Page 66 of Everything She Feared

DATE: 17 June 1976

TIME: 8:45 a.m.

INCIDENT LOCATION: Bus depot

ADDRESS: 1st Avenue S & 4th Street S

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

At approximately 8:45 a.m., I responded to a dispatched codexxxxcall to the bus depot. Upon arrival met withxxxxx000depot manager andxxxXXin the depot’s main office. A white female child, name N/A, estimated 3–5 yrs was with them.XXXXXstated she had arrived very early before her bus to Salt Lake City and reported seeing the child enter main doors at approximately 7:30 a.m. along with several people.XXXXassumed the child was with one of the adults who’d entered. Members of the group eventually left as various buses departed. The child remained, seated alone. Being concerned,X XXasked child about parents or family and the child cried.Xxxxxxalerted the depot staff, who checked bathrooms, and made an announcement in the depot to negative results.XXXXXXradioed drivers of the three buses that departed within the period in question to alert passengers to the child at the depot in an attempt to contact parent/guardian, who may have left child. Results negative.

I attempted to interview the child for her name/parent/relative name/address/telephone. She managed to tell me she was four years old but could not or would not provide any other information. A search of the child yielded no information that would serve to identify her. Child was tearful but did not appear to have a physical injury or be in physical distress. Child accepted a sandwich and milk from depot staff. Other units called through dispatch conducted a canvass of all businesses and residences nearby with negative results. I alerted Child & Family Services Division (CFSD) who dispatchedXXX XXX#DATE 17 June 1976a child protection specialist (CP specialist) to take temporary custody of the child as this appeared to be an abandoned child case. Further investigation to be conducted.

OFFICER:xxxx xxxxxxx

OFFICER SIGNATURE:xxxx xxxxxxx

DATE: 17 June 1976

SERIAL NUMBER:xxxx xxxxxxx

INCIDENT NUMBER:xxxx xxxxxxx

SUPV INITS:xxxx

28

Seattle, Washington

It rained that night.

Sara made Katie’s favorite supper, baked mac and cheese.

Later while cleaning up, Sara’s phone vibrated. Another notification from the Silverbrook Hills Senior Living Home on the increase, advising her that she hadn’t yet selected a payment plan and time was running out.

I can’t select a plan because I can’t afford a plan.

Sara thought about alternatives for financing her mother’s care. Maybe selling the SUV—but Dad loved the Trailblazer. It was his baby. “Always check the oil. It’s still golden when I change it and it runs like new.”She could take out a home equity loan or sell the house—but Mom loves this house.

Sara put her phone away.

I can’t deal with this now.

Her anguish over Anna’s death and Katie eclipsed everything.

She joined Katie on the sofa, trying to maintain control while they started watchingFrozen. But Sara brooded so deeply she didn’t see the TV. She couldn’t escape her increasing fear over the detectives’ questioning of Katie today.

And that woman in the store staring at us. Why was she staring?

Sara picked up the remote and stopped the movie.

“Mom?”

“Sorry, honey, but I need to be sure about some things, okay? Did the detectives ask you about the boy in Canada?”

Katie kept her eyes on the TV. “No, I keep telling you, they didn’t.”

“What about Dr. Sally? You’ve had several sessions with her now. Did you tell her about the boy?”

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