Guardian of Justice by Carol Steward Page B

now?” Mom glanced around the apartment, forcing Kira to realize it was getting more and more difficult to think of anything but the incident. Her laundry was tossed over the furniture, dishes were piled in the sink and even the groceries she’d just bought were on the counters instead of in the cupboard. She’d been a neat freak all her life, keeping all of her belongings in one place, just in case…. It wasn’t any surprise that her mom was concerned.
    “You can stay as long as you want,” Mom told her.
    “Maybe a day or two?” Kira’s mind wandered to the hot tub, the pillow-top bed, and her daddy to protect her. “If you’re sure it’s okay…”
    Mom let out a gasp of exasperation. “Kira Danae! You’re always welcome. You don’t need an invitation.”
    “Okay, okay. I’ll go.” Her birth mom couldn’t have understood her any better than her adopted mother, Kira silently admitted. “I’ll go pack a bag.” She grabbed her mail basket and rushed up the stairs before her mom noticed anything.
    Kira knew her doubts were foolish, but she couldn’t seem to control any of her emotions this week. Though she hadn’t gone to the office, she’d talked to Cody and Betsy’s foster mom twice since they’d moved in. It wasn’t going well at all. Tomorrow she needed to meet with them again.
    Mom had always said that she and Kira were more alike than blood could provide. God had blessed Kira so much when he’d delivered her, six years late maybe, to the Matthewses’ home. And despite the sometimes strained feelings with her brothers through the years, she knew they loved her as much as they could have any sister.
    But sometimes she needed to remind herself that sibling struggles had nothing to do with her being adopted and not being wanted. The adoption had no more to do with their relationship than their different race or skin color. They were as close and irritating as blood relatives, so why was it still instinctive to worry that if she made them mad, they’d send her away?
    “Thanks, God. You always seem to know when I need my family most.”

Chapter Eight
    EIGHT
    “You’re going to have to get the social worker back in here, Brooks. I need her statement,” Sergeant Shaline said, stepping out of his office. He dropped the report on the bench next to Dallas.
    It had been a week since the incident, and Dallas still hadn’t heard from Kira Matthews. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying. “I’ve phoned every shift. She doesn’t return my calls.”
    “Doesn’t sound good. Before you head out, you need to see the captain.”
    “Now?”
    “If you’re going on patrol, then yes, before you head out would be now.”
    There has to be a wise guy in every crowd.Dallas walked up the stairs of the station and knocked on the officer’s open door. “Hi, Captain. Sergeant Shaline said you—”
    “Sit down, Dallas.” Captain Galyard straightened a stack of papers by tapping the full bundle on the desk, then moved it out of the way. Finally, he turned his attention to Dallas. “I need to reassign you for a few weeks.”
    “Okay,” Dallas said with interest. “Which shift?”
    The captain stalled a few more minutes, staring at him. “Days.” He paused, as if that was supposed to upset Dallas.
    What’s all the drama about?“Not a problem,” he said aloud, even though he wasn’t thrilled. Days were nice for the schedule, as long as you liked traffic and cold calls. “When do I start?”
    “Tomorrow,” Captain Galyard said. “Report to the high school. The school resource officer—”
    Dallas’s reaction was instantaneous, and he knew the captain was expecting it. He took a deep breath. “You’re joking, right?” He thought a second. Was it April Fool’s Day, or just another of the captain’s practical jokes? This was no joking matter. Not even Galyard, king of pranksters, would put him through this. Would he?
    “I’m afraid not, Dallas. Brad Johnson needs some time off. He’ll go