Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 28

Mike didn't read Link the riot act, but he did explain to him that a lot of the kids ran away rather than face continued abuse—physical, verbal and/or sexual—at home.

"You're a cop," Mike said when he finished his lecture. "Why the hell don't you know this?"

"I do," Link protested, "on a mental level. Emotionally though… That kid had bruises on both arms and no backpack and…" He shook his head. "He must have run away so fast he didn't even pack anything."

"Possibly. Probably. At least he found us. One of the counselors will make certain he gets a pack and a couple of changes of clothing. That's the best we can do, other than feed him tonight and give him a safe place to sleep."

"He can't stay?"

"He can spend the day here if he wants, but he'll still have to line up again tomorrow evening for a bed and a meal. If he's lucky, he'll get them again. If not…" Mike sighed. "It's a fact of life for kids on the streets, Link. We only have so much room and some of it's taken up by the Thirty-Day kids. Unfortunately, he'll probably leave in the morning and try his hand at begging to get enough to buy something to eat and from there—it's a vicious circle. Try for a bed, and if a shelter doesn't have one, try to find a safe place to spend the night and start all over again the next day."     

"That sucks," Link muttered.

"No shit. Now we'd better get back before Paddy blows a fuse."

Link nodded. "Are you and he…"

"We're friends, nothing more."

"Good," Link barely whispered but Mike heard him anyway and wondered why he sounded so relieved.

For sure it can't be what I'm thinking. We've only known each other for a few hours. And I'm not sure I can even call it knowing. He's here to do a job. Tomorrow it could be someone else, just like it was yesterday. Still, it would be nice if it was Link again. Mike wasn't certain why he felt that way, but at the moment he did.

* * * *

"I'll drive you home to make sure you get there safely," Link told Mike as he, Mike and Paddy left the shelter for the night. "I'm parked in a lot two blocks from here."

"You don't have to. That's my job," Paddy growled before Mike could reply.

"And mine," Link said firmly. "I'm the cop who's assigned to this case. You're just"—he grinned mockingly—"the hired help. And you don't have a car. Right?"

Paddy nodded, muttering "Right" as he clenched his hands angrily. At the moment he wanted nothing more than to strangle the young officer. Emphasis on young. "How the hell old are you by the way?" he asked tightly.

Link grinned. "Not as old as you, but old enough."

"That did not answer my question."

"I know. I'm twenty-five."

"You look like you're barely old enough to go into a bar."

"And that, Paddy, is why Detective Massey assigned me to this case." Link turned to Mike, repeating his offer.