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“Addy K.” Rory interrupts by saying her version of Auntie Kellie. She’s reaching out with grabby hands for the bear Deputy Malloy brought for her. “Alright girlie, let’s finish getting you changed.” Placing my hand on Rory’s tummy so she doesn’t get up, I nod with a head tilt towards the pink dresser against the wall. “Would you mind handing me a diaper and wipes from the top drawer?” I watch the deputy use his bright flashlight to dig around in the drawer then hand me a disposable diaper and an almost empty pack of wipes. It’s a miracle they haven’t dried out. He continues his search. "There are so many new clothes in here and the tags are still on most of them.” I look past him to see the clothes he’s referring to. “Trust me, I understand your frustration. I bought most of those outfits last month. She was probably going to sell them or try to return them for drug money.” I blow out a breath and my shoulders slump with the feeling of failure. “Rory has been through so much. I tried to get custody, but Child Protective Services and the courts shut me down each time.” “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but that would be a lie.” A quick wash with the wet wipes will have to do until I get her home. I tape up the sides of the disposable diaper and toss the old one in the overflowing garbage can. Before I can reach for clean clothes, the officer beats me to it by shining his flashlight on a dress with an image of Sleeping Beauty o

“Addy K.” Rory interrupts by saying her version of Auntie Kellie. She’s reaching out with grabby hands for the bear Deputy Malloy brought for her. “Alright girlie, let’s finish getting you changed.” Placing my hand on Rory’s tummy so she doesn’t get up, I nod with a head tilt towards the pink dresser against the wall. “Would you mind handing me a diaper and wipes from the top drawer?” I watch the deputy use his bright flashlight to dig around in the drawer then hand me a disposable diaper and an almost empty pack of wipes. It’s a miracle they haven’t dried out. He continues his search. "There are so many new clothes in here and the tags are still on most of them.” I look past him to see the clothes he’s referring to. “Trust me, I understand your frustration. I bought most of those outfits last month. She was probably going to sell them or try to return them for drug money.” I blow out a breath and my shoulders slump with the feeling of failure. “Rory has been through so much. I tried to get custody, but Child Protective Services and the courts shut me down each time.” “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but that would be a lie.” A quick wash with the wet wipes will have to do until I get her home. I tape up the sides of the disposable diaper and toss the old one in the overflowing garbage can. Before I can reach for clean clothes, the officer beats me to it by shining his flashlight on a dress with an image of Sleeping Beauty o

“Hey, Paul! Get out here. We need to talk.” My words are brisk and loud. “We’re going to have to drag him out of bed and throw him into a cold shower to get him to wake up and hear what we have to say.” I use the side of my closed hand like a hammer to announce our presence at the door again. BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! “Paul. God damn it, get up. We need to talk now.” “No way he didn’t hear that. What do you want to do?” Jackson's question hangs in the air while I rack my brain for a plan. There’s no way I’m walking away without finding out what’s going on with my partner. I rub the back of my neck, the sweat coating my hand. Something isn’t right. “Screw it. I’ll pay for a new door. You ready?” With a nod of affirmation, Jackson silently gives me the signal to kick in the door. Getting into position, I step forward, raise my leg and kick with the heel of my boot beside the doorknob. The wood frame only cracks, requiring a second heel strike to dislodge the deadbolt. The second kick does the job as the frame gives way. I use my shoulder to push the door open and look around before entering. Nothing in his front room seems out of sorts. “Paul. Hey Paul! Get the hell up.” “Lance, maybe he’s in there.” Jackson gestures toward Paul’s office, where a light is shining from under the door. “Paul. Are you in here?” The door isn’t closed fully, allowing me to push it open. What I see next nearly takes my legs out from under