Chapter 2: I'm here
Grace is standing at the door.
"Gracie?" Steve is surprised to see her there. "Are you okay?"
"Hi, Uncle Steve, can I come in?" Grace looks nervous. She doesn't know if she's doing the right thing, but she must do something. Tried to call Danno a couple of hours ago, but he doesn't answer his phone.
"Of course, Gracie, come in" Steve moves to the left to allow Grace get into the house, closes the door behind her. At that time, Danny leaves the kitchen and asks surprised. "Monkey! What are you doing here, Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Yes, something is happening, but not to me" Grace walks close to her dad and gives him a hug "Danno, I've been trying to call you, but you don't answer your phone". Surprised, Danny takes the phone from the pocket of his pants and looks at it. "Damn battery! It's supposed it should last two days and it doesn't last two damn hours. I think it's time to change this phone for a new one. Courtesy of Five-0, right?" Asks to Steve.
Steve asks Grace to sit down, and walks to the kitchen, to give Danny some privacy with his daughter, but she stops him "No, Uncle Steve, please stay."
"What's happening Gracie?" asks, sitting in the recliner opposite Grace
"Well, to tell the truth, I'm not sure. It's just, since a few weeks ago I noticed that Lucy is in trouble, but I don't know what kind of problems and if I can do something to help her. I want to help her Danno."
"Okay, why don't you start from the beginning?" Danny tries Grace relaxes a little bit, so she can tell what is happening. "Lucy, what Lucy?"
"You know her, we were classmates in school since first grade." Turning to Steve "you remember she, don't you?" Steve lets his mind back. He met Lucy about six years ago, in a camp with the Aloha Girls, a camp that did not end well for Lucy, since a guy threatened her with a gun, shot Danny and forced them to look for some diamonds by the winding paths of Ka 'a' awa Valley. Lucy was a smart girl with blond braids and blue eyes, the same age of Grace, who then should be ten or eleven. She should now be sixteen or seventeen. "What is happening with her? He asks.
"As I said, I'm not sure. She has been dating a guy for three or four weeks. At the beginning, she seemed happy. She likes Roger from a year ago. He's is the quarterback in the school football team and all the girls are crazy about him" Grace smiles to notice Danny's jealous face. "Danno!" scolds him. Danny says nothing.
"The point is, shortly after their first date, Lucy began to behave strangely. She looked sad and hardly spoke. It's been a long time since I've seen her behaving like this. So I asked her if something was happening. Want to know what she said?" With the nodding of both men, Grace continues, "She told me, ' It's nothing. It's normal'. And then began to pretend that everything was okay".
Steve is thoughtful and then asks "One moment Gracie, you said It's been a long time since you've seen her behaving like this? Already had behaved in that way before?"
"To be honest, I don't know if I should tell you this. Lucy has always been a little strange girl. She is reserved and shy. Sometimes I think she's afraid of people, because It's very difficult to her making new friends and trusts very few people. Since we were kids, she had periods in which almost didn't speak with anyone, remained alone in the school, and in addition to the Aloha Girls, hardly went out with friends. Then, suddenly, everything changed and began to socialize more. "I guess I got used to her changing personality and thought this is just another of her anti-social periods, but..."
"But...?" Danny asks.
"It's something happened..." Grace still doubts, apparently nervous and feeling that, somehow, she's betraying the trust of Lucy.
Steve, seeing her concern says "Look, Gracie. We cannot help Lucy if we don't know what is happening."
Grace sighs and says "Okay. Two weeks ago, one day she arrived at school and was very quiet. Her hair was different and had some strands covering her face. At first, I thought it was another one of her mood swings, but then, between classes, we met in the bathroom. She was looking herself in the mirror and trying to cover a couple of bruises with make-up".
"Did you ask her what happened?" Danny can barely hide their anger.
"Yes. I told her we are friends and she can tell me whatever it is. But she just said to me 'I already said it's nothing. These are normal things. It happens to everyone'. I tried to tell her that's not true, but she got angry and told me I take care of my own business, picked up her makeup and came out slamming the door." Grace stirred on the couch nervous. Danny takes her hand and trace small circles with his thumb to calm her down.
Someone knocks on the door. Steve gets up and opens, to find the food deliverer. Gives the guy some money, takes the food and goes to the kitchen, Danny and Grace follow him. While eating, Danny tells Grace "And you think the new boyfriend is hurting her, isn't it?"
"Don't know, Danno. I don't know what to think. Last Saturday, Will and I went out with Lucy and Roger, went for some ice cream and hang out. When we arrived, Roger took Lucy's hand and practically pushed her to the corner chair. She said nothing."
"The point, Grace, is all we have are assumptions" Steve adopts a conciliatory tone, but tries to Grace to understand. "We can't do anything, until Lucy says what is really happening".
