That Horrible Foster Home

Jaya Reese and Gino Verga were sitting in a diner and drinking their first cup of coffee for the day. The sun wasn’t up yet because they were there before their six a.m. day shift. The two are first-grade detectives from the Hillsford Police Department (HPD).

Jaya had a tough upbringing because both parents died in a car accident when she was seven years old. She was in several violent foster homes until the age of 18 when she enlisted in the Marines. She doesn’t trust men or women because the foster fathers beat her, and the foster mothers did nothing to stop it. Gino became a detective eight months ago, so she doesn’t trust him either.

Gino played tight end for Notre Dame. He blew out his knee in his junior year, ending any hopes of playing in the NFL. After college, he enlisted in the Army and became a military police (MP) officer. His nickname is Moose because he stands six feet six inches.

Jaya had her back to the door. Gino looked concerned.

“What’s going on, Verga?” Reese asked.

“A young woman just came in, and she is crying.” 

Jaya turned around and saw her.

“She looks like she has bruises, too. Call the special victims’ unit and ask them to come here.”

Jaya walked over to the young woman. She looked like a Latina teenager.

“My name is Detective Reese. What is your name?”

“My name is Fernanda,” she said with a trembling voice.

“Fernanda, how old are you?”

“I am sixteen.”

“How did you get all the bruises?”

“My foster father beats all the girls when he is drunk.”

“How many girls are there?”

“There are six of us. Two Hispanic ones, two white ones, and two black ones.”

“What are their ages?”

“The youngest, a white girl, is nine years old. The other white girl is 12 years old. Fourteen-year-old and fifteen-year-old girls are black. The other Latina is thirteen years old.”

 “OK. You are the oldest. How did you get out of the house?”

“My foster father had to go over two towns to pay a bill that is due this morning, and I knew my foster mother sleeps 10 hours per day. As soon as my father left, I escaped.”

“Have they beaten all the girls up?”

“Yes, even the youngest one.”

Two special victim unit (SVU) officers showed up.

“Fernanda, this is Officer Jones and Officer Martinez from the SVU team,” Reese said.

“Can you save the other girls?” Fernanda asked.

“We will do our best,” Martinez said.

A discussion ensued about whether just Reese and Verga should go to the house or should Jones and Martinez go with them. They decided all four should go so the detectives could arrest the parents while the SVU officers could assist the other girls.

“Fernanda. This is Rose, and she owns the diner. She will take care of you while we go over to the house. What is the address?” Reese asked.

“It is the second house around the corner. They painted the house pink. You can’t miss it. The parent’s bedroom is on the first floor, while the girls are upstairs.”

When the detectives and the officers turned the corner, the pink house was the only house that stood out. The houses, painted in normal colors, blended into the background.

Reese and Verga went to the front door, and Jones and Martinez went to the back of the house.

“Reese, we are ready at the back door, and it is unlocked,” Jones said.

“On my notice, you two will enter the house from the back and go upstairs to find the girls,” Reese said.

“Verga, ring the doorbell,” Reese said.

They could hear someone walking up to the front door. Verga positioned himself so he could hit the father or mother if they answered the door. Reese had her hand on his back like she was holding him back. The door opened, and a woman appeared.

“Jones and Martinez, enter through the back,” Reese said.

Verga grabbed the woman, turned her around, and handcuffed her. Reese saw the father charging her. She readied herself for the hit. She turned her shoulder to him and hit him hard in the chest, which wobbled him. She grabbed him, flipped him over her, and he landed with a thud on the floor. Reese handcuffed him.

“Who are you people? Why did you handcuff us?” the father said.

“We are detectives from the Hillsford Police Department, and we are arresting the two of you for kidnapping young women, abusing the women in your care, and holding them as prisoners,” Reese said. 

Verga read the mother and father their rights. By this time, Jones and Martinez were coming down the stairs with the five females. The girls looked scared, miserable, and so skinny they must not have eaten much food. All of them had bruises on their faces and arms. Reese assumed they had bruises on their torsos, too, because Fernanda had them there.

“Reese and Verga, here are the girls’ names and ages: Lilly (12) and Lucy (nine) are the white girls. The other Hispanic girl is Maria (13). The two black girls are Chantelle (14) and Dominique (15),” Jones said.

Martinez had the girls outside and waiting for ambulances.

“Ma’am, do you know what happened to Fernanda? She wasn’t here this morning.” Lucy said.

