A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) Read Free

nodded and murmured, “Yes, sir. If you don’t mind.”
    Trent pulled his badge from his pocket and handed it to Karla. She took it from his hand, without touching him, and looked at it intently for a couple of minutes before handing it back to him. Her fear seemed to ease just a bit as she looked at Mrs. Jones and asked in a soft voice, “Can I please use the restroom ma’am?”
    Mrs. Jones looked at Karla with kind eyes, “Sure honey, the bathroom is right over yonder on the other side of the desk.” When Karla went into the bathroom and shut the door Mrs. Jones looked at Trent with sad eyes and said, “That child’s been beat by somebody.”
    “Yeah, that was my observation too ma’am.”
    “Young man don’t you go all official soundin’ on me. I remember when you were nothing but a scared little kid yourself, comin’ in here talkin’ like you were all big and tough. Ya found a nice family who straightened ya out. Now, what’re ya gonna do about that scared little girl in there?”
    Unable to hide his smile at her words, Trent just shook his head. “That’s not my call, but I can tell ya the Captain won’t send her home. Not with those bruises.”
    “That Captain of yours better not or he’ll have me to answer to. I may be old, but I can still whip his scrawny butt.”
    Just then they heard the automatic doors swish open and stood up. When they walked out of the office Captain McGraw was standing by the counter in full uniform. “Alright son, where’s this little girl I need to talk to?”
    Karla walked out of the office, took one look at Captain McGraw and burst into tears.

Chapter Five
     
     
    Karla was crying for the first time in years. She couldn’t remember when the last time was that she’d cried, but she knew it was before Pops had died, and she had just turned eight when that happened. As her tears started to slow she looked up at the three adults in the room.
    Mrs. Jones was looking at her with concern in her eyes, Trent was looking at her with a worried expression and the man she assumed was Trent’s Captain, was looking at her in confusion. When Trent offered her a handkerchief she took it and wiped her eyes. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry, I usually don’t cry like that.”
    “Karla, honey, it’s alright to cry. We all cry at times, even me.”
    “Not me, I haven’t cried in a long time.”
    “Karla, if you’re feelin’ better can we have that talk now?” Trent asked, cautiously.
    Karla sniffed loudly and nodded her head. “Yes sir, I’m good now.”
    “Karla, I’m Captain McGraw. Can you answer a few questions for me?”
    “Yes sir.”
    “Detective Greeves tells me your name is Karla Ann Hall.” Karla nodded and Captain McGraw continued, “Can you tell me your mama’s name?”
    “Diane Virginia Hall”
    “Okay Karla, thank you. Where are you from?”
    “Well, we’ve moved around a lot, but we came to Nashville from Daytona Beach Florida about six weeks ago.”
    “Alright, where do you live here in Nashville?”
    “In an apartment over a recording studio on Second Avenue.”
    ****
    As Captain McGraw questioned Karla, Trent walked out of the office to run her mom’s name and see if he could track her down. He called his partner to have her name run. “Lieutenant, I need a name run through here and Daytona Beach Florida.”
    “Hit me with it partner.”
    “Diane Virginia Hall, I don’t know her age.”
    “Running it now and I’ll call ya back if I get a hit.”
    “Thanks Lieutenant. Captain McGraw is in with her daughter right now and we really need her info ASAP.” Trent disconnected the call and started to walk back into the office when his cell phone rang. “Greeves,” he answered without looking at the caller ID.
    “Greeves, you ain’t gonna believe this crap, but I think we have your lady here in lock up. She was brought in just after midnight on drug soliciting charges. I’ll send her picture to your cell and you can show it to the kid to see