Chapter 2
"Slow down,I can't understand you dear, what's going on?" said Joyce's husband, and Wil's father, Jim Sims as he swiveled in his desk chair trying to grasp what was being said to him.
"It's Wil, he's not on the school bus" cried Joyce as she spoke to her husband at his office. "I walked to the corner to meet the bus and he's not here" continued Joyce, her voice now trembling. "What do you mean he's not there?" snapped Jim in a tone that although sounding harsh and aggressive, was actually now riddled with the same fear that had already overtaken his wife.
"I'm leaving right now, I'll be there in twenty minutes." Jim said as he sprang from behind his desk and began to sprint down the hall towards the front door that would lead him to his car. "I've got a family emergency, I'll call you when I can." Jim yelled to a co-worker as he rammed through the double glass doors and darted from the building, then across the courtyard leading to the parking lot.
After jumping into his car and screeching from the employee parking lot, Jim mashed his foot on the cars accelerator and sped towards the gated community on the outskirts of Red River Valley. Still learning the back roads to the house that he and his family had moved into just two months earlier, and with thoughts of his son Wil racing through his mind, Jim, as he had done on several occasions over the summer, found himself once again questioning why he had taken the new job and uprooted his family from the only home they had ever known back in Myatt, Indiana.
First one, then two, and within five minutes, the third and fourth Red River Valley Police cars arrived at the corner of Rapids Street and Pebble Avenue. With lights flashing and microphones squawking, the normally calm intersection now took on the appearance of a police crime scene or made for television reality show as police offers converged on the school bus, which was still idling with its red traffic stopping lights blinking to alert oncoming traffic that students were unloading from the bus.
"What do we have?" asked Police Sergeant Bruce Anderson as he joined fellow officers already on the scene. "Not totally clear yet" responded Officer Fain. "But, it appears we have a missing child." "This is his mom over here", said Officer Fain pointing to Wil's mom as she stood at the front of the bus speaking with the first officer who had arrived, Leo Arnley. "And", continued Officer Fain, the gentlemen with the pig - tail is the bus driver for the school district.
"Give me the details" said Sergeant Anderson as he reached to turn the radio volume down on the small walkie - talkie attached to his shoulder that under normal circumstances would keep him within earshot of all radio traffic taking place in the fifth police precinct of Red River Valley of which he was the on the ground commander.
"Well, best we can tell" started Officer Fain, "we have a 3rd grade child who according to other students, got on the bus at the school and when his mother came to this stop to meet him, he didn't get off." With that, Sergeant Anderson interrupted the officer to ask, "are there cameras on this bus and are we sure that the child was on the bus when it left the school?"
"I'm sorry but I can't answer those questions Sir, perhaps we can speak with the driver" replied Officer Fain as he began to feel perspiration running down his forehead at the thought of not being able to answer the basic questions asked of him by his boss Sergeant Anderson. "Get him over here, now!" barked Sargent Anderson as he from this point on would take control of the investigation into the disappearance of 3rd grader Wil Sims.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The School Bus
Chapter 3
"I understand you're the driver of the bus" asked Sergeant Bruce Anderson to the pig-tailed bus driver as he walked to the front of the bus. "That's right Sir, my name is Shawn Charlton."
"Alright Shawn, we've got a big problem here and we need to get it solved right now!" said Anderson in the intimidating tone often inflected by police officers. "Yes sir,I understand" replied the first year and part time school bus driver.
As he had already asked a fellow officer when he arrived, Sergeant Anderson's first question to the bus driver was direct and to the point. "Is there a camera on this bus?" "Sir, I've only been driving since school started last week and today is the first day I have had this particular bus, so I'm not sure." "I mean" continued the driver, "I know some buses do but I'm not sure about this one" finished Charlton, his voice now beginning to break in response to the aggressive atmosphere induced into the conversation by the police Sergeant.
"Damn it!, haven't any of you even got on the damn bus to look for a camera" snapped Sergeant Anderson loud enough for each of the six officers who had arrived on the scene before him to hear. "Move!" barked Anderson as he took a step towards the bus and in doing so pushed both the driver and one of his junior officers aside and out of his way.
Jumping into the bus to take a look, Anderson, without showing any sign of emotion, felt a small bit of relief overtake him as he quickly discovered that Bus 127 had in fact been fitted with a camera. As was becoming the norm in the Red River Valley School District, and in school districts across the country, more and more buses had over the past few years been equipped with cameras similar to those found in most police cars now on the roads. Although meant more to act as an extra set off eyes for the drivers to deter and record students unruly behavior, it was clear to Sargent Anderson that today the on board technology might be the key piece of information to help determine if and when Wil Sims first got on, and then off the school bus.
"Come here" shouted Anderson as he leaned out the open door of the bus and pointed to the bus's driver. "How do I see what has been recorded by this camera?" "Well Sir," replied Shawn Charlton, "best I know is that the only person that can access the hard drive and replay the video is the schools computer guy." "I can call the school if you want."
"I have the school on the phone right now" said Wil's mom who had been standing nearby and was trying every avenue to determine what might have happened to her son. "I'm on hold while they get his homeroom teacher." she continued. Stepping off the bus, Sargent Anderson approached Wil's mom and reached for the phone saying, "If you don't mind ma'am, I'd like to speak with the school."
Holding the phone to his ear while continuing to look about the bus, and the now long line of cars that were slowly creeping by the bus as drivers rubbernecked the scene as they approached, and then passed the corner, Sergeant Anderson's mind raced forward with additional questions for the driver.
How many kids were on the bus each day? How many other stops had it already made? Where were those stops? and most importantly, Was Wil ever on the bus, and if so, where did he get off?
After a brief wait, Sargent Anderson heard the voice on the other end of the phone. "This is Ms. Fagan, how can I help you." "Yes, Ms. Fagan, this is Sergeant Anderson with the Red River Valley Police Department" he replied. "We have a missing student on bus route 127 and we need your help."
"Oh my GOD, who are you talking about?" questioned Wil's homeroom teacher in an excited voice. "Please, calm down Ms. Fagan" continued Sergeant Anderson. "We have a patrol car on it's way to the school right now and it should be there any minute." "In the meantime, I need you to think back to dismissal time Ms. Fagan." "Do you recall seeing Wil Sims get on the bus before it left?"
