by Jenna Brandt
Twenty-Two
The worship music poured out of the speakers just as Aiden and Lindsay found their spots next to Erica a few rows from the front of the sanctuary. Erica smiled at them before turning her attention back to the stage.
Aiden never was one for public singing, but the music was enticing. He found himself singing along as he read the lyrics on the giant screens on either side of where the musicians played.
When the music ended, Pastor Steve took to the stage. “Hello, Clear Mountain Assembly. It’s good to see all of your smiling faces looking back at me this morning. We’re continuing our series entitled, ‘God’s Handiwork.’ Most of you know, I have two daughters, my oldest, Christine and my youngest, Marybeth. Like most siblings, they’re extremely competitive. Marybeth is always trying to keep up with Christine. In most cases, Christine is usually better at everything simply because she is older, that is until recently when my Marybeth tried out for the soccer team. She’s good. I mean really good, and far better than Christine ever was at the sport. This of course made Christine seethe with jealousy. She wondered why God didn’t make her good at soccer too. She began being mean to Marybeth, refusing to go to her games and picking at her constantly. I ended up having to sit them down and explain that God makes all of us different, but that doesn’t mean any one person is better or more special than another. We all just have different gifts and God gave each of us our gifts so we will use them for His kingdom.
“Think about it, the same God who created the stars in the sky, the oceans and millions of galaxies looked at the entire universe. He also decided there needed to be a Christine, a Marybeth, and a you, to make His design complete. How magnificent does that make each of us?”
The powerful words penetrated Aiden’s heart and he realized that God made him the way he was so that he would want to help people. It made him profoundly proud that God would put that much trust in him.
As the service concluded, Aiden felt a peace in his heart. He realized he had missed going to church.
“What did you think of the message?” Lindsay asked Aiden.
“The pastor’s words made me think about why God created me. It gave me a new perspective. I’m glad I came today.”
“Me too.”
“Do you want to go out to brunch?” Aiden asked, not wanting his time with Lindsay to end.
“I’d like that, but I work in the nursery during second service.”
Aiden felt his heart clench in disappointment. She gave him a sympathetic smile, then added, “But I promised you we’d discuss our next date. How about you take me out this coming Friday?”
“I’d like that. Do you mind if I text you throughout the week?”
“Of course not. I think that would be nice.”
Aiden watched as Lindsay headed towards the children’s wing. He couldn’t wait to send her his first text.
Twenty-Three
“Is this the place?” Alex asked as Lindsay watched him in the rear-view mirror as he placed his face against the window in excitement.
“It sure is,” Lindsay said in an upbeat tone. “The Winters don’t have any children of their own, so you’re going to have the run of the place.”
“I’ve never been in a home without other kids in it,” Alex said with apprehension. “It’s gonna be weird to have them focusing only on me.”
“Yes, but that’s a good thing,” Lindsay stated with conviction. “You should try to take advantage of this time with them as it probably won’t last forever. They stated on their application they’re willing to take multiple children.”
As Lindsay parked her car, she said, “I’ve been meaning to tell you that Officer O’Connell told me to tell you ‘hi.’”
His eyes grew wide as a giant smile formed. “That’s awesome.” Then as if an idea popped into his head, he asked, “Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend now?”
“Whatever gave you that idea?” Lindsay asked, flustered.
“Why else would you see him again? Besides, he likes you and you like him too. It was so obvious at the carnival.”
Lindsay could feel her cheeks warm under the observation. Leave it to Alex to point out something she was still in denial of. She was falling hard for Officer Aiden O’Connell, and it didn’t seem to be one-sided.
Lindsay got out of the car, made her way around to the other side, and opened the back door. Alex hopped out, pulling his blue suitcase behind him.
“I hope they like me,” Alex said, the concern audible in his voice.
“What’s not to like? You’re a great kid. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
“I wish you could just adopt me.”
She didn’t want to tell Alex how many times she had wished the same thing. She knew without a husband, she couldn’t take on such a responsibility by herself. “You know if I could, I would.”
“I know. It’s just wishful thinking.”
“Nothing wrong with wishing for something, Alex, because sometimes wishes do come true. You wished to get out of that shelter group home, and look, now you have a brand-new foster home with parents ready to take you in.”
The pair made their way up the steps of the small cottage-style house. Lindsay knocked on the door, which immediately swung open to reveal a thin woman with brown hair and glasses.
“Hi,” the woman said with a sugary sweet voice. “I’m Ashley, and this is my husband, Bob.” Bending down, she added, “And you must be Alex.”
Nodding, Alex reached out and wrapped his arm around Lindsay’s waist.
“Alex tends to be shy in new environments,” Lindsay explained.
“That’s alright. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other soon enough. Why don’t you both come in?” Ashley offered. “We have cookies and lemonade on the kitchen table.”
Alex’s eyes darted up to meet Lindsay’s. She nodded, “Go ahead, Alex. I’m right behind you.”
