Impact (Suncoast Society #32)(31)

Landry had filled him in about Sofia and the impending probation officer visit.

He didn’t have a good feeling about it.

When he arrived home, Tilly already had dinner going. Sofia sat in the living room with Landry, who was holding the baby.

Sofia looked barely vertical.

He walked into the kitchen to greet Tilly. “How is she?” he whispered.

“Sofia?”

He nodded.

She shrugged and pointed. “That’s pretty much been how she’s been since she got up from her nap.”

“She looks like hell.”

“So would you.”

“Good point.” He went to change clothes and returned to the living room to talk to Sofia. They had nearly two hours still before the scheduled visit. Just as he was about to say something, the doorbell rang.

Shit. They were really early.

“That’s probably the deliverymen with the crib,” Tilly said.

“Crib?”

“Yeah, you know. A bed for a baby?”

“Oh.” He went to open it. Sure enough, it was the deliverymen.

Once the box and mattress were deposited in the spare bedroom, he returned to the living room and started to talk to Sofia when the doorbell rang, again.

Tilly stuck her head around the corner, wearing a frown. “I don’t know who that is.”

Cris went to answer it and found three women—one of them a uniformed police officer—standing there.

The woman in front held up an official ID. “Carnie Nerzino. I’m here to do a home inspection. This is Louisa Gonzalez from Child Protective Services.”

Cris stepped aside. “Please, come in.”

He didn’t miss how the woman was already looking around, even as he closed the door behind the three of them.

“I know I said eight, but I prefer to do a surprise inspection. It was also easier for Ms. Gonzalez to make it now rather than later.”

“That’s fine.”

“And you are?”

“Cris Guerrero. I’m Sofia’s cousin.”

She consulted a file folder in her hand. “Yes, you were listed as a contact.” She spotted Landry. “Mr. LaCroux.”

Tilly emerged from the kitchen. “Hi. I’m Landry’s wife, Tilly.”

“You two are the baby’s legal guardians now?”

“Yes,” Landry said, handing the baby off to Tilly and retrieving a file folder of his own from the counter. He handed it, and another sheet of paper, to the probation officer. “All three of us, actually. And there’s the receipt from paying her delinquent probation fees earlier today.”

She glanced through it, handed the folder off to Louisa Gonzalez, who scanned it, then returned everything to Landry.

Louisa Gonzalez turned to Tilly. “Can I see where the baby’s things are?”

“Sure. The crib literally just arrived a few minutes ago, so we have to assemble it. The baby slept in our room last night in a portable crib.” Tilly handed the baby off to Cris before she led the woman down the hall toward the bedrooms, leaving Cris and Landry in the living room with Sofia.

Sofia still didn’t stand, sitting there staring at her hands, which were twined in her lap.

“Unfortunately,” Carnie Nerzino said, “I’m going to have to take Sofia into custody. When I looked into the circumstances of her previous living situation, combined with her own admissions as to what happened, I cannot overlook it. She put her baby in jeopardy, and she was affiliating with not just one, but multiple known felons. A judge is going to have to hear her case. I’m ordering her remanded until the judge can hear the circumstances and rule on it. Plus, she’s wanted for questioning as a material witness in Monroe Cord’s arrest.”

Sofia nodded and slowly stood.

Cris’ stomach hit the floor. “Isn’t there anything we can do? Post bond? Something?”

“No. There’s no bond in a probation revocation case like this. She’ll go before a judge within two weeks and he’ll decide her case disposition.”

“No offense,” Landry said in a tone Cris could tell meant he was reining himself in, “but then why do the home visit at all? Why bring the CPS officer?”

“Because I wanted to be able to swear that the baby was safe. This will be a point in her favor when she’s in front of the judge. I will be happy to testify on Sofia’s behalf that it looks like her baby is safe and in capable hands. Unfortunately, her choice in living arrangements before now and her multiple violations of her probation mean I can’t give her any leeway. I did ask my superiors for their opinion before coming here, and they said she should be brought in.”

“It’s okay,” Sofia said to Cris. “I knew the risk.”

“I’m sorry, Fi,” he said, feeling helpless and heartsick. “We’ll talk to Dale Waters and see what he can do.”

“I’ll ask that she get fast-tracked,” Nerzino said. “Hopefully we can get a hearing before a judge next week. But if the state attorney’s office asks for her to continue to be held as a material witness, that’s likely going to overrule anything I say.”

The police officer frisked Sofia, then let her hold Katie one last time. Sofia kissed the baby’s forehead. “Love you, KC. Be a good girl.” She handed her back to Cris. “I know you’ll take good care of her. Thank you. Love you.”