Without a second of hesitation, Wil's teacher, Ms. Fagan responded quick and to the point. "Oh yes, absolutely." Ms. Fagan's confidence was then interrupted by Sergeant Anderson who tersely asked, "How are you so sure?"
"I'm 100% sure officer" replied Ms. Fagan, a 15 year veteran teacher at Red River Valley Elementary School. "I know he was on the bus because I monitor that bus route everyday and he was the last student to get on." Ms. Fagan then told Anderson how she had to break up a game of hacky sack that Wil had been playing with his classroom pal Scotty McCarver.
"OK ma'am, thank you for the information, and as I said, an officer is on his way to the school right now. I would appreciate it if you would tell him what you have just told me" concluded Sergeant Anderson before closing the phone and ending the call.
After having finished the call to the school, Sergeant Anderson turned to Wil's mom and the bus driver and said, "Well, it looks like the boy was on the bus when it left the school. Now we need to find out where he got off."
Then, looking directly at the bus driver who now felt the entire weight of the day upon his shoulders, Sergeant Anderson said in a firm and authoritative voice, "I need you to come get in my patrol car with me." As the two men began to walk towards the car, Wil's mom, still trying to grasp what was going on, said in a frightened voice, "Oh my GOD, what have you done to my son?"
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
"I understand you're the driver of the bus" asked Sergeant Bruce Anderson to the pig-tailed bus driver as he walked to the front of the bus. "That's right Sir, my name is Shawn Charlton."
"Alright Shawn, we've got a big problem here and we need to get it solved right now!" said Anderson in the intimidating tone often inflected by police officers. "Yes sir,I understand" replied the first year and part time school bus driver.
As he had already asked a fellow officer when he arrived, Sergeant Anderson's first question to the bus driver was direct and to the point. "Is there a camera on this bus?" "Sir, I've only been driving since school started last week and today is the first day I have had this particular bus, so I'm not sure." "I mean" continued the driver, "I know some buses do but I'm not sure about this one" finished Charlton, his voice now beginning to break in response to the aggressive atmosphere induced into the conversation by the police Sergeant.
"Damn it!, haven't any of you even got on the damn bus to look for a camera" snapped Sergeant Anderson loud enough for each of the six officers who had arrived on the scene before him to hear. "Move!" barked Anderson as he took a step towards the bus and in doing so pushed both the driver and one of his junior officers aside and out of his way.
Jumping into the bus to take a look, Anderson, without showing any sign of emotion, felt a small bit of relief overtake him as he quickly discovered that Bus 127 had in fact been fitted with a camera. As was becoming the norm in the Red River Valley School District, and in school districts across the country, more and more buses had over the past few years been equipped with cameras similar to those found in most police cars now on the roads. Although meant more to act as an extra set off eyes for the drivers to deter and record students unruly behavior, it was clear to Sargent Anderson that today the on board technology might be the key piece of information to help determine if and when Wil Sims first got on, and then off the school bus.
"Come here" shouted Anderson as he leaned out the open door of the bus and pointed to the bus's driver. "How do I see what has been recorded by this camera?" "Well Sir," replied Shawn Charlton, "best I know is that the only person that can access the hard drive and replay the video is the schools computer guy." "I can call the school if you want."
"I have the school on the phone right now" said Wil's mom who had been standing nearby and was trying every avenue to determine what might have happened to her son. "I'm on hold while they get his homeroom teacher." she continued. Stepping off the bus, Sargent Anderson approached Wil's mom and reached for the phone saying, "If you don't mind ma'am, I'd like to speak with the school."
Holding the phone to his ear while continuing to look about the bus, and the now long line of cars that were slowly creeping by the bus as drivers rubbernecked the scene as they approached, and then passed the corner, Sergeant Anderson's mind raced forward with additional questions for the driver.
How many kids were on the bus each day? How many other stops had it already made? Where were those stops? and most importantly, Was Wil ever on the bus, and if so, where did he get off?
After a brief wait, Sargent Anderson heard the voice on the other end of the phone. "This is Ms. Fagan, how can I help you." "Yes, Ms. Fagan, this is Sergeant Anderson with the Red River Valley Police Department" he replied. "We have a missing student on bus route 127 and we need your help."
"Oh my GOD, who are you talking about?" questioned Wil's homeroom teacher in an excited voice. "Please, calm down Ms. Fagan" continued Sergeant Anderson. "We have a patrol car on it's way to the school right now and it should be there any minute." "In the meantime, I need you to think back to dismissal time Ms. Fagan." "Do you recall seeing Wil Sims get on the bus before it left?"
Without a second of hesitation, Wil's teacher, Ms. Fagan responded quick and to the point. "Oh yes, absolutely." Ms. Fagan's confidence was then interrupted by Sergeant Anderson who tersely asked, "How are you so sure?"
"I'm 100% sure officer" replied Ms. Fagan, a 15 year veteran teacher at Red River Valley Elementary School. "I know he was on the bus because I monitor that bus route everyday and he was the last student to get on." Ms. Fagan then told Anderson how she had to break up a game of hacky sack that Wil had been playing with his classroom pal Scotty McCarver.
"OK ma'am, thank you for the information, and as I said, an officer is on his way to the school right now. I would appreciate it if you would tell him what you have just told me" concluded Sergeant Anderson before closing the phone and ending the call.
After having finished the call to the school, Sergeant Anderson turned to Wil's mom and the bus driver and said, "Well, it looks like the boy was on the bus when it left the school. Now we need to find out where he got off."
Then, looking directly at the bus driver who now felt the entire weight of the day upon his shoulders, Sergeant Anderson said in a firm and authoritative voice, "I need you to come get in my patrol car with me." As the two men began to walk towards the car, Wil's mom, still trying to grasp what was going on, said in a frightened voice, "Oh my GOD, what have you done to my son?"
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Friday, September 25, 2009
The School Bus
Chapter 4
Walking a few steps behind Sergeant Anderson towards the patrol car as he had been instructed to do, bus driver Shawn Carlton suddenly felt another massive jolt of panic run through his body. Aside from the fact that a student whom had been placed in his trust by parents and the school district was now missing, it dawned on him that the bus which had now been idling and surrounded by police cars for the last twenty minutes still had thirteen child on board and four stops on the bus route to go.
Driver Carlton asked aloud as he reached the police car, "Sir, what about the other kids on the bus, I'm sure their parents must be wondering where they are and why they are so late." In an angry and direct response, Sergeant Anderson replied, "I'll tell you what, you get in the car like I asked you too and let me worry about the children on the bus."
