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  After making sure the baby was safely installed in a small, grimy playpen and the toddler was watching Sponge Bob, she and Brandie waded through the house, picking up the garbage. It was a big job and in the end, they filled seventeen big bags with trash. Though she looked like she was about to drop, the young mother worked with a will, cleaning as if her life depended on it. It made Mei-Li glad to see her determination—she was doing this for her kids. It also reinforced her gut feeling that this family needed to stay together.

  After putting out the trash, it was time to tackle the dishes. Mei-Li cleared out one side of the sink and filled it with hot water. There was no dishwashing liquid but she had some of that too. She and Brandi washed and dried, stacking the plates and cups in the mostly bare cabinets until the sink and counters were clear. Mei-Li noticed there wasn’t much food in the cupboards other than a few boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese and a dusty can of green beans. She promised herself to drop by the food bank and bring Brandi and her kids a food box as soon as she had a spare minute.

  The maggot filled pot she saved for the last, mostly because she just couldn’t bear to touch it until she had to. She emptied it out in the back yard, shivering as the slimy mass of writhing white grubs plopped into the small hole she had dug in the dirt with the heel of her best court shoes.

  Mei-Li sighed as she scraped clods of earth over the disgusting mess. She was hot and sweaty from working in the filth and heat, her hair was stringy and now her shoes were caked with dirt. So much for looking good in court—after this she would be lucky to even look presentable. But it was either pitch in and help or take the kids and she didn’t want to break up this home. Even if it was messy and the mother was young and inexperienced, there was clearly love here.

  There was still a lot of cleaning to do but when Mei-Li finally had to go, the place looked a lot better than when she had gotten there. To her surprise, the young mother, Brandi, threw her arms around her neck and hugged her before she left.

  “Thank you,” she whispered in Mei-Li’s ear. “All I ever heard about you people was how you wanted to take people’s kids. I never knew any of them was like you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Mei-Li patted her on the back. “We don’t come around wanting to take your kids, Brandi—we just have to make sure they’re safe. Please don’t let your place get so bad again. I’ll be coming back to check you soon.”

  “I swear it’ll look great next time you come,” Brandi vowed. “I don’t know how it ever got that way…it was just a gradual thing. I’d be so tired it didn’t seem to matter if one more thing got left undone. But I promise I’ll do better now.”

  “I know you will.” Mei-Li smiled at her. “Okay, I really have to go. The instructions for the lice shampoo are on the back of the box.”

  “I’ll use it right away. And thank you for that too.” Brandi’s blue eyes filled with tears again. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome.” Mei-Li squeezed her hand. “I have to get going. I’ll see you soon.”

  “I’ll be ready!” Brandi promised.

  Mei-Li left her smiling and had gone back to the office to once again try and get to the paperwork. On the way she went through the drive-thru at McDonalds for a large fry and a chocolate milkshake. It was an indulgent lunch and she knew it wasn’t good for her but after the morning she’d been through so far, she needed a little indulgence.

  She had barely seated herself at her desk with her bag of take out when yet another call came in. This time it was from a teacher—Mrs. Hemphill who taught first grade. One of Mei-Li’s clients, a little girl name Kristin, was in her class.

  “I know you’re probably busy,” she began when Mei-Li picked up the phone. “But you asked me to call you if there was anything suspicious.”

  Mei’Li’s stomach clenched. “What is it?” she asked, trying to keep her tone professional. “Have you noticed any fresh marks or bruises?”

  “Well, no…” Mrs. Hemphill sighed. “But Kristin is back to acting the way she was before—you know, so silent and withdrawn? She was crying today during art and when I asked her why, she said it was because she was scared. But she wouldn’t say of what. Or who. She just clammed up and I can’t get anything else out of her. But she’s got that…that hunted look she always did before and I know I’m not imagining it. She’s been so happy and contented the past few months but today—it’s like someone rolled back the clock.”

  Mei-Li found herself nodding though she knew the other woman couldn’t see her over the phone.

  “All right, I’ll come by and see what I can find out.”

