Chapter Two
"Steve, I feel so helpless," Jaime sighed as she snuggled next to him in front of a roaring fire, later that night. He was there because he'd somehow known instinctively that Jaime needed him. Fresh from a two-week assignment in Thailand, he'd had no idea anything had happened to Cassie; he'd simply sensed Jaime's desperate need for the comfort of his arms and he'd driven to her house straight from the airstrip. Jaime quickly filled him in on the few details she had, fervently hoping a fresh viewpoint might help solve the mystery. "The doctors won't tell me anything, 'cause I'm not family."
"But she doesn't have any blood relatives..." Steve noted.
"She doesn't have anyone. Her caseworker hasn't even called the hospital." Jaime blinked back tears. "She's all alone, and she's falling through the cracks!"
Steve pulled Jaime closer and gently kissed her forehead. "No way. We won't let that happen."
"Thank you."
"Jaime...do you think she was attacked again – raped?" Steve asked. Even the thought was too much to bear.
"I guess anything's possible, but I don't think so. Her eyes weren't sad or helpless-looking; she was scared out of her mind! Steve, I think she was professionally worked over."
"The trial's long over, and that scumbag of a so-called Police Chief is in prison. It must have something to do with her foster family disappearing. Did they take off voluntarily, or...?"
"That's what I've been wondering," Jaime told him.
"Maybe one of them hurt her."
"I don't think so – not like that. And I don't think they'd just up and leave, either, knowing Cassie was in such bad shape. Something is really wrong, and Cassie's caught up in the middle of it."
"We need to find that family."
"Exactly," Jaime agreed.
Steve nodded. "And we both know someone in a great position to help us with that."
- - - - - -
"Absolutely not," Oscar told them, first thing the next morning. "I'm really sorry, I wish I could help, but the State of California has jurisdiction here; they're already looking for the family, and there's no cause for the OSI to barge into their case."
Jaime was ready to spit bullets. "No cause? An entire family – father, mother and three kids – vanishes overnight, their foster child is nearly killed, and that's not a good enough reason for you?"
Steve tried to reach for her arm, to calm her down, but she'd have none of it. Oscar sighed sadly. "For me personally, of course it's a good reason, but to officially mobilize the OSI's resources..."
"Then how about unofficially?" Jaime pleaded, "the same way you got me a pass into that Psych Ward? Operatives on their own time, working on their own volition, just happen to stumble across files that were 'unofficially' loosened from someone's locked file drawer?"
"Jaime -" both men said, almost at once.
"I'm gonna help Cassie if I have to do it all by myself, but it'd be a hell of a lot easier – and probably safer – if I had a little help."
Steve reached over and grabbed Jaime gently but firmly by both arms, turning her around to face him. "Sweetheart, you know I'll do anything I can to help you, and Oscar's not closing the door completely. He'll do what he can; he's trying to keep you safe and out of any trouble, legally."
"I'm gonna go and see Cassie now," Jaime told them. She strode from the room in a rush, leaving two very bewildered but determined-to-help men standing in her wake.
- - - - - -
"Good morning!" Jaime said in a soft, cheerful voice as she seated herself next to Cassie, who was once again (still?) sitting at the window. Her eyes were clear this time – no tears – and while she still said nothing, she did turn her head to look at her visitor before turning back toward the window. "I brought you something," Jaime continued. She held out a photograph, but Cassie was motionless. Jaime placed the picture in her hand, and smiled as Cassie's fingers closed around the edges and she lowered her eyes to gaze at the picture. Baby steps are still progress, Jaime told herself, glowing inside.
The photo was of the horse that Cassie had ridden so many times on her Saturdays at Steve's ranch. "Pumpkin misses you," Jaime told her. "I had to promise her I'd bring you for a visit, just as soon as you're outta here."
Cassie's eyes retained their frightened, haunted look, but with one finger she traced the outline of the horse as though stroking it, and the corners of her mouth twitched into an almost-smile.
"Would you like that?" Jaime persisted. "...Cassie?"
Jaime felt her own heart pounding while she watched the young girl struggle with her inner demons; the effort she was making was visible as her gaze began to focus on the present and her lips quivered slightly. Finally, Cassie nodded. "Yes," she said, in a barely audible whisper. Jaime longed to hug her, to thank her for trying so hard, but the girl was so bruised and battered that she took her hand instead, grinning broadly.
"Wonderful," Jaime affirmed. "I'm so glad." Cassie's lips twitched once more, into an actual smile, but as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone. It was enough; Jaime had seen it. "Thank you, Honey," she said softly. "And welcome back."
- - - - - -