Climbing in the back of the Red River Valley Police car, Carlton now felt as though the world was closing in on him as the door shut behind him. Alone, as he looked through the bars that separated the back seat from the front, Carlton had two thoughts. What was Sergeant Anderson saying to the other officers as they stood in a circle at the front of the car, and what would happen if Anderson decided to do an outstanding warrants background from the laptop attached to the dashboard.
Ending the discussion with his junior officers, Sergeant Anderson motioned to Wil's mom who by now was back on the phone with her husband asking where he was and how long it would take him to arrive. "Ms. Sims, if I may speak to you for a moment please" said Anderson. "The police want to talk to me, hurry up and get here" concluded Joyce Sims as she disconnected from her husband and gave her full attention to Anderson.
"OK ma'am, here is what we have" started Anderson as he adjusted the thick black belt worn by police officers to holster their weapons, carry handcuffs, and other standard issue gear. "I've got one patrol car that should be at the school any minute to speak with your son's teacher and the school principle." "I've got two more that are searching along the roads from the school to this stop, and another that is at the front gate of the neighborhood."
"Now" continued Sergeant Anderson, "I am going to stay here with you, but I need to send the bus along." "We have quite a few children still on it, and I'm sure their parents are concerned." "Don't be alarmed Ms. Sim's" said Anderson as he reached to gently grab her arm, "I'm going to need the bus driver to complete the route, but I'm going to have one of my officers on the bus with him until the route is complete."
"What!" screamed Wil's mom. "You're going to let him go?" "How can you do that?" she screamed again as she looked over her shoulder to see a police officer and the driver of the bus walking up the slight incline towards the bus. "Ma'am" said Sergeant Anderson, "I have no other choice, we have to get these other children home, Officer Fain will be on the bus until the route is finished." "I'm sorry ma'am, but again, I have no other choice."
"Oh my GOD, Oh my GOD" cried Wil's mom as her voice weakened and trembled. "Where is my son" she said as the bus driver climbed behind the steering wheel, put on his seat belt, shut the door, and drove away in Red River Valley School Bus number 127
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Walking a few steps behind Sergeant Anderson towards the patrol car as he had been instructed to do, bus driver Shawn Carlton suddenly felt another massive jolt of panic run through his body. Aside from the fact that a student whom had been placed in his trust by parents and the school district was now missing, it dawned on him that the bus which had now been idling and surrounded by police cars for the last twenty minutes still had thirteen child on board and four stops on the bus route to go.
Driver Carlton asked aloud as he reached the police car, "Sir, what about the other kids on the bus, I'm sure their parents must be wondering where they are and why they are so late." In an angry and direct response, Sergeant Anderson replied, "I'll tell you what, you get in the car like I asked you too and let me worry about the children on the bus."
Climbing in the back of the Red River Valley Police car, Carlton now felt as though the world was closing in on him as the door shut behind him. Alone, as he looked through the bars that separated the back seat from the front, Carlton had two thoughts. What was Sergeant Anderson saying to the other officers as they stood in a circle at the front of the car, and what would happen if Anderson decided to do an outstanding warrants background from the laptop attached to the dashboard.
Ending the discussion with his junior officers, Sergeant Anderson motioned to Wil's mom who by now was back on the phone with her husband asking where he was and how long it would take him to arrive. "Ms. Sims, if I may speak to you for a moment please" said Anderson. "The police want to talk to me, hurry up and get here" concluded Joyce Sims as she disconnected from her husband and gave her full attention to Anderson.
"OK ma'am, here is what we have" started Anderson as he adjusted the thick black belt worn by police officers to holster their weapons, carry handcuffs, and other standard issue gear. "I've got one patrol car that should be at the school any minute to speak with your son's teacher and the school principle." "I've got two more that are searching along the roads from the school to this stop, and another that is at the front gate of the neighborhood."
"Now" continued Sergeant Anderson, "I am going to stay here with you, but I need to send the bus along." "We have quite a few children still on it, and I'm sure their parents are concerned." "Don't be alarmed Ms. Sim's" said Anderson as he reached to gently grab her arm, "I'm going to need the bus driver to complete the route, but I'm going to have one of my officers on the bus with him until the route is complete."
"What!" screamed Wil's mom. "You're going to let him go?" "How can you do that?" she screamed again as she looked over her shoulder to see a police officer and the driver of the bus walking up the slight incline towards the bus. "Ma'am" said Sergeant Anderson, "I have no other choice, we have to get these other children home, Officer Fain will be on the bus until the route is finished." "I'm sorry ma'am, but again, I have no other choice."
"Oh my GOD, Oh my GOD" cried Wil's mom as her voice weakened and trembled. "Where is my son" she said as the bus driver climbed behind the steering wheel, put on his seat belt, shut the door, and drove away in Red River Valley School Bus number 127
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The School Bus
Chapter 5
"Who the hell is that?" snapped Sergeant Anderson as he turned to see a car with it's headlights flashing and horn blaring coming up the wrong side of Rapids Street in an effort to bypass the long line of cars that had been backed up by the police activity.
"That's my husband!, that's my husband!" repeated Wils mom as she stepped off of the corner into the street and began waving to her husband Jim. Driving the families new gold toned mini van, which was purchased with money received as part of accepting his new job in Red River Valley, Jim Sims now approached the corner, slammed the vehicle into park and jumped into the middle of the confusion that had overtaken the day.
"Wil's lost, Wil's lost" cried Joyce Sims as her husband embraced her in a hug that could only be shared by parents facing the trauma of a lost child. "It's OK, we'll find him, I promise" replied Wils dad as he tried calm his wife, while at the same time being overcome by the fright that accompanied the words he had just heard.
Continuing to hug his wife, Wil's father turned his head in the direction of Sergeant Anderson to ask, "what's going on officer?" "where is my son?" In a tone of expected compassion, Sergeant Anderson took a calm step in the couples direction before saying, "Sir, I'll explain everything, but first I'm going to have to ask you to move your vehicle." "We've got enough traffic backed up here, I can't have the intersection blocked like this."
At first, Jim Sims reaction bordered on the brink of explosion. His child was missing, his wife was understandably distraught, and the first thing he heard from the police was a request to move his car. "You've got to be kidding me!" words that raced through his mind but then in a moment of better judgement, were not spoken.
