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\n\n\n\nFor illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n
\u201cBen, who\u2019s baby is that?\u201d Colleen asked.
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\u201cShe\u2019s my sister,\u201d Ben said, looking nervous.\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour sister?\u201d Colleen echoed, confused.
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\u201cNot really. She\u2019s the new foster at my old home. I couldn\u2019t leave her,\u201d Ben explained.\n\n\n\n
Colleen\u2019s suggestion was to call Mrs. Campbell, the foster coordinator, but Ben protested. \u201cNo! She can\u2019t take her back. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin, my foster parents, they\u2019re not good people!\u201d\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Colleen asked, taking the baby from him.
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\u201cThey\u2019re evil. She\u2019ll be in danger,\u201d Ben insisted fearfully.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n Colleen and Ray exchanged worried glances. Ben revealed Mr. Franklin had hurt him.\n\n\n\n Ray comforted Ben. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be afraid. We\u2019ll help you.\u201d\n\n\n\n Eventually, Ben fell asleep in Ray\u2019s arms, the baby safe in Colleen\u2019s.\n\n\n\n Ray wrapped Ben in his blanket, and he and Colleen stepped out with the baby.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are we going to do?\u201d Colleen whispered. \u201cWe can\u2019t keep the baby. We\u2019ll get arrested.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ray replied. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think Ben\u2019s lying.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n \u201cWHERE IS SHE?!\u201d Ben yelled, waking unexpectedly.\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s here, Ben,\u201d Colleen reassured him as he ran to her.\n\n\n\n \u201cBen, we need something concrete. What did the Franklins do?\u201d Ray asked.\n\n\n\n \u201cThey hit me with a belt\u2026 and videoed it,\u201d Ben choked out.\n\n\n\n Colleen\u2019s eyes widened in horror. Ray asked if Ben had told Mrs. Campbell.\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, but she must know. She keeps putting children with them,\u201d Ben said.\n\n\n\n Ray pondered, then decided, \u201cOkay\u2026 okay\u2026 we\u2019re not putting her back.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n Colleen agreed. \u201cBut we can\u2019t keep her secretly, Ben. I know someone else in Mrs. Campbell\u2019s department. We can do something about this,\u201d Colleen said, taking Ben back to bed. Later, Ray called Alana, a DCFS worker. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for calling late, Alana. We have a situation\u2026\u201d\n\n\n\n ***\n\n\n\n At their home, Alana listened to Ben\u2019s story. \u201cDo you think Ben is lying?\u201d Ray asked.\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Alana replied. \u201cKids in bad situations hide the truth. He told you means he trusts you.\u201d\n\n\n\n Alana admitted she suspected something was off with the Franklins. \u201cChildren get moved around from their house frequently.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat should we do about the baby then?\u201d Colleen asked.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll authorize you as her foster parents temporarily,\u201d Alana decided. \u201cI\u2019ll have to be sneaky about it. But that\u2019s my problem. Don\u2019t tell anyone about this. Let me know if Mrs. Campbell calls you or anything.\u201d\n\n\n\n Colleen and Ray agreed to keep the situation discreet and protect Ben and the baby.\n\n\n\n The next couple of days were quiet until Colleen\u2019s phone rang. She froze upon seeing Mrs. Campbell\u2019s name. Ben was home, so she stepped outside and answered nervously.\n\n\n\n \u201cHello?\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cMrs. Ferguson, how are you?\u201d Mrs. Campbell greeted.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m good. Ben\u2019s adapting well,\u201d Colleen rambled, hoping to end the call quickly.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m calling about something else,\u201d said Mrs. Campbell. \u201cDid Ben say anything about his foster parents?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, he doesn\u2019t talk about his past,\u201d Colleen replied, trying to distract her. \u201cI was thinking he might need therapy.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s necessary,\u201d Mrs. Campbell responded, sounding nervous. \u201cBut if he tells you something odd, please call me.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cIs there something I should know about his foster parents?\u201d Colleen pressed. She shouldn\u2019t have done that!\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, nothing. I\u2019m just busy, so I\u2019ll have to go.\u201d Mrs. Campbell said hurriedly.\n\n\n\n Right then, Ben interrupted Colleen. \u201cMom, the baby is trashing around!\u201d\n\n\n\n Colleen\u2019s heart flooded with joy when Ben called her \u2018Mom.\u2019 She ended the call abruptly, but then, fear gripped her heart. Had Mrs. Campbell heard them and guessed she knew about the Franklins? Mrs. Campbell called her multiple times after that, but Colleen didn\u2019t answer.