Free The Family Man by Trish Millburn

Sara’s home number, he hated the feeling that he was betraying the kid.
     
    S ARA STILL COULDN’T believe she’d asked Adam to the benefit. Part of her thought she’d taken leave of her senses while another was jumping up and down like she’d just been asked to the prom by the cutest boy in school.
    When the phone rang, she reached for it automatically, not because she was actually thinking he’d call.
    “Hello?”
    “Sara, it’s Adam.”
    Her heart thumped harder, and her first thought was that he was calling to cancel. He’d remembered in the minutes after leaving the store that he didn’t like cops, she was a cop and therefore he couldn’t possibly go with her.
    “Hey,” was all she could manage to say.
    “I don’t know how to do this, but I need to meet you somewhere. Maybe the police station.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    He exhaled. “I need to bring David Taylor to you.”
    “David Taylor?”
    “Yeah, I caught the kid getting some water from the spigot on the side of the house.”
    “Is he okay?”
    “Yeah. He was hungry so I fed him.” Adamlowered his voice. “He had a good reason for leaving, and I told him you wouldn’t send him back.”
    “Why would you promise that?”
    “I told him you were a good person, loved kids. He’s been abused.”
    Disgust and anger made tears spring to her eyes. “Okay, bring him to the station. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
    After calling Ruby to watch the girls again, she hurried back to work and pulled out David’s file before Adam walked in beside a nervous-looking David Taylor. She offered the boy a big smile.
    “Hello, David,” she said as she offered her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
    David hesitated before taking her hand in his and shaking it. Her heart ached for this kid—part boy, part man—and the fear and strength warring in his eyes.
    Sara glanced at Adam. “Let’s all go to the conference room. A friend of mine from Social Services, Lara Stephens, is on her way.” When she saw David stiffen, she gently placed her hand on his shoulder and guided him toward the conference room across from her desk.
    Adam grabbed her wrist, drawing her attention to him as David walked into the conference room.
    “He really doesn’t need to go back home. He told me his dad made him steal, and when it wasn’t enough he knew how to hit the kid so no one noticed.”
    Sara’s stomach rolled, and determination that David would never have to fear his father again welled within her. “I’ll do everything I can. Thanks for bringing him in.”
    Adam nodded but didn’t look like he was going to follow her into the room.
    She lowered her voice so David couldn’t hear. “I think it’d be good if you came in. If he’s comfortable enough to tell you about the abuse, it might help him to have you sitting beside him.”
    The desire to flee sparked in his eyes, but he nodded and followed her into the room. Sara got cups of water for all of them while they waited for Lara to arrive. After introductions were made again, Sara caught Adam’s eyes and saw how anxious he was. Best to get the interview over with as quickly as possible.
    “David, I need you to tell me what happened that made you feel you had to run away from home.”
    David looked at Adam, who nodded. As David explained his home situation, Sara took notes and occasionally glanced at Adam. He didn’t say anything, but his mere presence seemed to help David get through the disturbing details of his relationship with his father.
    When she finished the questioning, Sara closed her folder. “You’ll be going with Lara now. She’ll make sure you have what you need and place you in a temporary foster home until we work everything out, okay?”
    David merely nodded. As they all rose, Adam squeezed David’s shoulder. She was left with the impression he was trying to give the boy strength to carry on, and it melted her heart a little.
    Sara stood in the area outside the conference room, watching as Lara