A Broken Bone (Widow's Island #6) - Melinda Leigh Page 0,15

shit about him.” He released his wife’s hand and shoved both hands through his hair. “We’ve had kids who were much more difficult.”

Nancy studied her thumbnail. “We’ve fostered kids who’ve scared us. But not Gavin. Not once. He was just lost and sad. We really thought we could help him.” A tear dropped from her cheek onto the table. She ignored it.

“Gavin was a really good kid,” Frank agreed in a hoarse voice.

Tessa’s chest ached over her heart. “Did he get along with the other kids?”

Frank nodded. “Pretty much. They squabble now and then, like kids do.”

“Tell me about the other kids,” Logan said.

“Trevor has been with us for six months. He’s eleven. His parents are both in jail on drug charges. Mark is thirteen. He knows nothing about his father. He’s been here for eight months because his mother is a prostitute and alcoholic. She’d leave him alone for a week at a time, often with no food. Seventeen-year-old Ian came to us three months ago after his parents died in an auto accident. He had no family willing to take him in. He’s at school right now.”

“Trevor and Mark don’t go to school?” Logan asked.

“I used to be a teacher.” Nancy’s half smile was sad. “Many of the kids who come to us are discouraged with school. Some are malnourished. Others are behind for their grade. If they have trouble, I offer to homeschool for a while. With one-on-one instruction, I can get them caught up faster and with less emotional trauma. They need time. They need peace, and other kids can be cruel.”

“We’ll need to talk to them,” Tessa said.

Frank frowned. “Trevor and Ian will cooperate. As you know, Mark can be tough. He’s had some bad experiences with law enforcement. Will you interview them here, or do you want me to bring them to the station?”

“Here will be fine.” Tessa didn’t want to upset the boys with a trip to the sheriff’s station. “But I’ll need privacy.”

“You can use my office.” Frank stood and gestured toward a back hallway.

Logan stood and followed Frank. “What do you do for a living?”

“I host and maintain private websites.” Frank unlocked the door to a small but tidy office.

“I wouldn’t have guessed,” Logan said.

“I like farming and fishing more, but they don’t pay as well.” Frank stood aside for them to enter.

Tessa eyed the key in his hand. “Why do you keep the door locked?”

Frank put the key in his pocket. “The desktop computer in the living room is equipped with parental internet controls. My work computers are not. We’ve had kids access porn. There are websites and connections that are beyond inappropriate. They’re downright dangerous. I’m happy to say most of the kids we’ve hosted have cooperated without too much issue. They wanted to stay here. For some, this is the first place they’ve felt safe. Plus, some of the data on my computer is sensitive. My clients require privacy.”

Nancy added, “We regulate screen time for every kid in our care.”

“So you don’t fully trust them?” Logan asked.

Frank shrugged. “They’re kids. They need rules. We find it better to only trust them with decisions that can’t hurt them or anyone else in the household.”

Logan tilted his head. “Do you ease up on the rules after a kid has been here a long time?”

“No.” Frank’s jaw tightened. “Everyone follows the same rules.”

Is he a hard-ass?

“For most of these kids, our house is temporary. Most go back to their parents.” She frowned.

The front door opened, and a tall older teen with bright-red hair walked in. He nodded at Tessa.

“Hello, Ian,” Tessa said.

“Ian.” Nancy lowered her voice. “This is Mr. Wilde. He and Deputy Black came here to tell us that Gavin has been found. I’m sorry, but he’s dead.”

Ian drew back, his mouth dropped open, and his face paled. “I can’t believe it. I—we all thought he ran away.”

Pity stirred in Tessa’s chest. “We need to ask you some questions.” She gestured toward Frank’s office.

“Okay.” But Ian looked unhappy as they herded him into the large room. Three monitors sat on a large desk. In front of the desk was a conversation area. A small couch faced two chairs.

Logan closed the door. Ian sat in one of the chairs. Tessa took a seat on the couch directly across from him. Logan eased onto the sofa next to her.

Ian seemed detached and shocked. “This doesn’t seem real. I only knew Gavin for a short while, but he seemed okay.”

“This must be really