Prologue
Olive
Two years ago
“I think she might be in danger,” I told my mentor as we left Claire’s apartment. I was a new social worker learning the ropes and couldn’t handle cases on my own yet.
“Why do you think that?” he asked.
“She was cagey and kept looking around. She kept jumping.”
“Did she tell you anything in private that actually suggested she was in danger?”
“Well, no, but—” I started, but he didn’t let me finish.
“Then our hands are tied, Olive.”
“But—”
“The file left by the other social worker said that wevonly need to make sure the child isn’t being neglected or abused. So far, nothing looks out of place. The baby is a healthy weight, clean and has a clean space.”
“I know, but my gut—”
“I don’t like it anymore than you do, but we have procedures in place for a reason. Unless she tells you she’s in danger, all we can do is our job. Now, we have at least eight more families to visit today. Let’s go grab lunch and keep going.”
“But—”
“Don’t make me have to write you up, Olive. You’re fresh out of university. Raising false accusations can ruin a man’s life and as far as we can see, her new boyfriend is a good man. Upstanding citizen working a full time job and a volunteer firefighter.”
I sighed and nodded, looking back at the apartment building and hoping I was wrong. For the rest of the week, I couldn’t keep Claire’s face out of my head. We weren’t due to go check on her for another two weeks and I felt like I was going to go insane waiting.
But I had to follow the rules. This was only my second month as a licensed social worker and I needed to trust my mentor. He’d been a social worker for over a decade. He knew how to do this a lot better than I did. Still, the nagging feeling wouldn’t leave me, and before I left on Friday, I found myself catching one of my coworkers before they left.
“Hey, Marie?”
“What’s up?” she asked as she put her stuff into her backpack.
“What’s the protocol for visiting an open case before we’re scheduled to?” I wanted to know.
“Depends on your rapport with the family and what the situation is. If it’s a hostile environment for case workers, you need to stick to the schedule. People can feel attacked if we show up without notice or before schedule. There’s a bit more leniency when the case is simple, or the family is grateful for the help and guidance we’re giving. Why?”
“Just wondering,” I mumbled, thanked her and left the office.
I got some takeout and drove to my apartment, everything still swirling around in my head. I ate my Korean bbq dinner while the TV was showing me some sort of cooking show when I made up my mind. I pulled out the file and dialed the number for Claire.
“Hello?”
“Hi Claire, this is Olive calling from Family Protection Services. I was just calling to confirm our appointment next week at two pm.”
“Oh. It’s like seven pm. You work this late?” she asked, sounding distracted.
“No. I’m at home. I’m just going over a few files before the weekend, and wanted to make sure nothing had changed for our appointment next week,” I lied, already feeling better about hearing her voice sound so calm.
“Oh. Yes. Next week works fine.”
“Great. I’ll make a note of it. I’m so sorry for interrupting your night. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Okay,” she answered absentmindedly. “Have a good night.”
I sighed and put down my phone. I felt better, but I still thought something more was going on there. I stood and opened a bottle of wine, serving myself a nice, large glass, then I grabbed the leftover custard dessert I didn’t finish yesterday, and settled back down on the couch. I switched channels, putting on one of my comfort animated movies to get my mind out off the nagging thoughts in my head.
“Hello?” I answered a call from an unknown number. It was Saturday evening, and I was doing a load of laundry.
“Please come help me,” a small fearful voice whispered. I could hear loud noises in the background and a child screaming nearby.
“Who is this?”
“Claire. I need someone to call the police. He’s outside my bedroom. I just—” she screamed and the phone dropped.
I was already grabbing my keys and purse and rushing out the door.
“Claire! Claire! Are you still there?” I screamed into the phone as I jumped into my car and drove like a bat out of hell.
“He’s almost in! Oh, God! He’s going to kill me!”
“Do you have a bathroom inside your room? Grab Kacey and lock yourself in there. I’m on my way.”
“Okay,” she whimpered and I could hear her struggling through the room. Kacey’s cries got louder and I could hear someone shouting and banging near by, then getting muffled as I heard a door click.
“Are you safe?” I asked.
“For now. He’s going to get through.”
“Have you called the cops?”
“No. I Just dialed the last number on my phone.”
“Okay. I’m going to hang u—”
“NO!!” She cried, panic in her voice.
“Okay, Okay. I won’t hang up but I need to call the cops. I’m only a few minutes away, Claire. I’m going to put you on hold and call the cops. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’m scared—”
“I know, sweetie, but I promise, you and that little boy will be alright. Okay?” I tried to soothe her.
“Okay.”
I placed the call on hold and dialed 9-1-1.
“9-1-1 what’s your emergency?”
“Hi, this is Olive McKennan from Family Protective Services. I just got a call from one of our open cases. She’s hiding inside her bathroom with her child. Someone is trying to break in and harm them. Their address is 437 Barracuda St Apartment 307. We need assistance immediately. The physical health of a new born is in danger.”
