Read Equal Access for Free Online

the window and her tone became a bit somber. “Maybe if I’m
good I’ll get to go to the ocean. I want to go out on a boat.”
    His analytical ego shifted back into gear as
Shad contemplated her recent remark for a few seconds. Verbal abuse
was a foundation for other forms of abuse. Although Monica
confirmed that Demetri had never attacked her or Charissa
physically, it could sometimes take months or years for abuse to
progress to other levels. And Shad’s recent discovery made him
contemplate yet another possible violation Demetri could commit
against his daughter. Shad took a few more seconds to decide how to
word his question.
    “What do you have to do to be good?”
    Charissa didn’t look at him as she picked up
the doll she’d dropped to the seat when the train stopped. “What
Dad tells me.” Her earlier enthusiasm had vanished.
    “What does your dad tell you to do?”
    “To be good.” Charissa looked at Shad a bit
earnestly. “Read me a story.”
    This had to be payback for all those times
Mam and Pap had gently tried to question Shad about his life before
he moved in with them, and he always found a way to avoid
answering. If only they’d been able to hire a good lawyer, Wally
might already be in jail by now. Of course Shad probably wouldn’t
be here , then, but rather at a career in computer
technology.
    That gut feeling haunted him again as
Charissa picked up one of the books pulled from the day pack and
handed it to him without even looking at which one it was. Her type
of case was exactly the sort of situation that made Shad accept the
incongruous idea of becoming an attorney. His practice in private
and family law usually involved mortgages, property, estates and
wills. Shad didn’t handle nearly the number of adoptions he would
have preferred, but since becoming a small town attorney in a
two-office partnership a year and a half ago, Shad knew that would
be the case. Plenty of people came through his door seeking a
divorce, but Shad would only take cases that involved protecting
the rights of the victimized.
    As he accepted the book from Charissa,
another memory pushed to the forefront of Shad’s mind. Wally had
always been good about reading to him. They used to make trips to
the library together and Wally was instrumental not only in
teaching Shad how to read but also instilled his love for the
written word. Once Wally was gone Shad never got to go to the
library anymore. Then Brody moved in four years later. Spurred by
memories of the library as being a safe place, Shad began to spend
all his free time there in order to keep away from Brody as much as
possible. There Erin Delaney noticed the quiet boy who never
bothered anything.
    Of all the boyfriends that woman had, Wally
had been the kindest. But that one component of Wally’s personality
made him dangerous. If Shad had been the only boy Wally molested,
he’d be more than glad to let the man go. But he had to protect the
other boys. He had to stop Wally, but how?
    Why did everything always have to be done the
hard way?
     

Chapter Three
    Learn to do good. Devote yourselves to justice; Aid
the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; Defend the cause of
the widow.
    --Isaiah 1:17
     
    Shad immediately spotted Monica Simms
standing outside the Jefferson City train station with her brother
Eliot and his wife Tess. They were in a scattered crowd of around
twenty people, and as Shad stepped off the train with Charissa he
located Monica’s flowery headscarf. Although her hair started to
grow back when the chemotherapy treatments ceased, it was still
very short, so she preferred to keep it covered.
    When Shad reached the ground he turned to
assist Charissa, who had the day pack slung over her shoulders, hop
down the metal grate steps. When he grasped her hand the girl
simply let him hold it, but when Charissa also stepped onto the
concrete Shad felt her grip tighten in his palm.
    “There’s your mom.” Shad returned a wave with
his other