The Miskatonic Manuscript (Case Files of Matthew Hunter and Chantal Stevens Book 2) by Vin Suprynowicz Page B
Authors: Vin Suprynowicz
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decision must be Gilbert’s. But I think it would be unwise to ignore this sign.”
“I’d like to go to my grandmother, to throw away these drugs,” said Gilbert. “But what would happen to my mom? They talk about putting her in jail.”
This time they looked to Matthew.
“That’s nonsense. If that’s what you decide, we’ll inform them that Gilbert has left the district, has left their jurisdiction, that he’s gone to live with his grandmother in Arizona. This happens with hundreds of kids every year, it’s routine. Tell them he took his bottle with their wonderful pills with him. These social workers and school psychiatrists have dozens of files, hundreds. You give them a way to close a file and cut down their workload, they should be happy. If they do cause trouble, I know an attorney who’s an expert on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. You tell them Gilbert is of 50 percent Indian blood.”
“I’m not sure —” Marquita interrupted.
“I assure you,” Matthew insisted. “Gilbert is of 50 percent Indian blood.”
“He is of the Nde,” Emilio agreed. “That is all they need to be told.”
“And then you ask them what number your attorney should call to discuss the Religious Freedom Restoration Act with them.”
“Lawyers cost money,” said Marquita, hanging her head.
“Not this one. He owes me a favor. Give me your phone number, I’ll have him call you tomorrow.”
“I was going to leave tomorrow,” said Emilio. “I can wait an extra day if Gilbert needs that time to pack. Depending on what he decides, of course. I’d be happy to take him with me to stay with his grandmother, if that’s what Gilbert and his mother want.”
“I don’t want him to think we’re sending him away, but these drugs are no good for Gilbert.”
“And you, Bucky?” Matthew asked.
The black man took a moment to resettle himself in his chair. He hadn’t expected to be asked. He was thoughtful.
“Marquita and I aren’t married yet, and even after we’re married this would still be her decision, hers and Gilbert’s. It’s really not my say. How I feel about it is, probably this is best for Gilbert, that he leave here for now and get off these drugs. I just wouldn’t want Gilbert to think I’m sending him away because I don’t want him here. Because that’s not true. I’d be happy to have him live with us, I’d be happy to have Gilbert come to work with me. Once these school district people close their file on him and he’s free to come and go as he pleases, then I hope we can all be together.”
“I’ll come back, Bucky,” Gilbert nodded, his eyes tearing up a little. “I think maybe I’m supposed to make this journey, now. I think that’s what the visions mean. As long as I know mom is safe till I can come back.”
Bucky smiled, put his hand on Gilbert’s knee. “Meantime, Marquita’s mom isn’t rich, and I don’t want Gilbert to arrive like a beggar. We’ll buy travelers checks for him, a thousand dollars.”
“Bucky!”
“The old truck will last till spring, honey. I wish it was more.”
“Well, Gilbert, the choice is up to you,” Matthew said. “But if you leave, no one is going to harm your mother or put her in jail. You have my word on that.”
It was decided. The young man would leave with old Emilio, morning after next. Everyone shook hands. Matthew had a final word with Emilio as the family left.
“You’ll let me know when the boy — or the grandmother — needs some more resources,” Matthew said.
“The best thing is that the family members help each other, as much as they can. But yes, Matthew, I’ll tell you if it becomes necessary to call on your generosity, which I know we can always count on.”
* * *
Matthew talked with Marian about setting up Internet searches for Worthy’s notebook.
“Anything hand-written by Lovecraft, obviously, though I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that. Problem is, what if he didn’t put his name on
“I’d like to go to my grandmother, to throw away these drugs,” said Gilbert. “But what would happen to my mom? They talk about putting her in jail.”
This time they looked to Matthew.
“That’s nonsense. If that’s what you decide, we’ll inform them that Gilbert has left the district, has left their jurisdiction, that he’s gone to live with his grandmother in Arizona. This happens with hundreds of kids every year, it’s routine. Tell them he took his bottle with their wonderful pills with him. These social workers and school psychiatrists have dozens of files, hundreds. You give them a way to close a file and cut down their workload, they should be happy. If they do cause trouble, I know an attorney who’s an expert on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. You tell them Gilbert is of 50 percent Indian blood.”
“I’m not sure —” Marquita interrupted.
“I assure you,” Matthew insisted. “Gilbert is of 50 percent Indian blood.”
“He is of the Nde,” Emilio agreed. “That is all they need to be told.”
“And then you ask them what number your attorney should call to discuss the Religious Freedom Restoration Act with them.”
“Lawyers cost money,” said Marquita, hanging her head.
“Not this one. He owes me a favor. Give me your phone number, I’ll have him call you tomorrow.”
“I was going to leave tomorrow,” said Emilio. “I can wait an extra day if Gilbert needs that time to pack. Depending on what he decides, of course. I’d be happy to take him with me to stay with his grandmother, if that’s what Gilbert and his mother want.”
“I don’t want him to think we’re sending him away, but these drugs are no good for Gilbert.”
“And you, Bucky?” Matthew asked.
The black man took a moment to resettle himself in his chair. He hadn’t expected to be asked. He was thoughtful.
“Marquita and I aren’t married yet, and even after we’re married this would still be her decision, hers and Gilbert’s. It’s really not my say. How I feel about it is, probably this is best for Gilbert, that he leave here for now and get off these drugs. I just wouldn’t want Gilbert to think I’m sending him away because I don’t want him here. Because that’s not true. I’d be happy to have him live with us, I’d be happy to have Gilbert come to work with me. Once these school district people close their file on him and he’s free to come and go as he pleases, then I hope we can all be together.”
“I’ll come back, Bucky,” Gilbert nodded, his eyes tearing up a little. “I think maybe I’m supposed to make this journey, now. I think that’s what the visions mean. As long as I know mom is safe till I can come back.”
Bucky smiled, put his hand on Gilbert’s knee. “Meantime, Marquita’s mom isn’t rich, and I don’t want Gilbert to arrive like a beggar. We’ll buy travelers checks for him, a thousand dollars.”
“Bucky!”
“The old truck will last till spring, honey. I wish it was more.”
“Well, Gilbert, the choice is up to you,” Matthew said. “But if you leave, no one is going to harm your mother or put her in jail. You have my word on that.”
It was decided. The young man would leave with old Emilio, morning after next. Everyone shook hands. Matthew had a final word with Emilio as the family left.
“You’ll let me know when the boy — or the grandmother — needs some more resources,” Matthew said.
“The best thing is that the family members help each other, as much as they can. But yes, Matthew, I’ll tell you if it becomes necessary to call on your generosity, which I know we can always count on.”
* * *
Matthew talked with Marian about setting up Internet searches for Worthy’s notebook.
“Anything hand-written by Lovecraft, obviously, though I wouldn’t hold out much hope for that. Problem is, what if he didn’t put his name on
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