65 Home 2 02 PM

Alex backed the Explorer into the garage and shut off the engine. He and Lilly got out, opened the doors for Heather and Samantha to get out and then opened the lift gate so they could take everything they had purchased into the house. The girls carried the clothes to the bedroom, laying it all on the bed and then coming back out and sitting on the couch. Heather and Samantha sat next to each other, and Lilly and Alex sat across from the girls.

“When we were out,” Alex said, after taking a deep breath. “Samantha asked me what was going to happen too you two.” Alex looked at Lilly. “Right now, we can’t do anything, but once the investigation is over and Brynn and Maxwell are behind bars, assuming no relatives that are close and can or will take you two in, Lilly and I would like to adopt you.”

“Well,” Samantha said, “All four of our grandparents passed away five years ago or there abouts, there are no aunts or uncles that I know of,” She looked at Heather and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. “It’s just us...” Samantha reached up to wipe a tear from her eye. She was trying to hold it together for Heather’s sake. Heather had been randomly crying on and off ever since the whole ordeal had started.

“Ok,” Lilly said. “How would you two feel about us adopting you once this is all over.” The girls had a right to have a say in the matter. It was their lives, after all.

“I would be ok with that.” Samantha said. Of course, ideally, she’d prefer to have her birth parents back, but Alex and Lilly would substuite fairly well.

“I’d be ok with it too,” Heather’s quiet voice said.

Alex smiled at the girls. “I know we’re not going to replace your parents,” He said. “But I knew your dad, everyone that works in the public safety division is family. I’m going to carry on not in his place, but as a surrogate... I want to see both of you succeed,” he said, “Together we will get through this.” He stood from the couch and opened his arms. Heather and Samantha both hopped up and walked over to him, hugging him. He gave them a firm hug back. “Now I’m going to go bring these two down and protect the rest of the city, and get justice for your parents.” Alex’s phone rang and he pulled it out. Delaney was calling him.

“Thompson,” Alex said.

“Hey,” Delaney said. “I just did a drive by on the address on the card...”

“And?” Alex said.

“It’s defiantly a hair salon...” Delaney said. “I’ve watched several women go in and then come out a while later, looking different.”

“Ok...” Alex said. “Interesting... We’re gonna have to do some more digging...”

“Agreed,” Delaney said. “I’ll let you get back to what ever it was that you were doing... Have a good day, Sarge.”

“Sorry about that...” Alex said putting the phone back in his pocket. “We need to talk about school...”

“What about it?” Samantha said.

“Well, I think we live in a different district.” Alex said, looking at Samantha. “What school did you go to?”

“Rosemont High,” She said. “Heather went to Rosemont Middle.”

“We’re on the city school district here; barely, but we are...” Alex said.

“I don’t know if I can do a new school right now...” Heather said, her eyes watering. A few stray tears escaped.

“You can,” Alex said, giving the girl a hug and a kiss on top of the head. “You’re strong... You both are... You’re gonna go and do great things and make your parents legacy proud.”