Chapter 44
“You must be Shelby,” Officer Branton announced as he approached.
Shelby pushed himself up from the steps, trembling a little under the officer’s gaze. Jacob wasn’t surprised. For all the kid’s bluster, and all that he’d been through on the streets, Shelby was not as street-tough as he pretended. Jacob stood beside him, silently offering his support. As the boy told his story to Branton, Jacob still found it amazing that the boy on the video had lived in this very shelter. Mind-boggling.
“Do you know how the reverend acquired the video?”
Shelby shook his head. “But back then, the manager was an addict and he would do pretty much anything for drugs. Or for money to buy drugs. He didn’t last too long at the motel, but none of them ever really do.”
Jacob turned at the sound of footsteps, and was surprised to see Mike McReynolds, Garrett’s friend. Jacob stuck his hand out and Mike shook it.