Face Time

Last Wednesday I got a phone call from my mother-in-law, Ginger.

6:26am

"Kaytee's gone. I went in to wake her up for school and found a note on her bed."

I instantly felt like throwing up.

The first thing I thought of were her friends. They will know where she is. But then I realized that I don't have their numbers. So I called my sister and my friend, Devona. I asked Devona...at what point do I call the police?

"Now!"

Multi tasking skills were put to the test. Dress, call police, pray, cry, drive and pray some more.

I hurried down to Sacramento as fast as I could, leaving frantic messages on the phones of family who didn't answer.

I went through her stuff for clues. Devona rushed over and got info out of her kid, Samantha (Kaytee's best friend who goes to Capital Christian)
Over the couple hours we learned that Kaytee left the house at 12:30 with a boy named "Sam" and his friend that could drive. We also learned that Kaytee sent a text to Samantha at 6:15 am, which only said "I think I made a mistake."

Soon, 2 shariffs deputies arrived at Ginger's house. I found out the boys last name and gave all the info (including a description of Kaytee) to the shariff.

I continued to send text messages to Kaytee to let her know the police are looking for her and this boy who took her. She sent back a text that said, "Chill mom. I will come back tonight."

I got mad. Little shit!!! but incredibly relieved that she was not dead.

The deputy called her and left a message. Then he sent her a text. She apparently scared enough to call him back. He was firm with her and got her to tell him where she was. I listened as he told her to be waiting on the curb. "We'll be there in 8 minutes and you better be waiting. If you're not, there's gonna be trouble."

Devona and I followed their patrol car to a dumpy neighbor on the other side of interstate 80.

Tears poured down my face when I caught sight of her.

I waited. I didn't want her to see me yet. Both deputies got out and talked with her. They put her in the back on the patrol car and came over to talk with me.

"We're going to let her sit there and marinate for a minute while we go in and talk to who ever is in that house."

After a couple big knocks on the door, they got out their monster sized flashlight and beat on it with the back end. Finally someone opened the door, but I couldn't see who. The cops were in there for about 20 minutes.

When they came out, they told me that Kaytee had been with 5 "knuckleheads" but it didn't look like any debotchery had been going on and that the boys had never been in trouble before. Kaytee comfirmed to me later that nothing bad happened, but she didn't sleep because she didn't trust anyone there.

They took her out of the car and I got out of mine. I hugged her and told her I loved her. Then I gave her a little push in the back of the neck and whispered, get in the car.

After speaking with the cops a little more, we drove back to Ginger's in silence.

I have much more to write, but my battery is dying. I took emergency leave and dropped my next trip to give her tons of face time. Tomorrow Kaytee will be admitted into a physc center. She wants to go and we both know it will be beneficial.

This is no time to be whimpy, Kathy. (I tell myself).