‘What if she doesn’t believe me?’ Amber said, choking on her own words. ‘My own mother didn’t believe me.’
‘You told your mother?’ Lucinda said.
‘Yes,’ Amber said, tears sliding down her face. ‘She slapped me and called me a liar. She said I was a selfish little girl who didn’t care about anyone’s happiness but my own.’
‘I will believe you,’ Lucinda said. ‘I know we don’t know each other, Amber. But I know Charley and I know Charley believes you. That’s good enough for me.’
Amber’s small chest heaved as she exhaled and began recounting the theft of her innocence. Lucinda was repulsed at the details of her abuse – progressing from fondling to forced fellatio to anal rape over the last two years. Lucinda worked hard to keep that feeling of revulsion off of her face because she knew how vulnerable Amber was – she knew the child would interpret any expression of distaste as being directed at her.
Amber’s sobs made her nearly incoherent as she finished her horrific tale. Lucinda opened her arms and Amber fell into them. Lucinda pulled her into her lap, wrapped one arm around the girl’s frail shoulders and placed the opposite palm on the side of Amber’s head. Looking over at Charley, Lucinda’s saw that her young friend was swallowing hard as she tried to keep her tears at bay.
Once Amber stopped sobbing, she gently pulled back and said, ‘I’m scared.’
‘Of course you are, Amber, but I am going to take steps to make you safe. Still, it will take a while for you to stop being afraid but it will come in time. Now, when did your mother say that you had to come back home?’
‘She said it would be good not having me around causing problems for everybody, but I had to get back by Monday after school because she starts a new job and I need to be there to look after my little brother Andy after school.’ Amber rubbed the back of her hand across her nose.
‘OK. That’s good. That gives us a few days to take care of everything. What is the name of your mother’s boyfriend?’
‘Eddie. Eddie Springer.’
‘Do you know where he lives?’
‘He lives with us.’
‘Does he have a job?’
Amber nodded. ‘He works at some pool hall but I don’t know where.’
‘OK. One more question, Amber. Are you hurting physically right now?’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ she said, her lip quivering.
‘Where does it hurt you, sweetheart?’
‘My bottom hurts and it’s bleeding a little.’
Lucinda fought to stay calm. She wanted to storm out of there, hunt down Eddie Springer and put a bullet between his eyes. ‘Now, you two just relax for a bit. I have to make some phone calls. You can stay out here, or if you want to go inside, that’s fine. Charley knows where to find some snacks if you’re hungry.’
As Lucinda eased up from the chair, Charley put her arm around Amber and patted her friend’s back. They were whispering together as Lucinda went inside.
In the bedroom, Lucinda shut the door before pulling out her cell and calling Charley’s father, Dr Spencer. ‘Evan, Charley’s little friend has a serious problem. She needs to be seen by a physician immediately. I could take her to the emergency room, but I’m worried that might be too traumatic for her. I was hoping you might know a female physician who’d be willing to see her in a more private setting after hours.’
‘What’s her problem?’
Lucinda detailed the trauma of Amber’s abuse and explained the pain problem. ‘Do you know of anyone who might be able to help at this time of the evening?’
‘I do. Actually, I know just the doctor for this situation. Let me see if I can reach her. I know she’ll want to know if a police report has been filed. Are you taking care of that?’
‘Yes, Evan. I’m going to see to that and to getting both Amber and her little brother into a safe situation.’
‘OK. I’ll call you right back.’
Lucinda left the bedroom and found the girls in the kitchen, sitting at the counter, eating bowls of ice cream. It would probably ruin their dinner but that felt very insignificant under the circumstances.
‘Is Daddy on his way, Lucy?’ Charley asked.
‘He’s got to make a phone call first.’ Lucinda poured a glass of Merlot and stepped back on to the balcony to wait for Evan’s call. She startled when the phone rang.
‘I got hold of her. I’ll be there in just a few minutes and we’re going to meet the doctor at her office in half an hour,’ Evan said.
‘Good, I’ll explain to them what’s going on so you won’t have to deal with any panicked reactions.’
