⌈ 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴, 𝘛𝘟 ⌉ 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 16, 2020 ⌊ 8:00 𝘗𝘔 ⌋



Saris sat in the social worker's car who she later learned was named Mrs. Hernandez. A cop car followed them as they made their way to arrest Clara. The results hadn't come in but they had enough cause to hold her until things were final.

For the night Saris would stay with Mrs. Hernandez since she was a licensed foster mother. Saris was only going to her house to collect the things she needed because Detective Marks said this could be her last time there ever.

Everyone assumed Saris had picked up on everything, but little did they know she was completely lost. What was "obvious" isn't obvious to Saris so she was just going with the flow.

Dad💙 : I just mailed your present it should be there within a week

Saris smiled remembering her birthday was tomorrow. She hadn't had a party or even celebrated in so long, but she always felt like it was a special day. Saris zoned out and forgot to respond as they pulled into the driveway of her house.

She nervously approached the door followed by Mrs. Hernandez and the two police officers. She got her keys looking at each individual one until she found her house key.

The lock clicked and she turned the door immediately, getting met with a slap to the face. Her face whipped to the left and she held it along with her tears.

"You have the audacity to walk into my house all late after ignoring my calls?!"

The police ran over and immediately tried to handcuff Clara.

Saris sniffed and removed her hand from her face and felt her lip. She looked down at her hand and saw a spot of blood.

"C'mon hurry and pack." Mrs. Hernandez rushed Saris to go pack.

"Clara Stephenson you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used in the court of law..." was faintly heard as Saris walked away.

She heard yelling and looked back to see Clara resisting. It slowly escalated as she started going ballistic causing both officers to pin her down so that they could put the cuffs on.

Saris shook her head and began packing. Her room was bare with nothing more than a bed, desk, and her personal things. She packed the few clothes and looked around her room. It looked emptier than usual with the only thing of hers left being the pictures on the window sill.

It was Clara and her when she was younger. She slightly smiled at the memories but stopped when she heard commotion outside.

News reporters and cameras surrounded the police car where Clara was being forced into. Saris shook her head, deciding to take the pictures as they always cheered her up. The thought of the period of time she was really happy always uplifted her.

Once done packing Mrs. Hernandez went through the front to bring the car farther from the house to avoid press. Saris went through the backyard and hopped a couple fences until she spotted Mrs. Hernandez's car. She got in and they headed to Mrs. Hernandez's house.

Once they entered the home Mrs. Hernandez showed Saris her room. She told her goodnight and closed the door behind her.

Saris looked around at the blank room. It had a small twin bed with a thin sheet and cover. There was a small lamp on the nightstand and two doors leading to the closet and bathroom. She smiled thinking it was better than her bedroom she just left.

Saris sat her bag down and went into the bathroom. She removed her clothing and took a shower. The hot water washed off the events of the long day leaving her with a refreshed feeling. Once she was done she dried off and got dressed putting her wet curls in a bun.

She took out the photo album of her pictures up to now and sat on the bed. She ran her fingers over the worn edges letting a smile take over her face.

Saris eventually decided to lay down and go to sleep when she remembered her dad's text from earlier. She grabbed her phone and attempted to call him but the phone rang and rang as her dad never answered.

Saris shrugged it off and turned off the lamp nearby. She closed her eyes trying to shut down her thoughts, but they eventually wore her out making her fall asleep.

— ⌈ 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴, 𝘛𝘟 ⌉ 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 16, 2020 ⌊ 8:30 𝘗𝘔 ⌋

Shawn Stephenson washed the dishes from the dinner him and his wife, Alicia shared. The tv faintly played in the background displaying the 8 o'clock news.

"Today Clara Stephenson was arrested after she was suspected of kidnapping a newborn from a hospital-"

Shawn was confused at what he just heard. He could've sworn he just heard that his ex-wife was arrested.

"Alicia rewind and turn the tv up." he said as he emerged from the kitchen.

As the news replayed Shawn noticed that he heard correctly. Video showed Clara being pushed into the back of a police car along with her mugshot displayed on the television.

"What the h-"

*BANG* *BANG*

Alicia and Shawn looked at each other confused on what was going on. Someone was banging on their door and a muffled sound was heard from the other side. Shawn opened the door and there stood two officers.

"Are you Shawn Stephenson?"

"Yes?"

They moved to arrest him, "Shawn Stephenson you are suspected of being an accessory to the kidnapping of Saris Brooks. You have the right to remain silent..."