As requested, Jim returned to the mini van and quickly pulled forward into the first driveway on his left to clear the street. "Thank you Sir" said Sergeant Anderson as reached his hand out to shake hands with Jim in a now more serious and formal manner.
"My name is Sergeant Bruce Anderson" "I've been here with your wife for the last 30 minutes and I want to assure you that we have officers looking diligently for Wil" said Anderson as he and Wils father began to talk about the events that had unfolded since dismissal time at Red River Valley Elementary School.
"Looking where? what the heck do you mean by that? said Jim Sims in the raised voiced that would be expected from a parent in fear for their child's safety. Sergeant Anderson then repeated what was already known. Wil appeared to have boarded the bus at the school, several patrol cars were now back tracking along the route, and another officer was soon to be at the school to speak with Wils teachers and other school officials.
"If he was on the bus, where is he now?" asked Jim to no one in particular as he tried to grasp the swirling bits of information that he was gathering from his wife and Sergeant Anderson. "What about the other kids?" he continued. "Didn't anyone see him get off? Where the hell is the bus now?" Jim roared as it finally dawned on him that although swarming with police cars, the intersection was now absent the bus that his son had been assigned to ride home from school.
As Sergeant Anderson had already told Wil's mom, the details of the last few minutes were now explained to his father. The bus had been released from the scene to allow the remainder of the students to be taken home. A veteran Red River Valley Police Officer was on the bus and would remain so until the last student was off. At that point the officer and the driver, Shawn Carlton, would return to the school where they would be met by police and school officials.
"OK, that's fine" said Sims before adding, "but I'm not going to just sit here and wait for the damn bus driver to get back to school before I do something else." With that, Jim Sims kissed his wife on the forehead and said, "you stay here, I'm going to look for Wil myself."
Not as a direct order, but as a suggestion based on experience, Sergeant Anderson then told Jim that the best thing he could do was to stay put and let the police department do it's work. "Sorry officer, I'm going to look for my son" replied Jim as he began to run towards his van. "I understand, I understand" answered Anderson before turning to one of his junior officers and quietly saying "run a criminal background and outstanding warrant report on the bus driver."
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
"Who the hell is that?" snapped Sergeant Anderson as he turned to see a car with it's headlights flashing and horn blaring coming up the wrong side of Rapids Street in an effort to bypass the long line of cars that had been backed up by the police activity.
"That's my husband!, that's my husband!" repeated Wils mom as she stepped off of the corner into the street and began waving to her husband Jim. Driving the families new gold toned mini van, which was purchased with money received as part of accepting his new job in Red River Valley, Jim Sims now approached the corner, slammed the vehicle into park and jumped into the middle of the confusion that had overtaken the day.
"Wil's lost, Wil's lost" cried Joyce Sims as her husband embraced her in a hug that could only be shared by parents facing the trauma of a lost child. "It's OK, we'll find him, I promise" replied Wils dad as he tried calm his wife, while at the same time being overcome by the fright that accompanied the words he had just heard.
Continuing to hug his wife, Wil's father turned his head in the direction of Sergeant Anderson to ask, "what's going on officer?" "where is my son?" In a tone of expected compassion, Sergeant Anderson took a calm step in the couples direction before saying, "Sir, I'll explain everything, but first I'm going to have to ask you to move your vehicle." "We've got enough traffic backed up here, I can't have the intersection blocked like this."
At first, Jim Sims reaction bordered on the brink of explosion. His child was missing, his wife was understandably distraught, and the first thing he heard from the police was a request to move his car. "You've got to be kidding me!" words that raced through his mind but then in a moment of better judgement, were not spoken.
As requested, Jim returned to the mini van and quickly pulled forward into the first driveway on his left to clear the street. "Thank you Sir" said Sergeant Anderson as reached his hand out to shake hands with Jim in a now more serious and formal manner.
"My name is Sergeant Bruce Anderson" "I've been here with your wife for the last 30 minutes and I want to assure you that we have officers looking diligently for Wil" said Anderson as he and Wils father began to talk about the events that had unfolded since dismissal time at Red River Valley Elementary School.
"Looking where? what the heck do you mean by that? said Jim Sims in the raised voiced that would be expected from a parent in fear for their child's safety. Sergeant Anderson then repeated what was already known. Wil appeared to have boarded the bus at the school, several patrol cars were now back tracking along the route, and another officer was soon to be at the school to speak with Wils teachers and other school officials.
"If he was on the bus, where is he now?" asked Jim to no one in particular as he tried to grasp the swirling bits of information that he was gathering from his wife and Sergeant Anderson. "What about the other kids?" he continued. "Didn't anyone see him get off? Where the hell is the bus now?" Jim roared as it finally dawned on him that although swarming with police cars, the intersection was now absent the bus that his son had been assigned to ride home from school.
As Sergeant Anderson had already told Wil's mom, the details of the last few minutes were now explained to his father. The bus had been released from the scene to allow the remainder of the students to be taken home. A veteran Red River Valley Police Officer was on the bus and would remain so until the last student was off. At that point the officer and the driver, Shawn Carlton, would return to the school where they would be met by police and school officials.
"OK, that's fine" said Sims before adding, "but I'm not going to just sit here and wait for the damn bus driver to get back to school before I do something else." With that, Jim Sims kissed his wife on the forehead and said, "you stay here, I'm going to look for Wil myself."
Not as a direct order, but as a suggestion based on experience, Sergeant Anderson then told Jim that the best thing he could do was to stay put and let the police department do it's work. "Sorry officer, I'm going to look for my son" replied Jim as he began to run towards his van. "I understand, I understand" answered Anderson before turning to one of his junior officers and quietly saying "run a criminal background and outstanding warrant report on the bus driver."
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The School Bus
Chapter 6
Climbing back into the family vehicle, Jim Sims jerked the car first into reverse and then into drive as he screeched off to look for his 3rd grade son Wil. As he had done during his drive from the office to the bus stop where Wil was to have got off the bus, Jim again found himself wondering, why had he uprooted his family this past summer, why had he taken them a thousand miles west to Red River Valley?
"Sergeant Anderson, HQ is on the radio and they say they have some information" announced one of the patrol officers on the scene. "I'll be right there" said Anderson as he abruptly finished a conversation that he was having with the mother of another child from bus 127. Walking quickly to join the team of officers who had moved to one of the patrol cars to begin the background and outstanding warrant report on bus driver Shawn Carlton, Anderson took front and center as he stated in his authoritative tone, "what do we have?"
