Guilty as Charged

A strong gust of wind sweeps through the small, southern town making the chilly night seem colder. I'll be happy when winter is over, Rachel thinks, wrapping her arms around herself as protection from the cool night air.

Rachel glances around and finds a young patrolman holding the sobbing child at the edge of the lawn. Poor kid's life will never be the same again. She thinks, starting across the yard.

Rachel remembers how traumatic her childhood had been as she headed toward the grieving kid and how her life changed for the better when DFS stepped in. Maybe they'll rescue him the way they did, Em and me.

The detective's biological mother, Jeanie, had a nearly fatal accident that led to drug addiction. When the doctors refused to give her more, she hit the streets to find her next fix. Jeanies increasing drug habit caused their world to spiral out of control.

Rachel often wondered if she and her cousin Emma would've been better off if she'd died. Figuring foster care had to be better than the life they led. Not ever knowing where your next meal will come from. Often fighting stray animals for the tiniest scrap of food. Sleeping wherever Jeannie deemed safe. Huddling together so they won't freeze to death. After years of living this way, DFS stepped in and sent Rachel to live with her dad and Emma to their Aunts.

Joe was shocked to find out he had another daughter, and Rachel was surprised to find her mom had lied about her dad being dead.

I hope the kid gets his happy ending the way I did. The detective thinks.

She then recalls the day she was taken away from the only family she'd ever known. This is what you've always wanted, she kept telling herself, but the realization didn't ease her pain. The painful memory brings tears to her eyes. Sniffling back the emotions threatening to escape, Rachel clears her voice and says, "I need to talk to him for a second if you don't mind." She reaches for the lad.

Timmy shrugs away.

"It'll only take a minute. I promise," Rachel coxes.

"I don't wanna talk. I don't wanna, " the child sobs, wrapping his chubby arms around Jeff's neck.

The detective tries again. " I know this is hard for you, honey, but I need to figure out what happened, alright?"

Flashbacks of his mother covered in blood come to mind. Horror replaces the sorrow in Timmy's eyes. He turns his head toward Rachel and says, "I don't want to talk about it. I don't. I don't." The child sobs harder.

Jeff gently massages the child's back. In a deep, gentle voice, he says, "You need to tell this nice lady what you told me, alright?" Jeff has only been with the department a few months but has shown great potential in that short amount of time.

"I don't want to remember it again. I don't. I don't. I won't."Timmy sobs.

How would I get my baby sister to talk? Rachel thinks, picturing her two half-sisters in her mind. The better question is, how would Bonnie get him to open up? Bonnie, Rachel's stepmother, seems to have a way with kids. The detective then remembers a trick Bonnie uses on her girls. I don't have Bonnie's magic touch, but it's worth a try. "Your mommy needs your help, and you can do that by telling us what happened tonight."

Timmy wipes the moisture from his tear-streaked face. "She needs my help?" Timmy asks, wiping his face with his sleeve again. He always felt so big and so proud when he helps his mom.

"She's counting on you to get her out of trouble. So be a big boy, and tell me what happened, alright?"

"I... I'll try." Timmy glances toward the house, shivers, and says, "Daddy started yelling at mommy about grownup things. He does that a lot, ya know. I got scared, so I ran to my closet to hide. I always feel safer in there" he explains, wishing he was in his safe-haven from the world again. He turns and says, "I heard mommy yelling for me. I didn't go to her at first cause I was afraid daddy would hit me too. He does that sometimes when I've been bad." Jeff raises the boy's shirt to show Rachel the bruises on the kid's back.

Poor baby, Rachel thinks, shaking her head. "What happened next?"

"I saw Mommy beside daddy both were covered in blood. Mommy told me to go to the neighbors and call the police." The child's eyes get big as saucers when the realization hits him. With a horror-stricken face, he turns toward the detective and says, "Mommy killed him. She did, she did. She killed my daddy like she said she would."

"You're mommy threatened to kill your daddy?"

His head bobs up and down as tears stream down his cheeks. "I heard her say she would the other day."

Rachel glances over at Jeff. He shrugs as if to say can you blame her?

Timmy sees an officer walking across the yard, bloody bat in hand. He then remembers it lying beside his mom. Gulping, he turns toward Rachel and says, "It's my fault daddy's dead. It's all my fault. If I hadn't played with the stupid bat, daddy would still be alive."

****

Joe sees the crowd has grown when he steps out of the house. Shaking his head, he says, "It's a shame they weren't this concerned when the abuse happened." He then recalls what Rachel said about them being terrified of Bill. Imagine how scared Janet and their poor child were, he thinks, scanning the growing cluster gathering on the lawn. "They're probably happy Bill is gone." Joe's walking toward his cruiser when his second in command steps up beside him.

"I have an update for you, Serg."

Nodding, Joe smiles and says, "Whatcha got for me, Jerry?"

"I talked to another neighbor, and they said Bill skidded into his driveway a little before nine. They hear yelling and glass breaking a few minutes later. The Browns said they started to come over to see if Janet and her boy were alright. That's when they saw someone swinging a long skinny object, and then Bill falling to the floor. Said they ran back to the house and called 911."

"Could they describe this person?"

"Mrs. Brown said she could only see shadows because it was so dark. She did say the person had a small frame and stood mid-chest to Bill. They also said they watched for someone to come out of the house but said they didn't see anyone leave."

"So Bill is approximately 6'3, right?"

"That sounds about right, boss."

"Their description makes his attacker around five-three." The sergeant raises his hand to the approximate height. Realizing that's Janet's size. He lowers his hand. "Keep digging, Jerry maybe somebody else saw more."

"Yes, Sir." Jerry nods. He turns to leave.

"Joe, I just spoke to Timmy. He said he saw his mommy leaning over his daddy with his bloody baseball bat by her side. Said his mommy was covered in blood when he ran into the room and that she told him to go to the neighbors and call 911." Rachel reports.

"I'm sure there's a logical explanation to what he saw."

Rachel shakes her head. "I hate to say this about your friend, sir, but all the evidence seems to be pointing to her."

Joe runs his finger through his thinning hair. "I know. I know." Just call me king of denial, he thinks. Hearing shuffling coming toward him, Joe turns around.

"I brought the dogs, Sergeant." An officer says, pointing to his car.

"Why do we need canines?" Rachel questions

"Janet has escaped."

"What? How?"

"The EMTs left her on the bus un-handcuffed and alone."

Rachel rolls her eyes. "Damn idiots," she mumbles under her breath. She's had to deal with their incompetence several times in the ED.

Joe walks over to his detective. "Is our search party together, Jerr?"

"They're right over there, Boss." He points across the lawn.

"Tell them it's a go."

"I'm on it sergeant"

Jeff walks up beside them, clears his throat, and says, "The grandma is here to pick up Timmy."

"Get her information in case we need to contact her, and be sure to ask her if she knows where her daughter-in-law might go. Rachel, I want you to get a patrol car to sit on her house in case Janet decides to show."