psychological care. Counseling would be part of their lives, maybe forever. The other twelve girls had been placed in foster care—at a new group home. Oliver had apparently met the two sets of parents running the place.
“As bad as life has been for these girls, today they finally got a break.” Oliver had sounded emotional. “The house parents are kind people, people of faith. They quit their jobs as counselors, bought a parcel of land and built a massive group home. All so they could help children coming out of trafficking.”
The news was more than Jack could’ve hoped for. Maybe God was listening, after all. According to the commanders in charge of the Night Stalker unit and the Navy SEALs, the mission couldn’t have gone better. None of the Night Stalkers or SEALs were injured in the raid.
The outcome wasn’t so good for Anders’s men. Three of them had died in the battle, along with Anders. Good riddance, Jack thought. Another six of the man’s guards had been apprehended and brought back to Los Angeles, where more of these cases were heard, and where the guards would be held behind bars without bail until their trial.
Betsy Norman was arrested without incident. She was currently booked on enough charges to lock her up forever.
Jack drew a deep breath. Can’t ask for more than that.
His arm was still in a sling. So he dressed with his other hand and an hour later he was sitting in Oliver Layton’s office, the first time Jack had seen his boss since he returned from Belize.
“I talked to Terri.” Oliver leaned back and studied him. “The bullet in your shoulder. You saved our informant’s life. Eliza Lawrence.”
This was exactly what Jack wanted to talk about. “Where is she?”
“Yes, that. I’m not happy about it.” A shadow fell over Oliver’s face. “We’re struggling.”
That’s what Jack figured. “Terri told me she was sent to a residential placement center.”
“We tried that.” Oliver hesitated. “The place was full. She’s an adult, so she can’t stay with the other girls. The services we have for children don’t apply to her.”
Frustration filled Jack’s veins. “That’s wrong, sir.” He could picture Eliza’s blue eyes. “So what if she’s twenty. She might as well be fifteen. She’s never known anything but the Palace. We can’t just turn her out on the streets.”
“I agree.” Oliver stood and faced the window behind his desk. “Since 2000 we’ve tried to find the exact right way to help victims of trafficking. But our programs are all very specific.”
Jack knew only too well. As a victim of trafficking—which she was, even though she was never technically sold—if Eliza wanted citizenship, no problem. If she applied for a small business loan, she’d get preference. But how was she supposed to live in the meantime? Jack clutched the arms of the chair. “Where is she now, sir?”
“She’s not a Texas resident, Jack. That excludes her from a number of services. The ones she’s eligible for are full.” He paused. “And honestly, she’d face the same thing in any state.” Oliver turned to Jack again. He paused longer than usual. “She’s in a homeless shelter. I gave her food vouchers and a bag of clothes from the Goodwill. I had nothing else, Jack.”
“What about hotels?”
“We’re out of vouchers. I put a social worker on the case. If one opens up, Eliza will be the first to get it.”
Jack was on his feet. “Are you kidding me?” His voice was louder than he intended. He stared at Oliver, then he dropped back to his chair again. Even now he couldn’t be rude. None of this was Oliver’s fault. But he was seething. “A homeless shelter, sir? Really?”
“I was lucky to get her that.” Oliver sorted through a folder on his desk. “There’s a facility for domestic violence victims that might have a spot in a month or so.”
“What?” Jack couldn’t believe this. Eliza was at a homeless shelter, alone in San Antonio? “You said she can’t be with the other girls.” His mind began to spin. The floor felt unsteady. Eliza would feel tricked for sure. Lying on a mattress on the shelter floor, no doubt surrounded by some of the scariest people in the city? “Let’s get an exception.”
“That won’t work.” Oliver shook his head. “The new group home is licensed only for minors. She would be considered a liability to the younger girls.”
A liability? Jack was ready to blow up. “Sir, I’m requesting this day to figure out housing for the