  “Make it soon,” the teacher advised. “I don’t like the idea of sending her back to that house if it’s happening again.”

  “I’ll come right away. Can you send her to the office to wait for me?”

  “Sure. It’s lunch time now so I’ll send her with her lunch bag. She can eat while she waits.”

  “Got it. On my way.” She hung up the phone, took off her glasses, and put her head on the desk for just a moment, gathering her strength. The day from Hell indeed. And she still had a shelter hearing in court to get through at two, plus the mound of paperwork to finish after that. Also, she was going to have to document everything she had done today. She’d be lucky to get out before eight o’clock tonight.

  If only I could get some sleep, this wouldn’t seem so bad, she told herself. I know how that poor girl, Brandi felt—I’m just so tired all the time! If only he would leave me alone I could—

  “Hey, Mei-mei, rough day?”

  The voice of Claudia, her best friend and supervisor, cut through the fog of sleep deprivation and weariness. Mei-mei meant little sister in the Mandarin dialect and it was an apt name for Mei-Li coming from the other woman. Claudia was a good friend and, even better, a good supervisor. She was also Mei-Li’s mentor and had showed her the ropes when she started as a CPI three years before, right out of college.

  “You’re not going to have an easy time,” she had advised Mei-Li frankly on her first day. “People don’t like Child Protection and some of them are going to hate you even more for who you are. They’ll think you don’t understand—because you don’t have kids. They’ll try to dismiss you because of your age and your race—get ready to hear every sexual and racial epithet you can imagine and some you can’t because you’re going to get that and more out in the field. I can’t tell you how often I’ve been called the N word. Not to mention whore, slut, bitch and every other nasty word in the book. Also in your case, some people are going to literally look down on you and try to disrespect you because you’re such a tiny little thing.”

  Mei-Li had felt her enthusiasm waning. “Seriously? Are you saying this is the wrong job for me? Because I got a Masters degree just so I could do this. I want to make a difference.”

  “I’m not saying it’s the wrong job—if you care enough and you really want to, you can make a difference. I’m just saying it’s not gonna be easy. Are you up to the challenge?”

  With Claudia’s help, Mei-Li had been—and was—on a daily basis. At least she had been before she started having the dreams. Before she stopped being able to sleep at night…

  “So, rough day?” Claudia repeated.

  Mei-Li looked up. All she could see was a blur but even so, she could tell her friend was dressed to impress. Claudia was a tall, statuesque woman with creamy, dark brown skin, large, liquid brown eyes, and an impeccable fashion sense. People at the office teased that the two of them looked funny when they stood together because Claudia was nearly six feet tall and she dwarfed Mei-Li’s petite figure. Mei-Li didn’t mind. She was happy to be Claudia’s Mei-mei or little sister here at the DCF.

  She sat up and nodded. “Yeah, you could say that. That last call I got was from a house…” She shivered. “Let’s just say it wasn’t very clean.”

  Claudia put a hand on one full hip. “And I’m guessing you cleaned it.”

  Mei-Li shrugged uneasily. “It was a young
mom and she was really trying. The boyfriend left her alone with a baby and a toddler and she was working double shifts at the Ihop. Besides, she helped me clean—it’s not like I did it all myself.”

  “You don’t have to do that, you know,” Claudia said. “It’s not exactly in the job description.”

  “I know.” Mei-Li sighed. “But I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I’ll go back and check her in a couple of days when I bring her a food box—I think she’ll be doing better. Anyway…” She fumbled for her glasses, started to put them on and stopped. “Damn, these are dirty.”

  “And ugly,” Claudia said candidly. “Get rid of those ugly-ass glasses, girl. Then maybe you could find a man. Get contact lenses.”

  “I told you—contacts irritate my eyes and I’m not a candidate for LASIK.”

  Claudia shook her head. “I know. It’s too bad.”

  “It’s probably a good thing,” Mei’Li said. “What if they messed up and I was blinded for life? You know I’m not wild about any kind of surgery after what happened to my mom.”

  “I know. You always think of the worst case scenario, you know that? Then again, that’s one of the things that makes you such a good CPI.”

