Page 55 of Special Agent Jennie

Chapter Thirty-nine

Jennie saw the look of terror on Melena’s face and knew she’d have to step in. This gorgon couldn’t be allowed to upset the already tenuous link Melena had to her sanity.

She watched as the woman moved closer and saw the infinitesimal wince the worker tried to hide as she bent to put her briefcase down on the floor. Yep, there it was again as she straightened to walk over to Melena.

Instantly, Jennie felt her heart soften. She knew how hard these resource people worked and the number of cases many of them had to juggle. Most tried their best to find the right home for each problem but with the dwindling amount of placements available, the strain could be felt by the system and its employees.

Standing back and holding her judgment for now, she watched the woman approach the terrified girl.

Her hand reached as she stood in front of the bed. “Hello, Melena. I’m Miss Grundy from Family Services. I’ve been assigned to your case. I have some questions I need to ask you plus a bunch of forms to fill in. It’s best if we can have time alone.” She looked at the others swarmed protectively around the girl. “And who are you all?”

Assertively, Lance stepped forward and stuck out his hand. “Officer Lance Bosko, Ma’am. Mellie came to DC to escape the abuse from her father. We used to be neighbors and friends, so once she knew my address, she found me.”

The lady shook his hand, nodded yet said nothing. Next, she turned to Jennie.

Without hesitating, Jennie smiled politely and reached out. “I’m Agent Jennie Sarnowski and this is my daughter, Lisa. We’re here to see Mellie and make certain she’s being taken care of.” Why she felt the need to add that tidbit at the end, she wasn’t sure. Maybe to let the other woman know that Mellie had friends who were willing to follow up on her welfare.

“Well… I’m happy to see that Melena isn’t alone in her dire situation. Once I read the case files, I searched the group homes for juveniles in Washington and placement right now is a bit dicey. Also, fostering is tenuous at the best of times, so we’ll need to move quickly.”

Lance broke into her spiel. “Melena can stay with me.”

“Are you married?” Miss Grundy didn’t hold back. In fact, she bristled at being interrupted.

“No. What does that have to do with anything? She’s like my sister.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Bosko. No matter your background, the courts won’t allow an underaged girl to live with a bachelor.” Her demeanor chilled further. “I’m afraid my time is short and there’s a lot of information to cover. We’ll need the room, please.”

Jennie couldn’t say why she sensed the person speaking in such a direct, cold way had a heart hidden under her starchy shell, but she based her next move on it being the truth. “May I speak with you for a few minutes in private Miss Grundy?”

The glare from cold eyes slowly softened into a questioning regard and the woman nodded, then moved slowly to the door Jennie held open. Once in the hallway, Jennie spoke direct, wasting no time. “Are there any placements available at this moment that you would consider suitable for Mellie, Miss Grundy? You’ve read the case. You know the hell she’s been through. Right now, she’s clinging with everything in her… holding off a potential breakdown. Being surrounded by the wrong people could force her over the edge.”

“Yes. I agree. And there’s nothing I’d like better than to assure you that we have the situation well in hand… but I-I can’t.”

“And it breaks your heart.”

Miss Grundy looked to her shoes, but her head slowly nodded. “Most people don’t recognize I have one that’s still beating.”

Ahhh… humor. She knew it.Jennie felt so much better after hearing the woman’s comment.

“I’d like to propose a solution. My grandmother, my daughter, and I live together in a nice house in the upper northwest.” She pulled out a card with her address and other particulars and passed it over to Miss Grundy whose hand shot out to receive it. “I haven’t had a chance to discuss this with my grandmother in any detail yet, but she loves kids and I have no doubt she’d be willing for Mellie to move in with us until she’s of age to either live on her own or start college. I’ve checked out her school grades and the girl’s a borderline genius. At this time in her life, she needs to be coddled and looked after with care and not forced to deal with anymore dysfunction.”

“I totally agree. But she’s barely fifteen. You would be taking on her care for quite some time. I must be assured she wouldn’t be having to make another change if you feel she’s too much to handle.”

“I’m an agent with the FBI, my daughter’s a budding reporter who started recently at the Washington Post. And my baba works at the hospital and cleans the doctors’ rooms. According to her, those poor hard workers need her to take care of them. I’m sure they love the cookies and donuts she constantly provides; plus, the extra care she takes with each of their rooms to make their lives as easy as possible. They treat her like their own family. She’s a heart walking around in disguise as an old woman. There’s no one better to be in Melena’s life right now… you can take my word for that.”

“I probably would if my boss wasn’t such a stickler for every form filled in and every inspection done with precision.” Grundy wrapped her fingers around Jennie’s card possessively, her smile bringing a lovely glow to eyes who’d seen too much of the rotten side of these situations. “I’ll be making an appointment to visit your home and talk to your grandmother in the next few days. According to our reports, Miss Brunner will be discharged from the hospital shortly and this will need to be arranged.”

“You mean her coming to stay with us.”

Miss Grundy actually smiled, a small lifting of her lips, but her eyes when they searched for Jennie’s shone. “I wonder if your baba would have room for a disheartened, over-worked caseworker whose faith in humanity has been restored since talking with you. Thank you, Jennie.” A cold hand reached to touch hers and Jennie took it gently. “It’s been a pleasure. We’ll look forward to your visit.”

Miss Grundy turned to walk into the room with Jennie right behind her to find the other three all grouped together and laughing about some comment Lisa had made.

Miss Grundy, stepping much lighter, spoke in a voice that brooked no argument. “I must have Miss Brunner’s time now. We have a lot of paperwork to cover and the quicker we get started the faster we can move on getting her new life in order and her world organized.”

Jennie nodded soothingly, waved toward Lance, and grinned at Lisa’s questioning look. “Come on guys. Miss Grundy will take good care of Mellie for us. We can come back later and check on her.” She kissed the girl’s cheek and nodded toward Miss Grundy, who smiled graciously. Then she headed for the door. “See you later, sweetheart.” Mellie waved in delight and turned to the suddenly much nicer person. Relaxed, they moved to the table in the corner and Jennie knew once Miss Grundy informed her of the new development, Mellie’s world wouldn’t be such a dark, scary place.

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