks around her neck and the blood vessels in her eyes had burst.

She was in absolute hysterics and she had a witness, yet somehow this fucker still got away with it.

Maybe because she was only 16 at the time?

Her dad showed up at the police station, claiming he wasn't allowing his daughter to talk to the police without a guardian.

Maybe she froze up?

Fuck, I don't know.

We never got to talk about it, but I read the police report when she booked a consultation.

She had more than enough evidence to get him locked up for attempted murder, yet the entire case was thrown out and she was left with the only option being to run.

So this asshole has a spotless record and a dead child.

I doubt he even cares that she killed herself.

I wish she was my patient at the time. That way, I could have had a reason to speak to the father, an excuse to see if he even feels the slightest hint of remorse. I doubt that he does, but I intend to find out.

It's late in the afternoon by the time I reach Arlington and find the trailer park Mr. Sam Fredrick lives in relatively quickly.

I don't have the energy or the patience to drive all around this fucking town to find this guy.

As soon as I pulled up in front of his trailer, I realized I had made a mistake driving my car here.

I stick out like a sore thumb when I look around at all the beaters in everyone else's driveways.