"That's why I came, Uncle Steve. I think that she would talk with you," Grace says, trying to sound sure.
"With me?" Steve, incredulously asks "why with me?"
"Lucy has always felt some fascination about you, Uncle Steve," Grace says smiling "When we were kids, she said when she grow up, she would marry you".
"Oh!" Steve blushes a little "you were kids then."
"It isn't just that. She always asks me about you. Is a bit annoying, to tell the truth. But I figure she thinks you're a kind of superhero or something. Three years ago she had some pictures of you, which slashed from the newspaper and pasted in all his notebooks."
Steve clears his throat and changes the topic. "How much do you know this guy Roger?"
"Not much. Silly girls follow him everywhere always surround him. He's nice, I think. Smiles to everyone, but with Lucy is someway... possessive. Yesterday I asked her if wanted to go to the shop mall and told me she had to ask for permission to Roger. Go figure!" Grace says with exasperation.
"What do you want us to do, Monkey?" Danny asks.
"Not sure... I was thinking if I can convince her to talk with you, would you do that Uncle Steve?"
Steve says "Of course Gracie, but don't think that's so easy. Why don't you suggest her to talk to the Counselor?"
"I already told her, Uncle Steve, but she's stubborn, she doesn't want to and thinks all of this is normal. But I know her, and I think she would speak with you."
"OK, but we cannot force her. She must decide if she wants to talk about it and with who, OK?" Steve should be clear at this point.
"Okay. Thank you. Tomorrow I'll talk to her," Grace says finally. After talking a little longer, Danny and Grace say goodbye and leave Steve alone again.
Thinks about Lucy, and no knowing why, the ghosts return to his mind, feeling frustrated. Lucy is only sixteen years old and may be in a serious problem, when everything in her life should be love and care.
Sixteen years... Steve cannot avoid thinking about everything that he had to go through at the age of sixteen, her mother had died, or at least he believed so and his father sent him far away from Hawaii and from his sister. His family was broken and never again was the same. Suddenly feels a great empathy for Lucy. No one should face that kind of ghosts at such an early age. Sighing, gets up, turns the alarm on and goes up to his room to try to sleep. If only he could drive away the ghosts, at least that night.
It's six in the morning. After sleeping for three or four hours, Steve decides to get up and begin his exercise routine. Before he puts on his bathing suit, the phone starts ringing on the night table. Takes it and look at the screen. It's Grace.
"Uncle Steve? Sorry for wake you up so early, but Lucy's sister has just called me. She's in the hospital." Grace's voice sounds scared.
"What happened, Gracie?" Steve asks, beginning to worry, wondering if Grace is right and her boyfriend is hurting Lucy.
"I only know she told me yesterday she would go out with Roger. Can you find me there, Uncle Steve? Please". Steve has never been good to resist when Grace asks him something.
"Did you call Danno?" asks.
"Yes. I think his phone is off again, because he doesn't answer."
"Well. I'll tell you something, he must be here soon. He must come to pick me up because we were going to the office. When he arrives we'll go to the hospital and meet you there. Do you know if she's at King´s Medical Center?"
"That's what Maggie told me" Grace is calmer now. Danno and Uncle Steve will fix everything. As always.
"Okay, we'll see you there".
"Thanks Uncle Steve!"
"Anytime!" Steve says simply, and ends the call. Then he takes a three-minute shower. Once he gets dress, he goes to the kitchen, needing some coffee badly. Begins the ritual of grinding the beans and while the water is heating on the stove, takes butter and milk from the fridge and two cups from the shelf. Hears the door close and Danny's voice "I tell you. I need another phone Steve".
"Good morning Danno, take your coffee. We have to go" Steve says, smiling. "We have to go? Come on! A man already cannot take his coffee in peace, these days!" Danny argues, serves himself some coffee and add milk. "Where shall we go?"
"Gracie has been trying to call you again. Lucy is in the hospital".
"What?" Danny leaves his cup on the table and looks at him. "What happened?"
"Gracie still doesn't know it. I told her we'll met her there. Let's go". Thirty minutes later, they arrive at the parking lot of King's Medical Center. Steve turns the Camaro engine off and they both go to the emergency room, Grace and Rachel are sitting there. As Grace sees them gets up and walks towards Danny. "Danno..." says while hugs him. "Do you know something?" Danny asks.
"Still nothing. Maggie told me when she woke up this morning, found Lucy crying sitting in the armchair of the living room. She was beat hard and she couldn't breathe". While speaking, points to three people sitting at the back of the room. "They are Lucy's mom and sisters."
In that moment, a doctor comes into the waiting room, asking for Lucy's family, they get up and go toward him. "What's wrong, doctor?" the mom asks.
