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Carter beat him, starved him and didn't give a damn about him. He was useful to her only because having him around increased the amount of money she got from the county each month. She didn't use that money to feed him, but to feed her drug and alcohol addictions. Now, he has a chance for something better, and she wants to destroy that, too!"
    "I'll admit Marcy has had some issues," Jolene began. "However, she's trying to put them behind her."
    "Issues," Josie repeated. "An issue is not paying your light bill on time. Letting your child go without food and basic needs is child endangerment. Allowing your boyfriend to beat up on him is child abuse, and conducting prostitution, and drug and alcohol use, in front of him is so far beyond child abuse that I don't think there is a name for it."
    "My job is to see if families can be reunited," Jolene interrupted. "I am aware of Marcy's history of issues. She is trying to change. She deserves a second chance."
    "I believe she's had a second, third and fourth chance already," Josie stated matter-of-factly. "Does she deserve another chance to sell her son to a John, who will use him in exchange for a few rocks of cocaine?"
    Jolene Watson's hands gripped the purse in her lap. "I am aware of your interest in the boy, Josie, but my job is to see that all parties are treated fairly—including Marcy Carter. I am taking him to visit his mother at the Centreville Retention Home. I will supervise the visitation. When rehab releases her, we will place him back with her. I will be monitoring the situation until I feel she is stable enough to handle the boy on her own."
    "To my knowledge the court has not approved this visit nor have they decided on Alex's future placement. You haven't produced any paperwork authorizing this visitation and pre-announcement of his placement. Until you show me some authorization, he's not going anywhere."
    "I'm taking the boy to see his mother," Jolene snapped back. "I'm doing my job as the child's advocate."
    "You're not his advocate; you are a caseworker. Alex has a child advocate attorney, and I haven't heard from Mrs. Foster. I'm doing my job as his foster parent, and I'm going to protect that boy."
    "Josie, I am in charge of this case," Jolene Watson shouted. "I don't appreciate your interference. You wouldn't understand, never having had a mother yourself, but it is in the boy's best interest to be with his mother and Marcy wants him back. I will be filing a complaint and requesting that he be removed from your care. Your obstruction is doing that boy more harm than good. He needs to be with Marcy as much as she needs him."
    "What Alex needs is a stable home and a loving parent. Your obstruction and interference, because you were best friends with Marcy when you were a teenager, is noted," Josie retorted. "Grow up, Jolene, this is not junior high. A child's welfare is at stake. I'll be filing a complaint with your supervisor for a change in caseworkers on Alex's behalf."
    Jolene Watson stood up. "You may think you're somebody in this town because the town council appointed you sheriff, but I grew up with you, Josie Raintree. You were trash as a child, and you are trash, now. I will see that your foster-care license is revoked. You are not going to run over top of me. Do you think getting an attorney for the boy makes any difference? It won't. It's my report that counts, and I'm recommending that Alex be placed back in the custody of his mother. That boy will be living with Marcy as soon as I can make it happen. Meanwhile, a charge of sexual assault will put an end to your foster-parent career, and it might even be enough for the town council to reconsider your job as Sheriff. Marcy is my friend, and I promised her I'd do whatever it takes to get her son back with her."
    "How on earth did you get hired as a social worker with the lives of children depending on you to make the right decisions for them?" Josie demanded, getting to her feet. "I knew it wouldn't