Page 82 of Trust My Bodyguard

“Good.” She eyes me. “You’ll need it for what’s coming.”

I sigh. “Lay it on me.”

“Lenin is mad. Like big mad at you, hon. Word around the office is that he’s…”

“What?” I’m certain nothing she can say would be worse than someone trying to take my life.

“Okay, I’ll just say it. He’s trying to get you fired. He says it’s because you’re inconsistent. You’re missing work too much and you’re unable to keep up with your cases.”

The bastard. “He’s hated me long before this whole thing started. He’s just looking for an opportunity to fire me.”

“Well, that’s what he’s saying. I didn’t say anyone is buying it.”

Still, it takes very little to move the court of public opinion.

Myrtle must see this worry on my face because her features soften. “Don’t sweat it, Ivy. I promise you, we’re all on your side. I’ve shared your tasks around the office and we’re picking up the slack…” She pauses. “As best we can.”

“I know.” I cover my face and groan. “Thank you, really.” It must be a lot of work on them. Even when everyone is on ground,the workload is a lot. Especially when I’m handicapped by my circumstances.

“You’re welcome, hon. Now, let’s go over your cases.” Myrtle begins a slow breakdown of the ongoing cases I’m covering, talking about what they’ve been able to do.

I rub my forehead. “Myrtle. Please, hold on.”

She stops speaking. “Something wrong?”

“Not exactly. But I really want to hear about the Daryl Olwen case. I care about the rest, but this one takes precedence. You know I was supposed to meet with the judge today but I can’t since I’m kinda running for my life. Do you have any information on that?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Myrtle grimaces. “I should have led with that. I know how you feel about that case.”

“Daryl was a monster to those kids. He should never be able to get them back after the torment he has put them through.”

Her face is grim as she nods. Over her long career, she must have seen so many terrible situations that sometimes, I feel she’s become unmoved by the hardship we encounter. Not even batting an eye when she sees some of the terrible home lives we have to pull kids from. “People be peopling,” she’d say with a drawl and a shrug of her shoulders. Like she’s built up a shield to keep her heart safe from being personally affected.

But after learning about what Daryl Olwen did to his wife and kids, the abuse he put them through, Myrtle’s usually stoic face crumbled. My heart broke for them too. The agency immediatelyremoved the kids from his charge and gave them to a new guardian. Now, Daryl is back and demanding custody of the kids. For what? More abuse?

Not on my watch.

“I agree,” Myrtle says.

“But I can’t testify since I’m so far away. I don’t want Daryl to get those kids back, Myrtle. I’m afraid the next call won’t be to CPS but to the police.”

As the social worker who responded to the initial call from a concerned neighbor and saw the kids’ living situation first hand, my testimony is one that would ensure Daryl never gets those kids under his roof again.

“I know,” she says. “That’s why I went to see the judge on your behalf today.”

“You did.” Hope builds in my chest. “What did he say? Did you explain to him that I won’t be able to appear in court? Is he willing to move the date of the hearing?”

“No, he’s not.”

My shoulders fall and I exhale, running my hands through my hair. Can I convince Brody to accompany me back to Denver? He’d protest and rage, but if he hears about the children—

“We agreed to an even better arrangement.”

My head comes up so quickly I get whiplash. She’s smiling so that means it’s good. “What did you agree on?”

“You can offer a video testimony on that day. You don’t have to be here physically.”

I sigh, a smile framing my lips. “Thank you so much, Myrtle. I knew I could count on you.”

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