Leaning in the open door of the patrol car, Anderson listened intently at the words from HQ, "There are no outstanding warrants for a Mr. Shawn Alexander Carlton, however, there is a past conviction on his record" continued the female voice being broadcast across the police frequency. "The subject was fined for failure to pay child support and a misdemeanor child endangerment charge stemming from a domestic incident 2 years ago" continued the audio report from the Red River Valley Police Headquarters.
"That's great" said Anderson in a sarcastic tone as he shook his head from side to side. "We have a damn bus driver that has a history of family problems driving one of our school buses." "Didn't the son of a bitches at the school board do a background check on this guy?" asked Anderson aloud as he looked back to see that Wil's mom was out of hearing distance and was unaware of the news that had just been received.
As he turned back towards the patrol car to listen to the conclusion of the report being sent by HQ, Anderson's eye was caught by movement coming up the street towards the the intersection. "This is all we need" said the police sergeant in frustration as he saw an all to familiar site. Driving towards the group of police cars was a red and white cargo van with large lettering announcing, "Channel 3 News..Always On The Spot"
With the background report complete and the results now having been received, Sergeant Anderson's next step of action was to establish contact with his officer who had boarded the bus for the final few stops of the day. Speaking into his shoulder attached walkie talkie, Anderson growled, "5-9 this is 5-1, come in" For those familiar with police chatter, the call signs said it all. 5-1 was to signify District 5, officer 1, the number given to the the officer in charge of each of Red River Valley's 9 police districts. In making the over air announcement, it was clear to anyone listening on the police radio frequency that the boss was on the air and looking for one of his street officers.
As would be expected, the response was quick and clear. "5-1 this is 5-9 over..." Having established communication, Anderson broke from the use police lingo and asked in a straight forward command, "Fain, where are you and what is going on?" Allowing for a few seconds of transmission time, Sergeant Anderson stood among several fellow officers to hear the reply. "Sergeant, we just dropped the last 3 children off and are about to turn onto Washington Street to head back to the school" answered Officer Fain from the front step of the now empty bus.
"Negative! I repeat Negative!" yelled Anderson into this microphone. "I want you to turn that bus around and get it and the driver back here right away." "Is this clear?" continued the now aggressive Sergeant Anderson. "10-4, I copy you Sir, we're heading that way Sir" was the response given in an almost sheepish tone by Officer Fain.
Having overhead the conversation between the two police officers, bus driver Shawn Carlton felt his stomach twist and his heart begin to pound. Following orders to return to the intersection of Rapid Street and Pebble Avenue, he was overtaken by fear. "What do they know, how much do they know, do they think I know something more about the missing child?"
With Wil's father in his car, patrol cars at the school and on the roads, and with the bus now returning to the corner to rejoin Wil's mother and members of the Red River Valley Police Department, the stage was set. "This is Jennifer Hadley reporting live from Red River Valley where we have a missing 3rd grader and a ongoing police investigation underway. Stay tuned to Channel 3 News at 5:00 PM for all the details" concluded the young beat reporter who along with a camera crew had arrived at the scene to add more commotion and atmosphere the the already tense environment.
Having completed her 15 second "On the Spot" news tease lead in, Jennifer Hadley then got to work. Picking up the notepad that she had dropped by her feet so that it was out of the just completed camera shot, she approached Sergeant Anderson with the look of familiarity often shared by local reporters and police. "What can you tell me Sergeant, what's going on?" she asked. "Ms. Hadley, it's very simple" replied Anderson, "We have a youngster who normally gets off at this bus that appears to have missed the bus or got off at another stop." "It's really nothing more then that."
"What can you tell me about the child endangerment charge the bus driver has on his record Sergeant?" asked Channel 3's Emmy Award Winning reporter Hadley. Knowing that she had today, as with many other day's, overheard the police report on a citizen CB radio, Anderson found himself in the position of having to shoot straight with the reporter. "Ma'am, you pretty much know everything we know at this point." "Yes, he has a conviction on his record, but we just don't have all the details yet."
Trying to put some distance between himself and the reporter, Anderson politely took a small step back before saying, "We've got some folks to talk with right now, if you'll excuse me I will get back with you as soon as we having something new." As any good reporter would know, Hadley realized a brush off when she saw one. She knew full well that she would have to continue to push and pry for information, for rarely would the police department release information without being asked.
"Turn the camera on and follow me" Hadley said to her camera crew. Having done so, Hadley then approached Sergeant Anderson who was now talking with Wil's mom. "Sir, just one more question please." "Can you tell our viewers if the bus driver, who has a child endangerment conviction on his record, might have something to do with the missing child?"
"What? What is she talking about?" clamored Wil's mom who was now hearing the news of the drivers background for the first time." Sergeant Anderson's felt the anger overtaking him as he found himself wondering, was the reporters question asked in innocence, or was it asked for the shock value of the reaction of Wil's mom. Keeping his professional composure, Anderson calmly responded, "Ma'am, we have no reason to believe anything happened other then the child simply got off at the wrong stop."
With a renewed rise of panic, Joyce Sims looked to Anderson to demand, "what did she mean about the driver having a record?" Now in the position of having to answer her question, Anderson told Wil's mom the results of the background check that the police had run on the bus driver. With the information on the driver now known, Joyce grabbed her cell phone to call her husband. "Honey it's me, they just told me that the driver has a criminal record." "Oh my GOD, what has he done to Wil"
All Rights Reserved
Climbing back into the family vehicle, Jim Sims jerked the car first into reverse and then into drive as he screeched off to look for his 3rd grade son Wil. As he had done during his drive from the office to the bus stop where Wil was to have got off the bus, Jim again found himself wondering, why had he uprooted his family this past summer, why had he taken them a thousand miles west to Red River Valley?
"Sergeant Anderson, HQ is on the radio and they say they have some information" announced one of the patrol officers on the scene. "I'll be right there" said Anderson as he abruptly finished a conversation that he was having with the mother of another child from bus 127. Walking quickly to join the team of officers who had moved to one of the patrol cars to begin the background and outstanding warrant report on bus driver Shawn Carlton, Anderson took front and center as he stated in his authoritative tone, "what do we have?"
