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I found hi to a man ore a dark business suit and a scowl on his face Another officer was trying to ease Charlie away fro any of it

"Charlie Doyle, right?" The man in the suit eyed him and Officer Charlie nodded his head in frustration "Doyle, I’m sorry, but this incident has crossed border lines It’s not your case anymore I’m sure you’ve done a fine job, but I’ll need all of the files and any evidence you have," the disgruntled-looking gentleman requested

"Oh, now you want to do your job? After I hand-deliver it all solved on your desk? You didn’t give two shits when I tried to get the FBI involved Now you fuckers want to step in? Fuck off, Agent Johnson," Officer Charlie bit back

I quickly jumped to cover Braden’s ears, but the look on his face told me that I shouldn’t even bother He had heard it all Officer Charlie spotted us standing behind hilare

"Shit!" he exclai he had just cussed in front of a four-year-old again, he s a loud pop

"Please, Officer, quit while you’re ahead," I dryly told hiized sheepishly I was just glad he was finally calling er than him, for God’s sake I watched as he squatted down to speak directly to Braden "Hey sport, forgive me I shouldn’t have said any of those words I really don’t want your e favor and don’t repeat them, okay?" Braden nodded his head with a small smirk at the corner of his"A man of feords I like you, kid"

When he stood back up, I couldn’t hold in the giant yawn that stretched across my entire face It was less than attractive "Officer Charlie, please We’re all tired It’s way too late for us to still be sitting around We need to sleep"

"I know, I’ hietting hotel acconore hientleman behind him rolled his eyes and then followed Officer Charlie into a nearby rooed on aze

"Mao potty" Before he could co in an erraticuntil the very lastmy hand and found the ladies’ restroom at the end of the dark corridor I directed him into a stall and then leaned over the counter so I could look closely in the ical tape that stretched froht ear

It was the source of so , but it orth it I’d endure it again and again to know I’d be here instead of there I wasn’t sure where ould be tomorrow, let alone a month from now, but at least we could finally have a life Braden and Kate could go to school, meet friends, and live a life children should be allowed to live

Thoughts of Kate brought a feeling of melancholy, and I just wanted to scoop her up and hide her away from everyone My eyes were unfocused in the hts were a million miles away, but I slowly faded back in I soon realized Braden had been in there for a while He was still new at using a stall so I knew he hadn’t locked it Slowly, I pushed the metal door open and peered inside

"Braden, sweetie" I found hi fully clothed on top of the closed toilet lid, and his thoughts seemed to be a million miles away as well My sweet introvert He had been a worrier for as long as I could remember "Did you use the potty, yet?" He nodded his head and I crouched down in front of hi on, bub?"

"Will we ever see Kate?" he asked softly My heart lurched and I scra him even an ounce of comfort

"Of course we’ll see her They won’t be able to keep us away from her Don’t you think Kate would be very sad if she didn’t see us?"

"I think she would cry"

"I agree, and no one wants her to cry, right?" Hesitantly, he shook his head "Look, I’s will be different Kate has her faain, but now they’ll have to realize we’re her fa in et to see her as much as possible" And I would If we had to follow the Parkers to the ends of the earth just so we could be in her life, ould She and Braden were both my children I would never be able to say that out loud, but in o find her It’s tiet in a nice comfy bed and sleep until next week!"

"Mary!" He giggled and I uys could sleep in just a little bit tomorrow" I winked at him

"I’m tired Kate’s tired too," he stated confidently

Braden hopped up on the sink so he could wash his hands I looked in the e one razed over a particularly sensitive area, I stopped and pressed a little harder I pressed hard enough that itThe painto wake up soon and still be in that room Still trapped

I pressed harder and tears welled up in , but I couldn’t seem to stop I needed to knoere really here Out of the corner ofme in the mirror and I immediately droppedwas okay and he gave rin in return This kid was too wise for his years

We held hands and pushed the creaky white door open that would lead us back to our girl The crowd of people was still a bit overwhel, and for the hundredth ti in the hallway And didn’t these people have other jobs to do or fa closely observed, and I’d had enough of that over these last four years

I looked down at Braden, as trying to peer between everyone’s legs I heard words like FBI, kidnapping, Mexico, and hospitals being flung around, and I just wanted to shout for everyone to shut up--ere right here! At least have the decency to talk about us behind closed doors

"Braden, sweetheart, do you see Kate or Mr Parker anywhere?" He shook his head back and forth and I began to push through people, beco a little panicky I wasn’t co separated I tried to allow Mr Parker his time alone with her, but now I didn’t like that I couldn’t see her

Braced against one of the doorfraet some food earlier "Excuse me, Officer"