The Secret - Camren

Part 26

Lauren was taken from the hospital. Rodriguez was furious. He had asked his trainee to watch her for five minutes so he could grab a coffee and she was gone.

The trainee said no one had gone into the room other than hospital staff and he didn't know how it happened. No one came out with Lauren, but her window was opened.

The theory was that jack had dressed like a doctor or nurse and went inside. What they couldn't figure out was how he got her out of the window, made her wait there as he exited her room and went to get her, they were considering an accomplice and everyone who had entered the room was being questioned.

They were also waiting on the security camera footage. It had a clear view of her door, so they were hoping to find out what happened and get her back soon.

I couldn't take it anymore. I just couldn't. I packed up my things and was ready to run when I thought about Sofi. I couldn't leave her. She had no one but me in this life. I couldn't just abandon her, our dad clearly didn't care otherwise he would be here with us and not Dinah's family. Sofi has accidently called Dinah's mom mommy earlier today. It was cute but sad too. All this little girl wanted was a family and I wouldn't be the one to take what little family she had away from her. And Taylor. Her sister was in danger because of me. I couldn't let her fight through this all alone. She needed me and to be honest i think I needed her too. She reminded me so much of her sister. I couldn't be the reason both of them were suffering.

I wanted back into the house and found the girls curled up in the bed they shared. I cuddled in between them,

"I'm so sorry for everything girls" I said quietly to no one in particular. I closed my eyes determined to get some sleep.

"It isn't your fault Mila" someone whispered next to me. "It isn't because of you this man has so much hatred in his heart. It isn't your fault he thinks hurting people is okay. It isn't because of you this man took my sister. Its his his and whoever hurt him in the past for making him the way he is. He was hurt when he was young and it made him think in the wrong way, he was taught to hate instead of love and that is why he is doing this. Not because of you, not because of Sofi or Lauren. It's no one's fault except his, so please don't blame yourself. You are just as Lauren told me you were and you take care of us so well. Even when we know you are hurting too. We all love you, even Chris. He is so thankful that you are taking care of me because he isn't as strong as Lauren is. He couldn't have done it alone. But you know what makes us not so scared? Lauren can handle anything. She is the strongest person we know. She got away once, she can do it again" Taylor said, tears spilling from her green eyes. They looked so much like hers.

"How did you become so wise so quickly?" I asked tears spilling over.

"Lauren and my dad. You know they were so similar. She really misses him but she was strong for us, pretended it was all okay but we saw through it. She wasn't truly happy again until you came into our lives. My dad taught me that love is love and that it concurs all no matter what. He told me I had to take care of Lauren because a lot of people were taught to hate instead of love and that those people wouldn't accept Lauren. He told me before he left that no matter what I needed to always remember that. I think that's why I'm so clever, as Lauren calls it. People aren't born bad or hateful. Things happen to them to make them that way. It isn't an excuse bit helps to understand them". She answered cuddling close to me and falling asleep.

How was this girl 10-year-old and already understand things some people never understand in their lifetime? She had given me a lot to think about but mostly she made me need for Lauren to b back that much more intense. I would do anything to get her back!

***

The police called the next morning. They wanted me to come in to help Rodriguez identify the people entering Lauren's room. I got their early and gave Rodriguez the biggest hug when he came in to get me. I couldn't be mad at him. He was doing his best.

We spent 3 hours going through four days of videos. We still had so much more to get through and so far there was nothing.

Another two hours later Jack went into her room on the video but Lauren was still there when he left. It wasn't until we got to the day she disappeared that we found something.

About two hours before she went missing this lady went into her room. She seemed to have insulted Lauren from the look on her face that we could see through the small window. But what interested us wasn't Lauren's expression. It was the woman walking out the door. Rodrigues paused the video.

"Are you okay?" I must have looked horrified. "Do you recognize the woman?" I just nodded.

"Who is it?"

"That's my mom!"