Page 10 of Beyond Perfect

“Because of the demerit.”

“No, because you’re hurting. As I said, we’re all worried about you.”

“I guess.”

Maisy let him get a safe distance away then walked over to Jackson’s office. May was warm, and the sun felt great. When she arrived, he was getting out of his car and seemed…untroubled. Where had he gone? Who did he talk to?

“Hey, you looking for me?”

“Yes. Where were you?”

“Lunch with a friend.”

Words tumbled out. “A female friend?”

“No, with Joe Romano. He’s a captain in the fire department.”

“Diego knows him.”

“He’s a great guy. Let’s get to my office.”

She went ahead of him. When he closed the door, she said, “I know what’s up with Frankie.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.” He dropped down at his desk. She didn’t sit. “His brother told him the father in the foster care home tried to sexually assault him.”

“Oh, no.”

“There’s a legal process to go through in schools when this happens, but we have to do something right away.”

“I’m going to call DCF—” the Department for Children and Families “—and report this right now.”

“Mind if I wait?”

“No.” He pressed a button. “Harry, get me Tom Johnson at DCF.”

Jackson put the phone on speaker. His phone rang. “Tom Johnson.”

“Hi, Tom. It’s Jackson Kane.”

“Hi, Jackson.”

“We don’t know the whole story yet but the brother of one of our kids told a teacher that Freddie was being sexually abused by his foster care father.”

“Goddamn it. Freddie…?”

“Pecorino.”

Tom said, “I’ll cancel my afternoon appointments and get right on it.”

“Could you let us know what happens?”

“The wheels of municipal government grind slow, but I’ll declare an emergency. I’ll get the boy out today.”

“Thanks, Tom.”

“I’ll be back in touch.”