Before he answers, the doctor asks them to go with him and the four get into a small room. Five minutes later, they get out and Lucy's Mom goes to the ER with the doctor, while the girls come back to the waiting room. They are embraced and crying, come to the chairs and sit down. Grace, feeling that fear grips her throat, approaches them. "What is happening Maggie?" asks the eldest sister. The girl is about twenty, looks a lot like Lucy, she's blond and blue-eyed. Lifting the face looks at Grace, but says nothing.
"Mag", his sister says, "I think it's time... It's time to say something, a long ago".
"No..." Maggie says, crying louder.
"Brenda" Grace looks at the other girl. She's a little younger, about eighteen, her hair is brown, has her family blue eyes showing her confusion and fear. The girl denies with head and back to hug her sister.
Grace stands powerless and walks toward Rachel who is talking in a low voice with Danny. Steve remains in silence. The girls talk in a barely audible voice.
At that time, Lucy's mom come out from the ER and walks towards her daughters, sitting on the chair next to Maggie but says nothing. Grace looks at Steve, begging him to do something.
Steve makes a sign to Danny, approaches Lucy's mom saying "Mrs. Carson, I'm Steve McGarrett, Five-0 task force, can we talk?" She looks up to see him, doubts for one second and gets up, walking with them to a corner of the waiting room. Once they have sat, Danny tells her "Mrs. Carson, I'm detective Danny Williams, Grace's father", she shakes his hand. "Can you tell us what happened?"
"This morning Maggie found Lucy sitting in the living room, crying a lot and complaining about pain in the chest and stomach, I think she was beaten because she had blood in her nose", she answers.
"Do you know where she was last night and with who?" Steve asks
"She went out with her boyfriend, went to the cinema or something. I heard her coming back at 11:00, but I didn't see her until this morning."
"Do you asked her about what happened?" Steve's voice is soft and low.
"Yes, but she has not said a single word. The doctor says she definitely shows signs of aggression and he should report to the police." Steve gets up, looks at Danny and walks towards the nurses, telling the receptionist he wants to talk with Lucy's doctor, while he shows him his badge. The doctor comes out a few minutes later, approaches Steve and shakes his hand introducing himself "I'm Doctor Foster, how can I help you, officer?"
"I'm Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett, Five-0 Task Force. This is detective Daniel Williams. We want to know what happened with Lucy Carson. His mother said she had been assaulted and you'll inform the police".
"Please, Commander, come with me." Doctor Foster walks into the small room where minutes earlier had spoken with Lucy's family, there is a small table with four chairs, Foster asks them to sit. "Yes, the patient shows bumps and bruises on the face, arms, chest and abdomen. She has two broken ribs and required five points to repair a deep cut over his left eyebrow." Stops, wavering.
"Is there something else?" Steve asks, encouraging him to talk.
"It's just we've noticed pre-existing injuries, consistent with previous incidents and probably sexual abuse." Steve closes his eyes and breathes deeply.
"Did you tell this to her mother?" Danny asks.
"Not yet. As the patient refuses to speak, and we don't know where the abuse comes from, the procedure is to inform the authorities" Foster seems worried. "Her mother came to see her, but the patient neither wanted to talk to her."
"Okay. Can we see her? She knows us, maybe talks to us," Danny says, recalling their conversation last night with Grace.
"It's unusual, but we can try" says doctor Foster "we need her mother's permission", gets up and opens the door to call a nurse. "Claire, can you ask Mrs. Carson to come, please?" He returns and sits. A minute later Lucy's mom gets into the room.
"Mrs. Carson, these gentlemen are police officers," Foster says, "they want to ask for your permission to talk to Lucy". She looks at them frightened. "Mrs. Carson" Steve says, in conciliatory tone, "We need to know what happened to Lucy. We can start an investigation, but it would be easier if she tell us. We want to help her." "Okay" she nods "you can do it".
"We'll be back soon", everyone get out of the room, and Dr. Foster goes to the ER, followed by Steve and Danny. Once there, points to a row of cubicles arranged along the room facing nurses module. Doctors go from one side to another, attending patients. "It's the cubicle number 3," Foster says.
When they arrive outside the door of the cubicle, Foster asks them to wait and open the door. There is a nurse next to Lucy, who is lying on her left side and staring at nothing. The nurse whispers, "Still not said anything" and leaves the cubicle. Doctor Foster comes and tells Lucy. "Hello Lucy, outside there is a couple of gentlemen you know, Commander McGarrett and detective Williams. Do you think they can come for a minute and talk to you?" Lucy nods. Foster makes a nod to Steve and Danny, while he comes out.
"Hello, Lucy" Danny greets with affection "Do you remember me? I'm Danny, Grace's dad." She says nothing. Steve comes close to the bed, leaning and greets "Hello Luce, I'm Steve, do you remember me?" When Lucy hears Steve's voice, moves her head. When she recognizes him sits sharply and embraces him breaking into loud tears. He comforts her saying simply "Shhh. calm down. I'm here."