Page 127 of Those Who Are Bound

“Hey!” Lucy said, twirling in the chair, clearly startled.

Moving to a filing cabinet so she wouldn’t have to reveal her tear-stained face, Elliott responded quietly, “Hey.”

“You okay?”

“Yep. Yeah. Why?”

“You look…” She stopped. “I mean, it’s just a sink.”

Elliott side-eyed her incredulously.But of course, the last Lucy had seen her, she’d been on the bathroom floor. Letting out a small laugh, she nodded. “Right.”

“I know you like to take care of most stuff around here, but there does come a point… I mean, will you please consider hiring a maintenance worker?”

Elliott sighed. It was surreal that Lucy was going on about upkeep when her heart was splintering away. But she forced away the sentiment and finally turned to face Lucy. “I don’t know that I have the energy for that right now.” Suddenly, she felt drained.

“I get it, but I can help you out there.” Lucy informed her, “The church has a program. We match our members with employers.”

“I don’t know that I can afford a salary right now; you’re doing well getting started, but we aren’t there yet.”

“You wouldn’t have to pay much if you throw in room and board. With the room behind this wall…”

Elliott looked at the wall she was talking about; Gage’s little hideaway. Dropping her gaze back to Lucy, hints of accusation and anger stirred again, reprised from the day after the storm.Howmuch did she know about that room? Or what was in it, rather?

Lucy’s mouth dropped open. “I mean, you know I know it’s back there. I saw a toilet. Clean it out, renovate it? I wasn’t snooping, I swear, but… it’s there. And someone could use it, like an on-site maintenance slash security person…”

She relaxed a smidgeon. “On-site.”

“Like I said, we have a program. Our members are vetted.”

“I’m not a member.”

“Youdon’t have to be a member. You just have to be an open-minded employer.”

Elliott cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Lucy made a face, then confessed, “It’s a program to help ex-cons find jobs.”

Now both eyebrows shot upward. “You want me to hire an ex-con? To work here?Livehere?”

“Totally and thoroughly vetted ex-cons,” Lucy said quickly. “I would never suggest it if they weren’t on the straight and narrow. I mean, I’m here, too. And, we know these people. They just need a second chance.”

Elliott was imagining the coronary Becks would have as she stared back at Lucy.

“Some are veterans.”

Okay, Becks could have that coronary. “What do you mean?”

Lucy shrugged, looking pleased with herself. “Come by and talk to a few of them. Men, women… all sorts of skill sets. And, yes, a few veterans.”

Elliott glowered at her.

Rocking in the chair, she goaded, “I’m sure Jonah would love for you to see him speak.”

Her stomach tightened. “Church isn’t my thing, so if that’s a requirement—”

“No,” she said quickly, the twisting in the chair stopping suddenly. “It’s not, but… Wow. Does he know?”

“He knows.”

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