Little Sister Found
Lit Up — June’s Prompt: Lucky sentence
“They called themselves ‘Father’ and ‘Mother’ when they weren’t and when they didn’t aim to be. ” — The Lilie’s Of The Field
She was found Friday evening, wandering down Highway #52, barefoot and filthy. While cruising, Deputy Mike Fortune, noticed someone walking on the shoulder, dangerous even in the daylight, potentially lethal in the evening. Flashing his brights, he slowed down as he approached the young woman. He pulled his car over, putting on his hazards. She froze as he drew closer. He identified himself and asked a few questions but she didn’t answer. She was decidedly in shock so he picked her up, depositing her into the backseat of his cruiser after covering the seats with emergency blankets. Oh God, this girl must be lost. What was her story? Mike knew finding her was probably a good thing but he wished he was not the one involved.
He called ahead to the Sheriff, expressing concern for the girl’s well being and suggested Sue Jackson from Children’s Protective Services(CPS) meet them at the station. The girl, who had yet to answer a single question asked of her, remained silent with eyes closed, gently rocking back and forth.
Although Deputy Fortune followed protocol with regard to this youngster, his own personal nightmare prevented his full engagement. When he arrived at the station, he lingered, taking a few extra glances back at his passenger. So many questions needing answers, how would Sue get through to her?
“Hello Darling,” Sue whispered to Mike before turning her attention toward his ward.
“Yeah, yeah. I know what you’re thinking but just don’t go there.” Mike pleaded.
She frowned while sighing and approached the back seat of the vehicle, opened the door, and extended her hand to the girl.
“Honey, my name is Sue and I am going to help you. You are safe now. We will go together to a place where you can clean up and eat something.” The CPS officer leaned in and asked, “Can you tell me your name? It’s okay.”
Mike had stepped away to give them some privacy, hoping the gentle approach worked better. He and Sue shared a past and sometimes, he wished a future, knowing this was neither the time nor place for that type of thinking. Within minutes, hand in hand, the woman and the girl were walking toward the entry to the Sheriff’s Station. By God, that woman is good, he thought. He followed them into the building and stopped short, in the doorway of the lounge. Hearing the girl’s voice for the first time, he shuddered.
An almost inaudible sound escaped from her lips, “They call me Deena.”
“Who is they, Deena?” Sue inquired further.
After a long hesitation, Deena replied, “P and Q.”
Sue speculated Deena was not the girl’s real name and wondered why the P and Q but would ask more about that later. Mike listened to the continued conversation, learning a few additional insights. Deena recounted a tale of dark rooms and cold floors, covered windows and locked doors. The recollection of time passed was not clear, nor distance traveled. Deena could report only that, due to some unexplained reason, the doors had been left ajar and hearing no sounds, she tiptoed out, finding herself in a wooded area. She walked, then ran along to what appeared to be a path away from the small dark brown building. She had escaped. How she got to the highway was a blur to Deena and suddenly, she wrapped her thin arms around her chest, lowered her head and stopped any communication.
Sue reassured Deena, she was only stepping outside the door for a few minutes. She knew Mike heard the exchange with Deena, wondering if it triggered nightmarish thoughts but knew that subject was off limits.
“She has shut down so we might as well, take her over to the shelter and get her cleaned up and hope a night of sleep will help,” Sue whispered to Mike, whose down-turned face bore witness to the pain Deena’s existence was causing him.
“Good idea, will you ride in the back of my cruiser? I will bring you back to your car later,” Mike asked.
“I think it’s the best plan. I will go in and talk to Deena about what will be happening. Give us a few minutes and we’ll come out to you.” Sue replied.
She knew from experience when kids shut down, compliance was pretty iffy. Deena hesitantly agreed to follow. Sue questioned Deena slowly, one thing at a time, stair-stepping from less personal to more intimate. Deena had turned six on her last birthday at home, where that was or how many years had past was unknown. The ride over to the children’s home was short but Deena did give a few more details, such as remembering an older brother, not his name though. Mike was listening and without a conscious thought, he gasped. Sue had mentally prepared for this and from the backseat, reached forward, laying her hand on Mike’s shoulder.
“Mike, do you need to take a few minutes? We are just fine back here if you want to pull over.” Sue asked.
“ Don’t go there. I’m fine,” Mike angered. Knowing Mike as she did, she let it go and turned her attention back to Deena. Glancing over at her, she noticed Deena staring up at Mike in the front.
A small voice jumped out of the back, “I want to go home,” Deena chirped.
“Are you remembering something, honey? About where you were before?” Sue encouraged.
“My brother…I remember his name, Teddy,” Deena exclaimed.
“That’s great, Deena! I can put his name on the computer and maybe we can find out your real name and who your parents are.” Sue said.
“Whoa! Slow down, we need to take this one step at a time,” Mike warned.
Sue knew Mike was thinking about his lost sister, Mandy. She was never found. She had been missing 15 years. But this girl was found and damned if she would let Mike dampen her hopes of reuniting Deena with parents who had probably been searching for years.
