Divine Chaos (#wattys2017)

Prologue - Trying Times

"Mommyyy!!!" A young Gabby, only five years old at the time, cried hysterically as Detective Russel Whittaker buckled her into the backseat of his squad car, with sadness and concern etched into his serious expression. Beside her, a very small Chris sat with his hands on his ears, rocking back and forth, and humming - must be some nursery rhyme, Det. Whittaker thought at the time.

This had always been the hardest part of his job, Det. Whittaker thought to himself as Gabby went from hysterical screams to less loud sobs... Extracting the children from a home of abuse. He can't imagine what kind of horrible mother would leave her children to fend for themselves while she's out partying - only this time, Carol Evans didn't return during the wee hours of the morning like she usually does - she's been MIA for three whole days! - according to the two women present at the moment.

Gabby's kindergarten teacher, Miss. Gwen Austen, phoned various times - without answer - to enquire about Gabby's wellbeing. She had picked up on a few things that toubled her, like Gabby not bringing lunches, or being dropped off at school in the same set of clothes for two days in a row.

She finally phoned their neighbour, Isabelle Lowes, who had been dropping Gabby off at school up until recently to ask if she had any news, and Isabelle had been the one to phone the police after the door hadn't been answered one too many times...

Isabelle had known their wayward mother far too well - and had good reason for concern with this radio silence of the unsteady, troubled woman - Carol Evans. Carol had never fallen completely of the grid like this before, and since Isabelle was retired, she saw all the Evans' comings and goings. Isabelle had treated Carol's kids just as she would her own grandchildren - having had them left in her care countless times - ever since Carol's good-for-nothing husband disappeared after knocking up their latest babysitter.

Isabelle tried making contact with him - to no avail. No, Matthew Evans had done enough harm to these kids and most definitely wouldn't have the slightest interest in raising them... Had time not been unfavourable to her, she would've taken them under her own wing - but alas, her pension barely covered her own bare necessities. And so it came to be that a frightened Chris and a very traumatised Gabby were handed over to the authorities...

Chris was the younger sibling, at only three years old. Det. Whittaker thought that he would have to deal with the tantrums and tears that only a traumatised toddler could manage. This calm collectiveness of Chris was an eery, unnatural surprise to him...

As Det. Whittaker shifted into first gear and started heading toward the Precinct, he took a look in his rear view mirror to see Gabby staring out the window at the disheveled dump she used to call home. His heart contracted as he thought about these kids' future, and the uncertainty his thoughts bared to him, filled him with sympathy. Would they be better off in the custody of Child Protective Services, or would the system fail them tragically - just as it had him, all those years ago?