Stef POV
"Discharged?" I leaned on the counter, closer to the nurse "When?" I questioned
"This morning," Nurse replied calmly. I glanced to Diaz, who was standing right next to me.
We had come here to ask her few question, to be more specific, to identify one of the suspects. From Callie's statement, we had managed to identify both of the siblings. There was a match in the foster system. Also, Harry had been arrested one time for stealing food from shop, back when he was still in foster care. Two of our colleges, arrested him after they saw him walking out of a pawnshop. Diaz and I wanted to see if Callie can pick him from a pile of photos and identify him as one of the attackers.
"When in the morning?" I questioned
"Around 10," Nurse answered. I looked at the clock. It was no 2:49PM.
"My son!" A man ran up to the nurses station "My son was in a car crash...where is he?" He asked frantic
"If you don't have any more questions, officers, I have work I have to do and patients I have to attend to," she said quickly looking at us
"No more questions, thank you!" Diaz said for both of us as we stepped away from the front desk allowing the nurse to help the man out
"That kid," I mumbled under my nose as Diaz and I walked out of the hospital. As we were walking toward our car, I sent a quick text to Lena to let her know that Callie is no longer here, so she doesn't make the unnecessary trip over her.
"Technically, she's not a kid," Diaz replied, when we were walking towards our car "And she didn't have to inform us, that she was discharged," he pointed out
"I know that!" I retorted, when we were up to our car "But we could have drove her home. Knowing her, she probably walked!"
"Maybe she called a cab," he said unlocking the car door. I gave Diaz a look over the roof of the car and then opened the doors and sat in the car.
"You're probably right," I heard him sigh, before he sat behind the wheel "Apartment?"
"Apartment," I replied repeating his words as I was pulling my seat belt over.
~o~o~o~
"She's not home," I said in defeat after we had been knocking on her doors for a while now. There was no noise coming from it. No sign that she was home.
I turned to Diaz "She could have gone to buy food. We could drive by the shops and the mall Jude said they usually went to," I suggested
"Or maybe she never actually came home to begin with," Diaz wondered out loud the same time I heard someone walking up the stairs "Callie could have gone to a friends place or her job. If she walked, it might be she's still walking home some other route or stopped at a park to catch her breath..."
"What do you want from Callie?" We heard an older woman's voice coming from the staircase. Once turned, I saw a older woman. Looked to be around early 70ies. Wrinkled faced. Grey, short hair. She was wearing skirt that almost reached the ground and a very simple buttoned up blouse. In her right she was holding a leash. The woman had a Jack Russell Terrier dog with her, that looked to be in its late years as well.
Diaz and I shared a quick look "Uh...we need to talk to her, ma'am," Diaz spoke up first taking few steps closer to the elder woman. The dog sat down on the floor right next to her owner, while the woman put her hand on the banister to steady herself.
"She's a sweet girl. Callie would never do whatever you people think she-"
"Ma'am," I interjected before she could start to defend Callie "She's not in any trouble. We're the police officers investigating her attack. My partner and I went to the hospital, but we learned that she was discharged earlier today. We just needed to talk to her, that's all,"
The woman observed us for a while "You aren't here to...arrest her?"
"No, ma'am," I answered "I promise, Callie is not in any trouble,"
"Was she here in the last few hours?" Diaz asked the older woman
The woman nodded her head couple of times "She was here, alright,"
"When was that? 10 minutes, hour ago?" I asked wanting to know how much of a head start she had on us. I just hated the fact that she was walking around the city in the state she was in. Callie needs to rest.
"I was leaving to go out for a walk with Harrison-" briefly she looked down to her dog "-when I saw her walk up the stairs. Poor girl looked bad. Exhausted. She had a big bag over her shoulder. Looked like she could barely carry it," The woman spoke slowly as she was reminiscing about the event few hours ago
"What time did you leave for the walk?" I asked, because from her response we didn't actually get a time
"It was little over hour ago," the woman elaborated "We meet up with my friend Carol and her dog Susie at the park. Susie is also a Jack Russel Terrier," she continued on with her story, but sadly, I didn't have time to listen to the elder woman stories
"Did you saw her leave?" I asked before she could continue on
"Oh, yes. Yes. I had just crossed the street, when I saw Callie walk out of the apartment building. She usually has a brisk step, but today...today she was slow and looked like she was limping,"
"Do you know where she went?" Diaz questioned further
"No," the woman replied shaking her head "I only know she went up the 30th street, heading towards University Ave," I instantly made the connection that the Vons mall was that direction
"One last question," I smiled at the woman "Do you know where is the nearest Bank of the America?"
