“What was that all about?” Beth said.
“Nothing. Schoolwork related but I guess he's not home. Sorry about that.”
Back at Beth's house, while Cole was holed up in the library mindlessly perusing a book, the phone rang. He paid it no mind until Amy's name filtered into the room, interrupting his cyclical train of thought and focusing his attention on his aunt's voice. He dropped the book and ran into the kitchen to better hear the conversation.
“I wish I could help you,” Beth was saying, “but I'm just as baffled as you are... Yes, shocking. I can't imagine who could've called them... Yes, I'll ask him but I'm fairly certain he couldn't and wouldn't... It's not a problem. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. Goodbye.” She hung up, shaking her head, and faced Cole. “That stupid woman wanted to know if I had called Child Services. Why would I do something like that? Did you call them, you naughty boy?” She grinned.
“Thanks, Aunt Beth. Did I mention how cool you are?”
“Yeah, I think so. By the way, Child Services called here today. They should be stopping by to ask some questions after school tomorrow.”
“Oh no, here?” Cole said.
“Don't worry, your mom won't be here. They shouldn't take long.”
“All right. I can't wait to have a word with them. After what I tell them, they'll be whisking Amy away the same day. I'm so happy this is going through.”
“Don't jump to any conclusions yet, Cole. Let them investigate.”
“What do you mean? How could they possibly not take her away?”
“I'm sure they will, I'm just saying,” Beth said.
“What? You do believe me, don't you? I wouldn't make this up.”
“Yes, I believe you. Go back to reading. I'm going to start dinner.”
Cole shook his head and left, trying to brush away these newfound doubts that he knew were absurd.
* * *
School the next day progressed in the same routine that Cole had gotten both used to and tired of in the short couple of days it had occurred. However, when Amy tried to pull him aside to talk, Martin stood up in their way.
“Are you gonna do this every day?” he said. “I really don't like all these secrets.”
“Who made you the boss of everyone?” Cole flared up as the incessant whispering began in his head.
The table went silent while Amy just smiled.
“Wh- you-” Martin stuttered.
“Look, I have something to tell him,” Amy said. “Is that a crime? It's either you learn to deal with it or maybe we shouldn't hang out anymore.”
Martin's face scrunched up. “I don't like this new you. What happened to the cool Amy?” He sat back down and everyone at the table started talking again.
“I'm starting to wonder how I ever hung out with them,” Amy said as they walked away. “You know you're the coolest kid at this school?”
“All these kids are so obnoxious,” Cole said. “Sometimes it just pisses me off. I'm so glad there's someone like you who isn't a retarded ass. Are you gonna keep hanging out with them?”
“I don't know. I guess we'll see how he reacts after that conversation. Some of those guys are cool but Martin can be such a control freak. Anyway, forget them. About yesterday, I drove around with that guy from Child Services for a while and explained to him all the horrible details and how desperately I need to get away. I told him all about how they treat me and what they've done to me.”
“Really? That's awesome. How did he react?”
“It was honestly hard to tell. He seemed really nice and sincere and listened to everything I had to say. He asked me a lot of random questions about my life, things I like to do, about my parents. A whole bunch of stuff. At the end he said he would talk more with my parents and other people and there would be a decision soon. Man, after I got back my parents wouldn't even look at me and they didn't give me any dinner. I had to scrounge around the refrigerator after they went to sleep. More fuel to add to the evidence against them. I'm really getting my hopes up. It's going so great, but at the same time I'm really nervous and I'm not sure why. Shouldn't I be happier and more excited about this?”
“Of course you're nervous,” Cole said. “This is a major change, which takes a lot of guts. But afterwards life will be so much better that you'll wonder why you didn't do it ages ago.”
“Yeah, you're right. That's gotta be it. It will be really great to start over where I don't have to fear for my life every day.”
“After school today someone is coming over to talk to me and I'm going to hammer this whole business home. I can't wait to have a talk with him about your parents. Sweet, sweet revenge.”
Amy laughed nervously. “Good luck with that. All this energy should be convincing.”
“You'll be out of there the moment I'm done with him.”
“Sounds good. Let's head back to the table before they get even more annoyed.”
“Yeah, sure, wouldn't want that to happen. How would we enjoy their enthralling company then?”
Amy laughed. “Yeah, God forbid.”
All heads turned and watched as they sat back down at the table.
“What'd you and your boyfriend talk about?” one boy snickered. “You gonna kiss later? Is that the big secret?”
“Oh yeah, totally,” Amy said. “Hardcore. We just got done planning out all the dirty details.”
A few boys chuckled while Cole blushed and averted his eyes.
“Serious? Ewww, with him? That's gross,” the boy said.
“It's a joke you dumbass,” Amy said.
“That's the Amy I remember,” Martin said. “Welcome back.”
A short while later, the end of lunch bell sounded and they parted ways.
“Good luck later,” Amy whispered in Cole's ear. “Let me know what happens tomorrow.”
“Of course. Unless you're whisked away before that,” he whispered back, giving her a light nudge.
“Very funny. See ya tomorrow.”