\n\n\n\n ***\n\n\n\n \u201cI got too cocky, I think. But I had this feeling that she was hiding something and not being too subtle\u2026\u201d She told Ray everything about the call that night.\n\n\n\n Ray sighed. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have done that. We had an advantage against her and those perverts.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cI know, but I already called Alana,\u201d Colleen added. \u201cShe said not to worry because they\u2019ll find out eventually.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cDid she tell you the baby\u2019s name?\u201d Ray asked.\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, she\u2019s still \u2018baby girl,’\u201d Colleen replied.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay home tomorrow, just in case,\u201d Ray decided. \u201cWe can\u2019t take the baby out. We have to act like she\u2019s not here.\u201d\n\n\n\n The next day, Ray prepared to pick up Ben from school. As he was leaving, a truck roared down the street, slowing near their house. The driver stared at Ray and then sped off unusually fast.\n\n\n\n \u201cHEY!\u201d Ray yelled, outraged. He couldn\u2019t be sure who that was, but at the same time, Ray knew. He chased after it but lost it on a dirt path. Fear for his family\u2019s safety overwhelmed him as he returned home.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cAlana, this can\u2019t continue. He was outside our house,\u201d Ray urgently explained the whole situation when she came over.\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know if that was Mr. Franklin,\u201d Alana cautioned. \u201cI\u2019m close to finding concrete evidence, so we can call the police for real and stop this.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can\u2019t wait. We\u2019re in danger,\u201d Ray insisted.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m calling my mother,\u201d Colleen suggested. \u201cWe\u2019ll move into her house while Alana investigates.\u201d\n\n\n\n Alana added, \u201cI\u2019ve noticed children frequently moved from the Franklins\u2019 house. I\u2019ve found an adult who was with them years ago. I\u2019m waiting for his call.\u201d\n\n\n\n Suddenly, a loud banging and yelling interrupted them. Ray saw Mrs. Campbell and a couple, likely the Franklins, through the living room window.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s them,\u201d Ray whispered, his expression turning grave.\n\n\n\n Colleen reached for her phone. \u201cI\u2019m calling the cops!\u201d she yelled.\n\n\n\n Ray opened the door. \u201cWho are you? How dare you bang on my door?\u201d\n\n\n\n Mrs. Campbell, with the Franklins, threatened, \u201cYou know me, Mr. Ferguson! I can take your son if you don\u2019t let us in to get that baby!\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t dare,\u201d Ray countered, \u201cNot after what we know about you!\u201d\n\n\n\n Alana stepped forward as Mrs. Campbell faltered. \u201cCynthia, I suggest you leave before we call the police!\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking that baby!\u201d Mrs. Franklin declared angrily.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019d be a crime!\u201d Alana shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ve made the Fergusons her foster parents legally.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cYou had no right!\u201d Mrs. Campbell fumed.\n\n\n\n \u201cI did. And I\u2019ve launched an investigation against you,\u201d Alana retorted.\n\n\n\n Enraged, Mr. Franklin charged at Alana, but Ray intercepted him. Amidst the chaos, Colleen tried to call 911, but Mrs. Franklin slapped the phone away.\n\n\n\n \u201cYOU WON\u2019T CALL ANYONE! Give us the baby now!\u201d Mrs. Franklin threatened, and the look in her eyes froze Colleen\u2019s spine. Mrs. Franklin was a soulless, horrible woman who beat children and videotaped them!\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n For the first time in her life, Coollen\u2019s hands twisted into fists, and they swung at the horrible woman forcefully. Meanwhile, Mrs. Campbell and Alana scuffled as Ben watched from his room.\n\n\n\n \u201cBEN, GIVE US THE BABY!\u201d Mrs. Franklin screamed.\n\n\n\n \u201cClose and lock your door, Ben!\u201d Colleen yelled. Ben complied, shutting his door.\n\n\n\n Ray, meanwhile, managed to throw Mr. Franklin outside and soon expelled Mrs. Franklin and Mrs. Campbell from the house as well.\n\n\n\n \u201cI will report you for assault!\u201d Mrs. Campbell threatened.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will report you for trespassing!\u201d Colleen shouted back.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve already called the cops!!\u201d a new voice had them all turning to the driveway, where Colleen and Ray\u2019s neighbors, Sarah and Andrew, were staring, wide-eyed.\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks, Andrew,\u201d Ray said, breathing hard.\n\n\n\n Mrs. Campbell smiled. \u201cGood! Now I can tell the cops all about your kidnapping. I know almost all of them in the department! You three are the only ones going to jail here!\u201d she threatened.\n\n\n\n The police arrived soon after. Officer Carson, familiar with Mrs. Campbell, seemed to consider her story.\n\n\n\n \u201cStop!