Chapter 4
Come Out, Come Out…
“Dedra,” another familiar professional walks inside.
“Oh, hi Doctor,” Dedra replies turning back to the conversation. “Kayleen? This is Dr. Johnson. He’s a child psychologist who works with us.”
“Hi.”
“Hello Kayleen!” Dr. Johnson bends down. “Cool teddy bear! I wanted to make sure you’re okay. Can we talk about a few things?”
“Okay.”
“Alright. So Kayleen how did…”
Dr. Johnson pauses to notice Dedra’s eyes tearing up. And before others notice, Dedra walks quietly outside pass everyone returning inside, toward her car.
“One quick second Kayleen. I’ll be right back, I promise okay?”
“Okay,” Kayleen replies as she watches Dr. Johnson follow Dedra.
“Dedra,” Dr. Johnson calls, “we’ve gotta get you off this case. It’s too close to your past with Wendal. And you and I both know it’s way too close to your own s...”
“Doctor I’m fine,” Dedra manages to say without her eyes. “But this little girl’s living out all the elements of narcissistic abuse: food deprivation, emotional gaslighting, and a dismissive co-dependent mother!”
“I know. It’s just that this is too familiar for you to…”
Dedra gestures Dr. Johnson closer to her police car as policemen walk by.
“This is a private conversation,” Dedra says to concerned cops nearby. “Corey, can you take everyone inside. I just got some new information I’ll share in a minute.”
Corey ushers them all inside.
“Dedra,” Dr. Johnson offers. “I know you’re an adult and a professional on the job, but I still see you as my patient. If you’ll permit me to speak to you as your doctor now, go home! Don’t create these extra flashbacks. Corey can handle this case. And I’ll explain your dilemma to our Captain.”
“Okay but let me call him,” Dedra pulls out her cell phone and begins dialing. “I’ll be back.”
Dedra walks further away as Dr. Johnson returns inside for Kayleen. And a few moments pass as Dedra returns.
“Okay,” Dedra re-enters inside the home. “Dr. Johnson, the thing we talked about, I changed my mind. It will be okay. Listen everyone, Captain just called and a witness thinks they saw Kayleen’s twin sister, Shyrel. She’s in a car that’s been going in circles about an hour away from here. But first, I need to send the witness a picture of Kayleen to make sure. W…where is her twin sister? Where’s Kayleen?”
“She just ran suddenly in her room,” Corey replies. “I think the telephone ring scared her.”
“Wait… the home telephone rung in here? Who was it?”
“Beats me. It only rung once! I picked it up in time, but whoever it was just hung up.”
“Oh my… that was secret phone call! Kayleen told me earlier that’s the secret code between them when Michael is on the other side their home fence. Hurry inside her room!”
As the cops run toward Kayleen’s room, the stepmom mysteriously rushes to physically block their entrance.
“No,” the Mom insists, “I will check.”
“Move out the way Miss.” Corey says.
“Kayleen?” Dedra calls.
“You can’t go in! I have rights and you need a warrant.”
“Not if her safety is in jeopardy,” Dedra replies while turning to a policeman. “Kick down the door.”
“Wait…”
[BOOM]
The policemen rush inside a seemingly lonely room.
“Kayleen?” Dedra calls out. “Kayleen?”
As the cops approach a locked closet, Dedra continues to call for Kayleen, mysteriously without the echo of the mother. In fact, Corey watches stepmom run out of the house. He only understands why after the cops break the lock on Kayleen’s closet.
“She’s not in here.”
“No but cocaine sure is… pounds of it!”
“You guys, follow Mommy Dearest,” Corey instructs.
“Kayleen?” Dedra continues toward the closed window. She opens it and climbs out toward the fence. “Janine?”
Dr. Johnson recognizes that new name and quickly runs after Dedra.
“Janine.” Dedra mysteriously calls out to no one as she walks aimlessly toward the fence. “I’m sorry.”
“Dedra,” Dr. Johnson approaches, “Corey’s on it. Listen to me. You’re too close to this case. Go home. I’ll call our Captain. Blame me. But just go home now.”
As the confused policemen rotate their stares between Dedra and the closet size of cocaine, Dedra head nods to Dr. Johnson and leaves to her car as the extra search begins.
“What’s going on here?” a voice enters the house. “Hey,” it continues as the cops tackle it. “Do you little cops know who I am?”
“Yeah,” Corey says. “You’re Wendal. And you’re also under arrest for that powdered candy store in your stepdaughters’ room.”
Other officers return with the apprehended mother, also under arrest.