Page 68 of Everything She Feared

Katie shook her head.

“Do you want to tell me about them first? It might help?”

“No.”

“Do you want to try?”

“No, no, I can’t! Please don’t make me tell!”

“Okay, it’s okay.”For the time being.

Nothing more was said on the subject for the rest of the evening, and they continued with the movie. After it ended Katie went to bed.

Downstairs Sara dimmed the lights and sat near the window, watching the rain web down the glass as she wrestled with confusion and dread.

No one will understand, after Anna, after Katie and the boy. How could they? I don’t understand it myself.

It was late when Sara padded upstairs and into Katie’s room, looking down at her daughter and the necklace on her nightstand.

What really happened on that cliff, Katie?

Turning to the rain-streaked window in the room, Sara clenched her eyes as her own dark thoughts reached from the night to drag her back...

...driving in the rain...screams in the darkness...

29

Seattle, Washington

That same nightacross the city from where Sara Harmon grappled with her life, work continued.

Rain glistened on the streets near an apartment building on a hill. An upper window was lit in bluish white from a laptop screen and a lamp. In the room, on the desk, stacked next to the computer, was a mountain range of files, dog-eared pages of records, articles and documents.

A ceramic mug of fresh black coffee sat next to a yellow pad with handwritten notes. Soft steady tapping on the keyboard resumed. A few clicks, and a PDF blossomed:

Child and Family Services Division (CFSD)—Child Protective Services (CPS)

Update RE: Assessment and Investigation Report Case Number:xxxxx

CP Specialist:XXXXXX

DATE: 25 September 1976

Pursuant Mont. Code Ann. § 41-3-4

Further to neglect/abandonment case #xxxxx., female child taken into temporary custody of CFSD via foster home / while assessment and investigation conducted.

Subsequent to female child’s abandonment at the Great Falls bus depot 17/06/76, medical examination determined no signs of physical or sexual abuse, or inadequate nutrition. Child’s demeanor: anxious/nervous. Attempted interviews with child yielded few results. Child gave age as four, but was unable (or unwilling) to provide information regarding parents, guardian, address, tel., etc. Examination of child’s clothing/labels show acquired from US retailers but no indicators of child’s identity.

Investigators had temporarily named child “June,” for the month she was found. Psychological assessment indicated that June’s cognitive development of episodic memory may have been “stalled” due to possible traumatic occurrence, resulting in “blocking” or a degree of amnesia.

Investigation by CPS and law enforcement encompassed an area canvass of businesses and residences and search for possible items related to the case, checks with hospitals, accident reports, suicides, shelters and support groups. Investigation also included questioning and background checks of all passengers by respective law enforcement at arrival destinations of buses departing from Great Falls bus depot on day June was abandoned. No information linking any individual(s) was obtained.

Law enforcement alerted all local, regional, state and federal agencies, including the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to the case. Extensive searches of missing children’s cases, databases, and various agencies and organizations were consulted. Search of all prison records was conducted for any potential links to an incarcerated, sentenced, or paroled parent in the system. The outcome was negative. Local media reported on the case, consequently several individuals stepped forward requesting to adopt June but no information concerning family or relatives emerged.

CPS has made diligent effort to identify and locate June’s birth parents, or possible relatives. Efforts included: consultation of all registries; alerting of all CFSD offices state-wide and social services agencies in other states and Canada; conducting a Family Finding Search through the search center.

CPS has submitted the attached affidavit with all required supporting documentation.

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