"See! Now that's the kind of kid I like. She's smart, Rock. Not like that fuckin' idiot ya brought home last time," she pointed out.

"Good, baby. I'm glad you're happy. I'm sure Joey is probably hungry. How 'bout if I go get us a pizza and we can sit down like a family and have dinner?" he asked in a charming voice.

"Yeah, you go do that. While you're gone, me and this little princess will get to know each other. Did she bring any clothes with her?" Thelma asked.

"Nah. Just what she's wearing. I'm sure ya got shit upstairs she can use," he said.

"Yeah, we'll go up and see while you're gone," Thelma agreed.

That night, while lying in bed, Joey waited for deranged men to come into her room as they had in the place she'd just left. To her relief, no men ever came. When she woke up in the morning, after sleeping through the night for the first time that she could remember, she looked around the small room, wandered out into the hallway, and found the bathroom. Joey already felt a sense of freedom. Her heart felt lighter, and she made her way downstairs to find Thelma passed out on the sofa.

Joey walked into the kitchen and filled a glass with water from the faucet, and then she walked quietly to where Thelma lay sleeping. Joey stood over the woman for only a brief moment before Thelma's eyes bolted open. Startled, she sat up abruptly. "What the fuck?"

Joey jumped back and met Thelma's stare. Then she gave her a small smile. "I brought you a glass of water," she explained, pushing the glass toward her.

"Oh, thanks." Thelma took the glass and guzzled the water. "Next time, don't be sneakin' up on me like that." Thelma rubbed her temples with her fingers and looked up at Joey. "That was very thoughtful. Go on now and get yourself dressed," she said, and reclined on the sofa again.

Joey rushed up the stairs to her bedroom. She wondered if perhaps someday soon she would go to live with Maggie, the girl who helped get her out of that awful place where she was living. Joey allowed herself to feel hope, something she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe things will be different now, and I'll get to live like other kids, Joey thought.

But Joey had yet to see the real Thelma.

Chapter Eighty-Two.

It had been more than five years since Maggie was stolen from her family. Over the last year, Lorraine and Rob Clarke had become advocates for families of missing children.

They had just returned from the city after sitting for hours with a couple whose child had been taken just two days earlier. Detective Harker went to see the Clarkes each time a local child went missing. They tried to visit as many people as they could, but work and taking care of Keith made it impossible to meet with everyone in crisis.

"What's going on in this world?" Lorraine finally asked, more to herself than to Rob.

"I don't know. But at least we're doing something with our own loss. We're helping people to cope. In a weird way, I find comfort in helping other people. I wish there was more we could do," he said, feeling the enormity of other people's losses on his shoulders.

"Rob? Do you still wonder where Maggie is?"

Rob let out a loud sigh. "I don't know, Lorraine. I know you want to believe she's still out there and someday we'll find her, but I'm not so sure anymore. There are days when believing she's dead is more comforting than hoping she's alive."

"What do you mean? How can you think that way?" Lorraine asked desperately.

Lorraine needed Rob to believe they'd find Maggie someday. His belief fed her own belief, and she wasn't willing to give up hope that they'd see Maggie again. In fact, it was hope that kept her alive and functioning. Without hope, Lorraine was sure she would shrivel up and die.

"Look, we've seen so much tragedy over the last year, all those parents and their missing kids. It just seems like we would have heard something by now. When I let myself believe that Maggie's alive, then it tears me up to think about what's happening to her. You heard what that little Smith girl said when they found her-she was tortured and starved. What if the people who took Maggie are doing the same thing to her? How can I get out of bed in the morning knowing my kid is suffering like that?" Rob asked.

"The Smith girl was taken by a neighbor. He watched her for years. That sicko fantasized about her. Maggie wasn't taken by a neighbor," Lorraine debated weakly.

Rob took his wife into his arms. "We don't know that, Lorraine. The only thing we know is that she may have been abducted by sex traffickers," Rob reminded gently.

