Page 35 of Next Level
“Okay. I’ll be here.”
I follow the officer to the back, and when he opens a door, my Sammie girl comes into view.
Sam jumps up. “Dad!” she exclaims. She calls me Dad only when she’s scared or mad at me.
Hearing her call me that makes my insides burn.
Welcoming the tackle, I embrace her in a tight bear hug and lift her tiny body off the ground.
I whisper into her ear, “I gotchu, Punkin. I gotchu, Baby Girl.”
She’s crying in my arms as I hold her. Looking over her shoulder, I see that everyone’s left the room, giving us a few moments alone.
“Dad, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” Sam cries into my chest.
I shush her, telling her it’s okay, that everything will be okay.
When she finally settles down, I move us to the chairs to sit. I pull her knees in between my legs so we’re looking straight at each other.
I take a deep breath and remind myself to stay in control.
I start my questions calmly, asking, “Sam, did either of them touch you?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Did you tell them anything yet?”
“No.”
“Okay, before I get them to come in here, do you want to tell me anything?”
Sam looks scared.
“Punkin, you can tell me anything. I won’t be upset, but I need to know everything. What you tell them is one thing, but you never lie or hide anything from me, okay?”
Her lower lip starts to tremble.
I lean in, hugging her again. “It’s going to be okay, Baby Girl. Just tell me.”
When I pull back, she has tears in her eyes.
“Am I going to get in trouble since I got in the car?” she asks, scared.
“You’re not in trouble with the police or me. Yes, I’m upset you got in the car, but we can talk about that later. Right now, we have to deal with the police and get you out of here.”
Just then, the door buzzes, and Officer Wilkerson and the female officer who was sitting with Sam when I arrived walk back in.
“Ray, this is my partner, Officer Franklin.”
I say hello as they sit across the table from us.
Opening the file, Officer Wilkerson begins to talk. “Samantha, now that your father is here, do you want to give us a statement of what occurred while being held by Mr. Jones and Mr. Thompson?”
Samantha straightens her shoulders and turns to face the officers. Pride washes over me as I watch her being so strong and brave.
I follow suit, turning my chair to face the officers.
“What do you need to know?” Sam asks, resting her arms on the table and clasping her fingers together.
