Read Online The Advocate's Conviction by Teresa Burrell - Free Book Online Page A

woman said. She pushed the trash can back up in place, picked up some papers that had fallen to the ground, and pushed her cart away walking behind it away from Sabre.
    Sabre walked back to JP. “What do you think?”
    “I think she feels compassion for the lost boy, but there’s no way to know if she has seen him. Even if she did, I don’t think she could tell us anything.”
    Sabre took a deep breath. “You’re probably right. I just want to find someone who has seen him, and the way she touched the photo it seemed like she might have connected with him somehow.”
    “I can follow her and see if it leads us anywhere. We don’t have anything else at this point.”
    “Why don’t you do that. I’ll go see Hayden and see if he has heard from him.”
    Sabre left JP to keep an eye on the old woman. She called the foster parent as she walked to her car and made arrangements for a visit. Hayden was living only about three blocks from the park so Sabre arrived within a few minutes. The foster mother greeted her at the door and invited her in.
    “He’s in his room. I’ll get him,” the foster mother said. She motioned to a chair. “Have a seat.” She paused. “He keeps asking to see his siblings, especially Cole. Is there any word on him?”
    “No. We have nothing.”
    “Hayden doesn’t know he’s missing. Are you going to tell him?”
    “No. I don’t think he needs to know at this point, but I want to make sure Hayden lets us know if he hears from him. I believe that if Cole has a way to get to his siblings he will, and Hayden is the closest.”
    “We will certainly watch for any signs.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
    The foster mother walked upstairs, returned with Hayden, and then left the room. “Hi, Hayden,” Sabre said as she stood up. “Do you remember me?”
    “Yeah, you’re the ‘tourney.”
    “Very good memory. How are you doing here?”
    “I miss my mom. Can I see her?”
    “We’re working on that.” Sabre turned to keep Hayden from seeing the sadness in her face.
    “Can Cole and Allie come play with me?”
    “When did you last see Cole?” Sabre asked, since she had an opening.
    “At my new school.”
    “Did he tell you when he would see you again?”
    “I’ll see him at school.” Hayden dashed around the corner to the kitchen to his foster mother and said, “When is school again?”
    “Tomorrow,” she said.
    He ran back in the room. “I’ll see him tomorrow at school.”
    Sabre was sorry that she had brought it up. Hayden was obviously looking forward to his next contact with his brother and she knew Cole wouldn’t be at school for him to see. “Hayden, next time you see Cole, whether it is at school or wherever, will you please tell your foster parents so they can let me know. And also ask him to call me.” She handed Hayden her card. “Do you have one of these?”
    “Nope.”
    “This is my business card. It has my phone numbers on it. You hold onto this and if you ever need me for anything you call me, okay?”
    “I don’t have a phone.”
    “I’m sure your foster parents will let you use the phone to call me.”
    Hayden darted around the corner again. “Can I use the phone to call my ‘tourney?”
    The foster mother came back in the room with her arm around Hayden’s shoulder. She said, “Of course. You can use the phone anytime to call your attorney.”
    The dog in the backyard barked and Hayden ran out the back door. Sabre said, “He seems to be bonding with you.”
    “He’s a wonderful child. He’s so playful and lovable. He likes to be cuddled, and he really misses his mother and his siblings.”
    “I’m going to make an extra effort to have them detained together. His mother is clear out in Vista and she doesn’t have a car, so it’s difficult, and the other sibs are in Jamul and El Cajon.”
    “If we need to find a central meeting place, I’ll do what I can. Hayden is just so precious, a little bit wild, but so sweet. He looks so sad