Shawn noticed the words "kidnapping" and "Saris Brooks" and was confused. Alicia watched with her hand over her mouth crying. The police escorted Shawn out as Alicia called their lawyer.

—

Once they reached the police station Shawn was guided inside and into an interrogation room. On the other side of the station was Clara, also waiting to be questioned.

Detective Marks took upon himself to question each of them separately. He walked in to question Shawn first.

"I am going to ask a few questions first, is that fine?" Shawn nodded, "Where were you on April 17, 2003?"

Shawn cleared his throat realizing that was the same day Saris was born. He sat up straight and pulled at his collar.

"I had just finished my route from up north when my wife at the time went into labor."

"So you headed straight back once you found out?"

"Yes, she called me when her water broke and I made my way there. I was a long way away so it took hours, and I stopped to sleep but that was only for a night."

"Approximately what time did you arrive back?"

"I got home around 10 PM the next day."

Detective Marks furrowed his eyebrows, confused at this response, "You went straight home instead of the hospital to visit your wife and child?"

"My wife called and said she was released and home."

"You didn't question the fact that she was released the day she went into labor instead of the typical 24 to 48 hours?"

"No, if I'm being honest I don't know too much about labor and the aftermath process." Shawn answered truthfully, also questioning this.

"Why did you leave Clara Stephenson?"

"I had suspicions that Saris wasn't my biological child and after getting a paternity test I discovered she wasn't."

"Did you ever speak about it to Clara to clarify things and get her side of the story?"

"No, at the time I was angry that I was raising a child that wasn't mine. Not that I don't love Saris cause despite me not being her biological father I love her like my own. I was mainly in shock about the news."

"Mr Stephenson, we know that Saris is not your child but we suspect she isn't Clara's either."

"What exactly are you saying?" Shawn asked.

"We have reason to believe that Clara took Saris as a newborn from the hospital."

Shawn shook his head, "Can't be Clara was pregnant."

"Did you physically see a pregnant stomach?"

"Yes, we went to doctor appointments and all."

With this new information Detective Marks excused himself and left the room. He left at a very confused Shawn in the room who was left with his own thoughts. Detective Marks sat in the room with Clara unloading the papers he had in his folder.

Clara was intimidated by this cause she knew time was catching up with her. She always thought she would get away with this, but her current predicament was proving otherwise.

Detective Marks questioned Clara using the same questions he asked Shawn until he got to the part of the story that was unclear.

"After you gave birth the same exact day you were back home correct?"

"Yes, the doctors gave me my discharge papers."

"Why would a doctor discharge a new mother less than 24 hours after giving birth?"

"Ask him." Clara shrugged.

Detective Marks decided to continue, "Were you not concerned about the well-being of you and your child? Because typically after birth you stay at the hospital for 24 to 48 hours. I can't speak for all women but as a father if my wife was in this circumstance I would want her to stay."

"Well for one I'm not your wife, and two I have the right to leave the hospital if I want. They can't force me to stay."

"Actually in 1996 Congress passed several laws saying this." Detective Marks retorted, "Do you know the reason why your late husband left?"

"No." she lied.

"Well he says that he got a DNA test that proved that Saris wasn't his."

Clara's brows furrowed "Is that what he said?"

"Why? Was there something else?"

Clara immediately changed her face back to the annoyed expression.

"Clara you're only hurting yourself, once DNA results come back and Saris is matched with her real family it's only gonna hurt you."

She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat, "When Shawn left I assumed he had found out what I had done."

"And what exactly had you done?"

"I took Saris after I miscarried in the hospital." she mumbled, "I never told Shawn so I assumed he found out somehow. I had no knowledge of him taking a test."

After that Clara spilled everything on how it happened and what she did. She was taken out of the room and into a holding cell for the night. Detective Marks went back into the room that Shawn was in seeing his lawyer sitting next to him.

"You talked to my client without me?"

"Calm down, he's free to go."

Detective Marks took out the keys to uncuff Shawn. Shawn pulled down his jacket sleeves and rubbed at his sore wrists. Shawn headed towards the door when Detective Marks called his name.

"There's one thing I have to tell you." he looked up, "Saris was stolen by Clara when she was a newborn. Your true child was stillborn. I'm sorry man."

Shawn swallowed the lump in his throat fighting tears. He nodded exiting the room. Shawn felt a pain in his heart. Clara never cheated on him, but she did lie. What she did was wrong and Shawn didn't know if he'd ever forgive her for this.

Detective Marks shook his head at the entire scene and headed home for the night.

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Edited 9/23

1919 Words