"This is what I meant when I said we needed a lawyer." Gregory did not argue. He asked whether the emergency court would hear Sky's own objections to being moved, and Martha assured him that the request would specifically seek a chance for the girl to speak.
Lucy called Natalie, who was already aware of the second report. The youth worker explained that the agency had to evaluate new information about the safety of a child in its care, even when the information came from someone with an apparent personal interest. The crucial questions would be the accuracy of the claims and the child's immediate circumstances. She also confirmed that no licensed caregiver had been removed, no placement order had been changed, and no person from a private firm had authority to transport Sky. Terry wrote each point down as she spoke.
Sky arrived later than usual, pale and silent. Denise had told her about the review before they left the house, following the plan Sky had requested. She walked into the clean painting area, looked at Gregory, and said, "They found me." He did not soften the statement.
"Somebody filed another report," he answered. "The people responsible for your placement know where you are, and we're going to the review with a lawyer. You do not have to disappear again to be heard."
"You don't have to do this," she said. "I can go somewhere else before it gets bad." Gregory looked at her across the workbench. "And where would you go?"
She had no answer, which was one of the things that frightened her most. He reached for the folder containing her brother's old papers. "Luther tried to give you something stable. I can't change what happened to him, but I can stand here while you decide whether you want us to keep trying."
She stared at the papers. "He lost because of you," she said. Gregory felt the words before he could answer them. "Part of the evaluation was about the club," he acknowledged.
"There were other issues, and I don't know how the court would have decided if he'd lived long enough to address them. But if being associated with us made things harder for him, that's something we have to answer honestly now. It doesn't give us permission to make your choices for you."
For a moment Sky looked more angry than frightened. "Then why do you care? Because you feel guilty?" Gregory swallowed. "I feel guilty about not knowing," he said.
"That isn't the reason I care. I care because you walked in here hungry and afraid, and because you've worked harder than anyone I know to hold on to the things you love. I would care if your brother had never worn our patch." Sky looked down at her brush-stained fingers, considering whether an answer that complicated could be true.