Chapter Eleven
Brian fiddled with his sandwich, as he tried to think up his next line. The telephone rang, breaking him away from his daydream. "Hello?"
"Bri?"
"Eric!"
"Brian, Jack has other people working on the case. Annie just left—someone was here earlier, inquiring her about your absence." Brian didn't respond. "Brian?"
"Eric, how much longer should I bother waiting? Lucy is going to hate me soon, and she's going to be taken away. It's only a matter of time."
Brian heard Eric groan. "This is what I was afraid of."
"Excuse me?"
"You can't give up. If you quit, then it's over. There is nothing left to do, and I'll tell Jack that she's with you."
Brian drummed his fingers on the table, debating. Finally, he nodded. Realizing that was on the telephone and Eric couldn't see him he said quietly, "I'll do it. I don't know how much longer I can wait, but for my daughter's sake, I will try."
"Bye, Kizeek," she said to her bus driver as he let her off.
"See you tomorrow, Cassidy." He waved just before driving off. Lucy watched him as he neared the corner, and made her way inside her new home.
Lucy didn't even have to call for her father. He was right there. "How was school?"
"It was so cool. It's really different from Glen Oak High, but I love it just the same."
Brian smiled. "That's good, Sweetheart. Do you have any homework?"
"Nope. I finished it math class, since the kids were taking a test. Dad, can I call Mary?"
"You may write."
"But I need to—"
"Lucy, no. There is only one phone in this town, and that's in the front of the town."
"So I'll walk there."
"No, you will not."
"Fine!" Lucy screamed. "Take everything away from me! Mom's gone, we had to move—and so quickly—there are no phones here, my school is like, an hour away, we have to live in this old shack, and now I can't even walk to the front of the town? Oh, and you have yet to tell me what the devil is wrong with you!"
"Lucy!"
Tears burned Lucy's eyes, and right now, she didn't care. "I hate you!" Those were her last words spoken before the door fell down.
"Simone and Kirk. We have come to take your daughter away."