\u201d Alana spoke up and introduced herself to the cop. \u201cI\u2019m a social worker, too. And after some revelations from the child the Fergusons adopted, I put the baby in their care. It\u2019s all official. I have the paperwork inside.\u201d She rushed into the house.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n \u201cLIES!\u201d Mrs. Franklin added.\n\n\n\n \u201cOfficer, our adopted son revealed disturbing things about his former foster home,\u201d Ray explained everything about the insult Ben faced. He also accepted Ben had sneaked out and taken the baby from the Franklins. \u201cOur son was wrong for that, but his intentions were pure.\u201d\n\n\n\n Alana came out with the documents. \u201cOfficers, please take a look,\u201d she stated, passing the papers to the policemen.\n\n\n\n \u201cThose papers don\u2019t justify stealing the baby from our home! Or how they attacked us just now!\u201d Mr. Franklin argued, pointing to his injured lip.\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, it doesn\u2019t matter what those documents say,\u201d Mrs. Campbell insisted, dismissing the paperwork the police were examining. \u201cThe Fergusons acted illegally. Under state law, it\u2019s kidnapping and assault.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n Colleen trembled with anger, glaring at Mrs. Campbell. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you,\u201d she muttered.\n\n\n\n Suddenly, young Ben burst onto the scene, cradling the baby. \u201cI took the baby! I\u2019ll go to jail, but you can\u2019t send any other kid to that house!\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cKid, give the baby to Mrs. Campbell,\u201d Officer Carson instructed.\n\n\n\n \u201cNEVER!\u201d Ben protested. \u201cMrs. Franklin was recording while Mr. Franklin beat me! They showed me videos,\u201d he pointed accusingly at Mrs. Campbell and Mr. Franklin. \u201cMr. Franklin was doing stuff to other boys. Terrible stuff. He had his\u2014\u201d The boy made a gesture toward his pant area, and there were several exhales from the gathered crowd.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n Ray and Colleen were horrified.\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s misunderstood,\u201d Mrs. Campbell tried to deflect, her voice trembling.\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think he\u2019s lying?\u201d Officer Tristan asked Alan.\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t,\u201d Alana declared, shaking her head at Mrs. Campbell. \u201cI have proof of their irregular foster placements.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are throwing around baseless accusations! I\u2019ll sue you!\u201d Mr. Franklin threatened.\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t you dare threaten anyone here, you pervert,\u201d Ray said. \u201cYou\u2019ll be in jail for a long time for what you, your ugly wife, and this horrible woman have done to many kids. Check out their home, Officers. They probably have the videos.\u201d\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have your address right here in this document, right? Let\u2019s go right now.\u201d Officer Tristan began to walk to his car, but he didn\u2019t get far.\n\n\n\n \u201cNO!\u201d Mr. Franklin exclaimed and tackled the cop to the ground. The other cops rushed to help their coworker.\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, Mr. Franklin, you just assaulted an officer of the law,\u201d Officer Tristan said, wiping his hands as he stood. \u201cYou\u2019re under arrest.\u201d\n\n\n\n Officer Carson then decided to involve Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Franklin in the investigation. \u201cIf you\u2019re innocent, you have nothing to fear,\u201d he said, indicating they\u2019d be looked into as well.\n\n\n\n As everyone left, Ben burst into tears, and Colleen and Ray comforted him. \u201cYou were so brave, Ben. You may have saved so many other kids,\u201d Colleen said, holding both children close.\n\n\n\n For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n The next day, Alana updated Ray and Colleen over the phone. \u201cThe kid, Colin, came forward. Told the cops everything about the Franklins. They\u2019re searching their house now. Mr. Franklin is still detained. Cynthia left. But if she runs, that\u2019ll only implicate her more.\u201d\n\n\n\n Suddenly, Colleen asked, \u201cWhat about the baby girl\u2019s name?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s Grace,\u201d Alana answered. \u201cIf you want, I can help you adopt her.\u201d\n\n\n\n Ray and Colleen looked at each other and instantly agreed.\n\n\n\n Later, the cops found incriminating evidence at the Franklin\u2019s house, including videos involving Mrs. Campbell. This led to charges of abuse and worse crimes against the Franklins and Mrs. Campbell. Meanwhile, Colleen, Ray, Ben, and Grace started fresh.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ray raised an eyebrow at Colleen preparing boxed mac and cheese. \u201cYou\u2019re making mac and cheese from a box?\u201d\u201cIt\u2019s for Ben. He\u2019s been so quiet,\u201d […]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5345"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5346,"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5345\/revisions\/5346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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