‘Good luck with that. Sometimes, I am flat out ashamed to be a man.’
TWENTY-TWO
On the way home, Jake stopped by the Happy Dragon to pick up dinner. He almost called Lucinda when he couldn’t decide whether or not to get the kung pao shrimp or the triple delight for her. But, since he really wanted to surprise her, he just bought both along with his favorite, the sweet and sour shrimp plate.
He had second thoughts on his way home. What if she’s in the middle of fixing dinner? Maybe I should have called first. Then again, heated up, the Chinese would all work well for the following night. Nonetheless, when he entered the apartment, he looked first at the kitchen, relieved to see no preparation in progress.
He set the food down on the counter and found Lucinda out on the balcony. Slouched in one of two lounge chairs, she sprawled like a liquid spill across the cushions. ‘Man, you look more tired than I feel,’ he said.
‘Hey, Jake,’ she grinned. ‘Got a kiss for a weary warrior?’
He placed a peck on her lips and said, ‘Looks like you had as bad day as I did.’
‘Actually, I thought it was a good day until I got home. After I got in the door, I had to change my assessment really fast,’ she said, swinging her legs to the side and standing up for a hug.
Jake embraced her and asked, ‘Was something wrong here? Where’s Chester? Is he hurt?’
‘Chester is fine. He’s sitting in the bedroom window soaking up the sun. When I came home, Charley was here with a friend. I’m famished, Jake, come into the kitchen with me while I throw something simple together for our dinner and I’ll tell you all about it.’
‘You don’t have to fix a thing.’
‘What? You’re cooking?’
‘I can, you know.’
‘Oh yes, Mr Special Agent Man, you are an expert at pulling food from the freezer and popping it into the microwave.’
‘I did better than that tonight. I brought dinner home. Let’s fix plates and come back out here to eat. So what’s wrong with Charley? Is she in trouble again?’
‘No, Charley’s fine. It’s her friend who has a problem but I don’t think I can talk about it while we’re eating,’ she said as she walked into the kitchen and opened the take-out boxes. Seeing the selection, she poked fun at Jake for his indecisiveness over the order. When they sat down, she said, ‘Update me on your day with Connelly.’
Jake ran through the events and said, ‘Connelly is not going to pursue anything that does not point to a Muslim terrorist conspiracy and that’s not what it looks like to me.’
‘I agree – the scenario is all wrong from the timing and the people involved. David Baynes as a suicide bomber sounds ludicrous to me. Was he serious about the Mexican mafia as an alternative theory?’
‘I believe he is,’ Jake said with a sigh.
‘Sounds like Connelly is in need of intervention.’
‘Agreed. Unfortunately, it is out of my hands. If I were to attempt having him removed, it could result in them taking me off the case. So are you following a more productive line of inquiry or did the captain shut you down?’
‘Definitely the former – Captain Holland is backing me up all the way.’
Jake waited for her to continue but when she didn’t, he said, ‘That’s it? That’s all you’re going to tell me?’
Lucinda looked at the plate and set down her chopsticks. ‘
I told the captain about the notes. And about the information I learned today.’
‘What information?’
‘I need your promise – like the notes, this stays between you and me. I can’t have Connelly mucking this up.’
‘Of course, Lucy. I’m not going to jerk you around.’
‘Even if it means you’re stuck running down rabbit trails with Connelly?’
‘Yes. Can’t say I like my role. But it is what it is and anything you tell me I will keep between the two of us.’
Lucinda talked about the connection between David Baynes, who died at the high school, and Todd Matthews, who seemed to have committed suicide. Then she moved to the red truck connection with Todd. ‘It appears as if they are all tied together. I think what I need to do next is find that red truck. I was thinking about going to the high school in the morning and getting a list of all faculty and student parking permits for red pick-ups, but I don’t want to run into Connelly.’
