Intentions by Barbara Winkes

Author:Barbara Winkes [Winkes, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

There was no opportunity to raise the question until later that night, and even then, Ellie hesitated. Ariel had taken a hot shower at the house, apologized to Ms. Sherman, and then packed for the safe house. After conversations with their respective superiors, Ellie and Jordan picked up some clothes for themselves as well, and then they drove Ariel. Valerie Esposito followed.

When she and Jordan sat together in the living room after Esposito had left, Ellie wasn’t sure how to approach the subject. She didn’t want to disappoint Jordan or Ariel, when she had only little knowledge of the proceedings, when she didn’t even know how to feel about the idea.

Could they do it—even think about it? Did they have the resources to care for a child that had survived the traumatic death of her mother, and years in an abusive cult? Most importantly, when Ariel said those words, did she mean it, or were they just showing how overwhelmed and confused she was?

“I wish I could have a drink,” she said instead of all the things that were reverberating in her mind.

Jordan laughed softly. “Me too, but I guess that has to wait until after the trial.” She paused for a moment, then continued, “Have you thought about applying for another job? I hear one of the guys in Vice just asked for a transfer. They have always been short-staffed.”

“Yeah. I don’t know. Maybe.”

“What are you thinking?”

“The same thing you are thinking about?”

Jordan took a deep breath. “Maybe. I’m not sure what we can do about it.”

“Yeah. I know we said maybe for a while now, but have you ever thought about adopting?”

“I have,” Jordan confessed. “I’m just not sure I have enough to offer…Jack and Pauline had a damn tough job, and they were up to it at every turn. I hope Ariel gets to have a family like that. I care about her, and I know you do, too.”

“But?” Ellie prompted.

“I couldn’t stand to be the mother who fails,” Jordan said, getting to her feet. “I wouldn’t want to put that kind of pressure on any child, to right what my birthparents did wrong.”

“What if we got it right? What if we don’t get any more signs?”

“You are serious about this?”

“I am—” Ellie’s answer was interrupted by the ringing of Jordan’s cell phone. She put Derek on speaker.

“Hey, Ellie,” he said. “So there’s good news and…some bizarre stuff. Joy Anne was able to make a statement. She blames the police and the D.A.’s office for trying to influence her against her family, and regarding the bizarre…”

“Oh, that wasn’t it?” Jordan sighed.

“She calls Ariel the spawn of the devil. No love lost there.”

“Nice. You got anything else?”

“Just because she said it, doesn’t mean no one told her to say it.”

“Yeah, I agree. Keep an eye on her, and keep me posted. We’ll see you in court.”

Even before Jordan suggested one of them could turn in for the night, Ellie knew she wouldn’t get a definitive answer from her tonight, but that was okay.

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