Chapter 5 - THE EMPTY ROOMSAt Rosebridge, the heat was broken and the breakfast line reached the sidewalk. Grace recognized two teenagers from the foundation's annual report. In the glossy photograph they held new backpacks. Today one wore a coat with a missing zipper.
Paula showed Adrián and Grace the upstairs bedrooms. There were eighteen mattresses for forty-two residents. The hall smelled of detergent and damp drywall.
"I asked for the emergency grant four times," Paula said. "Your office told me the beds were already delivered."
Adrián touched an empty metal bedframe. "I'm sorry."
"Apologies don't keep anyone off the floor tonight."
Grace respected Paula for saying it. She gave Adrián a list of immediate supplies, and he arranged a separate payment through an outside nonprofit, subject to verification, so the frozen foundation accounts would not stall relief.
In the records room, Paula brought out the center's own delivery book. Every missed shipment had been marked NOT RECEIVED in red ink. Her notes went back nine months.
"Why didn't someone on our board see these?" Adrián asked.
"Because we sent them to a person who stopped answering," Paula said. "Victoria's special projects office."
Grace arranged for investigators to collect certified copies. As they left, a boy named Eli approached her. He was fifteen and wore a school ID on a frayed string.
"Are we being shut down?"
"We're trying to stop that," Grace said. "I won't promise what I can't control."
Eli studied her face, then held out a folded notice. The owner of Rosebridge's building had demanded the overdue rent by Monday.
At the bottom was an address for the landlord's collection company.
EASTLINE PROPERTY RECOVERY.
May you like
The same name as the vendor receiving the missing grant money.
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