Beth was there to pick him up after school, looking particularly grumpy. “Your mother insists I take you to your appointment today,” she said as they drove off.
“What? Why? I have a friend. Wasn't that the whole point of these things? I mean, mission accomplished.”
“You'll have to ask your mother.”
“But what about the Child Services guy?” Cole said. “Isn't he supposed to talk to me now? That's way more important.”
“I spoke to him. He'll come after your appointment.”
With no more arguments, Cole rode the rest of the way with his aunt in silence, neither of them happy about where they were going.
“See you in an hour,” Beth said before she sped off.
Cole trudged inside. You better have a damn good reason for this, Mom. I hope you're happy. “Hey, Dr. Stern.”
Dr. Stern looked up from her desk. “Ah, Cole. Welcome,” she said. “Come on in.”
Once inside the session room, Cole lay down on the couch while Dr. Stern took her seat.
“Is there anything you want to tell me first? Whatever happened with your friend Amy?”
“Oh, man. A lot.”
Cole dove into a brief summary of all the events that had occurred with Amy since the last visit, excluding any event that involved Travis, and ending with the imminent visit from the Child Services worker.
“And I'm scared,” he said. “What will happen to her if they decide against her? How can I make sure she'll be taken away? Do you know what they look for?”
Cole finished his speech and looked up at Dr. Stern expectantly, hoping she had some answers that no one else seemed to have.
Dr. Stern leaned back and crossed her legs. “That is quite a handful to absorb all at once, certainly the most eventful two weeks we've reviewed. To begin, in answer to your question, the best thing you can do is trust the authorities.”
Cole let out an exasperated groan. “No. That's what I keep hearing. There's gotta be something useful that someone kn
ows. Can you look it up?”
“I have worked with them before and if you want a better idea of how they work, then here's what I know. When they investigate a case, they will usually take the child out immediately if there is any evidence of abuse, including the child's testimony.”
Cole's eyes widened. “Then why hasn't she been taken yet?”
“Well, there's a few possibilities. The child is supposed to be removed from the parents if they are in danger. However, some workers will not want to do the paperwork and some may feel sorry for the parents. It is possible to deem that they are not in danger.”
“Yeah! This guy said he wanted to make sure Amy was telling the truth. I bet you he feels sorry for her degenerate parents. What do I do to convince him?”
“Just tell him your story,” Dr. Stern said. “This brings me back to my original point. Trust him. Be patient. If she really is in trouble, she will be taken out. The truth is hard to hide. Is that a sufficient answer?”
“Yeah, I s'pose.” He nodded. “Thanks.”
“So, last time you were here you mentioned you were afraid of being alone.”
“Wow, switching gears fast.”
“Why does being alone scare you?”
Cole hesitated. “Dr. Stern, please.”
“It's okay, Cole. It's why you're here. Don't you want to make your mother happy?”
“Well, yeah... Oh, all right. I guess I'm a social person but I didn't know that until recently. Sometimes I almost resent Amy for opening my eyes to it. I know that's stupid.”
Dr. Stern leaned back and crossed her legs. “It's understandable but I'm sure you realize it was for the best. Loneliness would have set in eventually.”
“Yeah. And then I look at Mom and how alone she is and I guess I... I don't want to end up like that.”
“First, of all, your mom has you. I'm sure she doesn't feel very alone. Second you can't spend your whole life worrying about what might happen. There's too many unknowns. You'll drive yourself crazy. You're young. You have a long time to find that perfect girl and I'm sure you'll find her.”
Cole smirked. “Thanks.”
“What else are you afraid of?”
“Oh man. This is awkward. Let's see. I guess disappointment. I don't want my mom to be ashamed of me. Oh, and failure. I hate losing. If I'm not good at something I have to work at it until I am. Unless it's history class.”
Dr. Stern smiled and leaned forward. “Unfortunately we're almost out of time. This week I want you to take a step back. You've made an incredible amount of progress in such a short time and I want you to realize that. Think about what you did right. That way, in the future, it will get easier and easier. And doesn't it feel good to open up?”
Cole looked away embarrassed. “Kinda, yeah.” Maybe one day I should tell her about the instructions and the voices. Maybe there's even something she could do about it, help me with it. I wonder if there's some way to convince her of the truth of them so she doesn't get me locked up.
19
The Child Services worker showed up at Beth's house shortly after they returned. Beth, with Cole at her heels, opened the front door to reveal a slim man dressed in a dark blue suit, with his brown hair neatly combed.
“Hello, I'm Josh,” the man said, holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you.” His voice was crisp and self-assured and Cole was reminded of lawyers.
“Hello,” Beth said, shaking his hand. “Come in.”
“Thank you.” He lowered his gaze to Cole as he stepped through the doorway. “And you must be Cole?”
“Uh huh,” Cole said. He was getting a strange vibe from Josh but could not figure out why.
“Nice to meet you too. So, Amy says you were the one who convinced her to seek help?”
