Secrets Never Die by Leigh Melinda

Author:Leigh, Melinda
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542040181
Published: 2019-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Standing on the doorstep of the group home, Morgan buttoned her blazer and pressed the doorbell. The door lock was an electronic card key entry system, with a slot to swipe a card and a keypad to enter a code.

She stepped back and scanned the street. A Hand Up Transitional Residence for Men occupied a huge brick-fronted Tudor-style house. The neighborhood was zoned for mixed use, with several of the large houses on the main street having been converted to professional offices. The group home sat between an accounting firm and a similar house that had been divided into apartments.

Next to her, Lance tapped an impatient boot on the cement. But they didn’t have to wait long. A tall, thin man opened the door. Behind him, a chime echoed in the house.

“I’m Morgan Dane, and this is my associate Lance Kruger. We’d like to speak with the supervisor, Mr. Dougherty.” Morgan offered him a business card. She had called ahead, so Dougherty should have been expecting them.

“I’m Stan Dougherty. Please come in.” Mr. Dougherty moved back to allow them inside. “Welcome to A Hand Up.”

“Thank you for seeing us.” Morgan stepped into the foyer, well aware that Dougherty had no obligation to cooperate. Lance crossed the threshold to stand next to her.

“We’re always happy to explain what we do.” Dougherty closed the door. “We’re very proud of our work in the community.”

“How many men live in the house?” Morgan glanced around. On one side of the entry, a staircase led upstairs. On the left was a living room with couches, chairs, and a TV.

“We are at full capacity with twelve men in residence.” Mr. Dougherty walked down a narrow hall. “I’m happy to say all but one of them are at work right now. And the one who is here is sleeping because he works the night shift. Employment is a requirement of residency.”

Morgan followed him.

Lance brought up the rear. “What happens if a resident gets fired?”

“We provide mandatory counseling and job search assistance.” Mr. Dougherty gestured to a small room tucked under the stairwell. “You would be surprised how many large corporations are willing to give convicted felons a second chance.”

Morgan entered first. The office was tiny. There was barely enough room for two narrow wooden chairs in front of a small desk. She sat on the hard seat and set her tote at her feet.

“Excuse the small office. We’ve tried to utilize most of the space for living arrangements. Though the men are housed dormitory-style upstairs, we want the house to feel more like a home than an institution. We don’t use the term halfway house anymore, but that’s truly what we want to accomplish here, providing a halfway point between prison and normal life. Simply turning parolees out on the street with no support or transition doesn’t serve them well.” Mr. Dougherty sidled between the desk and the wall to take his seat. “We provide the closest thing to a real home as possible, but with some rules to ensure they don’t fall right back into their old ways.

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