Emily pulled into the driveway later that day and glanced in the backseat at her youngest three children sleeping. She got out the car and grabbed both of the girls while Egypt grabbed Wolf and they all made their way to the front door. Emily made sure that the trio was put in their beds and she told Egypt to go and get ready for bed. She got each individual child's backpacks and lunches together for school the next day before she sat down and poured herself a glass of wine. 9 files and two glasses later, Emily was caught up on her paperwork for the rest of the week. Emily looked at the clock only to realize that it was still relatively early, so she turned on the TV and started to binge watch Elementary. A soft knock on the front door diverted Emily's gaze from the TV momentarily. She frowned in confusion but got up nonetheless and made her way over to the door. Emily opened the door and got the shock of her life when she saw a frazzled, red-eye Declan on the other side. "Mom I want to come home.", Declan got out just before he burst into tears. Emily held him tight to her chest while he cried his eyes out.
When Declan finally composed himself, Emily sat him down on the couch and cut right to the chase. "Declan what were you thinking when you got involved with these people? Why didn't you just come to me? Declan answer me." The dam broke once again and Declan started to choke on his words in between sobs, "I couldn't come to you. You left because I started acting out. You weren't coming back because of me so I…I..I just went to people that would never leave. Mom I am so sorry and I'll do anything to come back home, anything." Emily wiped the wet tear tracks from her face before saying, "I didn't leave because of you; it was because I couldn't handle the job anymore. But let's start with you telling me everything you know. Do not leave anything out Declan because there are a lot of unanswered questions. When did you get involved?" Declan played with his fingers and started to furiously bite his lip. Emily took a deep breath and closed her eyes to keep the tears at bay, "How long have you been using Declan? What are you on?" Declan looked at Emily wide-eyed, "How did you know?", he stuttered out. Emily just looked at him and Declan hung his head before muttering, "Cocaine." Emily couldn't control the few tears that fell, "Declan you are almost 17 years old. Baby why are you hooked on drugs?" Declan started to cry again, "It's how they pay me. Either coke or pills but never money. I met this girl named Ariel and she was mixed in with this guy that everybody calls X-Out. She was the one that got me mixed up with the pills but I never said no to anything." Emily looked at the ashamed and beaten down expression on Declan's face. "Declan where you raped?"
"I don't know", was all Emily heard Declan whisper out. "I remember the first night with Ariel and going to a pharm party." "Pharm party?" "Yeah kids get all their parents' prescription meds, dump them in a bowl, and take a handful. I know it was stupid and dangerous but I didn't care. I remember waking up the next morning and it was hard to walk and I had bruises all over my body. I finally found Ariel and asked her what happened and she said that I had fallen down a flight of stairs and slept it off. I never thought anything else about it. A few weeks passed and Ariel said that X-Out wanted to see me in person. I get to these ratty old apartments and she tells me that he's on the roof. I go to the roof and he's got a guy hanging off the side of it. He turns, looks at me, and then let's go of the guy's leg. He falls to his death. I mean I could hear this guy screaming until his body hit the pavement and X-Out was just smiling. He tells me that if Ariel is bringing me in then she's probably got something on me. He tells me that I worked for him and anything he says go. Mom I swear he didn't start going after cops until he got to Hawaii, and even then, they weren't active. He went after dirty, retired cops for a while. When X-Out said that he was waging war on Interpol, I told him that I wanted out. He laughed and said that I should at least act like I had a fraction of the balls that my father did."
"Declan would you be willing to turn state's evidence against X-Out and testify against everything that he's involved you in?" Declan shot up out his seat and started to rapidly pace the length of the room, "And go where Mom? X-Out will kill me and it'll be for nothing. You have your perfect family and there is no room for me. Why would I testify when it could definitely get me killed?" It was Emily's turn to jump up and raise her voice, "Declan do you really think that he'll keep you around anymore anyways? You are starting to disobey direct orders; therefore, he sees you as a liability. I will always have room for you but only if you want to be here." "You really want some druggie around your kids?" "I can put you in rehab." "Then what happens? I turn 18 and I'm thrown right back out into the world with a target on my back!"
"Declan just trust me. I will get you out but you have got to trust me and do everything that I say. You will get away from this life, you will kick the drug habit, and YOU WILL testify and lock these people up."
Emily wrapped her arms around Declan and was relieved when she felt him hug her back just as tight. Tonight, you'll stay in my guest room and we'll figure everything out from there. Okay?" Declan nodded in agreeance. Emily showed him to the room and he assured her that he was okay. Emily grabbed her phone to send a text.
45 minutes later
Emily opened the front door, "Sorry I tried to get here faster but traffic you know." Emily's lip quivered. "Steve I really need for you to come home for good."
