Derailed Read Free Page B

here.”
    DaShawn nodded with the understanding of a boy who’d been disappointed too many times.

Chapter 2
    Estelle’s plus size bounced our bed as she flopped down beside me, half sitting up against the pillows. “So . . .” She waited until I looked up from reading my Michael Connelly novel. “What did Rodney’s letter
really
say?”
    â€œAh, not much. He’s still in Atlanta.” I shrugged and turned back to see how Detective Harry Bosch was going to catch the bad guys in the pages of my novel. I liked Harry . . . especially his name.
    â€œHarry Bentley, I’m a real person talkin’ to you here, not ink on some dead trees. What did Rodney have to say? I know it wasn’t good, ’cause I can read your body language better’n you can read that book.”
    I closed it reluctantly and sighed. “He’s back in jail—”
    â€œOh no. Harry, I’m so sorry. How come?”
    â€œGot busted for drugs, I guess. Says he’s up for release. But this time . . .” Don’t know why I felt the need to defend him, but I pressed on. “This time he’s gone through a drug treatment program, and . . . and he even called me ‘Dad.’ ”
    â€œReally?” There was genuine wonderment in Estelle’s voice.
    â€œYeah, and he signed it, ‘Merry Christmas, Rodney.’ ”
    She nodded slowly. “Well, that sounds hopeful—though he’s a little late with the Merry Christmas.” Estelle sighed like she’d just finished climbing the stairs to our little apartment. “Well, I sure do hope he can turn it around this time—not just for his sake, but for DaShawn. But Harry . . .” She hesitated a moment. “I don’t know how long it’ll last unless he makes a clean break with his runnin’ buddies. I had my doubts when he went down to Atlanta sayin’ hewas gonna hook up with some old friends.” She shook her head. “He needs to get away from ’em—
all
of ’em, Harry!”
    â€œI know.” I nodded in agreement as Estelle tied a night scarf around her head to protect her ’do. “You’re right. He needs help—” I grimaced. “—and that’s the other reason he wrote. He, uh, asked if he could come stay with us. Actually, it’s a requirement for his early release, someplace to go. He even included a form from the county he wants me to fill out.” I watched Estelle’s mouth slowly drop open. “But don’t worry, babe. It ain’t gonna happen.”
    She didn’t speak for a long moment, and I wondered what she was thinking. Her fingers toyed with the edge of the sheet. “Well, that’s right, of course. We just don’t have the room. He’d be all up in our business—I mean, we wouldn’t have any privacy, not to mention we gotta think of DaShawn now.”
    â€œI know, I know! It’s an outrageous idea. Out of the question.”
    Estelle pulled the blankets up to her chin, staring blankly at the foot of our bed as she slowly nodded her head. I turned to look at the same nothingness and nodded my head in unison.
    â€œThough . . . you know, Harry, sometimes I wish we did have a big enough place where Leroy could come. I really do.”
    Long-term sorrow filled Estelle’s voice. Estelle had an adult son too, but Leroy was schizophrenic and had nearly died in a house fire when he was trying to live alone. His burns were still not fully healed.
    â€œI know, babe. But you know he needs to be in an institution where he can get his whirlpool sessions and those pressure sleeves put on—”
    â€œBut it won’t be that way forever. He’s almost healed.”
    Her pain about Leroy was deep. “The burns are almost healed,” I said softly, “but he still needs full-time care, Estelle.”
    â€œOh,