Page 94 of Hot Shot

“Marco and I have been working on an idea. Julia’s been involved in it a little because it’s something that she’s interested in. She loves to paint, murals. Big pictures. And some of her friends . . . Ah hell, I have to be honest.”

Mrs. Garner’s forehead creases. “Okay.”

“Julia got involved with a gang of graffiti artists. Marco caught Julia painting graffiti on the back of Conquistadors. We talked to her about it, and she agreed to do some work for Marco to pay the costs of painting over it.”

“Dear Lord.” Mrs. Garner presses a hand to her chest.

“Yeah. I haven’t told Lauren, but I’m going to. Anyway, we thought maybe there was something we could do to help the other kids she was hanging out with and keep them from getting into trouble. So we—”

“You,” I interject. “This was your idea, Carrie.”

She smiles. “I had this idea of opening a place for kids to go after school, weekends. Somewhere they could do their art that was safe and kept them off the streets.”

“We’ve been talking to Anna Bowes,” I add. “She runs the gallery that sells some of Carrie’s paintings and my sculptures. She has some ideas and connections, and Carrie’s done a bunch of preliminary work, even found a place that looks ideal. But we need to raise some money to pay for the space, buy supplies, and we need to get some volunteers involved.”

“That’s . . . a full-time job.” Mrs. Garner tips her head to one side.

“It is,” Carrie agrees. “At least, right now it is. I think once we’re set up, it wouldn’t be a full-time job to keep it going, but it would need someone to manage it.” She squares her shoulders. “Since I’m leaving soon, I thought you’d be the perfect one to do that.”

“Me?” Mrs. Garner’s eyes widen.

“Yes. You keep saying you need some kind of purpose in your life. You need to be busy and productive. This would be a way for you to do it. We couldn’t afford to pay someone with the kinds of skills and experience you have.”

“So you’re asking me to work for free.” Mrs. Garner pauses. “I’m kidding. That’s what volunteer work is. It’s not like I need a job that pays. But . . . I don’t have any experience with nonprofits.”

“I know, but . . . would it be that much different?”

“I expect there are legal and accounting differences.” Mrs. Garner taps her bottom lip. “I’d be interested in doing some research into it. I’d need some help . . .”

“I’m here.” I lift a hand.

Mrs. Garner gives me a long look, then glances at Carrie. “Of course you are.” She smiles, but her eyes hold a hint of something else . . . worry? “I know a couple of people I could ask to help with fundraising. And your brother James might be willing to do some pro bono work.”

“So you’ll do it?” Carrie perches on the edge of the couch.

Mrs. Garner doesn’t answer immediately. “Tell me more about Julia.”

Carrie nibbles her bottom lip. “Well, she apparently did do some other, uh—”

“Vandalism,” I say.

Carrie wrinkles her nose.

“Well, it is,” I say evenly. “You know it is.”

“I know. But to her, it was art. She’s really having a hard time with Lauren and Brian’s separation. I know Lauren’s hurting, but she hasn’t talked to any of us about it. She really needs to talk to Julia and spend some time with her.”

Mrs. Garner sighs. “I know. I’ve tried to tell her that.” She eyes Carrie. “But you plan to talk to her about this?”

“Yes.” Carrie sighs. “I shouldn’t have kept it from her, but I didn’t want Julia to get in trouble. She’s struggling and found a group she thought she fit in with, and I know the graffiti was a bit rebellious. But honestly, she worked hard at Conquistadors to make up for it.”

“If anyone can talk to Lauren about this, it’s you, sweetheart.”

Carrie blinks. “Well, I don’t know about that. But I’m going to try. I should have done it sooner instead of hiding what was going on from her.”

“You thought you were doing the right thing. And it sounds like you made a difference for Julia.”

“She did,” I confirm. Again, Mrs. Garner divides a strange look between us, a curious softness in her eyes. “How’s the garage door working, by the way?”

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