No

“Oh my, that’s terrible!” Jessie said. “But I’m afraid that I’ve never seen this little girl before.”

Lauren’s stomach dropped as she looked up at Jessie. Was she…? No. No Jessie wouldn’t be that cruel, would she?

“She says that she came here with you and that you’re her mother.” Janet explained.

“I’m terribly sorry, Officer, but I don’t have any kids.” Jessie said, doing her best to sound concerned. “She probably just thinks that I look like her mom.”

Lauren paled. Apparently Jessie WOULD be that cruel.

“I see.” Janet said. “Well, thank you for your time, Ma’am. Please let us know if you see her mother anywhere.”

“But she –“

“Little girl, please.” Janet scolded. “Let the grownups talk.”

Lauren turned bright red and pouted at that remark.

“I’ll let the police know the moment I see anything!” Jessie lied. “I hope the poor, little dear finds her mother.”

With that, Janet turned around and walked away, leading Lauren by the hand away from Jessie. Lauren looked over her shoulder to see Jessie mockingly wave goodbye to Lauren with one hand while she stifled a laugh with her other. Lauren wanted to say something to Janet, but she realized that it was pretty pointless. When Lauren looked forward again, she noticed that Janet was leading her to the park entrance.

“Um, Officer Janet?” Lauren asked, feeling a little nervous. “Where are we going?”

“Taking you down to the station so that we can file a lost child report and hopefully find your mom.” Janet explained, leading Lauren to her police cruiser.

Lauren panicked a bit. The police station?! She couldn’t go down to the station like this! She was only wearing a diaper, for crying out loud! Lauren wanted to argue, but it was too late. Janet had already placed her into the passenger’s seat and buckled her in. The officer then got into her seat, buckled up, and drove off to the station. Lauren looked out the window at the park one last time…only to see Jessie leaving the park, throwing the duffle bag into a dumpster as she walked away laughing.

Lauren could only let out a whimper as her eyes began to water; hoping that what came next was not too humiliating.