The two of them shared an unimaginable pain that only parents of missing children could know. All of the false leads that had given them temporary relief and optimism had led to dead ends. Then the cycle of grief and loss started all over again, as if it were the first day Maggie was gone.

Rob pulled away first. "We need to eat something before Rae Harker gets here."

Lorraine nodded and went to the kitchen to make them sandwiches. Now that Rob and Lorraine were heavily involved in working with families of missing children, Rae stopped in once a month, sometimes more frequently, to find out what they were able to uncover from the distraught parents. It was often in the small details, which many families didn't think mattered, that the police found their best leads.

The Clarkes had just finished eating when the doorbell rang. Rae Harker greeted the couple and casually walked into the kitchen, opened a cabinet, and took out a mug for coffee. For more than five years, Detective Harker had spent a lot of time with the Clarkes, and he was no longer a stranger in their home. He finally settled down at the kitchen table with Rob and Lorraine.

"Well, something significant happened today," Rae reported.

Lorraine sat forward, leaning on her elbows with anticipation.

"The Philly police busted a house where they found a dozen or so underage prostitutes." He watched as Lorraine's eyes widened, and he gently laid his hand over her wrist. "Maggie wasn't there. However, the girls they found could provide us with more information on the other kids that have gone missing," he stated.

Lorraine slumped in her chair. "How do you know none of the girls are Maggie? Did you ask them? Maybe she's been brainwashed to lie!"

"I know because all of the girls are either Latino or black. There weren't any white children recovered from the home," Rae said in an even voice. He knew how Lorraine tortured herself over the possibility that Maggie was still alive. He always made it a point to be sensitive when supplying information to her.

"Oh. Where was the house?" Lorraine asked sadly.

"It was in North Philly. They're still holding the girls at the police station. I've been told they're all in their early to middle teens. There were four men in the house when they busted in, and they're all being held for questioning. From the information they've gotten from the girls so far, it sounds like these are the four men who forced them into prostitution."

"I hope all of those sick bastards burn in hell. Is there anything we can do to help?" Rob asked.

"Well, actually, I was thinking that if I can swing it, maybe you could talk to one or two of the girls they rescued. They may be more inclined to tell the parents of a missing girl what they know than they would be to talk to the police. Do you think you'd be up for it?" Rae asked.

"Why us? I mean, talking to the families is one thing, but talking to these poor, innocent girls seems a little out of our league. Were just regular people. How would we know what to say?" Lorraine asked nervously.

"Think about it. Let's say someday we find Maggie. We know she would have information that could help other people. You would know what to ask her. You've been at this for a long time, and from where I sit, there aren't any other parents who have been as involved as you two have been," Detective Harker explained.

"He makes a good point, Lorraine." Rob slid his chair over and put his arm around his wife. "What if we can save just one other child? What if another couple could do what Rae is asking us to do and they said no? Wouldn't you want them to try if it meant finding more kids? Maybe even our own child?"

Tears dripped from Lorraine's chin, and she wiped them with a new sense of bravery. "OK, fine. We'll do it. I just hope we find out something that's going to help," she told them.

"Good! I'll make some phone calls and give you a buzz in the morning," Rae said. He rose and shook hands with both of them. He pulled Lorraine into him. "If I can make this happen, you're the one person I think can make a difference. I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't believe that," he assured her.

Lorraine was the kind of woman that people trusted. Her genuine and candid nature made her likeable and easy to engage. She had been great with the families of missing children. She gave them hope for a successful recovery. She was a natural at helping people learn to cope. Lorraine was oblivious to the comfort that she gave to the other parents. But Rae Harker knew all of this about Lorraine.

Lorraine's unrelenting belief that Maggie would come home made all the difference. Rae just hoped that one day he could make Lorraine's dream come true.

Chapter Eighty-Three.

