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level of corruption. We do have a few partner organizations who could help us, if in fact the police force is corrupt.” His voice is...detached? He turns his head and looks out the window, making circles with his fork on the plate. He finally turns back and catches my gaze. He smiles. A small, knowing grin that makes me feel safe. Protected.
    He continues, a little more present with the conversation, “Whatever the case, we’re committed to keep those in harm’s way safe. I have guys all over the field, watching and waiting. We’ll be there at the first misstep these guys make. It’s been far too long and far too complicated a situation.”
    I study his face for awhile before nodding and returning to my food. I feel strangely comforted by his words. Emma knows my story. She knows my frustration with the local police’s inaction at my expense. But as we finish our meal, with the talk shifting to Benjamin’s latest antics and words he possibly uttered during Jude’s latest trip, I wonder how much she truly knew. How much she would be able to handle?

Chapter Three
    Even though Emma baked cookies earlier, she also found time to throw together a beautiful concoction of chocolate cake and strawberries. We’ve since migrated to the living room, making ourselves comfortable. I’m resting against the piles of pillows on the couch. Jude is sprawled on the floor with Benjamin playing. Emma walks out of the kitchen, balancing the cake dish in her hand and a bottle in the other.
    “Jude, will you mind serving up the cake while I feed Benjamin again?” He pinches the top of her thigh and she squeals and sidesteps, giggling. “Seriously, Jude. Cake.”
    “But what if I want to have my cake and eat it too?”
    I throw my hands over my ears. “Ewwww. Guys. Enough.”
    They look at me and laugh and Emma leans down to peck Jude on the lips before grabbing
    Benjamin and walking over to a nearby chair to feed him.
    “So, Stephanie have you looked at colleges lately?” Jude asks as he takes a knife to the cake.
    I raise an eyebrow at the copious amounts of chocolate. There’s no way I can place another bite in my mouth, but I know I’m certainly going to try.
    “Um, kind of? I mean, it’s not really a priority. I’m most likely staying local, you know. Someone has to take care of Pacey.”
    “Hey hon, didn’t you tell me you found something for Stephanie? A college she might enjoy?”
    She nods and motions her head toward a stack of papers on the coffee table.
    Jude hands me a plate full of cake before sorting through the envelopes and magazines before finding what he’s looking for. He turns to look at me and hands me a pamphlet. “Emma found this college on the internet. It’s low residency - which means you travel to the campus three weeks every semester for work with the professors. The rest of the time you take classes and correspond via the internet.”
    I take the pamphlet and flip through it nonchalantly. “I guess I’ll need to find internet then, huh?”
    Emma’s eyes widen and she shakes her head, “Duh. We have internet. You could come over here and work. Or there’s always the coffee shop. They have free wi-fi.”
    I tuck the pamphlet into my pocket and continue eating. “I doubt my father would understand if I was over here all the time, and I’m pretty sure he’d freak if he found out I came over here to take college courses. But, thank you. I’ll take a look at this.”
    The clock’s chime echoes across the living room and I sigh when I notice the time. My dad is not the worrying type, unless I’m not there when he needs me. I stretch and lick the icing off my fork and push myself off the couch, making my way over to where Emma and Jude are sitting.
    “I should probably go. Emma, I’ll see you later this week? I may need some help on a paper I’m writing for English.” I lean forward to give her a hug.
    She holds me close, rubbing my back a little before she lets go and looks out her