Callie probably had some cash put away in the apartment for rainy days, like today, but I do believe that getting a new card was on Callie's to do lists. It takes few days to get one made, she probably wanted to get it done as soon as possible. Another possible point on her to do list might be her work. She will probably want to go talk to her boss about it. I was really hoping she wasn't going to do it today. That's a long way to go, which I think she's not ready to take.
"Oh...let me think," The woman thought for a brief moment "I think there is one 31st and University Ave corner,"
"Thank you ma'am," We both said at the same time "Have a nice day!" I said before we left
Callie POV
I got very lucky, because there was almost no queue in the bank. After only sitting there for 10 minutes I was called in. After answering countless questions, I got the approval of my new credit card. It will be done in 2 weeks.
Next stop after visiting the bank, was the Vons mall. Most of the products in the fridge were spoiled, but the cabinets were almost empty. It was no surprise. I was in hospital for almost two weeks. Jude wasn't living there, so I wasn't expecting for him to stack up all of the cabinets and fridge. He didn't even know I was being discharged today. It wasn't like I gave him a heads up.
By the time I got to the mall, I was completely exhausted. All I wanted to do was lie down and sleep. I took the wheel cart, because I knew damn well, that I won't be able to carry a cart in my hand. To rest up, I leaned down on the cart handle. It helped. Only a little bit. Slowly going through the isles I filled up the cart with the most necessary stuff only. But still, it was too much. I realized it was too much, when I took the shopping bag in my left.
"Crap," I mumbled and set the bag down on the ground, the minute I was two steps out of the mall. The bag was heavy. Too heavy. The plastic bag was wringing into my left palm, but the weight of the bag was hurting my ribs.
Looking down at the bag, I sighed deeply. I had no idea how I was going to carry this back to the apartment. I might have overrated my power. But I needed to get home, so I sucked it up, picked up the shopping bag and resumed to walk home.
Every minute, I would stop, set the bag down and rest. It was simply too hard, too painful. My ribs clearly didn't like the heavy lifting. I should have listened to the doctor. I wasn't sure, but maybe the constant bending down and lifting the bag up was worse than actually carrying the bag.
The route from mall to home would usually take me about 25 minutes. All I know is that I have been walking way longer than 25 minutes and I hadn't even reached Landis street, which was the halfway. It was a hot day as well. The Sun was shining bright. I felt sweat slowly drip down my back. There was barley any shade on the street. My mouth was dry, I wanted water.
I saw a bench in front of me and I went for it. It was so good sitting down. My breath was heavy, like I had run for the last 20 minutes, even thought I have never walked any slower. As I was looking down the road I still had to take, I heard a car pulling over. I didn't pay any attention to it, didn't even look at it, thinking it was someone dropping a friend out. Cars were going up and down the road constantly.
"Hey!" I heard a someone say the same time the car doors opened
Turning to look at the voice, I was surprised to see Jude's foster mom, getting out of the police cruiser. Her partner, Officer Diaz, was behind the wheel, looking at me from within the car.
"We have been looking for you," she said walking closer to me
"Yeah?" I asked indifferently looking at her
"Yeah," she smiled and leaned down to pick up my shopping bag that stood by my feet
"Hey, no! That's-" I tried to protest, trying to stop her from taking the bag from me
"Come on. We will give you a ride home," As much as I didn't want to owe Jude's foster parent anything more, I was thankful that she found me and offered to drive me home. I needed it.
"Thanks," I said as I struggled to stand up. Stef offered me her hand, to help get up and I gladly took it.
"Hop in the back," she said quickly letting go of my hand and opening the doors for me. Never have I thought that I would be riding in the back of the police car and not be arrested. This was something new for sure.
~o~o~o~
"Go sit down," Stef told me once we were all in my apartment. I obliged, because this was everything that I have wanted for the last 2 hours, I believe.
Officer Diaz was carrying the shopping bag now. He set it down on the kitchen table and started to pack everything out. he started with the stuff that needed to be in the fridge. After that Officer Diaz would open each and every cabinet multiple times as he was looking for the right place were the other groceries went.
Stef went to the kitchen area and found a glass. She opened the fridge and looked around. A while later I saw her take out the water jar that had a filter in to purify the water from the sink, so that it's drinkable. Stef poured a glass and carried it over to me.
