Slowly, she explained the situation. Misty leaned forward at the first mention of the wolves, paying careful attention, and taking notes even though she’d set up a recording when they sat down.
“Well,” she said finally, once Pauline was done. “If what you’re saying is accurate, this could be a hell of a break for me.”
“I just need to know that Drew’s going to be okay,” Pauline said urgently. “If you could—”
Misty held up a hand. “Look,” she said. “I can’t make any promises, because I only have your perspective on the situation so far. But...what I can say,” she said carefully, “is that if the situation is like you’ve told me, I will make sure that kid gets out of this clean.”
Pauline relaxed a little. “He’s got a recording,” she reminded Misty.
“So you said. And I’ll get him in here to tell me everything himself.”
“Can I be in here with him during the interview?” Pauline asked, but wasn’t surprised when Misty shook her head.
“He’s a minor, and you aren’t his legal guardian.”
“But I’m—” Pauline started, and Misty held up her hand.
“I know. I get it, Pauline, okay? I’m not trying to isolate the kid to try and interrogate him, I promise. One reason I interviewed you first is that I’m waiting for Child Services to get here so we can do this all on the record. Legally, so that whoever deserves legal consequences will get them, okay?”
She met Pauline’s eyes. Hers were a piercing blue; they seemed to look right through anyone they focused on.
Pauline sighed. “Okay.”
“Let’s get back out there, then.”
When they stepped out, they found Drew and Carlos sitting next to each other. They didn’t look like they’d been talking, but Carlos had a hand on Drew’s shoulder, a sight that reassured Pauline a bit. Drew knew that they were there for him.
Misty was taking a call, and as Carlos and Drew stood, she hung up and said, “Brenda from CPS is on her way. This is going to take a lot longer than Pauline’s statement, though; we’re going to have to go over everything several times, and Brenda’s going to have to do her own interview, probably.”
“We can stay here and wait until you’re done,” Pauline said firmly.
“Pauline, no, come on,” Drew spoke up. “You guys shouldn’t just sit here in these crappy chairs for five hours or whatever it’s going to take.”
“You won’t be able to see him or anything,” Misty said quietly.
“Will he be able to come home to us afterward?” Pauline asked.
Misty pinched her nose, and then sighed and looked Pauline in the eye. “I can’t release him into your custody,” she said. “You’re not his legal guardian, not yet, and that paperwork won’t go through today. But I can leave him to wait in the lobby for a bit while I fill out some paperwork later. Is that clear enough?”
Pauline absorbed that. She looked at Drew, who gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine,” he said.
Heels sounded in the hall, and Misty turned, her face lightening. “Brenda. Great. Let’s get started.”
Pauline scrubbed at her face as the two women turned toward the room she and Misty had just left.
Carlos took her arm. “Hey,” he said. “I thought of something we can do.”
Pauline let him tug her away, with one long backwards glance towards the closing door.
***
Carlos
The sheriff was only doing her job.
Carlos reminded himself of that. She had to separate them from Drew, not just for legal reasons so she could take down Ryan for good, but also because it was good precedent not to let semi-random adults into an interview with a minor. Law enforcement shouldn’t do that.
His tiger was still growling in his chest, though. He wanted to go back in and insist they let him stay. He wanted to show Drew that they were already becoming a family, no matter what the legalities said, and that he’d protect him from anyone who thought they might hurt him.