The Rapture of Omega Read Online Free PDF

kid?” Coop’s eyes narrowed.
    “Yes, I’m sure…I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    While the caseworker was still off making arrangements, I rode with the babysitter back to Kelly Dixon’s apartment. I had plenty of things at home for Lola. I had kept Isabelle’s crib, toddler bed, and clothes in storage, but I wanted some personal items she was familiar with, specifically, pictures of her mother.
    Since the other detectives had already cleared the apartment, I was free to walk around. Kelly Dixon’s life was devoted to her daughter. I saw stacks of nursing books and papers strewn all over the kitchen table in an apparent attempt to rejuvenate her nursing career. Although modest, the apartment was clean and full of life. A fleeting thought of Kelly Dixon having no idea she would never returnhome, nor see her daughter again brought a twinge of sadness. The empty apartment was what lay behind Kelly Dixon’s “board of life” experiences.
    She had been quite organized. A filing cabinet in her bedroom held all of Lola’s important papers: birth certificate, social security card, immunization records, etc. I took them all, knowing if I had my way, Lola would be staying with Michael and me—permanently.
    After grabbing her entire supply of diapers, baby food, and several of Lola’s stuffed animals, I closed the door to Kelly Dixon’s apartment.
    On the way back to the murder scene, I called my mother in Cleveland and gave her a brief explanation about Lola, eventually asking her to come and stay with me for a week or so to help out. I still had Kelly’s homicide case to work and needed Lola to be familiar with everyone around her. Knowing better than to launch into one of her lectures, my mother said she would be at my house in the morning.
    Lola, who had slept soundly through most of the commotion, continued to sleep as I put her into my car, still in her car seat. It had gotten late and I wondered if she would actually sleep through the night.
    Michael was waiting at the door when I pulled into the driveway. Handing him the car seat with Lola, I instructed him to put her in our bedroom while I ran around like a maniac trying to get the portable crib ready and get her settled in. I also left Naomi a voice mail explaining I wouldn’t be at work tomorrow and why, although I’m sure Coop filled her in. Children’s services would be here tomorrow afternoon for a home inspection and to fill out paperwork with me. After that, I would have to attend an informal custody hearing in juvenile court. This is whenthe judge would officially place Lola into my temporary custody.
    I checked on Lola, sleeping soundly within the confines of her crib, before making my rounds to the other kids’ bedrooms and found Selina still awake. Michael had sat them all down earlier and explained to them about Lola. Selina announced she had been too excited about Lola to sleep.
    “Can I go in and see her? I’ll be quiet, I promise,” she pleaded.
    “No, honey, let her sleep. I don’t want her to wake up in the middle of the night. It’s already going to be bad enough in the morning when she starts asking for her mommy.” I gently pushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
    “Is her mommy dead?”
    I sighed. “Yes, honey, she is. We’re all going to have to help make her feel safe here. Okay?”
    Selina nodded and eventually lay down. Now it was time to face Michael. He had been waiting patiently downstairs for me to get Lola situated. Seated on our couch watching the late news, he seemed to be staring through the television, unaware of what was on the screen.
    “Michael?” It appeared he hadn’t noticed me entering the room.
    “Come over here and sit down.” He patted the empty seat next to him affectionately and muted the volume of the television.
    “She’s beautiful,” he said quietly, reaching for my hand.
    I nodded and did my best to smile.
    “Cee, I’ve got to ask you this. Have you really thought this out? I mean, what if