as Maya cuddled her squirming daughter. He wanted involvement? With the queen of gypsies? Had he lost his pea-picking mind?
"The building inspector said he was ordering the building closed for major structural repairs," she said in reply to his question. "I figured I'd get my things out before the police arrived this time."
Axell let out a curse he seldom used in public, bit back a second one, and in the interest of peace, stood up and stalked to the window. He'd ordered a private room for her so she'd get some rest. He was already overboard.
"There's not a damned thing wrong with that building. I had inspectors crawling all over when I had it renovated. Somebody bought this one off."
"Then I don't have to move?" she asked hopefully.
Axell wanted to bang his head against the window. The rain had stopped, but the clouds hadn't dissipated. The glossy new green leaves of the crape myrtles glistened with raindrops against the dark clouds—bound to be a metaphor for something, but he wasn't a man who dealt in metaphors.
"If they put a notice on it, you can't live there," he said heavily, "and we can't open it to the public until I have my lawyers handle it, but you should be able to go in and get your things. It's not in any danger of falling apart."
Her silence told him all he needed to know. She was homeless again.
* * *
"Mr. Holm, your intentions are admirable, but the fact remains, Miss Alyssum's nephew is a ward of the state until otherwise released. You know yourself that this department has been under fire for not properly overseeing the children in its protection. I would be neglecting my duties to the child and to the state if I didn't see that he's adequately housed. I've been informed that Miss Alyssum's home has been condemned, and I'm already familiar with her finances. Until she finds a salaried position, she's in no financial condition to provide adequate housing. I'm afraid I'll have to put him in foster care until further notice."
Axell simmered as he listened to this self-righteousness. This had gone on far enough. He might be tough enough to part Maya from the Pfeiffer property, but even he wouldn't dare part her from her home and kids. He didn't care which snitch had reported Maya's temporary housing predicament. They weren't giving her a chance. The next thing they'd do was take Alexa away. This was utterly ridiculous.
Axell leaned forward against his desk and glared at the lumpy social worker on the other side. "Her apartment in my building is as structurally sound as it gets. My lawyers are looking into the matter as we speak. In the meantime, she has friends she can count on. She and Matty will not go without a roof over their heads."
The young social worker glared back at him from behind bottle-thick glasses and thin, lifeless bangs. "The state cannot condone a ward living in immoral circumstances, and pardon my putting it bluntly, with people of unsavory reputation. We've done a background check, Mr. Holm. The instance of drug sales in your restaurant, and the imminent loss of your liquor license does not exactly make you a role model for an impressionable five-year old."
If he hadn't had complete control of his temper, he would have leapt over the desk and throttled her. Soon, they'd be trying to take Constance away. This was the next best thing to a police state. Forget running for mayor. He'd go after the governor's job—as soon as he got this mess straightened out.
Is this what Maya had put up with all these years? He was beginning to understand some of her defensiveness. Knock a person down and keep a foot on their neck all their lives, and most people would get a little leery of anyone in authority. He was amazed that she'd come as far as she had. The gypsy had guts.
"Repeat what you just said in public, and I'll have you sued for slander," he informed her coldly. "Miss Alyssum has no family left, so she relies on friends. I'm a friend. She is part owner of the Impossible Dreams day school and my partner in The Curiosity Shoppe. She's a tax-paying citizen and has her rights. You cannot take that child away from her unless you find Matty hungry, unclothed, dirty, and homeless. This is not the case. Until it is, I suggest you stay clear of the Alyssums or expect to have