Page 25 of Heal
"I remember some of them." Jeff's voice was nearly a whisper. "They made us do things to each other so they could record it."
Lisa stared at her brother. "Why didn't you tell me this?"
"I didn't want you mad at me." Tears started to fall down Jeff's cheeks.
"I wouldn't have been mad at you. I'm mad at them." Lisa stood, going to her brother, and hugging him tightly. "You should have told me."
"It's okay, we know now, so that means we can try to help the others. Do you two think you could look through these and see if you remember anyone?" He handed her the folder. "There are more, but it takes time to print them. If it's not too much for you two, I'll have Parson bring more in when he can."
Lisa thumbed through the pages. "We can help." She glanced at her brother. "You don't have to if you don't want to."
Jeff shook his head. "I'd like to help. I want to find Eric. He was always there with me. They liked to put us together. I don't know why."
Beau needed to contact his team at STK and let them know there was probably video out there of Jeff. If they could find that video, they would be able to see the other kids' faces for themselves.
God, he was thankful he wasn't the one who had to search through videos, looking for clues to locations or identities. He had to give the rest of his team credit. It wasn't a job he wanted. "We'll do everything we can to find and help everyone who was forced to be there with you." He glanced at Lisa. "When Parson gets here, can you and I sneak across the hall and talk for a few minutes?" He wanted to make sure she was dealing with the pregnancy okay.
"Parson won't hurt Jeff?" Lisa glanced at her brother.
"No, he's safe. I had dinner with Parson last night, and I believe he wants to help. He's different than the other caseworkers I've met. I think you two will like him. He really wants to make sure you guys get into a good home, and he wants to keep you together."
Lisa rolled her eyes as if she didn't believe him. He didn't blame her. After what these kids had been through, he was sure they had little trust in anyone. He would just let them learn to trust him on their own. It was the only way.
"We don't have to go across the hall. I told Jeff last night about the baby." Lisa glanced at her brother who was now frowning.
"Oh, how do you feel about that, Jeff?" Beau was caught completely off guard with Lisa being so open with her brother about it.
"I'm worried about her." Jeff nodded toward his sister.
"We all are, just like we're worried about you, Jeff," Beau told him.
"But I'm not pregnant." Jeff looked confused.
"No, but you've been through a lot, just like Lisa has. We'll take care of Lisa, just like we're taking care of you. And we'll take care of the baby too, because it's not the baby's fault that this happened.
"If I give it away for adoption, can you make sure it's to a good family?" Lisa asked.
The 'if' surprised him. He was sure that was what Lisa was going to do. He didn't blame her for worrying about who the baby would go to. She more than anyone knew what could happen to a child in a bad home. "Adoption agencies are a lot more careful of who takes children. They have to go through a lot of background checks and other things to get approved. They'd find a good family for it." Beau hoped he wasn't lying to her. Just like the foster system, the background checks and other things were supposed to make sure that homes were safe for kids, and they'd seen how that failed. "You don't have to decide anything right now. You have time. I just want you to know I'm here if you have questions or if you need anything. I know I'm not a girl, and it might not be easy to talk to a guy about things, but I'm here and I know girls I can have come talk to you if you decide you want that."
"Like Faith?" Lisa asked.
"Well, I was thinking of someone who'd been through a pregnancy already, but I'm sure Faith would be willing to listen and talk if you wanted to." He wondered if he dared give Lisa Faith's phone number. He'd have to check with Matt first and make sure it was okay, then ask Faith if it was alright.
"I don't want to talk to anyone yet." Lisa rubbed her stomach. "It's weird. I never felt anything when I didn't know I was pregnant, but now, it's like I can feel little things."
"You're far enough along to feel the baby moving. I'm told it feels sometimes like butterflies in your stomach, soon it will be stronger." Beau smiled. "Having a baby is a pretty amazing experience."
Lisa nodded.
A sudden knock on the door had them all turning.
"Come in," Beau called.
Parson stuck his head in the doorway. "Am I bothering you?"
Beau stood and smiled. "Parson, come on in. I'd just told the kids about you." He reached out and shook Parson's hand before placing his hand on Parson's shoulder to help show the children that he trusted Parson. "Let me introduce you to Lisa and Jeff Campbell." He smiled at the kids. "This is Parson Detry. He's the caseworker with CPS that I told you about."
"Hi." Jeff pulled the covers tighter around himself as Lisa moved to sit on the bed beside him.
