Pictures of Children

"Please, my son is missing. Three years old . . . oh, God!"
Officer Waverly swung his feet off the desk and alerted the other officers near him. "All right, ma'am, help us both by calming down. Tell me who you are and where you live."
Amy Lee was shaking uncontrollably. Tears streaked her face. "Amy Lee Walker, please help me," she said, sliding into a sitting position on the floor.
"Ma'am, your address?"
"Officer Monroe was just here!" she screamed. "I went back to my yard and my boy is gone!" she cried.
"Who is Officer Monroe?" Officer Waverly asked.
"You!" Amy Lee screamed. "Oxford Police!"
"Ma'am, there is no Officer Monroe on this police force."
He held the phone away from his ear as her howling intensified.

- An excerpt from Pictures of Children