The Homecoming (Thunder Point #6)(83)

“We have a very delicate, potentially volatile situation. I had to call DHS to report suspected abuse between our most popular couple—Brett and Rachel. Social workers are investigating the situation. I don’t know what their findings will be, but I can say without a shred of doubt that the relationship is abusive.”

He frowned. “Seriously? Who’s abusing who?”

“Brett seems to be the one with the slippery punch. The girl has been wearing a lot of bruises that I questioned. She had some very creative excuses. She finally admitted to her father that Brett’s very rough with her, that he hurts her sometimes, but of course he doesn’t mean to.”

Spencer shook his head. “I’ve seen this before,” he said.

“It’s a first for me. When have you seen this?”

“We tread a very fine line in this department. We want our men to be killers on the field and pu**ycats everywhere else. We have some good role models for that and I watch for those pro ball players who can hit real hard and treat everyone off the field with great care and respect. I use them for examples every chance I get. But just like in the outside world, we have those who only know one way, to control everything, no matter what. I’ve dealt with my share of bullies and bad boyfriends. I keep an eye on that, a very serious eye. Brett’s one kid I never would have guessed for a brute. He’s polite, keeps good grades, works hard.” He shook his head. “Shows you just never know. Want me to talk to him?”

“He’s been talked to. He was interviewed with his family, though I don’t know the outcome and I may not be told. For now, can you just watch? I have their schedules if you need them. I’m going to become quite a hall monitor for the next few days. I’m afraid that’s all I can do. Back me up?”

“Absolutely. And if I see an opportunity to say something, I will.” He shook his head. “Brett’s got most of the faculty eating out of his hands. He’s one of those soft-spoken, well-mannered kids. His mom and dad seem to be strict but quiet and polite. Can’t remember what his dad does, but he does it in a shirt and tie. See, you can never tell, can you?”

“Please, let me know if anything comes up. My priority right now is to do what I can to keep Rachel safe, whether she cooperates or not.”

“What? Whether she cooperates?”

“She loves him,” Iris said. “And of course he didn’t mean to hurt her.”

Nineteen

Iris owes me, Seth thought as he left Sue Marie’s house. They’d experienced some success or at least a difficult compromise, but it was awkward. She’d flirted with him, placing a hand on his forearm and turning her big blue eyes up at him to make comments or ask questions. Rachel was silent but oozed hostility.

Robbie wanted to pack up the kids, move them to North Bend where he still occupied the little house they’d all lived in before Sue Marie left a couple of years ago. He wanted to become their primary guardian and have them change schools. He thought he could manage.

Sue Marie had a lot of arguments against it, but probably the biggest one was alimony and child support. They didn’t even have a divorce decree and there was no legal separation agreement, but Robbie was paying all the bills. How he managed on his sketchy income was beyond Seth.

“Now, there are safety issues, Sassy,” Seth said, forgetting to use her preferred name. He went on as rapidly as he could, before she could correct him. “Rachel needs serious supervision and counseling and since Robbie makes his own hours, being self-employed, that’s a little easier for him to do.”

In fact, there were too many issues to count. There were eight people in a small four-bedroom house, for one thing. And that was just one thing.

Sassy finally agreed. The kids were going to go to Robbie’s, at least for the time being, and Robbie would drive them to Thunder Point for school and pick them up afterward. It occurred to Seth that Sue Marie, who had a car, could offer to help with some of the transportation, but he held his tongue. They would revisit changing schools over the Christmas holidays.

Rachel had only one comment. “I want my phone.”

“We’re going to talk about that tonight. When we get home,” Robbie told her.

That’s when Seth ran for his life. He texted Iris that he was finished at Sassy’s but had a couple of things to do before he could get home. Home now meant her house. She texted back that she was throwing together dinner and would see him when he was done.

Seth drove to Brett’s house. It was after six. He had done a little check on the family. Sid Davis was an office manager who worked with lawyers in North Bend. Mrs. Davis didn’t work outside the home. They had moved to Thunder Point two years before, possibly for the football opportunities for Brett. There were four children, Brett being the oldest.

Sid Davis answered the front door. He held the glasses he had just pulled off in one hand and wore a pleasant and welcoming smile. “Hello. How can I help you, Deputy?”

“If you have a minute, I’d just like to talk to you.”

“About?”

“Well, about a situation with your son and another student. I believe it’s his girlfriend....”

“Ah,” he said, shaking his head somewhat sadly and opening the door wider. “Of course. A surprising and confusing turn of events. Come in, come in. I’ll get Brett.”