I nodded as if I was contemplating this, which was impressive considering my first reaction was to chain her to my bed so she couldn’t go. "It's risky, but potentially valuable."
"I want to go," she decided, her jaw set with determination. "But I want backup, like you said. And I want to be prepared."
"Good girl," I praised, unable to keep the approval from my voice. "We'll make sure you're ready." It was either that or chain her to my bed and something told me that wouldn't fly.
She blushed at my words but didn't look away.
"We have the day to get ready," she continued, as I scooped up the last bite. "That means we need to figure out exactly what they might try to accuse me of."
"The most obvious thing would be inappropriate conduct with a client," I suggested. "It's hard to disprove and damaging to your reputation."
Emily shook her head. "Too risky for them. Most of my clients are minors, and an accusation like that would trigger a police investigation they can't control."
"Good point. What about mishandling funds or resources?"
She considered this. "Possible, but again, there would be a paper trail they'd have to falsify. I'm meticulous about documentation."
"Professional misconduct then," I suggested. "Something vague enough to justify the administrative leave while they build their case."
Emily stilled. "Or something specific enough to distract from the real issue." Her eyes widened. "The Bennett placement."
"What about it?"
She shook her head, her expression clearing. "Last month, I expressed concerns about placing fourteen-year-old Zoe Morris with the Bennetts. They'd specifically requested a teenage girl, but something felt off during the home study. Mr. Bennett seemed overly interested in Zoe's photos, kept asking if she had a boyfriend, social media accounts."
"What happened?" I asked, feeling a chill run down my spine.
"I documented my concerns and recommended against the placement," Emily continued, her voice gaining strength as the pieces fell into place. "Susan overruled me. Said I was beingparanoid and that the Bennetts were 'pillars of the community.' She accused me of seeking problems where none existed."
"And Zoe? Was she placed with them?"
Emily's face darkened. "Yes. Three weeks ago." She scrambled off the stool, nearly knocking over her coffee. "Dion, Zoe is still with them. She hasn't disappeared yet. She's still there!"
The implication hit me like a physical blow. A child currently in danger, still within reach. "When was your last home visit with her?"
"Last Tuesday. She seemed... withdrawn. Quieter than usual." Emily's eyes filled with horror. "I asked if everything was okay, but with Mrs. Bennett hovering, she just nodded. She was going to be my first call on Tuesday, and I planned to insist on privacy."
I was already reaching for my phone. "Eric needs to focus on the Bennetts immediately. Financial records, communications, visitors to the house."
Emily grabbed my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. "Dion, I think Susan's complaint is about the Bennett placement. She's using it to keep me away from Zoe."
"Which means..." I started.
"They're getting ready to move her," Emily finished, her face pale with dread.
Chapter Thirteen
Emily
I paced the length of Dion's living room, anxiety crawling through my veins like electricity. "We need to go now," I insisted, already heading for the door. "What if they're planning to take Zoe tonight—"
"We need a plan first," Dion countered, his voice calm but brooking no argument. He was already checking his weapon, movements precise and practiced. "Rushing in without preparation puts everyone at risk, especially Zoe."
"But—"
"Emily." Just my name, but spoken with such authority that I stopped mid-stride. "Trust me on this. My team knows what they're doing."
"What can I do?" I asked instead, forcing my voice to remain steady.