“I’ve dispatch patrols and should be there in less than five minutes. Who is the person in danger?”
“The mother’s name is Claire Brock. I don’t know if she’s been harmed already,” I told her.
“I’ll have an ambulance sent over just in case.”
“Thank you,” I breathed a sigh of relief as I turned into the apartment complex. I hung up and went back to my call with Claire, but my heart sank when all I could hear was screaming. Screams of pain from Claire, screaming wails from Kacey and screaming from a male voice shouting at her.
Without thinking about anything but the promise I made her, I took off running even as I could hear the sirens approaching.
I was huffing by the time I made it up to the third floor, but the stitch on my side did nothing to slow me down as the screams got louder. As I ran toward the apartment, I could see people trying to peek out of their windows and doors, but unwilling to get involved.
The door to the apartment was broken, as was most of the stuff in the living room. I ran into the bedroom and toward the bathroom, grabbing the only thing I could find. I didn’t even look at it, all I cared about was that it looked big. I slammed it against the skull of the man kicking a now almost unconscious Claire on the floor. The man staggered backwards and I stepped out of his way. I barely registered the blade in his hand as I rushed past him and inside the bathroom.
Initially, I didn’t realize that Claire wasn’t wearing a red shirt until I turned her over and took in her beaten face and the slashes to her chest.
“Oh, God, Claire!” I gasped.
She coughed, the sound a gurgle as blood splattered on my shirt when she tried to speak.
“Just hang in there. The ambulance is coming. I could hear them. Only a few more minutes,” I begged.
“I—in the sh-shower,” she told me weakly, trying to point. “Kay-Kacey. Promise me,” she coughed more blood out. “Promise me you’ll make sure he’s safe.”
“I promise. I won’t let anything hurt him,” I assured her as tears slipped out of my eyes.
I could see she was fading, and I wasn’t sure she was going to make it.
“P-promise, you’ll protect him.”
“I promise,” I assured her.
Her hand came up toward me and she cupped my face. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she did, her hand fell back down, and I heard the last ragged breath leave her body.
I heard movement outside the bathroom and I panicked, remembering her attacker. I rushed over to the shower and picked up the screaming baby. He calmed as I looked at the door, waiting for the attacker to appear. There was nothing in the bathroom for me to use for protection.
Where the fuck is the police? They should have been here by now.
As if summoned by magic, a police officer stepped into the bathroom, weapon out but his eyes focused on Claire. When a relieved sob left my throat, he startled, his weapon turning to aim at me and instictively, I huddled protectively over Kacey.
“Olive? Are you the one who called?” he asked.
I nodded and slumped onto the toilet seat as he bent down to check on Claire.
“The man—”
“He was coming to when we arrived. He’s in cuffs already. You’re safe.”
“Claire…” I can’t finish the sentence, but he understood because he gave me a solemn shake of his head.
“Is he okay?” he asked, motioning over to the baby.
“I think so,” I answered as honestly as I could. “He was in the bathtub.”
Something came out of his radio that was too garbled for me to understand.
“The ambulance has arrived. We should get him checked, just in case,” he motioned to Kacey in my arms.
I nodded and stood to follow him. He helped me walk around Claire and I tried not to look at her, but I knew I’d have her lifeless body and terrified eyes seared into my memories for as long as I lived.
I gripped Kacey closer when we passed by the living room. The man I attacked was being held there in handcuffs as he was questioned, but the moment he saw me and Kacey, he launched himself toward me. Three officers dove on top of him and I was escorted out to the ambulance while he continued yelling after us.
There was a crowd gathered outside, and through the overwhelming chaos going through my head, I could feel anger rising. All of these people could have helped. They could have prevented Claire’s death.
An EMT tried to take Kacey from me, but I struggled giving him up. I made a promise to Claire and it was all I could think of.
“Miss. He’s going to be okay, but I need to make sure there are no injuries on him,” the EMT said softly to me.
“I need to make sure he’s okay. I promised,” I replied.
“You don’t have to go anywhere, but I have to check him. Please.”
Finally, I nodded and let him take Kacey. I felt oddly bereft and cold when the baby wasn’t in my arms anymore.
Shock. I was in shock. I read about it somewhere but it was a whole different thing to feel it. I knew it, somewhere in the back of my mind, but I didn’t know how to snap myself out of it.
Another EMT came over with a blanket and started placing it around me, but the back of his hand came back wet. He stared at it for a moment, then we both looked down at the stain.
“May I?” he asked, and I nodded. He lifted the shirt and felt around the area under the stain. When he pressed in and a fresh gush of blood trickled out, he called out to his other coworker, “She’s injured! We need to take her back to the hospital.”
“I don’t feel anything,” I mumbled.
“I think you’re in shock, ma’am. Come with me, we need to go.”
“I can’t. I need to take care of Kacey.”
“We can take him with us. We won’t separate you,” he assured me.
All I could do was nod and allow him and his coworker to put Kacey and me into the back of the ambulance and drive us away.