Leaning in the open door of the patrol car, Anderson listened intently at the words from HQ, "There are no outstanding warrants for a Mr. Shawn Alexander Carlton, however, there is a past conviction on his record" continued the female voice being broadcast across the police frequency. "The subject was fined for failure to pay child support and a misdemeanor child endangerment charge stemming from a domestic incident 2 years ago" continued the audio report from the Red River Valley Police Headquarters.
"That's great" said Anderson in a sarcastic tone as he shook his head from side to side. "We have a damn bus driver that has a history of family problems driving one of our school buses." "Didn't the son of a bitches at the school board do a background check on this guy?" asked Anderson aloud as he looked back to see that Wil's mom was out of hearing distance and was unaware of the news that had just been received.
As he turned back towards the patrol car to listen to the conclusion of the report being sent by HQ, Anderson's eye was caught by movement coming up the street towards the the intersection. "This is all we need" said the police sergeant in frustration as he saw an all to familiar site. Driving towards the group of police cars was a red and white cargo van with large lettering announcing, "Channel 3 News..Always On The Spot"
With the background report complete and the results now having been received, Sergeant Anderson's next step of action was to establish contact with his officer who had boarded the bus for the final few stops of the day. Speaking into his shoulder attached walkie talkie, Anderson growled, "5-9 this is 5-1, come in" For those familiar with police chatter, the call signs said it all. 5-1 was to signify District 5, officer 1, the number given to the the officer in charge of each of Red River Valley's 9 police districts. In making the over air announcement, it was clear to anyone listening on the police radio frequency that the boss was on the air and looking for one of his street officers.
As would be expected, the response was quick and clear. "5-1 this is 5-9 over..." Having established communication, Anderson broke from the use police lingo and asked in a straight forward command, "Fain, where are you and what is going on?" Allowing for a few seconds of transmission time, Sergeant Anderson stood among several fellow officers to hear the reply. "Sergeant, we just dropped the last 3 children off and are about to turn onto Washington Street to head back to the school" answered Officer Fain from the front step of the now empty bus.
"Negative! I repeat Negative!" yelled Anderson into this microphone. "I want you to turn that bus around and get it and the driver back here right away." "Is this clear?" continued the now aggressive Sergeant Anderson. "10-4, I copy you Sir, we're heading that way Sir" was the response given in an almost sheepish tone by Officer Fain.
Having overhead the conversation between the two police officers, bus driver Shawn Carlton felt his stomach twist and his heart begin to pound. Following orders to return to the intersection of Rapid Street and Pebble Avenue, he was overtaken by fear. "What do they know, how much do they know, do they think I know something more about the missing child?"
With Wil's father in his car, patrol cars at the school and on the roads, and with the bus now returning to the corner to rejoin Wil's mother and members of the Red River Valley Police Department, the stage was set. "This is Jennifer Hadley reporting live from Red River Valley where we have a missing 3rd grader and a ongoing police investigation underway. Stay tuned to Channel 3 News at 5:00 PM for all the details" concluded the young beat reporter who along with a camera crew had arrived at the scene to add more commotion and atmosphere the the already tense environment.
Having completed her 15 second "On the Spot" news tease lead in, Jennifer Hadley then got to work. Picking up the notepad that she had dropped by her feet so that it was out of the just completed camera shot, she approached Sergeant Anderson with the look of familiarity often shared by local reporters and police. "What can you tell me Sergeant, what's going on?" she asked. "Ms. Hadley, it's very simple" replied Anderson, "We have a youngster who normally gets off at this bus that appears to have missed the bus or got off at another stop." "It's really nothing more then that."
"What can you tell me about the child endangerment charge the bus driver has on his record Sergeant?" asked Channel 3's Emmy Award Winning reporter Hadley. Knowing that she had today, as with many other day's, overheard the police report on a citizen CB radio, Anderson found himself in the position of having to shoot straight with the reporter. "Ma'am, you pretty much know everything we know at this point." "Yes, he has a conviction on his record, but we just don't have all the details yet."
Trying to put some distance between himself and the reporter, Anderson politely took a small step back before saying, "We've got some folks to talk with right now, if you'll excuse me I will get back with you as soon as we having something new." As any good reporter would know, Hadley realized a brush off when she saw one. She knew full well that she would have to continue to push and pry for information, for rarely would the police department release information without being asked.
"Turn the camera on and follow me" Hadley said to her camera crew. Having done so, Hadley then approached Sergeant Anderson who was now talking with Wil's mom. "Sir, just one more question please." "Can you tell our viewers if the bus driver, who has a child endangerment conviction on his record, might have something to do with the missing child?"
"What? What is she talking about?" clamored Wil's mom who was now hearing the news of the drivers background for the first time." Sergeant Anderson's felt the anger overtaking him as he found himself wondering, was the reporters question asked in innocence, or was it asked for the shock value of the reaction of Wil's mom. Keeping his professional composure, Anderson calmly responded, "Ma'am, we have no reason to believe anything happened other then the child simply got off at the wrong stop."
With a renewed rise of panic, Joyce Sims looked to Anderson to demand, "what did she mean about the driver having a record?" Now in the position of having to answer her question, Anderson told Wil's mom the results of the background check that the police had run on the bus driver. With the information on the driver now known, Joyce grabbed her cell phone to call her husband. "Honey it's me, they just told me that the driver has a criminal record." "Oh my GOD, what has he done to Wil"
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The School Bus
The Final Chapter
With the afternoon fading away, and with end of day traffic picking up, the intersection of Rapids Street and Pebble Avenue now took on the appearance of a town twice the size of Red River Valley.
As they had for nearly two hours, patrol cars from Precinct 5, by their mere presence continued to announce to all passing vehicles that something was wrong in the normally quiet gated community that was home to the Sims family.
Having driven to the school and then retracing the bus route to the neighborhood, Jim Sims now found himself back where he had started. Getting out of the car, Sims approached his wife Joyce and hugged her as she stood next to Sergeant Anderson. "What the heck is going on? what is this about the driver having a child abuse record?" Sims asked Anderson.
"It's doesn't appear to be anything to worry about" answered Sergeant Anderson. "We've got some people checking into what happened but for now it really seems to be a marital issue between the driver and his former wife. Unfortunately, as is often the case, it seems that the drivers daughter got caught up in the mess."
