Page 49 of Coast

“Their mom died from an overdose. No dads around or any other family.”

“That’s sad.”

“Yeah,” I answered, then pointed to the door we needed to go through. “She’ll be in there if she’s in the office today.”

When we walked through the door, Mrs. Stone sat at a desk on the phone and sitting in chairs off to the side were the boys I had come to check on. Their heads bent and focused on their laps.

As we walked toward Mrs. Stone, she raised her head, and I saw recognition in her eyes. She held up her finger and Mac and I waited while she finished her conversation.

“Yes, I’ll have them there within the hour,” she said to whoever was on the other side of the call. She hung up and then looked at us. “Mr. Cortez, right?”

“Emery. And this is Mackenzie Minton.”

Mrs. Stone looked over at Tracker and Paxton. “I’ll be back in a minute. You boys stay here.”

When neither boy acknowledged her, Mrs. Stone shook her head and stood. “We can talk over there.” She pointed and started to walk across the room, putting as much distance between the boys and us as the large room allowed.

“What’s going on, Mrs. Stone?” I asked.

Mrs. Stone sighed. “Tracker ran from the foster home he was placed in. It seems he heard the parents talking about how long it was going to be before Tracker and Paxton were placed together. He’d heard them mention Paxton’s foster parents' name. He won’t say how he found out where they lived, but he did, and he took off. I’m assuming the couple of times the two foster mothers met so the boys could spend time together, he found out were their home was located. Then he found Paxton’s foster family’s home, and when Paxton was outside playing, he approached Paxton and they took off together. They were found after a few hours, and there they are.

“I’ve found a temp home. It’s a foster family whose kids happen to be with their birth mom right now. So, the boys will stay there for two weeks, giving us time to find another place for them.”

“So this just happen today? And that is why they are here?” I asked, but I already knew it was true.

“I told you before, we do our best. It may not look like it sometimes, but we do work with the children’s best interest in mind.”

“Not in those two boys’ case. They’re eight damn weeks in the system and going to a second home, and in two weeks, they will be in a third home. I don’t know how you can say you are looking out for the children’s best interest with a straight face.”

Mac placed a hand on my forearm. “Emery.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Stone. I get you have to work with what you have. Why aren’t they going back to the foster homes they were in before?”

“The foster for Tracker didn’t want to have him placed back with them because he ran and they have four others presently in their home, and Paxton’s family is the same on placing Paxton back into their home, but their reason is Tracker knows where they live. And they don’t want to have to constantly worry that Tracker will show up again.”

“So, now the boys are going today to the temp home?”

“Yes.”

“Would you mind if I spoke to them for a few minutes?”

She nodded. “I’ll run to the restroom and fax a few things while you’re talking to them.

“Can I ask a few questions before you go?” Mac asked Mrs. Stone.

“Is there anything more a foster has to do when the tribal agency is involved?”

“We have to follow the state guidelines. The difference is this office has a say over children from the reservation even though they can be placed outside of its lands. When a Native American child is fostered or adopted, we request the parents encourage the history and traditions related to the child’s heritage be kept up with. Involvement with the tribe if they are close enough is encouraged. Otherwise, teaching them about their culture.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Stone,” Mac answered.

“I’ll be back momentarily.” Mrs. Stone turned and walked across the room and out the door.

“Why’d you want to know all that?”

“Curious,” she answered. But somehow, I knew there was more to it.

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