I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (bookstand for reading txt) 📗

rescued his mother. ‘Dominga Flores. The young woman, the army vet, who broke in here, the night Mamie took sick. The one who heard Cindy crying.’

‘Oh, right,’ said Isaiah impatiently. ‘I told her to call my office. I don’t know if she followed up on that. I have a lot of constituents, and I’m short staffed as it is.’

Hannah shook her head. Adam was right. Isaiah had used Dominga to create a special moment for himself in front of the TV cameras. But once that was over, he clearly hadn’t given another thought to Dominga and her problems. She made a mental note to ask Frank Petrusa about her when she got back to Restoration House. Someone should demonstrate their gratitude, she thought.

Hannah and Adam finally went back to work and took Sydney back to her daycare. At Restoration House everyone was solicitous about her health, and Hannah had to make up tales about her illness. She was glad when people stopped asking her if she felt all right and began to treat her normally again. When Frank Petrusa stopped to ask after her health, she managed to change the subject by asking him about Dominga. He said that Dominga had not been in to the group in quite a while, but that Father Luke might know where she was.

One late afternoon, a week after her return, she tapped on the door of Father Luke’s office. He invited her in with his usual pleasant smile. He was a man who never seemed pressed for time. ‘How can I help you?’ he said.

‘Father Luke, I know you can’t keep track of everybody,’ she said, ‘but I was just wondering . . .’

Father Luke pointed to a chair in front of his desk and Hannah sat down. ‘About what?’ he asked.

‘Well, there’s this vet named Dominga Flores who really saved the day, when Cindy’s babysitter had that stroke.’

‘Oh, sure. I saw it on the news.’

Hannah felt sick to her stomach, as she always did when anyone mentioned seeing film of that event. It must have shown on her face.

‘What’s the matter?’ asked the priest.

Hannah shook her head. ‘I just haven’t seen Dominga around since that night. I wondered if she got any help. Councilman Revere said he would help her but he didn’t really do anything in the end.’

‘I guess once he got his soundbite he forgot about her,’ said Father Luke. ‘Politicians.’ He sighed and then looked up at Hannah. ‘I’m sorry, Anna. I’m afraid I haven’t seen Dominga around here in a while. Why are you looking for her?’

‘Well, I’d like to help her if I could. Obviously, she’s got a problem with alcohol, and homelessness. The works. I know all the programs available. I thought if I just could talk to her . . .’

‘Let me make a few calls,’ said Father Luke. ‘I’ll let you know if I locate her.’

The next day dawned fair and breezy, a lovely November day. Hannah walked Sydney to her daycare, and then went over to Restoration House. It was so lovely that she hated to go inside. She came in and hung up her jacket. As she did, she saw Father Luke beckoning to her. She went down to his office. ‘What’s up?’ she asked.

‘I located her. Dominga Flores.’

‘Oh, great. Where is she?’ Hannah asked.

‘Apparently, she checked into a rehab downtown.’

‘That’s a start,’ said Hannah. ‘Maybe she can get her life together.’

‘I was talking with one of the counselors there. She’s about to be sprung, and she has nowhere to go. No plans. I told them she could come here temporarily.’

Hannah sighed. ‘I wish I could help her. I feel like I owe her.’

‘Well, you may get your wish. I told her counselor that I’d send you down there with the paperwork for her to stay temporarily at Restoration House. You can go over her options with her. Encourage her to participate in Frank’s groups. I think she needs that kind of group support.’

Hannah looked up at him, beaming. ‘Really? I’d be glad to. That would be great. But what about work?’

‘That is our work,’ Father Luke said gently. ‘Nothing here that can’t wait. If this girl leaves rehab and ends up on the street, she’s gonna crawl back into the bottle before you know it. I’m sure it would do her good to know that you cared enough about her to go out of your way. She seems to be alone in the world.’

‘I’d really like to go and talk to her. Thanks, Father Luke.’

The priest waved her off, and Hannah picked up her bag and her jacket and let herself out of Restoration House. She thought about how to get to the Center City Rehab. She could take the bus. That way at least she could still see the lovely day from her seat. If she got a seat. SEPTA service was not completely reliable out in their neighborhood.

Finally, she decided on the quickest method — the subway. To Hannah, it was the most distasteful. The stations often smelled of urine, and the walls were covered with graffiti. More often than not, there were bums reeking of alcohol on the platforms, and the high-school students, who rode for free, were often rowdy. Still, it was the quickest way to go, and it would give her the most time downtown. Her mind made up, Hannah walked toward the subway station, stopping long enough to buy a paper from a newsstand on the street. If she had something to read she was less likely to be harassed, either by obstreperous kids or by drunken panhandlers. The station was still busy but the school rush was over, so that made it a bit quieter. People were coming and going up and down the steps to the subway station. Hannah joined the throng, and descended into the underground.

She had a