Chapter One
Irritated voices echoedwithin the confines of the old gymnasium. Aubrey Haydon clapped her hands to quiet the crowd, but no one heard her amid the dissatisfied complaints. One week after opening the West-Central Homeless Shelter in Spokane, she struggled to satisfy everyone.
"You need a megaphone," shouted Greg.
She shrugged, acknowledging that her employee was correct. Several factors discouraged people from wanting to listen to her.
She was a woman.
She was young.
They mistook her desire to help for pity.
She wanted to ask what to do, but it was her decision to jump in feet first into running a shelter. Even though she took business courses at the local community college, nothing prepared her for the challenges of managing a non-profit organization. No one prepared her to deal with rejection from those who were too proud to accept her help.
Not giving up, she stepped onto the bleachers and climbed several rows until she was above everyone else standing on the floor. She cupped her hands and raised them to her mouth.
"Can I have everyone's attention, please?" she shouted.
A woman clutching a plastic bag shook her head. "We were promised showers. Turn on the water."
"Water." An older man in sweatpants and a flannel coat with the elbows worn out held up his fist. "Water."
The others joined in the chant. She waved her arm in the air, trying to capture their attention. If they paid attention to her, she could explain what was happening.
On the floor, Greg tried to calm those around him as she scanned the crowd. The shelter could accommodate fifty people each night, and it was at capacity.
She inhaled deeply and shouted, "If you'll please be quiet, I'll explain what—"
A loud, ear-piercing alarm echoed through the room. Her shoulders lifted against the onslaught of noise. Gazing up at the high ceiling, she anticipated the fire sprinklers activating and drenching everyone, but nothing happened except for the constant ringing that drowned out any complaints.
She glanced across the room and noticed someone holding the fire exit door open. Squinting, she couldn't determine who it was. Judging by the size, it appeared to be a man in a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head. The shadows obscured all other details from her view.
Then, the man ducked out the door and shut it behind him, stopping the noise. In the silence, her heart raced. Thankful for the reprieve, she shifted her gaze to the people in front of her and took advantage of the quiet.
"We're having a problem with the pipes in the locker room. I've called a plumber. He should be here within the hour." She cleared her throat. "I promise that we'll have working water soon. In the meantime, if you could all stand or sit beside your cot, we'll hand out some food."
A low murmur rolled through the crowd. They shuffled away from her, complying with her request. Hope surged within her. She could make everyone happy as long as she maintained some control over the madness.
Greg rushed to her side. "Barker's Plumbing Service just pulled up to the back of the building. Shane is showing them to the locker room."
She climbed down the bleachers. "Great news. Have Vic hand out the bagged meals to each cot. Make sure he knows not to do more than one a cot."
The shelter was limited to adults. Only individuals over eighteen were permitted entry, according to the city permit. Food was a big motivator for getting them inside and somewhere safe for the night.
"What are we going to do for tomorrow night?" Greg lowered his voice. "We're already running on pennies."
"We'll figure that out after everyone has been fed and showered." She strode through the crowd, looking toward the fire exit.
Rules were in place for a reason. The fire door was for emergencies only, and despite the interruption that allowed her to gain control of the group, she had to ensure the man understood that if he broke the rules, he wouldn't be welcome at the shelter.
At the closed door, she looked around. He must've left and not come back inside. Was he one of the homeless or someone trying to cause trouble?
Making eye contact with an older woman, she pointed over her shoulder. "Did you see who opened the door?"
The woman offered her a blank stare. She looked for someone else to ask, but everyone turned their backs on her. Having volunteered her time to help the homeless find free resources to improve their lives for the past two years while attending college, she understood the unspoken honor code between those who lived on the street. She wasn't going to get any answers from them.
Making sure Vic was on task, she hurried into the locker room to find Greg standing behind two men, staring at the showers. She approached the group and tapped her coworker on the arm.
