Finding Charlie Rose

Charlie didn't want anyone to find her. She wanted them all to go away. She didn't know them and they were calling her name. She heard glass smashing and then people were in the house. She only called the 000 cause that is what her mummy had taught her. She didn't mean for them to be loud and angry when she called them.

The police had arrived just before the ambulance and were trying to get into the house. Officer Jones could see Charlie through the window and watched as the girl tried to hide herself as they were calling for her to open the door. He acted quickly when she had covered herself with the blanket smashing the window. He entered the house and went looking for Charlie's mum. He checked her pulse but it was too late. She had died and it looked like she had snapped her neck falling from the ladder. He opened the door for the paramedics letting them in before heading over to Charlie. His partner had let the 000 operator know they had gained access to the premises and that they found a deceased female and a small child who they assumed was Charlie.

Officer Jones crouched down in front of Charlie speaking softly "Charlie, I'm here to help your mummy. The man on the phone sent me" he started. "Charlie not here" Charlie replied. "Charlie you aren't in trouble. You are such a brave girl. I am so proud of you" Officer Jones said. "I not bad?" Charlie asked. She had been called bad once when she had drawn on the walls with texta by the lady at playgroup.

"No sweet girl, you are so brave and you did so well," Officer Jones said. More officers had arrived because the house was now a crime scene. They all watched on as Officer Jones tried to coax a scared Charlie from under the blanket. "Charlie, can you come out for me so I can see you?" Officer Jones asked. Charlie slowly moved the blanket from her face peeking out to see what was happening. She saw lots of people looking at her and she didn't like it. She pulled the blanket back over her face and stood still again. In her mind, if she couldn't see the people, then they couldn't see her. "Charlie, I'm going to pick you up ok?" Officer Jones stated but Charlie remained quiet. Officer Jones picked up Charlie gently and took her outside. He slowly eased the blanket off her head.

"Ah, there you are, such a beautiful, strong girl. You must be Charlie. I'm Officer Jones but you can call me Ben" he said to Charlie. Charlie nodded her head, she was shy. "Where's mummy" Charlie asked. "The people inside are helping her. Charlie do you have anyone else you know that we could call" Ben asked the girl. Charlie shook her head, she only knew to call 000. "Hey, Mike can you check the house for a contact we could call?" Ben called out to his partner who was near the broken window. "No problems" Mike called back.

While Mike looked through the house, Ben talked with Charlie about different things. He tried to get more information out of her as well as asking normal questions but Charlie didn't have much she could share. About 10 minutes later Mike came outside. "Ben, she was in the refuge. I called the social worker and she is going to meet us at the station. She was running from her husband" Mike told him. Ben nodded his head turning to Charlie "Hey Charlie want to come for a ride in my police car?" He asked.

Charlie liked going in the car. Her mummy had a car but they only used it to go shopping or to the doctors so Charlie quickly agreed. "Mummy takes me in the car shopping" Charlie replied. "Does she? And do you have a special seat?" Ben asked Charlie who nodded her head yes. "Ok, Mike here is going to get your special seat from mummy's car and put it in the police car so we can go for a drive ok?" Ben asked. "Can I bring my worm?" Charlie asked. "Sure princess" Ben replied.

It took another 10 minutes before the car seat was installed into the police car. Ben strapped Charlie in and sat in the back with her while Mike drove towards the police station. When they arrived Ben carried Charlie into the station and offered her something to eat. Charlie wanted strawberries they were her favourite but all they had was vending machine food. Charlie's wasn't allowed to eat that stuff unless it was a special treat and she only got special treats when she was super good. Ben assured her she had been super good so she could pick something. Charlie picked the snakes and then Ben took her to a special room that had pictures on the wall. He gave Charlie some water to drink, paper and pencils to draw with and told Charlie they were waiting for someone.

Ben stayed with Charlie until the social worker from the refuge arrived. She has brought Sally's file with her for Ben to look through to see if they could find someone to take Charlie. Ben got straight to work and soon found the names of 4 of Sally's sons. He didn't want to call her husband as the file was extensive and showed a long history of harming Sally and her children before Sally fled when she was pregnant for the 5th time after being raped by her husband. Ben saw the eldest son would be 22 and hoped he would be interested in taking Charlie. He looked up a number for Samuel and quickly found what he needed. He didn't know that Samual and the others had no idea that Charlie existed. In the file, it was written that she had left the city due to safety fears for her and the unborn child. He sent Mike in to stay with Charlie in case the call didn't go well and headed to his desk to place the call.