Two days later, Rob and Lorraine drove to the Philadelphia police station in Center City. Only one girl was willing to talk to the Clarkes. Lorraine's nerves started to get the better of her when a fifteen-year-old Latino girl walked into the room and sat across from them. The first thing Lorraine noticed was how old the girl's eyes were. It was as if she was staring into the eyes of a sixty-year-old woman.

"Hello. I'm Lorraine, and this is my husband, Rob."

"I'm Crista," she announced. "The police said you wanted to talk to me."

There were several moments of uncomfortable silence as Lorraine and Crista watched each other closely.

"Your turn to talk," Crista told her with an attitude.

Lorraine smiled at her warmly. "Well, Rob and I have a daughter named Maggie. She was taken from us over five years ago. We talk to a lot of other parents whose children are missing. I thought maybe you could tell us something that would help us find our daughter." She smiled as she watched Crista soften just a tiny bit.

"Like what?" Crista asked.

"Well, like maybe you know of other places where girls are being kept and forced to..." Lorraine's voice caught in her throat.

"Forced to have sex with a bunch of disgusting slobs? You can say it. I've been doing it for three years now. I don't have anything to hide. In fact, I'm good at it," Crista said.

"Well, I'm sure you did what you needed to do to survive. I respect you for that," Lorraine told her.

"Oh yeah? You respect me for spreading my legs and giving sloppy blow jobs?" Crista taunted.

"I respect you for doing whatever was necessary to live through your ordeal. Look, nothing you can say will shock us. I understand you're angry, and I don't blame you. But we're angry too. Somewhere out there, our child may be doing the same things you had to do. We just want to help," Lorraine said in a raised voice. She was beginning to lose her cool.

"Oh yeah? So you're saying that if your kid comes home, you're not gonna care about all the shit they made her do? Humph. Bullshit. I never thought my parents would care, either, but I see the way they look at me. I know they hate me now," she said, her voice rising.

"That's not possible. A parent can't hate their own child for something that's not their fault. I'm certain your parents love you. They're just confused. It's hard to imagine someone doing horrible things to your kid. Maybe you have to tell them what you need. What you lived through is unthinkable, and this is in no way a comparison, but it's not easy to be on our side, either. We sit and pray and wait for news that never comes..."

Lorraine broke down and bawled. Sobs racked her body.

"Is she OK?" Crista asked Rob.

With tears streaming down his face, Rob turned to Crista. "You're the closest we've come to knowing what it would be like to find our own daughter. We were hoping you might be able to help. That's all," he explained gently.

Crista sat back in her chair and watched carefully. She wanted to be 100 percent certain that this lady wasn't fucking with her. Crista and the others had been saturated in paranoia by their pimps. They were always on the lookout for someone trying to set them up and get information they shouldn't be giving. It was ingrained in her-in all of them. When she was certain, she finally spoke. "OK, so you said your daughter's name is Maggie, right?"

Lorraine's head popped up as if she were a turtle coming out of its shell. "Yes, why? Do you know her? Have you seen our daughter?" Then Lorraine reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of Maggie for Crista to look over.

"Nah. I never saw her. But before they moved me to North Philly, they kept me in a house in Camden. There was chick there named Shana. I got pretty close with her, and she was always ranting about some chick named Maggie. She lived with her in Pennsylvania or some shit like that. She said Maggie was kidnapped from some mall. Is that your daughter?" Crista asked.

Lorraine nodded sadly. "Yes, it is. We knew she was held here in Pennsylvania for a while. The police had arrested your friend, Shana, and found out that they had been held together at some point," she confessed.

"Well, did you know that Shana thought Maggie was special? Bitch was all kinds of jealous of your kid. Apparently, Maggie got the attention of some guy named Myles, who ran the place. Soooo, he dumped Shana and made Maggie his new girl," Crista said, as if it was completely normal and she thought the information would make the Clarkes feel better.