As everyone made their way into the kitchen, Lindsay watched Bob. It was odd he was being so quiet. He didn’t seem overly pleased to have Alex in their home. Had Ashley pressured him into this situation? It wouldn’t be the first time that one foster parent was pushed by the other to foster when they either weren’t ready or secretly weren’t interested.
Ashley placed a cookie on a plate in front of Alex, then poured him a glass of lemonade. “Do you need to see Alex’s room?” Ashley asked.
Something was bothering her about these two and Lindsay was glad she was required to check Alex’s room. “Yes, that would be best.”
Ashley headed down the small hallway, past two doors until she came to a final one in the back. She pushed it open to reveal a room painted light blue. It had a twin bed, a dresser, and nightstand. There was a toy chest at the foot of the bed along with a desk in one of the corners.
“Everything seems to be in order,” Lindsay acknowledged. Turning to face Ashley, Lindsay pulled a list from her clipboard and handed it to her. “These are Alex’s likes and dislikes, along with the list of the medications he has to take to stimulate his growth. I know the office probably already gave you a list, but I’ve known Alex a long time, and my list is more detailed.”
Ashley took the list and slipped it into her pocket without looking at it. “Thank you,” she said as she pulled the door shut. “Is there anything else?”
Lindsay shook her head. “My direct cell number is also on the list, so if you have any questions or problems, just let me know.”
Nodding, Ashley escorted Lindsay to the front door. “We appreciate you bringing him here.”
“Of course. Can I say goodbye?”
Ashley glanced back towards the kitchen. “I think you should give my husband time to bond with Alex. Maybe it’s best if you don’t interrupt that.”
Lindsay wanted to object, but she didn’t have a legitimate reason to do so. It was important for Alex to start connecting with his new foster parents.
Turning around, Lindsay left Alex’s new home and silently sent up a praye
r that he would find happiness there.
Twenty-Four
Aiden woke up thinking about Lindsay, just like he had every morning over the past week. He reached for his phone on his nightstand. Blinking on the screen was a final text from the woman who had taken up permanent residence in his head and, if he was willing to admit it, his heart.
Goodnight, Aiden. :)
Can’t wait to see you on Friday night.
They had been texting back and forth throughout each day since the previous Sunday at church. His fingers hovered over the buttons to text her back. His ego told him to play it cool, but his heart won out. Before he could rethink his decision, his fingers typed back.
Hey, Lindsay.
How’s your day going?
A few moments ticked by before his phone lit up with a new text.
Good. Busy.
Have two new kids added to my case load.
Both sad situations.
My heart aches for them.
Aiden texted back:
I’m sorry to hear that.
I’ll pray for strength for you
And a good home for the kids.
Where did that come from? It wasn’t like Aiden to offer prayer, but it also wasn’t like him to be going to church. Correction: it wasn’t like him in the last few years, but before his parents died, he had been a devoted Christian.
Even though he had gone back to church to win over Lindsay, the moment he stepped into church he felt like a piece of his heart (the most important piece) was put back into place.
Since that moment, he felt an overwhelming desire to grow close to God again. He downloaded a Bible app on his phone and started reading every morning. He found himself turning on the Christian radio in the car and praying throughout the day.
Thanks, Aiden.
Got to go.
Have another appointment.
Aiden put down his phone and jumped out of bed to go take a shower. Even though L.T. gave him the day off due to all his overtime from call-outs, Aiden needed to go hit the gym and take Cooper out for a run.
Just as he was finishing tying his shoes, his cell phone rang. As he looked at the screen, he hoped it was Lindsay, but instead Dispatch’s number blinked back at him.
He answered, “Hello, this is O’Connell.”
“We have a missing female, Aiden,” Deanna’s voice said over the phone. “We need you to load up with Cooper and head over to the last known location.”
“Will do.”
Looking over at Cooper, who was laying on the edge of the bed, Aiden stated, “Guess we aren’t making it to the park today, boy. Sorry about that.”
With quick precision, Aiden removed his gym clothes and switched into his uniform. He grabbed his gear and placed Cooper on his leash before leaving his apartment.
* * *
When Aiden arrived at the location, the rest of the search and rescue team was already present. Sergeant Burton was finishing giving out tasks to the other officers in the unit as Aiden approached.
“Glad you could join us, O’Connell,” Sergeant Burton said sarcastically.
“Sorry, Sarge. It was my day off. I had to change out of my civilian clothes before heading over.”
“Fine. You will be taking the south side of the grid near the school. Everyone else is already out searching. Here are the facts. The mother reported the sixteen-year-old female missing this morning, claiming the teenager had a tendency to spend the night at friends when the mother was working. The missing female routinely called to check in. When she didn’t call this morning, the mother phoned around with no success of locating her. That’s when the mother called us. The missing female’s phone is not on, so we can’t locate her via GPS. We checked with the school which verified she was in class all day yesterday, placing her abduction most likely in the afternoon. Through knock and talks, we verified her last known whereabouts. The missing female was last seen walking home from school yesterday afternoon. A neighbor witnessed the missing female being pulled into a section of the nearby forest by an assailant but didn’t report the incident until knock and talks.”
