Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 73153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Mom sighed. "I've only met the girl once.” She sighed softly. “She doesn't engage in conversation, and she seems to have an unhealthy fear of her father." My throat seemed to close up at the thought of that burly, tattooed man that I had met at that dinner beating on her enough to make her bleed. "Our two families had a dinner together, and when Kaleb mentioned trying to be her friend or something along those lines, I had never seen someone look more terrified than she did the moment she looked at her father."
Officer Henry nodded, writing some stuff down onto his notepad. "I'll tell Dr. Pine it's okay for you two to see her." I blew out a breath of relief.
He stood up, and after shaking Mom’s hand and mine, we followed him out of the room. Dr. Pine was waiting at the nurse's station for us. Officer Henry nodded at him. "It's okay for them to see her."
Without a word, Dr. Pine walked down a hallway and opened a door to one of the rooms. I walked into the room first.
I wasn’t prepared for the sight in front of me.
A choked sob left my mom's lips as soon as her eyes landed on Tracey. She rushed over to her bedside, her hand fluttering over her, tears streaming down her cheeks as she struggled to place her hands somewhere where Tracey wasn’t hurt.
Tracey was covered in bruises. Her hands, wrists, arms, neck—every part of her body that was exposed—were covered in them. They weren’t light-colored, healing bruises either. These were dark and ugly looking—fresh ones.
I walked over to rub my mom's back, trying to comfort her. "Kaleb, somebody brutally beat her. I never looked like this! She had it so much worse than I imagined. I feel so guilty for even letting her go home with them that night." Tears spilled down her red cheeks.
"Tracey didn't want anyone knowing.” And that was the truth. She hid it so well. No one ever suspected a thing, which was exactly what she wanted. She wanted to be invisible. "Tracey was afraid of anyone knowing."
A knock sounded on the door, and my mom and I turned to see a woman dressed in a dark-colored suit with a red blouse step into the room, her high heels clicking against the floor. She held her hand out to my mom. "I'm Mrs. Freeman with the Department of Family and Children Services." My mom slowly shook her hand, knowing all too well from experience what Mrs. Freeman was here for. "Due to the evidence I have found in Miss Olive's home, specifically in her bedroom, I am removing her from the home, and her parents will—without a doubt—go to prison. I have not discovered any relatives yet, so I was hoping that you would kindly take her in."
My mom nodded her head frantically. "Yes, of course, I will!" I looked at her in shock. Tears spilled down my mom’s cheeks again, and she desperately swiped them away. "I'm sorry. It's just so sad what has happened to her."
"It is very sad.” It was clear that she was extremely disturbed by Tracey’s case. “This is one of the worst cases I've ever dealt with in all of my years in this career. I need to speak with you about the extent of her injuries, and the doctor will also be joining us." She looked over at me. "If you'd like, you may leave the room."
I shook my head, walking over beside Tracey's bed. She suddenly jerked awake, her eyes snapping open. She looked around frantically, her eyes glazing over as she began to panic. "What . . ." Her chest rapidly rose and fell, beginning to hyperventilate.
I didn't dare try to touch her. I didn't want her to pass out again. "Tracey, you're in the hospital.”
She snapped her eyes over to me and then snapped them onto my mom and the social worker. "Kaleb, what in the hell is going on?" Fear coated her words, making her voice come out squeaky and high-pitched.
"Tracey," Mrs. Freeman spoke up, coming around to the side of the bed, but not coming too close since she realized that Tracey was panicking, "your parents are currently being hauled off to jail as we speak.” Tracey’s eyes widened in shock. “I've done a home evaluation, and I have enough evidence between your body and what I and the police discovered in your room to send them away for a very, very long time."
Tracey's mouth opened and closed like a fish, no sound able to make it past her lips through her shock. Mrs. Freeman continued talking. "Tracey, I have a feeling I already know, but could you please tell me why there was blood on your bed? I am recording everything in this session so that you do not have to face them in court." Vomit rose in my throat at the mention of blood on her bed. I wasn’t naive. I knew what that meant.