Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 107352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“He needs to learn to turn off his brain,” Benji clarified, bringing me out of my thoughts.
That made more sense.
“Shaw says your waiver is now live.”
“Ask him if he would please forward it to the Eena PD.”
Benji was silent a moment. “He says yes, it’s there.”
“Okay, thanks, I’ll talk to—”
“Wait,” he rushed out. “Listen, before jumping directly to cognitive behavioral therapy, there are things you can try.”
“Like what?”
“Like does he have a regular sleep schedule? That needs to be regulated so it’s the same seven days a week.”
“Is that fair on the weekends?”
“If he truly has insomnia, then yes. It’s very important. Also, it sounds ridiculous because it would seem to be simple common sense, but a relaxing routine before bed is paramount. For example, reading knocks me out, so you could have him try that. But no phone, no screens at all.”
“He’s sixteen, Benji.”
“I don’t care if he’s sixteen. The phone is off at ten or eleven. And the room needs to be dark and quiet and at the perfect temperature for him. Think of the three bears, not too hot, not too cold, just chef’s kiss right.”
“I’m thinking you don’t know many teenagers.”
“I know a lot, actually. I used to treat many. The point is, you’re not a friend, you’re a—”
“Guardian.”
“That’s right. You have to be the hammer first. Then once the rules are established, you can be nice.”
“I’m not gonna be here long enough for that.”
“Then it’s your way or nothing.”
“Yeah.”
“And no caffeinated beverages at dinner, and he doesn’t drink alcohol, does he?”
“He does.”
“Well, that’s not helping.”
“’Course not.”
“Get him working out, physical activities, have him run with you.”
“How do you know I run?”
“All of Jared’s fixers are in amazing shape, because you have to be. But you swim too, so have him do that if he prefers.”
“Just not close to when he has to go to bed.”
“Correct.”
“Okay.”
“If none of that works, let me know, and I’ll find you a good psychiatrist close to where you are.”
“Thanks,” I murmured.
“Hey,” Shaw muttered, having taken the phone back. “The hell do you need a guardianship waiver for? Isn’t the father there?”
“Nope.”
“No?” He sounded surprised. “Where the hell is he?”
“In someplace called Blake or Blaze, Washington, I think. His kid didn’t know.”
“The fuck is that? How do his kids not know where he is?”
“One kid. His youngest. I didn’t ask the others. And anyway, I think he’s having a bit of trouble at the moment.”
He grunted.
“Don’t be an ass.”
“Whatever. As usual, you’re being really nice. I would kill this guy.”
“You need to hear the whole story before you do that.”
“Fine. G’head. What’s the whole story?”
“No, I meant, I would need to learn that before I act.”
“I’m pissed, and I’m not even there.”
“Deep breaths,” I teased him.
“Hold on, lemme—”
“No, I gotta go in and get this kid.”
“Wait—here it is. It’s Blaise, Washington. Blaise. And it looks like it’s right there on the border with Canada.”
“Okay. I appreciate it.”
“Have you tried calling him?”
Only six times at this point. Between my conversations with the kids, I’d been calling. “I have, but I suspect he doesn’t have a satellite phone and must be out of range. Plus, for all he knows, he left a competent adult to check in on the kids.”
“Check in? Just check in?”
He was getting worked up. “Can you stop saying that?”
“Who is the person?”
“Someone named Shelly.”
“You’re makin’ this shit up.”
“She’s supposed to be a friend of the mother.”
“The mother who left her kids?”
“Again, without living in her skin, you don’t know what went down.”
“How did you get like this?”
“Through years of doing exactly what you’re doing now and getting my ass handed to me because I was quick to judge, didn’t listen, and didn’t ask any questions.”
Long sigh from him. “I forget sometimes that you’re a grown-up.”
I chuckled. “Do me a favor and hold down the fort until I get back, will ya?”
“Of course, and I’ll do some digging on this Shelly and get back to you.”
“Thank you,” I said, and hung up.
It was then time to step inside to see what condition Luke Duchesne’s oldest was in. I hoped the kid’s luck was better than mine.
The Eena police station was small. There was a hallway, an office, and a counter. When I reached it, a man sitting at the desk asked how he could help me. The nameplate on the desk said April Bell, and since he didn’t look like an April, I was thinking their receptionist was off on Sundays.
“I’m Griffin Duchesne’s guardian, and I’m here to pick him up.”
He only stared at me.
I could feel myself scowling. “Sir? Did you not hear me?”
Standing abruptly, he came around his desk and was quickly at the counter. His nametag read Benning. “Chief Wilson left orders that until Luke Duchesne showed up, Griffin wasn’t supposed to go anywhere.”
I nodded. “Well, I’m the kid’s guardian—my colleague forwarded you the legal documentation—so if you don’t produce Griffin right now, I will be calling the FBI and the state police and report you for kidnapping.”