I was so thankful for the glass of water. The walk got me thirsty. I drank it dry. Stef asked for the glass back. She carried it back to kitchen and set it on the counter next to sink. After that she came back over to me.
"You said you were looking for me," I looked to Stef once she was up to the couch
"Yes, we needed to talk to you," Stef said as she took a seat on the side of the coffee table "We need you to look at few pictures. Can you do that?"
"Sure," I answered "But why?" I asked while Stef took out her phone
She clicked on the phone couple of times "I'm going to show you few pictures and you have to tell us if you recognize anyone, okay?" Stef then turned the phone towards me. Diaz stopped with the groceries and came up to us.
"Do you recognize any one of these guys?" She asked and swiped her finger over the screen to change the picture
"No," I said. Stef swiped right again, showing me the next picture. I shook my head again, so she swiped her finger across the screen one more time.
"Wait!" I exclaimed, when lowered her finger down to the screen "I know him,"
"From where?" Diaz asked still standing up and looking down to me and his partner
"That's one of the guys that mugged me," I explained looking between both of the police officers "The..the brother! He ripped my necklace off my neck!"
"Are you sure?" Stef asked me looking straight to me
"Yes. That's him. That's the guy!" I pointed to the screen "Did you catch them?"
"For now, only him," Stef replied turning her phone off
"Detectives are interrogating him as we speak," Diaz added "We are hopeful that he will tell the location that might help us find the other two attackers,"
"And you were right about him and his sister. They were siblings and both of them were in foster care. The last record of them in the system was two years ago," Stef told me as she put her phone back in the case on her belt
"Where are they staying?" I asked curious as to what were the foster kids living situation
"We don't know where any of them are staying, because there is no record of it anywhere. His sister is not attending school and there is no record of Harry working legally at any firm. They don't have credit cards, so we can't track that," Stef explained
"So, they were...are off grid?"
"You could say that," she replied, while Officer Diaz walked back to the kitchen area to finish packing everything out
"That's…rough," I sighed thinking that might have been me and Jude if things hadn't turned out so good for us. If I hadn't met Rita in the group home, she wouldn't have helped me get into the Independent living program. I got a job and an apartment, because of it. Somehow I sorted my life out. It's weird, but I understand why they did it. A tiny part of me, felt for them. That's how they were surviving. It's a tough life they had. They turned to crime, but that's how they get money for food, for clothes. I was still bloody pissed at them for beating me the way they did and for stealing everything I owed, but...as a foster kid, I understand their struggles. That could have been me, if I had met up with the wrong crowd. Suddenly I felt very grateful for what I had. And proud for what I have build and made of myself.
I felt fingers gently touch my knee. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at Jude's foster mom. She was looking at me like a mother would look at her child. Her eyes seemed so warm. It felt like she was looking into my soul, not just into my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell us you were being discharged? Either Lena or I could have given you a ride home. You didn't have to walk, sweetheart," Her voice was soft, like a dove
Sweetheart – I repeated the word in my head over and over again. It was the only word that stuck with me from Stef's speech.
No one had called me that in ages.
I averted my look down "Um...I don't..." I shrugged my shoulders not knowing what to say. I was simply too exhausted to come up with an answer.
"It's okay, sweetheart!" Stef rubbed her hand over my knee, like understanding that she won't get an answer out of me and soothed me "Did the doctors prescribe you any medicine?"
I nodded my head as I looked back at her
"Where is it?" She asked me
"I haven't...bought it yet," I replied weakly
"The prescriptions?"
"In the bag," I pointed towards the bag that stood by the end of the couch
"You look really tiered," Stef said observing me "Why don't you lay down and close your eyes for a while," She stood up and reached for the blanket that stood on the end of the couch, behind the pillows. Jude and I use that blanket to cover ourselves when we watch TV, to keep cozy and warm.
"I still need to go and talk to-" I started, but was interrupted by Stef
"You have done enough walking today," she told me now holding the blanket in her hands "You need to rest. Now, come on, lay down,"
I was too exhausted to argue back, so I did what she told. I kicked off my shoes. Wincing in pain I raised my legs up on the couch and put my head on the pillow.
Stef draped the blanket over my "Rest," she smiled at me as she pulled the blanket up to my shoulders a bit more. I closed my eyes and that was all that it took for me to fall asleep.
~o~o~o~
I woke up at the smell of food in the air. The scent was not anything that I usually made. But it smelled good. It was definitely something I would want to eat. My eyes were still closed as I was still in the process of waking up
"You need to carry the 2 over," It sounded like Jude's foster mom Lena, but that couldn't be. There was a sound like the stove was on, like something was in process of making, cooking or whatever.