Sergeant Burton handed a purple t-shirt to Aiden. “Here is a piece of her clothing we got from the mother.” Aiden took the shirt and continued listening as Sergeant Burton finished up. “You know that time is of the essence, so make each moment count.”
Aiden reached out and let Cooper imprint on the shirt. After he was sure Cooper had the scent ready to track, he gave the command for Cooper to start their search. The pair made their way into the south side of the forest that backed the edge of the high school.
Cooper started his pattern of sniffing areas and then moving along until he found another area he wanted to inspect. Aiden kept his eyes peeled for any movement or clues.
About thirty minutes into their search, Cooper started barking furiously near a bush. Aiden rushed up and inspected the area. On the edge of the bush was a piece of clothing. Aiden pointed his flashlight, revealing a piece of pink and white cloth.
“Command, this is K-9 2, can you give me a description of what the girl was wearing at the time of abduction?” Aiden asked over the radio.
“K-9 2, the girl was wearing a pink and white striped top and blue jeans.”
“Command, I have visual confirmation of a piece of the missing female’s outfit. I’m at four clicks south of starting point. I’m marking location with an orange flag, and then continuing search.”
“Copy that, K-9 2. We will send out forensics to that location to gather evidence.”
Aiden bent down and rubbed Cooper’s ears. “Good job, boy, but we still need to keep going. We need to find this girl.”
Cooper took off running and started his pattern again. About fifteen minutes later, Cooper stopped near a cluster of boulders and started barking furiously.
As Aiden approached the spot, his breath caught in his throat. The instant he saw the girl’s motionless body, Aiden knew they had found her too late.
He bent down next to her and didn’t even need to feel for a pulse. Her skin was ashy blue, and her eyes were fixed and hollow.
* * *
As Aiden left the edge of the forest and headed back over to the search’s central command, Natalie Watts came barreling towards him, with recording device in hand. “Officer O’Connell, what do you have to say about the tragic outcome of this missing girl? According to my records, this is your first negative outcome since being with Clear Mountain Search and Rescue. Do you care to comment?”
Aiden gave Natalie a steely look before spitting out, “No, I have nothing to say on the matter.”
“You don’t feel at all responsible? You have nothing to say to the girl’s family?”
Aiden pushed past Natalie and made his way into the taped-off perimeter. He headed over to his SUV and sat on the back edge of the open hatch. Cooper jumped up next to him and put his head in Aiden’s lap. Absent-mindedly Aiden rubbed the dog’s ears.
He couldn’t shake the empty stare of the dead girl’s eyes. No matter what he did, her haunting image came floating back to take over his mind.
Zach came over and sat down next to Aiden. “How are you handling all of this?”
“Not great. Did you hear Natalie Watts? She asked me how it felt to finally have a loss on my record? As if it wasn’t bad enough what happened to that girl, but to have that reporter trivialize it in such a way, it makes my stomach churn.”
“You got to let it go, man. Why don’t you come out drinking with me? There’s nothing a few beers can’t fix.”
Aiden shook his head. “I just want to go home. Maybe call Lindsay.”
“Man, ever since you started seeing that girl, something has changed in you. You’re not even seeing things clearly anymore. We both know that girl was dead the moment she was taken.”
Aiden’s head snapped up and his eyes glared at Zach. “No, I didn’t know that. I honestly thought Cooper and I would find her alive.”
“Well, I’ve been doing this
a couple more years than you, which is probably why I don’t let myself get invested in the outcome. It’s easier that way.”
“Easier for you, you mean. I don’t want to end up jaded like you, Zach. I don’t want to stop caring.”
Surprisingly, Zach didn’t seem offended. Instead, he shrugged and said, “Suit yourself. If you want to wallow in this, go ahead. If you change your mind, I’ll be at The Lucky Penny.”
Twenty-Five
Lindsay looked at the blinking screen of her phone and read the text that just came in from Aiden.
I could use some prayer.
I found a missing girl today, but it was too late.
The words made Lindsay’s stomach knot in empathy. It was hard enough dealing with children being displaced, she couldn’t even imagine if one of them died while she was responsible for them.
Rather than text him back, Lindsay called instead. After the second ring, Aiden picked up. “Hey Aiden, how are you doing?” When he didn’t answer right away, she added, “I know, dumb question.”
“It’s just . . .” She could hear the pain in his voice. “I couldn’t save my parents, and this just brings up all those feelings of uselessness. I wanted to be able to save that girl.”
“That’s so tough, Aiden. I can’t even imagine.” Wanting to comfort him in person, Lindsay stated, “I’m coming over so we can pray.”
“Thanks. I could use that.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lindsay arrived on Aiden’s doorstep. She rapped the knocker and a few seconds later, Aiden opened it.
Her heart lurched as she took in his disheveled appearance. His eyes were bloodshot and haunted.