Detective Harker rang the Clarkes’ doorbell. It was early in the morning, and Lorraine answered it with her hair and nightclothes in disarray.
“Harker. What are you doing here? Did you find Maggie?” Lorraine barked.
“No. But we think something significant happened. Can I come in?” Harker asked.
“Sure.” Lorraine led him into the kitchen. She started a pot of coffee and then sat at the table across from Harker. “What happened?” she asked.
“The FBI contacted us. Early this morning, an agent was found dead at Penn Treaty Park. Apparently, the agent has been undercover for several years. Her mission was to find a way into the sex-trafficking ring,” Harker explained.
“Wait, wait.” Lorraine stood quickly, knocking over her chair. Her skin felt like it was burning. “Sex trafficking? You think my daughter is being sold for sex?”
Harker stood up next to Lorraine. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked directly into her eyes. “We don’t know, Lorraine. But if she is, this agent infiltrated further than anyone in the bureau has before. The thing is, she was so deep undercover that she didn’t talk to anyone at the FBI about what was going on. She sent very cryptic notes to her commander—almost a hundred notes over the last three years with only a few words on them. Her commander said they’ve pieced together most of the story. They knew she was living in Pennsylvania, and her last note, which he received after she died, vaguely mentioned a prison.”
Lorraine felt her insides come to life. Her heart was pumping, and she was filled with an energy she hadn’t had in a long time. She fidgeted as she considered the possibility that Maggie was forced into sex trafficking, a thought that made her knees weak. “So, what you’re telling me is that you think Maggie could still be alive?”
“What I’m telling you is we still have nothing to indicate that Maggie is alive. However, we are waiting on further instructions from the FBI. Hopefully, they will provide us with useful leads. We may be able to find out where they are holding children. There’s a chance that Maggie is being trafficked. I don’t want to give you false hope about her being alive. I just want you to know there’s a possibility,” he stated.
My Maggie is still alive, she thought. My baby is still alive!
Lorraine sat at the kitchen table and put her hands around her mug. She took a long sip of the rich coffee. It had been a while since she’d actually tasted anything. That morning, the sugar and cream she mixed in her coffee filled her mouth. The flavors played over her taste buds, creating a sensation she hadn’t felt in a long time…being alive. Her faith ignited and began a slow burn that warmed her heart.