“You can thank Fernanda for saving all of you. She walked into the diner early this morning. Reese and Verga were there and saw her crying. Fernanda gave them enough information to arrest your foster parents and save the girls.” Martinez said.

“I need to go back to the diner to get Fernanda. She needs an ambulance, too. I should be back in 10 minutes.” Jones said.

As Jones walked Fernanda back, she saw the girls when they turned the corner. Fernanda took off running.

“Chantelle, Dominique, Lucy, Lilly, and Maria, I love you so much. I am so happy the police rescued you.” Fernanda said.

“We need to thank you, Fernanda. The police told us you saved us.” Chantelle said.

“All I did was sneak out of the house as soon as Father left. I got lucky because the detectives were at the diner I went to.”

“They told us you were crying at the diner. Why?” Maria said.

“I was worried I would see none of you again,” Fernanda said.

Lucy came over and gave Fernanda a big hug.

“Hi, little one, I am so happy you are safe,” Fernanda said.

“Dominique, you look so relieved,” Fernanda said.

“This is the best morning I have had since they put me into that horrible foster home,” Dominique said.

“This is the best day any of us have had since they put us in that horrible foster home,” Chantelle said.

Three ambulances pulled up to the home. Paramedics checked each girl and put two in each ambulance. The paramedics then took them to the local hospital.

“Reese and Verga, do you mind if we follow the ambulances to the hospital?” Jones said.

“No. I am sure you have tests to do as SVU officers.” Reese said.

“Yes, we do. Thank you.” Martinez said.

Reese and Verga had the foster parents sitting on the curb in front of the pink house. They were waiting for patrol officers from HPD to pick them up.

“Why do we run into so many evil foster parents?” Verga asked.

“You get people that only care about the money and try to collect as many kids as possible to maximize the money. Add drinking problems and violent personalities, and evil leaks out of that stew,” Reese said.

A patrol car rolled up with officers Shi and Nolan in it. Reese put the mother in the back seat, and Verga took the father to the other side of the car and put him in the back seat.

“Shi. We have major charges for these two. They are evil incarnated. Watch your six.” Reese said.

“Thanks for the heads up,” Officer Shi said.

The patrol car sped off, and Reese and Verga stood there looking at each other. The day started quietly, with them enjoying a coffee and expecting a slow day. It was late morning, and they hadn’t seen their desks yet.

“Let’s go back to our station. We have a lot of paperwork to do for this one.” Reese said.

“I’ll drive,” Verga said.

“I just got a text from the LT. She wants to see us when we get back.” Reese said.

“I hope we aren’t in trouble.”

“Me too.”

Reese and Verga returned to the station and headed to LT Owen’s office.

“Here we are, LT. What’s up?” Reese asked.

“I heard the two of you had an eventful morning. I wanted to congratulate both of you because bringing the SVU division into this was smart. They took care of those girls from the minute you showed up. I also loved to hear that Reese set up a plan for you two to arrest the parents and SVU to save the girls. That was a great idea, and everyone was safe. There is a reason you are my top detective, Reese. Verga, you can learn a lot working with her.” Owen said.

“I learn from her every day, LT,” Verga said.

After Reese and Verga left her office, Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Williams stopped by.

“Hi, Owens; I heard we caught a big case today. I wonder how hard we should push the foster parents,” Williams said.

“If you have time to visit the girls or to see the pictures, you will want to hit them hard. They have abused those girls for years. Look at all the bruises they have and their lack of confidence. I hope we can still save those girls,” Owens said.

“That picture is awful. That is just one girl. How many were there?”

“Six, and the youngest was nine years old.”

“They beat her too?”

“Yes. Can you imagine how evil those parents were? To beat a nine-year-old is the worst thing you can do. Please go hard at them.”

“Don’t worry. I will talk to the District Attorney (DA) and get him fired up.”

THE NEXT DAY

ADA Williams was in court for the initial hearing. They gave the foster parents a public defense attorney because they did not have the money for their own lawyer. Her name was Mary Ferguson. The judge for the morning was Judge Foster. He was tough on child abusers.

“What are their pleas?” Judge Foster asked.

“Your honor, both are pleading not guilty,” Ferguson said.

“I read their case last night. Despicable people. ADA Williams, what do you say?” Judge Foster said.

“Your honor, their acts were horrible. Abusing six girls, with the youngest being nine years old. We are asking for a remand,” Williams said.