‘You won’t, particularly not if you go there in the morning. We, too, are looking for a red pick-up. We’re taking a list of red pick-up owners and matching them to people on the terrorist watch list and making a circuit of those people. Connelly said if that doesn’t work, we might have to resort to a street-by-street grid search, starting with the area around the mosque. He has no plans to go up to the high school tomorrow because he wants to wait until students are back in school so he can go through the parking lot. Your plan certainly makes more sense but he doesn’t want anyone at the school to know what he is looking for. He’s driving me crazy.’
‘I think he’s already gotten there,’ Lucinda said. ‘I’ll go to the school first thing in the morning. Now that the undamaged part of the building has reopened and temporary trailers have been installed to house the wrecked office and classrooms, the staff will be there in full force for an in-service day devoted to the plan to care for the kids’ needs when they return.’
‘Usually, when you have a productive day like that, no matter how long or tiring it is, you’re charged up with energy when you get home. But tonight you seemed drained. The problem Charley’s friend has must be pretty serious. Is that what’s making you keep looking at your phone?’
‘Yes, I’m expecting a call from Evan.’
‘Evan Spencer? But I thought you said Charley was fine?’
‘Yes, she is.’
Jake folded his arms across his chest. ‘Then why the interest in Spencer?’
‘Jake, are you jealous?’
‘Maybe. All I can get from you is a month-to-month commitment.’
‘Oh, please, Evan is the last person you need to worry about,’ Lucinda said. ‘I needed Evan’s help with the difficult situation facing Charley’s friend. Quite frankly, it’s absolutely awful. The little girl needed a discreet examination by a female doctor and Evan found one.’
‘That doesn’t sound good.’
‘It’s not,’ Lucinda said and then, after a heavy sigh, explained about Amber.
‘No wonder you’re wiped out.’
‘Now, I’m anxious to hear from Evan about how the doctor’s visit went. I can’t make any decisions on where to go next to protect this child until I know what I have to offer social services and the sexual crimes unit.’
‘Are there people you can trust in both departments?’
‘I think so. The timing of this is so delicate. We need to make sure that the children are both safe when that bastard is arrested. And we need to be sure that they’ll keep him away from them afterwards.’
‘No way you can get a guarantee of no bail.’
‘No, but there are alternatives. Personally, if he gets out, I think he should be monitored with restrictions on where he can go and the kids need to be stashed someplace where they will be safe from harm.’
‘So, all you are asking for is common sense and logic. Sounds easy but in practice it’s often impossible.’
‘I know but I will be relentless.’
‘Would you go so far as to run off and take the children with you?’
‘If it comes to that, Jake.’
TWENTY-THREE
After Amber’s examination by Dr Carson Winters, Evan’s first priority was getting Amber to his home and settled into bed. He made arrangements to call the other doctor at home after he’d accomplished that.
Charley showed Amber up to her room while Evan relieved Kara, the babysitter, and checked in with his younger daughter, Ruby. ‘Now, Rubikins,’ he said as he tucked her into bed, ‘you stay out of Charley’s room tonight.’
‘But I want to meet her friend,’ Ruby objected.
‘There will be plenty of time for that. Amber will be here all through the weekend.’
‘But, Daddy—’
‘And don’t go in waking them up tomorrow morning. Amber has had a very hard day and she needs her sleep and she’s just not up to meeting another new person tonight.’
‘OK, Daddy …’
‘Promise?’ he asked, lifting up two fingers in a modified scout pledge.
‘Promise,’ she said, mimicking his actions.
‘That’s my girl,’ he said, giving her a peck on the forehead. ‘Sleep tight.’
He went down the hall to Charley’s room and knocked on the door. He heard a gasp inside and knew it must be Amber.
‘Come in,’ Charley said.
‘No, no, no!’ Amber objected.
‘It’s OK, Amber. It’s Daddy.’
Evan opened the door a crack and said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not coming in. Charley, you two can stay up as late as you want tonight and just sleep as long as you need to in the morning.’
‘But, Daddy, it’s a school night,’ Charley said, the surprise at his leniency apparent in her voice.
‘So call this an exception to the rule. If you need to go in late in the morning or even stay home all day, I’ll write your excuses. Come on out here and give me a kiss goodnight, Charley. I’m heading off to bed.’
