Free Diane's Remembrance (Second Chance #4) by Christina Escue Page A

things.” One of them answers.
     
    “Leave us alone.” Ann says forcefully and she takes a step closer to me and Karla. “Y’all aren’t supposed to be on camp land. It’s private.”
     
    “And y’all ain’t s’possed to be outta bed this time of night.” The third man says with a toothless grin. “What do you reckon those nice people at the camp would say if they saw y’all out here this time of night? Elmer, John, I think we outta show these three what happens to little girls who break the rules.”
     
    Diane’s thoughts were interrupted again when her cell door opened. She remembered that night as clearly as if it had happened yesterday instead of twenty years ago. When the female officer spoke she barely registered what she was saying, but she stood and followed her from the cell. As they took her finger prints and mug shot she remained quiet, her thoughts still drifting to that night. The smell of his breath, the pain of his fists as they hit her repeatedly, the feel of his body invading hers.
    As the officer led her back to her holding cell she heard her friend’s cries of pain in her head. She shook her head to try and silence the memories. Just before the officer closed the door she asked, “What day is it?”
     
    “July fourteenth.” The officer answered and closed the door.
     
    “July fourteenth.” Diane mumbled to herself almost silently. As she sat there and stared blankly at the cell door a small smile crossed her face. “Happy birthday, Karla Ann.” She said before she laid down on the cot and drifted off into a fitful sleep.
     

Chapter Two
     
    “Diane, you need to get up, honey. It’s the first day of school and you don’t want to be late.” I hear my Mom call from downstairs. Doesn’t she realize I don’t care about school? I don’t care about anything anymore. My two best friends are gone, forever, and I should be with them. I should have died that night too. When a soft knock sounds on my door I throw the blanket aside and crawl out of bed. Dr. Thatcher keeps telling me to look to the future, not the past so I guess I better get started on that.
     
    “Ms. Hall? There is someone here to see you.” An officer said as the electronic locks on her cell door disengaged, pulling her from her memories.
     
    “Who is it? I don’t wanna see anyone.” Diane said in a child-like voice.
     
    “It’s Captain McGraw and it doesn’t matter if you want to see him or not, you’re going to.” The officer replied, grabbed her by the arm and escorted her to the conference room.
     
    Once Diane was seated at the table the man who was already in the room started talking. “Diane Hall, my name is Captain John McGraw and I have a few questions for you.”
     
    “Sure, fine, whatever.” Diane responded in a bored voice.
     
    “What can you tell me about the man you were living with?”
     
    “I don’t know what you mean.” Diane answered.
     
    “Ms. Hall, your daughter was picked up earlier for shoplifting. After a medical evaluation it was determined she was severely beaten and she has told us that your boyfriend, Garrett, is the one who beat her. Now, I ask again, what can you tell me about him?”
     
    “That little brat lied. Garrett never hurt her. If she was beaten it was by one of the men she flaunts herself for. She’s a little tramp and probably got what she deserved.”
     
    “Ms. Hall, it would be in your best interest to tell us what you know about Garrett.” McGraw told her in a voice that told her this was a warning.
     
    “Well I don’t know nothing about him except that I picked him up at a rest area just outside of Atlanta.”
     
    “Alright, Ms. Hall. I’ll leave it at this for now. I will be back with more questions and I will expect answers when I return. Oh, before I forget, the court is appointing you an attorney and I will be sure to contact him or her before I return.” McGraw nodded to the officer as he walked out, leaving Diane gaping after