aunt is growing and seling pot.”
Julie’s head snapped to Libby. “What did you say?”
“She keeps it in the barn, I saw it this morning. I always wondered why she spent so much time out there.” Julie knew Marge Swanson was odd, but she never suspected her to be a drug dealer.
“Peter broke up with me.” Libby spoke without emotion, and held her phone up as confirmation.
“Oh Libby, I’m so sorry.” She reached across and patted Libby’s arm, wishing she could wrap the girl in her arms and protect her from the painful realities of life. She didn’t know which was harder for Libby; the confession about her aunt’s ilegal dealings or the break up with a boy who no one had ever seen.
“It’s okay, I’m used to people leaving.”
Julie fought back tears. Libby’s honesty broke her heart.
“This is going to be okay. I promise. Someday you’l look back and this wil be a smal blip in your life. You’l be happy and successful and no one wil hold you back from great things.” Libby didn’t respond.
“Listen, I’m going to help you through this. I’m leaving town for Thanksgiving weekend, but as soon as I get back, we’re going to make al this ugliness go away. I promise. Okay?” She watched Libby for a reaction, needing the girl to know someone cared.
“Okay,” she said, her voice dul.
Julie knew one thing for sure. Marge Swanson was going down. Her treatment of Libby was appaling and it was time things changed. Libby needed to live with a loving family again. Julie would make damned sure it happened. She puled into the school parking lot and parked in the staff section.
“Why don’t you come to my office and we can talk for a while, or have a little something to eat.” Libby always looked like she needed a good meal.
“I’d rather just go to drawing class.” Already out the door, her pack hung heavy on her smal shoulders.
“Al right, but I’m here for you, whatever you need.” She watched Libby disappear into the mass of students.
Julie grabbed her bag filed with papers and picked up her purse. She swung the car door closed and entered the building.
Once in the main office, she knocked on the principal’s door.
“Mr. Harried, I need the number for Rockvile Child Welfare.
We need a meeting as soon as possible.”
# # #
“Garrett, what the hel is this?” Peter stood in the hotel suite exhausted from a long day packed with interviews. In his palm lay the pieces of his broken phone.
“What are you doing messing with my stuff?” Garrett’s face turned red and pinched.
“I was looking for your phone so I could cal Libby, but found mine instead. What gives?”
“Oh yeah, that. Wel, ya see, your phone had a little accident.
I didn’t want to tel you, cause I know how you over react whenever your little hottie is involved.”
Peter straightened. Garrett was too cocky, even for him.
Something was up. Whenever Garrett got like this it was because he’d screwed with other people’s business. Guarded, Peter asked,
“What happened?”
“Nothing realy.” Garrett’s beady eyes stared him down.
Peter knew he lied. A bad feeling sat in the pit of his stomach.
“You son of a bitch, what the hel did you do?”
“Actualy, I did you a favor. In fact, you should thank me for cleaning up your mess. You won’t have to deal with your Midwest farm girl anymore.”
Peter dropped the broken pieces of the phone on the side table. He stalked across the room and grabbed Garrett by the front of his expensive shirt and shook him, tearing the shirt in the process.
“Listen here, smart ass, you better start talking and fast.” He tightened his grip and lifted Garrett off his feet. Fabric ripped beneath his hands.
“Chil man, wil ya? You’re ruining my new shirt. See what I mean? One mention of your little girlfriend and you go postal.” Peter was about to respond when Adam walked in, futzing with his camera. He took one look at Peter and Garrett. “Dude, what are you doing? Mom and Dad are like ten feet away.” Peter shoved Garrett away, disgusted, but his piercing glare remained. Garrett shrugged and fixed his colar back in place.
“Geez, what’d you do to piss off Peter? Hit on his girlfriend or something?” Adam plopped onto the couch between the two.
“Adam, shut it,” Peter said through clenched teeth.
“More like something.” Garrett puffed up his chest.
“Oh shit, I gotta hear this.” Adam put his feet up on the couch and grinned ear to ear,