CHAPTER 2

When the detectives realised they were not going to get anything further from Angelica tonight, they decided they’d try again in the morning…

They didn’t want to pressure the girl, she’d obviously suffered enough trauma in her short life…And besides gaining her trust could be paramount…

The youngster was extremely tired and probably hungry as she had been in the station for a good few hours. Angus asked her what she would like to eat and then sent someone to get it for her whilst Dylan contacted Social Services…They had to find someone to take her…Hopefully just for tonight…

As far as they could tell, her closest next-of-kin was her step-brother Mikey, but he was still a minor at 16 and couldn’t take charge of her, and they had no idea where the young lad was…They were looking for him also…Hoping he could suggest someone who could take Angie in whilst his stepmother was in hospital…

"I don’t want her to go to Social Services," Detective Moorland said.

"I know, I don’t either," Angus replied, "But the law is the law."

"Well the law fuckin sucks!" Dylan said angrily, knowing that Angus was right. They didn’t have any choice but to call Social Services to come and get Angie.

Moorland looked over at the emotionally distraught little girl, she felt her heart breaking once again…

This child had already been through so much tonight, and now they had to add abandonment to the emotions she must be feeling.

Dylan walked over to the chair that Angie was sitting in and knelt down so they were face to face…

"C-Can I g-go see my m-mommy n-now?" Angie stuttered, her eyes silently pleading for the detective to agree.

Moorland once again cursed the man who had put this child in such a horrible uneasy position.

"I’m afraid not" Dylan answered, softly. She broke a little more inside as she saw the glimmer of hope in Angie’s eyes, fade away to nothing.

Angus walked over to them then.

"Social Services are on their way" He said quietly.

"Who are Social Services?" Angie asked.

Dylan and Angus looked at each other, then back at Angie.

"Well," Angus began "They are a group of people who come and take care of kids that have been affected by things like family violence. They will give you a warm bed to sleep in tonight, and look after you while your mommy is in hospital" he explained.