The Guys on my Flat

Chapter Sixteen

One of the police men rolled down their window. "Sir, step back from the car," he instructed.

Booker went from my window to his, "may I have a word?" he asked, his voice was as smooth as the day I met him. He turned to Edgar, who was about to get into his car, "you too, sir." Everybody else seemed as dumb-founded as I was.

But they all agreed after some very simple convincing.

I sniffed as I watched them go further down to the street, I couldn't read their lips or anything, so what they spoke of I could hardly imagine.

Cassidy took her chance to open my door and kneel on the ground before me. I could hardly bring myself to look her in the eyes. I managed to for a second, and she looked like she was on the verge of tears, "you okay?" she asked.

I shrugged passively.

I had cried myself out, lost my emotions there, nothing came out.

She linked her hand with mine and gave me a comforting smile, "I'm sure you'll be okay."

I shrugged in reply again. She didn't know that, I didn't know that. My brothers were the only people in the world who could actually stop him from hurting me, they didn't want to leave to go for college, but I said that I would be fine, that they needed to go. I wanted to keep my promise to them. But this whole situation was so confusing to me.

"We'll find a way to fix this for you," Cassidy informed, her voice was concerned but also... some fake about it, like she was overstating her concern.

I sighed through my nose, she doesn't believe me. She probably doesn't think it's as bad as I've said it is. Can't say I blame her, despite how dumbass my father is, he doesn't leave that many noticeable physical scars.

I felt like I was going to be sick as the tightness wrapped around my stomach.

Cassidy couldn't do anything and neither could anybody else. I rested my head on the back of my seat. Suddenly Edgar's voice rang out in anger. I leaned out of the car as everybody looked over to the conversation there. Booker was standing there with mocking calmness as he held the side of his glasses and listened to the shark eyed man rant on. "...You have no right to do this!" he snapped, he was clearly getting upset.

Booker replied with a mere smile and shrugged, "actually, legally I do. When a minor runs away from their parental guardian, true, Social Workers first choice is the hand them back over to their parents. But, a child guardianship can be temporarily changed if there is reason."

"And there isn't any reason," Edgar snapped.

Booker tilted his head with mocking intelligence, "is there? There have been many complaints of a William O'brannel made by the family, friends and even local pubs and bars over the years that have mysteriously... disappeared, " he informed "and I have friends, I may modestly add, and they are being very certain that each of those 'lost' accusations are being investigated. That leaves open doubt for the minor's wellbeing, so, if the minor agrees, guardianship can be temporarily changed until the situation with parental guardian is cleared up or they turn 18."

Booker held something between his slender fingers, "I have it in writing," his glasses shined with mocking brilliance.

"What's happening?" I asked, my voice finding me again.

Cassidy didn't answer as she came to her feet. She seemed speechless as I watched Edgar read what Booker gave him, his face was turning cherry red. "All I need is Katie's signature," Booker informed.

Edgar must've found something, "and her Social Worker's signature, which I will not sign," he snapped.

Booker smiled, "thought so. In case you haven't noticed, I'm divorced and have a son of my own which means my own Social Worker, and he would be more than happy to sign this himself, because it'll be understandable if you can't sign it. I mean... a Social Worker covering minor injustices is something more... qualified detectives would be able to uncover," he smoothly threatened looking from Edgar to the officers.