Page 59 of Cause and Effect

“Is that what you did?” Sara asked him.

“Well, we didn’t use words. We used our fists.”

“Julian!” I exclaimed.

“Of course, you don’t do that, Sara. I’m sure if you tell him to stop, he will,” Julian said.

“Come on, girls. Let’s go. We don’t want to be late,” I said, grabbing my purse.

The girls and I climbed into the back of the Escalade while Julian sat in the front. After introducing the girls to Sam, he drove us to the school.

“Be good, and have a great day!” I kissed each of them goodbye.

“That’s him!” Sophie pointed. “That’s Justin.”

I stared at the kid and narrowed my eyes. Opening the door, I climbed out.

“Laurel, wait,” Julian said, following me.

“Girls, go inside the school,” I told them. “Excuse me? Are you Justin?” I walked over.

“Yeah. Who the hell are you?”

“I’m Sara’s mom. I hear you’ve been bullying my daughter.”

“She’s bullying material.” He laughed, and so did his two friends standing with him.

“Listen, kid—” Julian chimed in, and I raised my hand to stop him from speaking.

“Look at you, Justin Keeley.” I bent over and stared him straight into the eyes. “I’m going to take a wild guess here. Your dad is a drunk who can’t hold down a job, so your mother has to work long hours to support the family, leaving you in the care of your alcoholic father. She’s barely home, and I bet your dad likes to take things out on you. You’re so full of anger that you feel the need to take it out on innocent children. I see the road you’re heading down, and it leads straight to a juvenile detention center and possibly prison when you’re older. You’re nothing but an insecure little boy who will be a loser his entire life. If I ever get wind that you’re bullying my daughter or any other kid in this school again, I will string you up by your dirty underwear to that tree over there for the entire school to see. Got it?”

His eyes widened as he nodded, and he and his friends ran into the school.

“Damn.” Julian laughed as we climbed into the Escalade. “You’re scary. Did you see the fear on that kid’s face?”

“He’s an asshole.”

When we got to the firm, I set my things in my office, poured a cup of coffee, and took it to Morgan’s office.

“Oh good, you’re here.” She smiled. “Grab your purse.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re going to grab a coffee at the coffee shop where Georgina is right now.”

“How do you know she’s at a coffee shop?” I furrowed my brows.

“I went to her house last night and put a tracker on her car. I’ll need you to act surprised when you see her and get her to pull out her phone so I can clone it.”

“Seriously?” I smiled.

“Seriously. Let’s go.”

“What do I tell Julian?” I asked.

“Nothing. I already told Roman that I needed your help with something. And as soon as we get back, I want your phone so I can try to trace the ‘unknown number’ that keeps calling. Roman told me what happened at your house. Any idea who it could be?”

“None.” I sighed.

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