Rob's hands were on his lap under the table, and he instinctively curled them into tight fists. It was incomprehensible that some man had made Maggie his new girl. She was only a child. In the meantime, Lorraine made a mental note. Myles was a name she'd give to Detective Harker.

"We didn't know this, Crista," Lorraine finally said.

Crista felt the sadness and loss of the two grown-ups who sat in front of her. They really did love their daughter; that was clear to her. So she decided to continue. "Well, from what Shana told me, Maggie was one strong bitch. She would read all kinds of books some perverted doctor would bring her. She helped Shana out a couple of times when her customers hurt her real bad. Anyway, Shana said all the other kids loved Maggie. I can't remember their names, and she talked mostly about Maggie anyways, 'cause even though she said she hated her, I could tell she liked her too. She was just jealous that she wasn't as smart as Maggie."

Crista watched as Lorraine and Rob sobbed for the child they loved. Finally, unable to remain silent, Crista blurted, "The last time Shana saw Maggie, she was still alive. Who knows? Maybe she still is."

"You're right, Crista. Maybe she is, and someday she'll come home to us just like you're home with your parents," Rob offered.

"Yeah, maybe she's out there somewhere. Hey, do either of you have a cigarette?"

"No, we don't smoke, and you shouldn't either," Rob added.

Crista looked at him with an amused grin, and he realized how stupid it was for him to scold her for smoking after all that she'd been through.

"I'm sorry, Crista. I don't mean to preach. It's the father in me," he said softly.

"Yeah, I get it. Anyway, is there anything else you wanted to talk about?" Crista asked.

Lorraine shook her head and pulled herself together. "Nope, not right now. But if anything comes up, could we get in touch with you?"

"Sure. My parents said it was OK for me to talk to whoever I needed if it helps put this thing behind me. Ha! They don't know shit if they think I can put something like this behind me. It's a part of me now. You know, after a while, it doesn't seem so bad to be a whore. Guys used to pay a lot of money for me-not that those assholes ever let me keep any of it. Anyways, do you think you could give me your phone number? I kinda like talkin' to you guys. Maybe you can give me advice on how to handle my parents. I mean, they think I'm the little girl I was before I disappeared. I ain't nothin' like that person. I had to leave her far behind if I wanted to live..." Crista's voice trailed off as she thought of the pretty, sweet girl she once was.

By the time they rose to leave, a bond had formed. Each of them walked away with new insight. As Lorraine walked out of the police station, she touched the small piece of paper with Crista's phone number on it.

Right before Lorraine got into the car, she turned to Rob. "If Maggie ever comes back to us, I don't think she'll be the person we knew. Crista has helped me to see how all the corruption and exploitation changes a child. We need to do more, Rob. We need to start helping these kids make their way back into society. There has to be more we can do."

Chapter Eighty-Four.

Seth felt like he was living in a dream. He had been living with Juju for almost six months, and Maggie was there whenever she wasn't working, which made him feel as if she lived there too. He and Joey had become close friends.

Seth was working for Rock, and all the exchanges of money and drugs were coordinated through Juju. After a couple of months, Juju talked to Rock. "So, we need you to give Seth some money for his work. I mean, I can't afford to pay for everything. Maggie chips in a little, but you know Armando is tight with his allowance to the girls," Juju explained.

"We didn't have no deal on the boy getting paid. You and Maggie should've thought about how you were gonna feed him before ya cut a deal. So, I ain't cuttin' no deal wit' cha now," Rock told her. "I don't care if that little shit stain starves to death. He ain't my problem."

Juju wasn't surprised by Rock's response; she'd expected as much. Plan B was for Maggie to find out if Armando would increase her allowance a little. Maggie wasn't looking forward to asking him, but she figured it was worth a try. Maggie approached Armando on a rainy Thursday morning. "Hey, Armando," she sang in a sweeter voice than normal.

"What the hell do you want?" Armando asked defensively.

"I wanted to talk to you about my allowance."

"What about it?"