Having answered the question asked of him, Sergeant Anderson then stepped away to get an update from his junior officers that had left the bus stop earlier and were now at the school from where the bus had left earlier. "Tell me what you got" demanded Anderson as he spoke to officer Mark Sayer. "Sir, I've just finished talking to several teachers and the school administrators. I think we can say without question that the youngster did get on the bus." "We have witnesses that say he was the last child to get on and was seen sticking his head out of the window as the bus began to pull out."
"10-4, thanks" replied Anderson walking to rejoin other officers as they sat in their patrol cars to begin the paperwork required to record the events that had taken place over the past hour. "Get your ass out of that car right now!" shouted Anderson. "We've got a missing child and all you're worried about is paperwork!" With that, the junior officers slammed their metal notebooks closed and quickly jumped from the cars. "Sir" responded one of the officers. "Orders Sir?"
Knowing that as the Officer in Charge, he would himself would be judged by the days events, Anderson then gave his officers an order that he now realized he should have given an hour earlier. "I want one of you to take each side of the street and knock on every house's door." "Find out who saw what and when." Without waiting for further instruction, the junior officers from the Red River Valley Police Department quickly dispatched and headed down Pebble and Rapids streets to carry out the order.
"Oh my GOD, here comes the bus" said Joyce Sims as she looked down the street to see bus 127 approaching the intersection. Having overheard the comments, Channel 3 "On The Spot" reporter Jennifer Hadley sprang into action as she pointed to her camera crew and told them to begin filming. "5,4,3,2,1.. This is Jennifer Hadley" she began using a countdown common with reporters as they begin a report that would most likely be edited and viewed at a later time. Continuing, Hadley said, "we can now see the bus involved with the missing 3rd grader Wil Sims." "It has now completed it's route and is returning to the intersection where I am standing." In a now more excited tone, Hadley added, "the bus is being driven district driver Shawn Charlton." "Also on board, is Red River Valley Police Officer Fain." "CUT..." said Hadley as she lowered her microphone and directed her camera crew to move from their current stance and led them into the street.
"Give me a break Jennifer" yelled Sergeant Anderson as he saw Hadley and her crew step into the street. "What are you trying to do get hit?" he asked in a voice that told her in no uncertain terms that she had overstepped her boundaries and would more then likely lead to further rebukes by Sergeant Anderson. "Somebody get these people back" shouted Anderson to officers on the scene.
"Everybody get back" repeated Sergeant Anderson as both Joyce and Jim Sims now stepped off of the sidewalk in what appeared to be an attempt to approach and board the bus before it had come to a complete stop. Slowly coming to a stop, the bus door opened to show Officer Fain standing on the steps in front of a nervous looking Shawn Charlton.
"Alright Mr. Charlton, we need to talk, come with me please" said Sergeant Anderson in a direct and firm tone. Not missing a beat, News 3's Hadley snapped, "roll tape" as she reached her microphone into the open door and asked, "what do you know about this missing student?"
Before Charlton could answer, Sergeant Anderson yelled at full voice, "what in the hell does that idiot think he's doing!" Looking beyond the bus, and around the long line of cars that had now backed up the intersection, Anderson was dumbfounded at what he saw. Driving in the middle of the street, weaving about traffic and heading in their direction was a vehicle known to all. Although out of place at this hour of the day, there was no mistaking the red, white and blue colors of a the post office truck and the U.S. Mailman.
"Get this, get this" directed reporter Jennifer Hadley as she positioned her camera crew to film the mail truck as it continued to close in on the bus and police cars at the intersection. "Oh my GOD, it's Wil" cried Joyce Sims as she peered into the mail truck as it pulled to a stop. "It's Wil, it's Wil" she repeated as she rushed to the door that had been opened by mailman. Reaching into the mail delivery truck, Joyce Sims now wept openly as she hugged her son Wil and sobbed, "Wil, where have you been, you had us so worried." "Oh, I love you so much" she added as she squeezed her son even harder while be joined by his father Jim.
Sensing the seriousness of events, mailman Tyler Matlow quickly pounced from the truck. Looking around at the police officers, Wil, his parents, bus driver Shawn Charlton and the news crew that was now pointing a camera and microphone directly at him, Matlow couldn't help but smile as he began to speak.
"I had the feeling something was wrong about an hour ago." "I was a few blocks back into the neighborhood when I noticed the young boy walking on the sidewalk on my route, almost as if he was following me." Continuing to add to the story, the mailman added, "I finally stopped to ask the boy if he was lost and needed help getting home." "He didn't have much to say at first and then when he began to cry, I knew he was lost." Matlow then told the crowd that he was unable to determine the the boys address because the Sims family had a post office box which caused him not to be familar with the famalies last name or house.
"Heck, right or wrong, I've been driving all through the neighborhood hoping the boy could show me the way to his house" continued the postman as he relayed that when he turned the corner and saw the police cars he knew that this must be related to Wil Sims whom he had picked up a few miles back.
"Wil, son, we're so glad you're safe" said Jim Sims as the tension and fear raced out of his body and was filled with pure relief and joy. "But tell us what happened son, how did you get on the mail truck?"
Not really understanding what his actions had put his parents, the police and the school district through, Wil then explained for all of Red River Valley by way of Channel 3 News where he had been.
"I was having fun on the bus with friends and wasn't paying attention I guess" began Wil. "I got off the bus when it stopped and I couldn't find my house." "So" continued Wil, "when I started walking, I saw the mailman and I know that since he drives by our house everyday I just decided that I would follow him until I got home."
Now laughing and crying at the same time, Wil's mom again hugged and kissed her son. Joyce then reached to hug the mailman and thanked him for taking care of Wil as he had done. "It's my pleasure" said the postal driver before shaking hands with Jim Sims and Sergeant Anderson and getting back into his truck to return to the post office.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but it's good to see a story that ends by putting a smile on your face" said Sergeant Anderson as he too shook hands with the Sims family and said, "let's go home everyone, let's go home."
The End
All Rights Reserved
With the afternoon fading away, and with end of day traffic picking up, the intersection of Rapids Street and Pebble Avenue now took on the appearance of a town twice the size of Red River Valley.
As they had for nearly two hours, patrol cars from Precinct 5, by their mere presence continued to announce to all passing vehicles that something was wrong in the normally quiet gated community that was home to the Sims family.
Having driven to the school and then retracing the bus route to the neighborhood, Jim Sims now found himself back where he had started. Getting out of the car, Sims approached his wife Joyce and hugged her as she stood next to Sergeant Anderson. "What the heck is going on? what is this about the driver having a child abuse record?" Sims asked Anderson.
