“Yes.” Her sad smile ripped through hisheart.
Crockett gave her a gentle squeeze with his free arm. “I’ve waited thirteen years for this moment. I love you, Soph. You’re brave andstrong.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you.” She turned away, her frail shouldersquaking.
As Alexandra draped her arm around Sophia, she glanced back at Crockett and mouthed, “I loveyou.”
If he spent the rest of his life showing her how much he adored her, it wouldn’t be longenough.
When she attempted to board the van, an officer stopped her. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’ll have to follow us in yourvehicle.”
“She rides with us,” said OfficerRandolph.
Officer Jones approached Crockett. “Sir, could I speak with you, please?” Crockett tossed Alexandra a nod before she followed Sophia into the van. “I’ve got your father, Ron Wilde, on the phone. He wants to speak withyou.”
Taking the phone, Crockett said, “Dad, I foundher.”
* * *
Aside from an occasionalwhisper between the teens, Alexandra, Sophia and the children rode to the hospital in silence. The police van housed a row of seats on either side that faced each other. But most children cast their eyes downward, tears rolling down theircheeks.
Sophia had clasped Alexandra’s hand so tightly it had fallen asleep. But she wasn’t going to let go. Her heart broke for the shell of a woman sitting next to her. She couldn’t begin to know the hell she’dendured.
“Thank you,” Sophia whispered. “For years I’d been invisible to everyone. But notyou.”
In the darkened van their eyes met. Alexandra knew that no words could ever right this horrific injustice. She also knew that the road back would be a long one. “You will always matter to me,Sophia.”
Even at one in the morning, the Arlington Hospital emergency room bustled with activity. But the group was ushered into a private waiting area away from the public. As triage rooms became available, physicians examined each of theminors.
Sophia jumped up when the first two children filed out after the nurse. “I need to stay with theLittles.”
Alexandra rose. Her instinct was to place a hand on Sophia’s shoulder, but she was so self-conscious about touching her. Instead, she offered a gentle smile. “The doctor needs to examine them. And then a social worker—someone who’s trained to help each of the Littles find their family—will stepin.”
Fear sprang from Sophia’s eyes. “Some of them ran away and were abducted. Not everyone has a family like I do. I’m all theyhave.”
Alexandra worried that the truth could send Sophia into a panic, but she wouldn’t lie toher.
“Once you’ve been examined and we meet your social worker, we can ask what’s going to happennext.”
“Are you leavingme?”
Alexandra’s eyes grew moist with emotion. “I’m staying. Once Crockett is stitched up, he’ll findus.”
Sophia shuddered in a breath and sank back down into the chair. Alexandra joined her. Several moments later, a woman approached with a policedetective.
“Hello, Sophia. I’m Tabitha Browning,” she said. “I’m a special kind of social worker called a reunification specialist.” With a warm smile, the woman pulled over an empty chair and sat down. “That’s a lot of fancy words that mean I’m going to help you re-join your family, forstarters.”
“What will happen to the Littles?” askedSophia.
“We’re going to start the search for their families. I understand you’ve already seen yourbrother.”
Sophia released the vise grip on Alexandra’s hand. “Yes. CrockettWilde.”
Tabitha explained that the police detective had questions and asked if Sophia was up to answering them. Her spine stiffened and her eyes chilled. “Some questions are okay. I don’t like remembering back to the earlyyears.”
As Sophia’s nightmare unfolded, Alexandra knew that her story needed to be told. And that she would be the one to tellit.
* * *
