When Brian closed in, cursing and saying he wanted his money for taking care of Zoe, I picked her up, covering one ear and pressing the other to my shoulder. She didn’t need to hear any more of his spewed hatred. I strode as quickly as I could without running. Placing Zoe in the passenger side of my truck, I secured her and then jogged around to the driver’s side to jump in.

I started up the engine and immediately headed for the sheriff’s office. “Are you okay, Zoe? Did they hurt you?”

“No. They just make me stay in the closet after school until bedtime. Am I in trouble?”

My heart shattered on her question and the fear in her voice. “No, Zo. You did nothing wrong. It’s the Calhouns who are in trouble.”

“Tell me both of those assholes are going away.”

Sheriff Raines met my stare, the set of his jaw hard. “I’ve got two deputies en route to pick them up. A social worker is meeting them there to take custody of their children.”

The Calhouns didn’t deserve to have any children under their care, even if they didn’t lock their own biological kids in a closet. My gaze flicked to Zoe. She was huddled between Callie and a social worker, nibbling on a snack. “They had one of those toddler toilets in that closet, Parker. She said they made her stay in there after school until bedtime.”

“We’re gonna get justice for Zoe.”

“What we’re gonna get is a foster placement that I approve. One that is down with random checks whenever the fuck I want and whenever the social worker wants.”

Just as I finished my tirade, the glass door to the sheriff’s office lounge opened, and the social worker came out. She was young, too young to know what she should be doing. “Sheriff, have the Calhouns been detained?”

Parker took a step forward. “We’re in the process now, Harper.”

“Something that wouldn’t have been necessary if you’d done your damn job,” I added.

The woman flinched. “I’ve done two home checks since placing Zoe with the Calhouns. Nothing was ever amiss.”

“Let me guess, announced visits.”

“I had no reason to believe there was a need for anything else.”

I scoffed. “Not everyone is living in a fairy tale land where people are good just because they claim to be.”

Parker put a palm on my chest, giving me a small shove. “Crosby, back off. You’re out of line.”

I bit back a curse, running my hands through my hair and tugging on the ends. “I’m sorry, but you didn’t see her in that closet.”