Page 21

Emma

“W hat do you mean you let them take him?” I wail, halfway between terror and anger.

“I’m sorry Ms. Miller, but it’s school policy. Once the CPS officers were verified, we had no choice but to let them take Max out of school. These kinds of allegations are taken very seriously, and they have to investigate them properly,” the stiff school principal replies rigidly.

“I have never and would never hurt my son,” I reply through clenched teeth.

“Then I’m sure the investigation will reveal that, and Max will be returned to you safe and sound in due course,” he replies unsympathetically, his tone more than a little judgmental as his eyes flit between me and Mason.

“I am not leaving him in fucking care!” I yell, unable to control my rising hysteria.

“Please, calm down Ms. Miller, there’s no need for profanity,” the principal replies condescendingly.

“I’d say if there’s ever a time for profanity it’s when your child has been taken from you against your will and knowledge for no reason, and the school allowed it to happen, despite knowing that said child was at risk of having been previously the victim of an attempted kidnapping on your premises,” Mason interjects icily. “I’m sure potential parents considering your esteemed school wouldn’t look favorably on it if they were to find out.”

“Do not threaten me in my own school, sir. Now, I’m going to have to ask you both to leave. If you have any issues with how the school has handled this you can submit a complaint to the school board, but I assure you, they will tell you the same as I have. The matter is with Child Protective Services now, I suggest you speak to them should you wish to get your son back, Ms. Miller,” he says before standing and opening the door to his office, dismissing us.

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” I say breathing rapidly and tugging at my hair as we leave the school, “I can’t believe this is happening. What do we do?” I ask Mason, helplessly seeking answers.

“We go to the CPS office where they’ve taken him and try to straighten this out, any idiot can see you’re a great mom and whatever has been said is a lie.”

“But what if Kane’s men have already got to him? What if we’re too late? My poor baby!” I wail, tears springing to my eyes as my mind goes to the worst-case scenario.

“Shh, we don’t know that. It’s alright, we’ll figure this out,” he soothes me, pulling me into a warm embrace as I sob on his shoulder.

I take several great heaving gulps of air trying to regain my composure. “Alright, let’s go get my baby back. If Kane has got there first then we’ll come for him, he’s messed with the wrong mother,” I say with determination, ready to kill anyone who stands in the way of me and my son, like a lioness and her cub.

“That’s the spirit,” Mason says admiringly, kissing me on the forehead before rushing to the car.

***

“I’m sorry Ms. Miller, I know you love your son and want him back, but we have to investigate these allegations thoroughly and until we can be certain that Max is safe at home, he must remain in our custody,” the heavyset woman at the CPS offices informs me.

“Who would say such awful things?” I sob, shoulders hunched. “I would never hurt, Max, ever!” I say fiercely shaking my head.

“I understand this is difficult, Ms. Miller, but Max’s safety is our number one priority,” she replies gently.

At least the Child Protective Services have him safe in their custody and Kane hasn’t got to him. However, I can’t be sure how much longer that will last. The second they put him into foster care he’s a vulnerable target. He must be so scared and confused.

“Please, can I at least see him and tell him what’s happening?” I beg.

“I’m afraid we find that to be more distressing and upsetting for the child. At a suitable time, supervised visits may be arranged once he’s been placed in a foster home.”

My heart breaks even more. Knowing the horrible time Mason had in care awaits my son followed by the inevitable horrors that Kane will inflict once he finds them and there’s nothing I can do. I’ve never felt more useless and hopeless in my life.

“It’s my understanding that Max does not need to be placed into foster care if there is a family member or suitable guardian that could care for him. Max has an uncle who would happily take him in,” Mason interjects.

Hope swells in my chest and I look at the woman, praying she will confirm that Jacob can take care of Max.

The woman shakes her head. “I’m afraid that as the allegations include concerns over the associations that Ms. Miller and her brother have with the Iron Serpents motorcycle club and alleged criminal activity, his uncle’s home would not be considered a suitable alternative.”

I should have known that would be the answer, yet I feel crushing disappointment all the same.

“Alright,” Mason says through gritted teeth. “What about a friend then? Ms. Jessica Woods regularly babysits Max and I’m sure she would be happy to look after him until this gets straightened out. That would be far less distressing for both mother and child than putting him in a foster home with strangers.”

I could kiss Mason right now, I’m so glad he’s here. Why didn’t I think of that?

A look of recognition crosses the woman’s face, almost as though she knows the name, which I suppose she might as the school has likely informed them of the people in Max’s life. “It could be possible. Do you have Ms. Wood’s number? I shall speak with my superiors to see if this would be permissible and then call her to see if she is happy to care for Max.”

“Yes, thank you so much,” I gush, writing down Jessica’s number gratefully.

“Alright, please wait here,” she says before leaving the room.

“Mason, you’re a genius, thank you! Why didn’t I think of that? I’d rather Max was home with me but at least he’ll be safe with Jessica, or at least safer than with a stranger.”

“Let’s just hope they approve it,” he replies.

“They will,” I reply confidently.

I refuse to let myself consider what will happen if they don’t, the alternative is too terrifying to contemplate.

The minutes tick by agonizingly slowly as we await their answer. Mason’s strong reassuring presence is the only thing keeping me together, he holds my hand in his, not seeming to care that I must be squeezing it hard enough to hurt, my nails leaving little crescent moons in his skin.

When the woman returns to the room, we both spring from our chairs, anxious to hear the verdict.

“Alright, I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that Max will be staying with Ms. Woods until further notice,” she says with a smile that doesn’t show her teeth.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding, sinking into the chair with relief. “Thank you. When can I speak to him?”

“Ms. Miller, I must stress that you are not to try to see Max without prior approval while the investigation is ongoing,” she says sternly. “You can, however, call him once a day with a CPS officer on the call.”

“Thank you,” I reply, grateful for even the tiniest crumbs of contact with my son.

It’s the best result we could have hoped for other than him being returned to us and the allegations debunked. I just hope we can get him back quickly. The longer Max is away from my side, the more at risk he is of falling into Kane’s grasp. I need to warn Jess without alarming her. If she thinks her kids are in danger she’ll send Max into foster care, or if the CPS finds out, it will only give them further reason to believe he isn’t safe with me.

Just when I think this situation can’t get any worse, it does.

At least Max will be safe. But for how long?

Time is running out and we’re no closer to a solution.