Charley bounced off her bed and out into the hall. Evan eased the door shut behind her.
‘Charley, I know I’ve always had a house rule about not locking your door at night in case there is an emergency, but if it makes Amber feel safer, go ahead and do it.’
‘Are you sure, Daddy?’
‘I don’t like the extra responsibility it puts on your shoulders, Charley, but right now Amber’s feeling of security is really the most important thing to consider.’
‘OK, I’ll let Amber decide. But I’m not a little kid anymore, in case you haven’t noticed.’
‘Oh, I certainly have,’ Evan said as bittersweet emotions flooded over him. ‘Good night, Charley.’
‘Wait, Daddy. Why did he do that to Amber? What made him do that?’
‘I don’t have an answer. I don’t think any decent man understands why some men do things like that. You’re not worried about me doing anything bad to you, are you?’
‘No, I don’t worry you’ll do something bad – it’s just sometimes you are so embarrassing. I wish you could try not to be so dorky when we’re at the mall.’
‘OK, I’ll try,’ he said, walking off and shaking his head, wondering how his self-esteem would survive Charley’s teenage years. In his bedroom, he called Dr Winters. ‘Hi, Carson,’ he said when she answered.
‘Well, Evan, it’s obvious that the girl was telling the truth. I found clear evidence of rape and collected a sperm sample. The good news is that although there is some physical damage, it should heal with time. Just give her some Tylenol when she experiences any pain. The bad news is that she may never completely recover from the emotional damage. She’s going to need the care of an adult with a lot of love to give and mountains of patience if she has any hope of a normal life after this ordeal.’
‘I think the best I can do for her right now is keep my distance and let Charley take the lead as her friend. I’d like to wrap my arms around her and rock her to sleep, but I know if I tried, she’d be terrified.’
�
�Yeah, it’s going to be a while before she trusts any man. Tell your lieutenant that I’m ready, willing and eager to testify at any hearing or trial. Amber should never return to that home and her little brother needs to get out of there as soon as possible, too.’
After hanging up, Evan called Lucinda and relayed the information from Dr Winters. ‘And listen, Lucinda, I can’t take on Amber and Andy permanently – I’m already worried that I’m not up to the challenge of raising my two girls on my own – but if there is a need for a temporary placement until the right home can be found for Amber and her brother, I am willing to take that on.’
‘Evan, I can’t tell how much I appreciate that. My schedule is so erratic that I knew I couldn’t do it but it just might be the solution to getting them into a safe environment without delay. Is Charley doing OK?’
‘Right now, Lucinda. But I’m worried about how this will affect her ability to have a good relationship with a man in the future.’
‘I wouldn’t worry about that Evan. Charley has a great father watching over her – she’ll know a good man when she sees one.’
‘You couldn’t say that when we first met.’
‘No, Evan, I couldn’t. At times, you were a bit of a jerk – but you’d just lost your wife to an act of violence and were under suspicion for her murder. All things considered, you did pretty damn good. Now, if you can only survive the teenage years with two girls – glad it’s you and not me.’
TWENTY-FOUR
In the morning, Lucinda set up an eleven a.m. meeting in the conference room with a social work supervisor from Child Protective Services, a CASA volunteer attorney and a detective from the sex crimes division before driving over to Woodrow Wilson High School.
The student parking lot in the back was empty but the space on the side for faculty and administrative personnel was packed. Lucinda walked through there, noting the presence of three red pick-up trucks before going inside.
Lucinda didn’t blink at the sight of high chainlink fence around the exterior of the damaged portion of the building but, inside, the same barrier looked out of place. The demolished hallway was blocked and a long table with two chairs rested in front of it. Sitting on the floor, in neat stacks beside the table, were sealed boxes filled with the contents of the intact lockers marked with a unit number and a student’s name. On the surface were containers holding the items rescued from those that had blown to bits. Each box was piled high with a pathetic and jumbled assortment of mangled textbooks, battered binders, all sorts of school supplies and a collection of shoes and clothing whose continued use was doubtful.
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