  “Gee, thanks,” Mei-Li said dryly. “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

  “What would make you feel confident is going out on a date. How long has it been since that last guy you went out with? A year?”

  “More like two years,” Mei-Li said uncomfortably. “But who’s counting? Besides—who has time for a man with this job?”

  “Not you, I guess.” Claudia eyed her speculatively. “Speaking of men, you having that dream anymore?”

  “Umm…” Mei-Li looked away, pretending to be interested in cleaning her glasses.

  “You are, aren’t you?” Claudia demanded. “I knew it. You’ve got bags under your eyes that would make Samsonite jealous.”

  “Wow, thanks—you really know how to make a girl feel good.”

  “Well, it’s true. And I only say it because I’m worried about you. I thought you said the Kindred Head Honcho told you he wasn’t coming for you.”

  “He’s not,” Mei-Li protested. “I don’t know why I can’t stop having the dreams.”

  Claudia arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow. “You think he’s changed his mind and he’s coming after all?”

  Mei-Li felt her stomach twist uneasily. “Of course not—why would he? Look at me—I’m not exactly a catch with my giant black glasses and my nonexistent bra size. The last guy I dated couldn’t be bothered to come across the street for me—what makes you think somebody would want to come across the freaking universe?”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, honey.” Claudia’s brown eyes swept over her. “With that perfect pale skin and that long, silky black hair you’ve got the whole perfectly petite China doll thing going on. Some guys really go for that.”

  “Yeah, that’s what my boyfriend in college said,” Mei-Li muttered. “Which of course is why he ended up with a blonde cheerleader with a set of double Ds.”

  “The problem is you look frail and harmless and then you’re not. Once someone gets to know you, they understand you don’t need to be taken care of. And the same guys who want a perfect little doll don’t like that—you scare them off because they don’t want a, fearless, independent woman who can fend for herself.”

  “I’m glad you see me that way, anyway.” Mei-Li sighed. “I don’t feel very independent and fearless right now. I just feel tired.”

  “That’s the sleep deprivation talking.” Claudia clucked her tongue sympathetically. “Look, why don’t you lie down in my office for a twenty minute power nap? It’ll do you a world of good.”

  Mei-Li thought longingly of the battered brown leather couch in her friend’s office. Despite its appearance, it was an incredibly comfortable piece of furniture. Regretfully, she shook her head.

  “Thanks but I can’t. I have a shelter hearing in court at two and before that I have to go check on one of my clients—Kristin. You know—Angry Mom’s kid?”

  “Oh, Angry Mom…” Claudia shook her head. “Mmm-mm. Now I really feel sorry for you. What’s the problem?”

  “That’s what I’m going to try and find out.” Mei-Li sighed and stood up. “And I’d better get going if I’m going to have time to talk to her and get back in time for court.”

  “Take it easy.” Claudia squeezed her shoulder sympathetically. “Remember, this day will end eventually.”

  “I know it will—it just doesn’t seem like it right now.” Mei-Li grabbed her bag of take-out. “Gotta run. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “Okay. Call me if you need backup.”

  “Shouldn’t be necessary,” Mei-Li said. “I’m seeing Kristin at school.”

  “Oh, that does make things easier. All right then, good luck.”

  “Thanks.” Mei-Li smiled at her gratefully. “See you later.”

  She ran out the door, clutching the paper McDonald’s sack with its cooling fries and melting shake. She would just have to eat her lunch while she talked to Kristin but since the little girl was having lunch at the same time, it should be okay.

  Mei-Li hoped this call was a false alarm but she was very much afraid it wasn’t.

  Chapter Five

  “She’s right there in the nurse’s office waiting for you.” The school secretary pointed at the small closet of a room at the far end of the office. “There’s a desk and a couple chairs and the nurse is at lunch. You can talk to her there if you want.”

  “Thanks.” Mei-Li nodded gratefully and came around the swinging, waist high barrier to enter the back of the elementary school office. She let herself into the small room, which was painted industrial gray green like the rest of the interior of the school, and closed the door carefully behind her. She didn’t want the noisy hustle and bustle of the office intruding on her interview.