"It's doesn't appear to be anything to worry about" answered Sergeant Anderson. "We've got some people checking into what happened but for now it really seems to be a marital issue between the driver and his former wife. Unfortunately, as is often the case, it seems that the drivers daughter got caught up in the mess."
Having answered the question asked of him, Sergeant Anderson then stepped away to get an update from his junior officers that had left the bus stop earlier and were now at the school from where the bus had left earlier. "Tell me what you got" demanded Anderson as he spoke to officer Mark Sayer. "Sir, I've just finished talking to several teachers and the school administrators. I think we can say without question that the youngster did get on the bus." "We have witnesses that say he was the last child to get on and was seen sticking his head out of the window as the bus began to pull out."
"10-4, thanks" replied Anderson walking to rejoin other officers as they sat in their patrol cars to begin the paperwork required to record the events that had taken place over the past hour. "Get your ass out of that car right now!" shouted Anderson. "We've got a missing child and all you're worried about is paperwork!" With that, the junior officers slammed their metal notebooks closed and quickly jumped from the cars. "Sir" responded one of the officers. "Orders Sir?"
Knowing that as the Officer in Charge, he would himself would be judged by the days events, Anderson then gave his officers an order that he now realized he should have given an hour earlier. "I want one of you to take each side of the street and knock on every house's door." "Find out who saw what and when." Without waiting for further instruction, the junior officers from the Red River Valley Police Department quickly dispatched and headed down Pebble and Rapids streets to carry out the order.
"Oh my GOD, here comes the bus" said Joyce Sims as she looked down the street to see bus 127 approaching the intersection. Having overheard the comments, Channel 3 "On The Spot" reporter Jennifer Hadley sprang into action as she pointed to her camera crew and told them to begin filming. "5,4,3,2,1.. This is Jennifer Hadley" she began using a countdown common with reporters as they begin a report that would most likely be edited and viewed at a later time. Continuing, Hadley said, "we can now see the bus involved with the missing 3rd grader Wil Sims." "It has now completed it's route and is returning to the intersection where I am standing." In a now more excited tone, Hadley added, "the bus is being driven district driver Shawn Charlton." "Also on board, is Red River Valley Police Officer Fain." "CUT..." said Hadley as she lowered her microphone and directed her camera crew to move from their current stance and led them into the street.
"Give me a break Jennifer" yelled Sergeant Anderson as he saw Hadley and her crew step into the street. "What are you trying to do get hit?" he asked in a voice that told her in no uncertain terms that she had overstepped her boundaries and would more then likely lead to further rebukes by Sergeant Anderson. "Somebody get these people back" shouted Anderson to officers on the scene.
"Everybody get back" repeated Sergeant Anderson as both Joyce and Jim Sims now stepped off of the sidewalk in what appeared to be an attempt to approach and board the bus before it had come to a complete stop. Slowly coming to a stop, the bus door opened to show Officer Fain standing on the steps in front of a nervous looking Shawn Charlton.
"Alright Mr. Charlton, we need to talk, come with me please" said Sergeant Anderson in a direct and firm tone. Not missing a beat, News 3's Hadley snapped, "roll tape" as she reached her microphone into the open door and asked, "what do you know about this missing student?"
Before Charlton could answer, Sergeant Anderson yelled at full voice, "what in the hell does that idiot think he's doing!" Looking beyond the bus, and around the long line of cars that had now backed up the intersection, Anderson was dumbfounded at what he saw. Driving in the middle of the street, weaving about traffic and heading in their direction was a vehicle known to all. Although out of place at this hour of the day, there was no mistaking the red, white and blue colors of a the post office truck and the U.S. Mailman.
"Get this, get this" directed reporter Jennifer Hadley as she positioned her camera crew to film the mail truck as it continued to close in on the bus and police cars at the intersection. "Oh my GOD, it's Wil" cried Joyce Sims as she peered into the mail truck as it pulled to a stop. "It's Wil, it's Wil" she repeated as she rushed to the door that had been opened by mailman. Reaching into the mail delivery truck, Joyce Sims now wept openly as she hugged her son Wil and sobbed, "Wil, where have you been, you had us so worried." "Oh, I love you so much" she added as she squeezed her son even harder while be joined by his father Jim.
Sensing the seriousness of events, mailman Tyler Matlow quickly pounced from the truck. Looking around at the police officers, Wil, his parents, bus driver Shawn Charlton and the news crew that was now pointing a camera and microphone directly at him, Matlow couldn't help but smile as he began to speak.
"I had the feeling something was wrong about an hour ago." "I was a few blocks back into the neighborhood when I noticed the young boy walking on the sidewalk on my route, almost as if he was following me." Continuing to add to the story, the mailman added, "I finally stopped to ask the boy if he was lost and needed help getting home." "He didn't have much to say at first and then when he began to cry, I knew he was lost." Matlow then told the crowd that he was unable to determine the the boys address because the Sims family had a post office box which caused him not to be familar with the famalies last name or house.
"Heck, right or wrong, I've been driving all through the neighborhood hoping the boy could show me the way to his house" continued the postman as he relayed that when he turned the corner and saw the police cars he knew that this must be related to Wil Sims whom he had picked up a few miles back.
"Wil, son, we're so glad you're safe" said Jim Sims as the tension and fear raced out of his body and was filled with pure relief and joy. "But tell us what happened son, how did you get on the mail truck?"
Not really understanding what his actions had put his parents, the police and the school district through, Wil then explained for all of Red River Valley by way of Channel 3 News where he had been.
"I was having fun on the bus with friends and wasn't paying attention I guess" began Wil. "I got off the bus when it stopped and I couldn't find my house." "So" continued Wil, "when I started walking, I saw the mailman and I know that since he drives by our house everyday I just decided that I would follow him until I got home."
Now laughing and crying at the same time, Wil's mom again hugged and kissed her son. Joyce then reached to hug the mailman and thanked him for taking care of Wil as he had done. "It's my pleasure" said the postal driver before shaking hands with Jim Sims and Sergeant Anderson and getting back into his truck to return to the post office.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but it's good to see a story that ends by putting a smile on your face" said Sergeant Anderson as he too shook hands with the Sims family and said, "let's go home everyone, let's go home."
The End
All Rights Reserved
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