Page 63 of Heart of a Hero

After ensuring Brad and John were in charge of processing the mobile home, he waited outside. Mark was glad when the CPS social worker arrived. For some reason, he had expected to see an older woman, but when Lisa alighted from her car, he was surprised to see that she was probably in her thirties. It also struck him that social work might be a job that would burn someone out quickly, and he wondered about the turnover.

Before he had time to ponder that further, she stood before him with a smile. “I’m Detective Robbins.”

“I’m Lisa Berkley.” They shook hands, and he told her what he knew so far. Even with a smile on her face, he could see the seriousness with which she took her job.

“Are the kids in there?” she asked, inclining her head toward Roscoe’s trailer.

“Yes.” He opened the door and allowed her in.

Zannie was smiling, always excited to meet a new friend, but then her gaze darted between all the adults and her brother as though waiting to see if she should be happy or sad. Mark thought of his own son and felt his chest squeeze at the sight of Marty and Zannie. They were close in age yet so far apart in experiences. Benji might have lost his mother, but he’d been surrounded by love and support his whole life. Mark doubted that Marty and Zannie had ever had that.

Lisa hugged Karen, then greeted Roscoe warmly. Once she was introduced to the children, Lisa sat in the chair Mark had vacated. He stood back, his hip leaning against the kitchen counter, his casual stance belying the tension he felt for the kids.His gut told him that whatever occurred with Carla wouldn’t be good news once they found her.

He listened as Lisa gently questioned the children, and then she asked if they would allowNurse Karento check them the way she checks on Mr. Roscoe. The two agreed readily. Karen and Lisa disappeared with Zannie into Roscoe’s bedroom. Marty watched the hallway with an eagle eye despite Roscoe’s attempt at conversation. A few minutes later, the trio of females came out, and Marty stood and licked his lip nervously but reached out to squeeze Zannie’s hand.

“Are you ready?” Karen asked Marty.

He nodded and headed to the bedroom with her. Zannie looked up at Mark and grinned. “I haven’t been to the doctor before. Miss Karen let me listen to my heartbeat with long tubes that went in my ears!”

Mark knelt in front of her. “That sounds really cool.” His attention was diverted as Roscoe pressed a tissue against his eyes, then blew his nose.

“I should have done something earlier. I should have checked on them more.”

Mark offered a shoulder pat to Zannie and then moved to sit near Roscoe. “Don’t do that. Don’t take that on.” The older man looked up with tearful eyes, and Mark continued. “You gave them a safe place to come to. You offered a listening ear. You have been a stable force in their lives for months since they moved in. You gave them food.”

Roscoe lowered his gaze, and Mark moved closer. “And as soon as you knew something wasn’t right, you called Karen. You did right by those kids, and don’t ever think you didn’t.”

Marty hurried out of the room, his smile wide as he and Zannie talked about hearing their heartbeats. Mark watched as Karen and Lisa followed more slowly. Now patting Roscoe’s knee, Mark stood and walked over to them.

“Their home is abandoned?” Lisa asked him. “I need to confirm that, at this time, no parent or legal guardian is caring for the children, correct?”

“That is correct,” Mark agreed. He provided the statement from the sheriff’s department, adding, “At this time, the home is considered abandoned. According to the children, Marty and Suzanne Perkins, and Mr. Roscoe Jefferson, the parent, Carla Perkins, hasn’t been seen since the day before yesterday. Her live-in boyfriend, who has no legal guardianship, has also not been seen. The children spent last night here and did not attend school today. Mr. Jefferson wanted to keep them close and call someone who could check on them. The parent is also now under the sheriff’s department investigation for possible drug use and distribution.”

Lisa added to her notes and then looked up. “I’ll need the photographs you take of the inside of the home. I’ll have them in the file and can use them in case the judge has any questions, and that’s only if the parent returns and tries to file against the placement.”

Mark agreed. “I’ll make sure you have them.”

Lisa nodded, her expression serious but calm. “Okay, then we need to discuss emergency foster placement while your office is investigating the situation.” She turned to Karen and lifted a brow. “You know we are low on placement options until after the next foster class taking place next month. So… the question is, what’s your decision?”

Mark blinked, his chin jerking back as he looked between the two women. Karen looked over at him, her expression a mixture of thoughtfulness and something else—something unreadable. She stepped closer, lowering her voice, though the weight of her words felt heavy in the small space.

“Mark, I’m sorry to just let you know now, but I’m a certified foster parent. I made sure that when I moved to this county,I kept up my certification in this state, but since the girls and I were just getting settled, I had told Lisa that I wasn’t going to be available, and I’d let her know when I felt the time was right again.” Her gaze drifted from his face to Marty and Zannie, sitting on the sofa with their small hands tightly clasped together. Their faces were tense, eyes wide with anxiety as they watched the adults discuss their future, unsure of what it all meant.

Karen's gaze moved back to his face, searching. “Now is the right time for them. But I know for us…”

Without hesitation, he took her hand in his and squeezed. “It’s the right time.”

For a moment, the world around them seemed to blur, everything else fading into the background. Karen’s lips curved slowly, her smile blooming as warmth spread across her face. She mouthed, “Thank you,” her eyes shining with unspoken gratitude and relief. Without letting go of her hand, Mark turned with her as they both faced the kids.

“Hey, guys? How would you like to come home with me for a little bit until the detectives find your mom?”

Zannie’s reaction was immediate. She threw her hands up into the air and shouted, “Yay!” Her excitement radiated through the room, her innocence shining through the chaos of the situation. Marty, the more reserved of the two, let out a long, relieved sigh, his smile growing slowly as the tension in his small body finally released.

Mark felt something inside him shift, a tight knot of worry unwinding for the first time since this ordeal began. He looked at Karen, then at the kids, and for the first time since stepping into the mobile home, he felt like he could breathe again. Something profound had just changed, not only for Marty and Zannie but for all of them.

And at that moment, Mark knew their lives had intertwined in ways none of them had anticipated.

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