  Kristin was already on one side of the small, cheap wooden desk, her legs dangling as she sat in a dingy yellow plastic chair. A battered Barbie doll lunch box sat on the desk but it didn’t look like the little girl was eating.

  Probably too nervous. Mei-Li felt a stab of sympathy. If what she and the teacher suspected was actually happening in Kristin’s home, she had plenty of reason to be nervous.

  “Hey, Kristin,” she said, sitting down across from the little girl and placing her McDonald’s bag beside the Barbie lunch box. “How are you doing?”

  “Okay, I guess.” Kristin looked down, refusing to meet her eyes. She had long brown hair which was usually done up in a bow or in a neat braid. Today, however, it was a messy halo around her small face. Her clothes were dirty too—there was a grease spot on her rumpled My Little Pony t-shirt and a hole in the knee of her jeans.

  “You guess? It doesn’t sound like you’re sure.” Mei-Li smiled at her, tried to catch the little girl’s eyes and failed. “Well, it’s been a little while since I saw you so I thought maybe you and I could eat lunch together. Would that be okay?”

  “Sure, I guess so.” The little girl shrugged listlessly.

  Mei-Li frowned. She could see why the teacher had called her—Kristin was normally a happy, chatty little girl. To see her like this, so silent and withdrawn, set off all kinds of alarm bells. Still, she knew she couldn’t push or she’d get nothing. So instead of talking anymore, she opened her sack.

  The smell of French fries immediately filled the small office. Mei-Li ate one—it was more warm than hot but still good—and put the straw into her chocolate shake.

  “What do you have for lunch?” she asked Kristin. “Or did you already eat before I got here?”

  “No, I didn’t eat.” The little girl shook her head.

  “You waited for me? That was nice.” Mei-Li smiled.

  “I didn’t eat ‘cause I don’t got nothing to eat. See?” Kristin opened her lunch box, displaying nothing but a wadded up paper towel and a broken plastic spoon. “I think Mama forgot to pack my lunch,”
she explained.

  “She forgot?” Mei-Li felt a surge of anger. “Did you at least get breakfast?”

  “Nu-uh.” Kristin shook her head. “Mama didn’t feel like fixing it. She was real tired from being up all night with—” She stopped abruptly, biting her lip.

  “Up all night with who?” Mei-Li prompted softly.

  “Can’t say.” Kristin’s blue-gray eyes shifted to the side evasively. “Or I’ll get in trouble.”

  “Okay.” Mei-Li nodded. It wasn’t time to push—not yet. Instead she took a sip of her shake.

  “I’m hungry,” the little girl whispered, looking up at her at last.

  I am too. Mei-Li gave an inward sigh as she looked at her fries. She had a feeling she was going to stay that way.

  “Uh-huh,” she said, nodding. “I bet you are hungry if you didn’t get breakfast. It’s been a long time since dinner last night.”

  “I didn’t have much for dinner either,” Kristin confided. “Just some chips. I had to go to bed early—way early.”

  “Why was that?” Slowly, Mei-Li pushed the fries towards the little girl. “Go ahead—you can have some.”

  “Thank you!” Gratefully, Kristin grabbed some fries and crammed them into her mouth. “You got any chicken nuggets?”

  “Sorry, no. Maybe next time I meet you at lunch I’ll bring a happy meal. Okay?”

  “Okay!” The little girl nodded enthusiastically and reached for more fries. “These are really good, though. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Nice manners.” Mei-Li smiled at her. “So why did you have to go to bed early last night?”

  “’Cause Randy was mad. He said I was talking too loud and he— Oh…” Kristin stopped in mid-chew, her mouth full of fries. “I shouldn’t of told you that,” she whispered. “Mama’s gonna be so mad at me.”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” Mei-Li said gently. “You can tell me anything—you know that.”

  “But I shouldn’t of.” The girl was near tears now. She swallowed the soggy lump of fries in her mouth with obvious difficulty. “Mama said not to say. She’s gonna be so angry.”