Karen Rose - Have You Seen Her?

Serena looked up at her mother, who forced a smile. Then she looked up at her father who put his arm around her tiny shoulders.

"It's okay, honey." Marvin said. "You're not in trouble. Just tell Mr. Thatcher what you know."

Serena turned her dark blue eyes to Steven and he smiled again, even more gently than before.

"See, honey? Your mom and dad aren't mad." Serena's lip quivered and Steven understood. At four years old, of course Serena would interpret her family's wild grief and anger to be her fault. It was normal. "Honey, I need you to listen to me. Can you do that?"

Serena nodded. "Yes, sir."

Steven ducked his head closer. "Good. Now I know you're a big girl, and a smart one. I want you to think about your friends. Do you have a best friend?"

Serena blinked, confusion in her eyes at the unexpected question. She nodded uncertainly.

"What's your best friend's name?"

"Carrie." Serena looked down, then back up. "We play dolls and video games."

"Good. You know who was my best friend when I was your age?" Serena shook her head and Steven winked at her. "Father Mike."

Her blue eyes grew round in disbelief. "Priests don't have friends."

From the corner of his eye Steven saw Mike hide a smile behind his hand. "No, it's true," Steven insisted. "When Fa-ther Mike was a little boy we'd catch frogs in the creek behind the elementary school down the street from the church."

"I'll go to the elementary school next year," Serena declared proudly, then narrowed her eyes. "If you and Father Mike were friends, how come you're not a priest, too?"

Again Steven glanced at Mike from the corner of his eye. "Busted," Mike mouthed silently.

"Well, I thought about it, but then I decided to be a policeman instead. What do you think priests and policemen have in common, Serena?"

She thought a moment, chewing on her lower lip. "They help people," she decided.

Steven nodded. "That's exactly right. See, I knew you were a smart girl."

"I can count to twenty," Serena said with a decisive nod, then shook her head in disgust. "Carrie can only count to ten."

"Well, I'm sure Carrie will catch up soon."

"I don't know." She shook her head and her damp ringlets bounced. "She can only make it to level one on Sonic Two."

Steven was well acquainted with Sonic the Hedgehog, a video game character who, although capable of racing at sonic speeds, looked absolutely nothing like a hedgehog. Sonic was one of Nicky's favorites. Had been anyway.

"So you're pretty good at Sonic?" Steven asked and Serena nodded hard. "You practice a lot?"

Serena's face abrupjly changed. She looked down at the table and said nothing.

And Steven thought he knew what had happened.

"Serena, are you allowed to play video games at night when you're supposed to be in bed?"

Serena stared hard at the table and shook her head. Marvin Eggleston opened his mouth to say something, but Mike stepped forward and put a restraining hand on the man's shoulder.

"But you were up playing Sonic the night Sammie disappeared, weren't you, honey?" Steven asked quietly.

Serena said nothing. Made not a single move.

Steven leaned closer and laid his fingertips against the little girl's cheek and she looked up, misery in her eyes. She blinked and fat tears rolled down her rosy cheeks. Steven felt his heart clench. What the public never seemed to realize is that crime happened to people. It wasn't sensational, it wasn't thrilling. Crime happened to people, to families, tore them apart. Made little four-year-old girls feel responsible and afraid. Made them cry.

He softened his voice. "Serena, honey, this is important. You will not get into trouble for playing video games. But, sweetheart, you need to tell me what you heard that night."

Her lips trembled and more tears flowed. "Sammie was on the phone," she whispered.

"Did she know you were there?"

Serena shook her head. "No."

"Do you know who Sammie was talking to, Serena?"

Again she shook her head. "No, sir."

Impatience simmered and he clapped a tight lid on it. "Did it sound like she was talking to one of her friends? JoLynn or Wanda, maybe?"

"No, sir."

Steven leaned closer still. "Was it a boy, honey?"

Serena looked up at him, her eyes filled with guilt. "Yes, sir," she whispered.

Anticipation sizzled across his skin. They were on to something. "Did she say his name?"

"No, sir."

"What were they talking about, Serena?"

She looked down at the table. "Kissing and stuff."

Steven glanced up to find Marvin's face pale and his body trembling. Silently, Steven shook his head, then hooked his finger under Serena's chin and gently tipped up her face.

"What else, honey?"

Serena stared up at him and again his heart clenched at the misery he saw there. She was just a baby. No child should know this kind of devastation. "She didn't want to go," Serena whispered and Marvin and Anna looked sick.

"What do you mean, she didn't want to go? Go where, Serena?"

Serena lifted one thin shoulder. "To meet him. She kept saying, 'I don't know.' She knew Mommy and Daddy would be really mad." Tears rolled again. "But she finally said yes."

Anna swayed and her mother put her arm around her for support.

"Serena, I need you to think very hard," Steven said, his voice barely a whisper. "Did Sammie mention where she was meeting him?"

Serena nodded. "Behind the McDonald's."

Steven forced his voice to be very calm. His gut told him Serena was on the verge of remembering something critical. "Did she say which one?"

She frowned. "Behind the railroad tracks? I don't know." She looked up at her father, panicked. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

"It's okay, pumpkin," Marvin managed in an even voice and Steven respected him for the effort. His father's heart had to be shattering, visualizing what happened at the McDonald's behind the railroad tracks. "You're doing just… great." His voice broke on the last word and Mike put both hands on Marvin's shoulders. The big man managed a smile of encouragement for Serena, but his throat worked viciously as he struggled not to cry.

Steven touched Serena's hand lightly and she looked back at him. "Your daddy's absolutely right, Serena. You are doing fabulously. Now, can you remember anything else?"'

Her feathery brows scrunched as she concentrated. Then she looked up sharply and Steven knew this was what he'd been waiting for. "Sammie told him he played a good game."

Steven tried not to let his excitement show. "Did she say what kind of game?"

"No." Her lower lip quivered again as more tears fell. "I'm sorry."

Steven cupped the child's face in his palm and gently wiped her tears with his thumb. "You did all the right things, Serena. You're a smart girl, and a brave one. Telling me took a lot of courage."

"Will Sammie come home now?" she asked and Steven heard Anna muffle a sob.

Serena was a smart child. He had no idea what her parents had told her, but he'd be damned if he'd tell this child anything other than the truth. "I don't know, honey. All us policemen are trying our hardest to find her."

Her eyes filled again. "I should have told before. If I'd told before you could find her faster."

Mike put his hand on Serena's shoulder. She looked up, biting her lower lip, and Steven felt his heart lurch. For the rest of her life this poor child would live with unearned guilt caused by a sadistic bastard that thrived on the misery and fear of others. Mike smoothed a lock of tear-drenched hair from Serena's cheek. "Serena, you know I would never lie to you, don't you?"

She nodded. "You're not allowed."

Mike smiled ruefully. "That's true. So I want you to believe me when I say there is nothing you could have done to make them find Serena faster. God is with her, wherever she is."