Page 38 (2/2)

She lifts her head from her knees to peek up at me, her dark eyes filled with terror I stay where I aetting too close could scare her even ht now

“We’re clear,” Adrian says over the radio “Two suspects deceased, one in custody”

Knowing it’s safe to holster irl can see my empty hands in front of ent Okay?”

She lifts her head higher and I get a better look at her face I scroll through nize her We got a lead on the dirtbags in this house fro the internet What they call “sex with young girls” I call rape and kidnapping

“Are there any other children here?” I ask her

She shrugs, and I radio Adrian to check the final door for me

“Is there anything I can do for you?” I ask the girl, who looks ry”

I take a Snickers bar out ofa candy bar and some crackers to raids, because I learned the hard way that when I’ry kid, it helps to have so to offer them

“Do you have water?” she asks, her voice hoarse

“I do”

I push a button on my radio and speak into it “I need a bottle of water left outside the second door on the left side of the hallway”

“Want this, too?” I hold out the candy bar

She nods, but doesn’t move

“Is it okay if I coive it to you?” I ask

She eyesaround , “I’h”