Page 35 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

The details came back to her. “It wasn’t Hannah,” she said. “Not at first. The reports were about her half-brother, August Keating. He was fifteen.”

“What happened?”

“The school referred him,” Sabre said. “He had some bruising and behavior changes. He kept falling asleep in class. A counselor pushed, and he finally said things weren’t good at home.”

JP shifted. “Define not good.”

“Mother had a boyfriend,” she said. “Victor Hayes. The kids complained about verbal abuse, intimidation, and at least one incident where he crossed into physical abuse with August.”

“And the mother?”

“She minimized it,” Sabre said. “Denied what she could, explained away the rest. She depended on Hayes financially, emotionally, all of it.”

“And Hannah?”

Sabre’s posture softened. “She had no marks, no visible abuse. But she was watchful and careful, the kind of kid who learns the rules without being told.”

“Was she scared?”

“She was controlled. She learned quickly how to avoid him and how to respond. August, on the other hand, was a teenager. And as we both know, their brains don’t let them control their mouths.”

JP tapped the file. “So, they pulled both kids.”

“They did,” Sabre said. “Failure to protect. Risk to both of them.”

“Were they placed together?”

“Yes.”

“And then what?”

Sabre let out a quiet breath. “Mother did everything she was supposed to,” she said. “On paper.”

“That’s usually where it gets interesting.”

“She completed programs,” Sabre said. “She did her parenting classes and counseling. She claimed Hayes was gone. Her home visits were clean.”

“What did the kids say about that?”

“August was sure Hayes was still around, at least seeing his mother.”

“Was he?”

“I couldn’t prove it,” Sabre said.

“Did you believe him?”

“I believed August thought it was true,” she said finally. “But he never saw Hayes there on his visits with his mom, nor did he have any other evidence that he was.”

“And Hannah?” he asked.

“She just wanted to go home to her mother. She never wavered.”

JP nodded. “Of course she did.”

“She thought everything was better,” Sabre said. “Kids do that. They believe what they need to.”

“So, the court sends the kids back?”