Free A Shred of Evidence by Kathy Herman Page B

opinion of one man—especially a blood relative.”
    “Let’s hope you’re right, Counselor. I just wish the Department of Children and Families would remove Sarah Beth from the home until this is resolved.”
    There was a long pause.
    “I’m surprised you’re even thinking that DCF should take action at this stage,” Guy said. “You would favor tearing that little girl away from her parents based on what—something you overheard about something Eddie overheard? And words spray-paintedon a garage door? Since when is that your style?”
    “I’m not acting as a newspaperwoman, just a concerned citizen.”
    “So that makes it okay to get sloppy? Assumptions like this can destroy a person’s reputation without a shred of evidence. You’ve always been above that.”
    “Come on, Guy, I read you the article. There was just cause to wonder about Ross Hamilton before this happened.”
    “Wonder all you want. But he was never charged with anything.”
    Ellen sighed and leaned her head on the back of the couch. “Okay, you’re right. I’m way ahead of myself. But something’s wrong in that family. I can feel it.”
    “Since when does
feeling
supercede fact? Ellen, either find the evidence—or let it go.”

10

    J ulie Hamilton stared at the picture of her house on the front page of Tuesday’s
North Coast Messenger
, then folded the newspaper in half and threw it in the trash. She peeked out the kitchen curtains and saw a WRGL-TV truck parked across the street.
    Ross came into the kitchen and kissed Sarah Beth on the top of her head, then sat at the kitchen table next to her. “Are the vultures still out there?”
    Julie nodded. “I doubt this will just blow over. I’m wondering how long before some social worker comes knocking on our door.”
    “We have rights. Just because somebody spray-painted an accusation of abuse on our garage door doesn’t entitle the state to march in here and tell us what to do. The whole thing’s bunk.”
    Julie walked over to the stove and stirred the oatmeal, then took it off the burner. “I don’t know how much power they have, but I think we need to brace ourselves.” Julie put her fist to her mouth and choked back the intense fear that felt like chalk in her throat. “What if they try to take you-know-who away from us?”
    “Over my dead body!”
    Sarah Beth reached over and pushed up the side of Ross’s mouth. “Be happy, Daddy.”
    “Okay. Daddy’s happy. See?” He faked an exaggerated smile.
    “We don’t have anything to hide,” Julie said. “Maybe weshould just make the first move and invite them to come talk to us.”
    “Absolutely not! I won’t play this game. I haven’t done anything.”
    “But—”
    “But nothing! Why should I make it easy for them when I’m the victim here? If they want anything from me, they can get a court order.”
    Julie glared at him. “And what if they do? What then? I don’t know that we have a whole lot of say-so.”
    “Oh, yes, we do. We’re not caving in to this. I’m going to work, and you do what you always do. Let’s just go about our normal lives.”
    Normal lives?
Julie spooned oatmeal into three bowls, wondering if Ross realized the absurdity of what he had just said.
    Julie lay with her arm draped over Sarah Beth until the child fell asleep, then went out to the kitchen table and sat, vaguely aware of the faucet dripping.
    She closed her eyes and called up a memory that still seemed as clear to her as if she were there, one she could go back to again and again and remember what it felt like when life
was
normal …
    Nathaniel had been riding on Ross’s shoulders, his auburn curls tossed about in the sea breeze, his tiny hands clinging tightly to the sides of his daddy’s head.
    “It’s gonna
get
you!” Ross said, making shrieking noises as he ran away from the approaching surf, the sound of Nathaniel’s belly laugh drawing smiles from onlookers.
    Julie watched with delight as Ross repeated the game