Everything Changes

Speaking A Dead Language

Odis Lee had a pickup truck that he'd bought for cheap while still down in Georgia, and it was this truck that he'd rode into on his way to first collect Amanda, and then Maggie Blue. After collecting his youngest daughter, he hurried out of Bedelia's place very quickly, and once in the cab of his truck, he handed her off to Amanda with a warning to take extra good care of her, or else she'd regret it. Still shaking from the traumatic circumstances of her own abduction, Amanda held Maggie Blue close and gave her extra cuddles and kisses when she realized that she didn't have her hearing devices, and was completely depending on her.

Unoriginal in thought, Odis Lee ended up taking them to Central Park.

After parking his truck, Odis Lee forced his daughters out of the vehicle and made them watch while he gathered a few things out of the hatchback truck. One of the things that Amanda noticed was a brand new shovel, the kind that was perfect for digging holes in the middle of nowhere.

Cautiously, Amanda said, "Why do you have a big shovel, daddy?"

"Never you mind, Junebug. Pick up your sister and start walking."

Not without a little difficulty because of the size of her belly, Amanda did as she told and started walking, picking up the pace when she felt her father place his gun in the middle of her back.

Eventually, they were at The Boathouse, which, by day, was a happening dining spot and wedding reception venue. At this time of night, it was closed and completely deserted.

Odis Lee had a hideout in this building, specifically in an apartment-like area that had been abandoned for years. He moved here after evading the SVU, and nobody had found him yet.

Tonight, though, Amanda and Maggie Blue weren't the only people in his 'home.'

After leaving them without a word and barricading them in, Amanda set Maggie Blue on the floor and banged her balled-up fist on the door.

"Daddy, please let us out!" she called. "We'll be good and we'll do anything!"

A camping light behind them turned on, and a new voice called, "He won't come back—not for awhile, at least."

Amanda spun around and then felt her heart both jump and sink when she saw that it was Kim, and not only that, but once again, it looked like she'd gotten the crap kicked out of her. There had been some attempts at nursing her wounds, but she was too burned out to care. 

"Kimmie!" Amanda hurried over as fast as she could to where her middle sister was laying on the floor in the middle of a sitting room area. "He took you, too? But why?"

"I think it's to lure mama out so he can 'really' change her her mind about 'doing things right' and going to Georgia." her bottom lip trembled and her voice wavered. "What did I do to deserve this? I must have been really bad."

True, Kim had a crazy side that often led her to do bad things, and true, she wouldn't deny that she'd slept around a lot, in this particular situation, she needed to hear and feel positive, reassuring things.

"Nothing, Kimberly. You haven't done anything to deserve this." Amanda pulled her sister close in a quick hug. "None of this is your fault."

Kim relaxed and then became distracted when she caught sight of Maggie Blue, who had only just noticed her.

"Is that Maggie?"

"Oh, that's right—you two haven't met yet, huh?"

Ashamed, Kim said, "I was too full of myself these past years to get to know her at all, and I left our trailer for another side of the park when mama was pregnant. I never tried to get to know her."