As they walked back to the lab, Catherine wondered continuously about what Dakota could possibly mean by people's souls getting out when they died. People's souls getting out? Catherine didn't even know what it could possibly start to mean. Dakota skipped alongside her, happy and nonetheless resilient to the fact that she knew something serious had happened. They entered the lab, and Catherine returned Dakota to the interrogation room.
"Catherine?"
Catherine turned, to see Sara at the door. Dakota sat down.
"Could I talk with you? Outside?" She asked. Catherine left the room, being observed by the child who proudly seemed to have easily gotten everyone to work around her critical knowledge. Sara appeared to be figuring out the opportune way to say whatever it was she wanted to say. "Um…" she grinned, "blood from the same male donor was found in Ruth's car," she said. "Brass got a warrant to search Ruth Lerman's home with the blood evidence… and, well… another child definitely lives there." Sara reported. "The thing is, that they live almost 10 kilometers from where Dakota was found, and to me… it's illogical." Sara was confused. "Also, we found a birth certificate along with Dakota's for a Derek Lerman, who should be about ten years old, and I think he's the brother."
"A brother Dakota denies having." Catherine said.
"Well." Said Sara thoughtfully, "It's one thing to pretend you don't have a brother. But to deny your own son's existence is beyond me." She added. Dakota was still watching them talk. She slid out of her chair and headed outside, fixing her eyes on Sara. She walked up behind Catherine.
"Unless she's trying to hide something. I think," Catherine said, "since there was a hospital across the street from the field, there was an accident of some description. Ruth gets the kids in the car, she drives to the hospital, they get there and the worst happens. She loses track of her daughter, and Dakota, having witnessed it all, runs away…" she pondered, unaware of the third party. "Sara… thoughts?" Catherine inquired.
"That's how it was." Dakota said, alarming Catherine, who turned around, mortified at having said anything. The little girl came between Sara and Catherine. "That's how it was." She was looking at Catherine with a perplexing expression that could be read as defiance or a lie. The three stood there for a moment in silence, until Dakota slid over to Sara, and grabbed her hand.
"Like what happened to you," Dakota whispered to her new friend. "Except… well, except it's just different. But close to the same." She added, grinning madly.