"Is this right?" I herd Jude ask few seconds later
"Yes, that's it! You got it!" Lena praised him.
Was I dreaming? Why was Lena here? Why was she teaching Jude math? What smelled so good?
I heard the sound of doors being opened. The sound came from the direction my feet were facing, so it was bathroom doors.
"Should I start set the table?" that was Stef's voice
"Um..." It sounded like Lena turned something around on a pan "Yeah. It's almost done,"
I heard plates ding together "Did you finish the homework?" Stef asked Jude, when it sounded like Stef was putting a plate on the table
"One more exercise," Jude replied as I heard him scribble something down with his pen
"If you need any help-" Lena started, but Jude interrupted her
"I think I got it. It's the same as the last one," Jude answered
"Okay. Take your time. Don't rush through it," Lena reminded him
"Mm-hmm," Jude hummed back
I finally opened my eyes and turned my head so I could look at the kitchen. It wasn't a dream. They were all there. Jude was sitting at the kitchen table, in his usual spot. He had his math book and notepad in front of him. Stef was now setting glasses on the table. Lena was by the stove, checking something on the pan.
They were all there.
Why where they all here?
And what time is it?
"Should I go wake Callie up?" Stef asked Lena as she was looking over her wife's shoulder. She was no longer in full uniform. Only the black uniform pants were left on her. On top Stef was wearing a black, tight fitting shirt. There was no sign of her gun or shield anywhere.
"Yes, you should," Lena replied
"I'm up!" Everyone looked at me, when I announced myself. I tossed the blanket off of me. With my left I gripped the backrest of the couch, to help myself up.
"Hey, Callie!" Jude grinned at me "How did you sleep?"
"Good," I got out once I was finally sitting up. The rest did help. I felt much better than I did before. No longer exhausted, but still a bit tiered.
"Hi!" Lena smiled at me as well "I hope you don't mind. I made dinner for everyone," she lifted up the pan and walked towards the table. With the spatula she put something on each plate.
"It smells good...so no," I replied, when Stef came up to me and helped me up from the couch. Once I was up, Stef let go of my hand and stepped aside, letting me walk on my own to the kitchen table. I pulled the chair next to Jude and sat down.
There was piece of salmon on each of the plates. It looked good and smelled even better. Stef was now pouring water into the glasses. By the looks, Jude was almost done with the math problem. He did the last division and tapping the pen to his notebook, asked Lena "Is this correct?" he moved the notepad towards Lena, so she could see better
Lena put the pan down and looked at his notes. She read them quickly "Yes, that's is correct! Good job, you did it all by yourself" Lena praised him again before she turned back to the stove and took the other pan in her hand. While Lena was walking around the table and putting asparagus on the plates, Jude went to put his homework away. To my surprise, Lena wasn't done with the asparagus. There were potato as well.
I don't remember buying salmon, asparagus or potatoes.
"No offense," I asked, when Lena and Stef both were pulling their chairs to sit down "But what the hell are you doing here?"
"Jude wanted to see you," Lena said as she sat down
"That doesn't explain the dinner," I looked down to the plate in front of me
"You were sleeping, when we got here," Lena explained "Jude said it was okay that we stayed here and waited till you woke up. While we waited, we got hungry. So I decided to drive to mall and buy some ingredients, because I didn't want to use the stuff you bought yourself today and carried..." Lena sighed "by yourself,"
"We also bought the medication your doctors prescribed you," Stef turned in her seat and pointed to the counter behind her. There were at least three bottles there.
"You have to take two of those, with food," Stef nudged the plate a bit closer to me "So eat up, please!" she then took her fork and dug into her own food. Lena started with taking a sip of the water.
I glanced to Jude, who was already stuffing his face with the food. As he was chewing the asparagus, he manged to give me a little smile, like saying - just go with it!
I picked up the fork and looked at the food in front of me. Before I started, I glanced to Lena "Thank you for making dinner. I wouldn't have the energy to make anything myself tonight," It was hard to admit it, but I did it. For once I put my pride away. I was thankful for the dinner. I was thankful that I didn't have to walk to the pharmacy to get the meds. I was thankful that Lena helped Jude with the homework.
"You're welcome, sweetie!" Lena smiled at me
Sweetie - I thought to myself as a small, barely visible smile spread across my lips - No one had called me that in ages as well. It's nice...