In Search of the Truth (complete)

Chapter 7

I was walking up the sidewalk to my foster parent's door with a key in my hand.  I had just finished working 4-9 shift at the pizzeria. They served me a pie where it spelled happy birthday with toppings. I smiled as  I unlock the door and walk inside. I start going upstairs to my room to work on homework when  I heard Chuck call out,  "Joan, come here."

I  mumbled under my breath and turn and walk into the living room. I see my foster casework, Mrs. Cassidy, there with my foster parents, Chuck and Courtney sitting on the couch.  Plus two officers are there standing by the wall watching everyone.

I ask, "Is something wrong?"

Courtney replied, "you were suppose to be home 15 minutes ago. The store closed at 9 and only is a 10 minute walk. We had visitors waiting for you."

I glare at her, "Courtney, I have told you before. The restaurant closes at 9, and I leave after the last customers leaves and/or my area is cleaned up. My caseworker is not a visitor." I then set the box of pizza I had in my hands down on the coffee table. "Why are you here?"  Chuck reaches forward and grabs a slice of pizza. I asked Mrs Cassidy as I turn to look at her. "I have one more homework assignment to do before going to bed. Can I help you Mrs Cassidy?"

Chuck takes a bite and makes a face, "good thing I am hungry, but this pizza taste fishy. I don't see any fish on here."

I grin and reply, "I requested their anchovies sauce. I love it." He gives me an evil look.

Mrs. Cassidy said, "you have aged out of the system as of today." She replied in a tired voice.  "The Roost family was trying to get you changed to the Special Needs Adult Caseworker, but I got it blocked. He called the police and wants you out along with all your belongings tonight since you turned 18 today. They have decided they don't want to wait until you graduate like they previously stated. They want to have the officers watch you pack up to make sure you don't steal anything." She then sniffed the air and one of the officers stood up and walked beside her and he also sniffed the air. She looked at him and mind linked him, "she is a wolf?" I gave her an odd look because I did not know at that time what was going on between her and the officers.

The officer linked back, "no she is a rogue."

Mrs Cassidy glared at him. "She just came of age. She doesn't know she is a wolf. This morning she did not have this scent when Jer and I ate breakfast together.  How come her police report never stated her parents were wolves? It was Darren's dad who handled the accident, Gary. Contact him for answers ASAP." She then escorted me upstairs to my room. I had Courtney and Chuck following us. She looked at me and said "Earlier, I brought in several boxes and two suitcases so you can pack up as much or as little as you want." I  would packed up everything I had bought through my work. Chuck and Courtney had not spent a dime on me since I started my job at the Martinez. I had bought several outfits including my laptop. When I went to pack the laptop in a box, Chuck tried to claim it was his but I had a receipt that showed I had purchased it. He even tried to claim my 50 inch tv, but once again I showed my receipt. Courtney tried to keep several of my clothes and room decorations until the one officer had enough.

Officer  Darren growled, "I am asking you to step outside while she packs or I will have you arrested for harassment."  He then pushed them out of the room.

Gary laughed, "I will go check up on them." He then walked out of the room following them.  "They might deserve a good thrashing, but I don't want the paperwork."

He walks out of the bedroom and a few minutes later Chuck and Courtney then stormed out of the house and I heard the door slam as they left the house. I could hear his loud voice  shouting in the front yard while I finished boxing up more of my possessions in boxes that Mrs. Cassidy had provided.  Officer Darren walked back into my room. He grabbed an empty box and said, "come on. Follow me." He then lead  me into each room and had me claim all my missing  items. The one item I saw in the back of Courtney's closet was a worn stuffed wolf and other items in a box. I grabbed it and hugged the wolf, I whispered, "Mr. Grayson."