“Your honor, they are not flight risks. They don’t have enough money to take a bus out of town. They also don’t have money for any type of bail,” Ferguson said.

“I set bail at $1.25 million for each. That should serve notice that we don’t like child abusers in my court,” Judge Foster said.

“Thank you, your honor,” Williams said.

When both attorneys left the courtroom, they ran into each other in the hallway.

“ADA Williams, can we make a deal? I don’t think these people will last long in prison,” Ferguson said.

“There is no possibility of them not going to prison. These weren’t the first girls they hosted. They have been foster parents for 20 years. We are investigating if they abused past foster children, too,” Williams said.

“The amount of bail money is absurd. These are poor people,” Ferguson said.

“Their financial situation doesn’t matter. They are child abusers. Let them sit in jail while the case is going on. It will give them time to think about what they did.”

Detective Reese walked up to the two attorneys. When Ferguson saw who it was, she excused herself.

“Detective, were you here for the hearing?” Williams asked.

“Yes. I like Judge Foster. The bail he set means those two won’t be on the street soon. They may never be free again.”

“The defense attorney was just asking for a deal to keep them out of prison.”

“What? Is she delusional?”

“She is a public defender, so they like to make deals. They are cheaper than spending a week in a courtroom.”

“If she wants a deal. Offer her life for both.”

“A deal would be more like 25 years. It is hard to get life. They didn’t murder anyone.”

TWO DAYS LATER

ADA Williams went to visit Reese and Verga.

“Good afternoon, detectives,” Williams said.

“What brings you here?” Verga said.

“We have a deal for the two foster parents. They both accepted 25 years in prison.”

“That means they will be out in their 70s. I can live with that,” Reese said.

“If they last that long,” Verga said.

“I don’t wish death on them, but Verga is correct. Child abusers don’t last long in prison. Do I have your approval for the deal?” Williams said.

“Yes,” Verga said.

“Lock them up,” Reese said.

THREE MONTHS LATER

ADA Williams went to visit Reese and Verga.

“Good morning, detectives,” Williams said.

“We don’t have a case with you, do we?” Reese asked.

“No. I have news on a past case. The foster parents’ case.”

“Out with it,” Verga said.

“They killed each last night. It looks like it was a coordinated kill. The time of death was nearly the same, even though they were in separate prisons. They were both killed with a shiv. Stabbed to death.”

“I guess they didn’t make any friends in prison,” Reese said.

“No. They beat him three times in his first month there. They beat her twice in the same period. Things seemed to have quieted down since then. That’s why it was a surprise last night,” Williams said.

“I am still in contact with Fernanda. I will visit her today,” Reese said.

LATER THAT DAY

Detective Reese went to visit Fernanda. She knew she was doing well. A nice family who treated her well adopted her. She was in high school and making friends.

“Hi, Fernanda. I am here with good news,” Reese said.

“Hi, Detective Reese. It is nice to see you again. What is the news?”

“Somebody killed the evil foster parents in prison last night. They stabbed each to death.”

“Weren’t they in separate prisons?”

“Yes. It looked like a coordinated attack.”

Fernanda cried. All the emotions from months ago rushed back into her.

“Are those happy tears?” Reese asked.

“Happiness and relief. I feel so lucky. I have a nice family now, and I no longer need to worry about the evil foster parents.”

“Did you stay in touch with the other girls?”

“Yes. They are all in good foster homes now. I have news.”

“Oh. What is your news?”

“My new parents are adopting Lucy, too. We are going to be sisters.”

“That is terrific news! Are there other children in the household?”

“No. Someone killed my parents’ daughter at 11. My parents have been looking to adopt, and they liked the idea of adopting kids with troubled pasts. They are religious people and see this as their mission.”

“They must be wonderful people. Are you learning religion?”

“They are. I am getting back to religion. My original parents were religious. I find peace when I am in church.”

“I am happy for you. Once Lucy joins the family, I will take the two of you to lunch.”

“I look forward to that.”

The two hugged. By this time, Fernanda had dried her tears. Reese got back to her car and sat there.

What a change in only three months. Fernanda shows no signs of bruises or depression. She also seems excited about becoming Lucy’s big sister. This is a happy story; months later, happiness could come out of it. Her new parents must be saints to take on two troubled girls.

(This story is a work of fiction. Some of these characters will appear in my next novel – The Chameleon Killer.)