“Yep, that was me,” Cole responded promptly. “She told me all about how awful her parents were to her and I tried to get her to do something about it for a while. Eventually she-”
“Easy, Cole,” Beth said. “Before you dive in headfirst, let's at least sit down.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry. So, I can be here for this, right?” Cole said, holding his breath.
“We don't usually interview minors,” Josh said, “but all things considered, yes, I suppose it would be best if you were a part of this.”
Cole followed them to the living room, feeling excitement building up inside him. They took seats facing each other.
Josh crossed his legs and folded his hands in his lap. “So Beth, what specifically can you tell me about this situation?”
Beth paused. “Well, from what I -”
“I can tell you everything you need to know,” Cole blurted out. “I've been to her house a few times and she told me all about it.”
“What convinced you she was telling the truth?” Josh said to Cole. “Did you ever see her parents do anything to her?”
“They just recently kept her home for a week from school and they said it was because she was sick but it was actually because they hit her. She had a huge bruise on her face. I saw her a few days before it went away so I can tell you, it was really big. I've also seen her parents treat her like crap. Her dad is just really mean and uncaring and the mom is so fake. She acts so nice but all she cares about is her appearance.”
“You're pretty sophisticated for a boy your age, you know that?” Josh said.
“Yeah, I've heard.” Cole smiled. “So when are you going to take her out of there?”
“I don't know yet. We're still investigating.”
“Still investigating? Why? What more could you possibly need to find out?”
“These things take time,” Josh said. “Be patient. I have a few more questions. Can you recount any specific instances that show Amy's parents' treatment of her?”
“Yeah. I mean Amy can tell you better, but like, for example, last time I was there we were in her room and her father said through the door that they were leaving and then they just left us there. If anyone called, she was supposed to say her mom was in the bathroom. She said they've been doing that for years. That's neglect, isn't it?”
“That may have been neglect in the past but some children your age may be responsible enough even to babysit,” Josh said. “Did you ever get the impression that Amy might be lying or exaggerating any of her claims?”
“What? No. Of course not.”
“She wouldn't have any reason to exaggerate? I know it might seem ridiculous but consider it for a moment at least.”
“I will not consider it,” Cole spat out. “Amy is the kindest, most truthful person I've ever met and questioning her for even a second is degrading. And if you don't agree then you have a terrible sense of judgment.”
“Forgive me. I'm not doubting you or Amy. I must ask these questions as part of my job.”
“Oh, so you don't think that?”
“One can never be too careful in matters of this importance,” Josh said.
“Dammit, stop talking like that. Give me a straight answer.”
“I honestly don't know but believe me, the last thing I'd want is to leave an innocent child in harmful conditions. However, it would be almost as bad to take a child away from innocent parents.”
“But they're not innocent!”
“Look, Cole,” Josh said calmly, “I care about children. I am inclined to believe her and I want to believe her, but I also want to be thorough and consider testimony from all sides before doing anything drastic. This would not be the first time I've seen a child make up stories because they were mad at their parents. I won't make that mistake again.. Rest assured, if there is a reason for her to be taken from her home then she will be.”
“I am not assured,” Cole said. “If you don't help her, her parents will literally kill her for calling Child Services. That's on you.”
“I'll do my best.” He turned his attention back to Beth. “You were the one to call in. What part of this have you personally seen? Has your knowledge of any wrongdoings been filtered entirely through Cole?”<
br />
“Well yes, but he's a good boy. I doubt he would lie about this.”
“Have you met Amy's parents? Can you tell me anything about their dispositions?”
“I've only met the mother,” Beth said. “I wasn't a fan of her obsession with perfection but besides that I can't say much. I only spoke with her for a minute about Amy coming to visit at my house.”
“Thank you. That should be all. I will contact you if I have any questions.”
Cole's blood was boiling, his hands clenching the sides of his chair. He ignored Josh's farewell as Beth led him out of the living room, but at the sound of the front door opening, Cole bolted to the front hall.
“No!” he screamed at Josh. “I don't like all these questions you're throwing around. I don't care if it's your job, it sounds like you don't believe a word I said. Amy's in a lot of trouble and you're her only hope. Dammit, tell me you're going to help her. Tell me!”
Josh stood speechless, one hand on the doorknob, in a state of bewilderment, his face frozen. After a moment he recovered and composed himself. “I will do my best. I swear.” He turned and hurried out the door, leaving Cole staring after him and fuming.
He considered chasing after the man but lost his resolve and stormed into the library. “I'll do my best,” he said sarcastically, kicking the door open and dropping into a chair. “I'll hunt you down if you don't.”
Beth appeared in the doorway. “Don't kick the door open.”
Cole stared at the floor, unable to make eye contact. “Why don't you leave me alone?”
Beth stepped inside and took a seat across from him. “I know how you feel but working yourself up is only going to make it worse.”
Cole's head shot up, his furrowed brows contorting his face in rage. “What do you know? And thanks, a big help you were. You might as well have told him I was lying.”
“I have to tell the truth. And he doesn't think you're lying, he's just being professional. There's more than enough evidence in her favor.”
“There better be,” Cole muttered, his head drooping back down.
Dark Mind (The Dark Mind Trilogy Book 1) Page 18