When Hope had been picked up, she’d told detectives and then Ari an elaborate story of being kidnapped off the streets and forced into prostitution. “So, you don’t show up for work, you skipped GED class, and you bailed on your aftercare program because you were being held against your will?” Ari asked.
“That’s right.”
“The police picked you up in a cut-out dress and plastic high heels. That sounds a little too familiar.” Ari couldn’t keep the anger out of her voice. The job, the classes, the days out of program set them back on all of their goals. Not only that, Hope turned 17 soon. One more arrest and she was going to jail, not juvie. “You can’t keep playing these games. Since you didn’t defend yourself, Judge Hatcher had no choice but to believe the police.”
“She wasn’t going to believe me anyway. Just like you don’t,” the girl said. Hope and Ari stared at one another until Hope admitted, “I couldn’t leave, Ms. Grant. They locked us in the house. They only let us out to work.”
“Who did this then? Who are you talking about?”
Hope said nothing.
Ari decided to give it another try. “Okay, well where is this house?”
“I don’t know. We only came and went after dark. We all slept in the same room.”
“Who is ‘we’?”
“There were other girls there. I didn’t know them.”
“And they were kidnapped, too?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Some seemed to know the men, but maybe they had just been there longer.”
“The arresting officer said you were alone on the street. Why didn’t you run away then?”
Another look of defiance crossed her face and Hope didn’t reply. Ari threw her hands in the air. “I can’t help you if you hold stuff back.”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
Hope blinked a couple of times and turned to face the wall, blocking Ari out.
Ari sighed and sat on the bench that lined the wall. “Hope, you have a history of working the streets and this isn’t the first time you’ve gone missing for more than a couple of days.”
“I’ve been better, though! No tardies or absences!” Rare tears filled Hope’s eyes.
“Not recently, but your file is full of violations. Judge Hatcher may not let you come home this time. She thinks you’ll go back on the street.” Ari shook her head. “I hate to say it, but I agree. You need some time in here to think things over and figure out what you want to do with yourself.”
“I’m not lying!” Hope said.
Ari stood and picked up her bag. “I want to believe you, but you’ve lied to me before.”
Hope went over to the door and kicked it several times, the loud noise bouncing off the metal. “Take me out of here,” she yelled, furious that Ari didn’t believe her. The guard opened the door and grabbed Hope by the arm. She turned to Ari and said, “You just wait, Ms. Grant. They’ll find me in here and you’ll know the truth. This jail can’t stop them.”
The officer led her out of the room and shut the door behind them. Hope continued yelling as they walked away, her voice echoing against the walls. Ari sat back on the bench and rested her face in her hands, feeling like a complete failure.
***
Self-defeat only lasted for a moment.
A knock on the outer metal door brought Ari out of her funk. She composed herself before the door opened, smoothing her hair and taking a deep breath. It was one thing around there to be a caring advocate, but another entirely to be seen as weak. Someone in these kids’ lives had to be strong and usually, that role ended up on Ari’s twenty-six-year-old shoulders.
Nick Sanders opened the door and gave Ari a grin. “You finished in here? Judge Hatcher requested you in her chambers. I just had an appointment with her and I offered to find you.”
“I’m finished.” She picked up her bag and walked toward the out-of-place attorney. Most people who came in and out of Juvenile Court had a tired, rough look about them. Not Nick. He had that all-American glow. Dark blond hair, bright blue eyes and perfectly perfect teeth. He was the knight in shining armor around there. “Any idea what this is about?”
“Not a clue,” he said. Nick worked as a public defender for the kids charged and up for trial. They had worked together on several cases over the last couple of months and had gone out once or twice with people from their combined offices. She liked having a friendly face at court buffering the angry parents and upset children.
“I hope it’s not about Hope’s case. I don’t even know what’s going on with her.”
“What happened?” he asked.“She told me some tale about being kidnapped and forced into prostitution. But when it was time, she wouldn’t get on the stand. Judge Hatcher had no choice but to send her back downstairs since she wouldn’t even defend herself.”
Nick placed his arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You can only do so much. Hope has to take some responsibility.”
“I know that. Honestly, I think she’s lying and trying to make me feel guilty for not supporting her more. Somehow it’s working.”