Sunshine Valley

The box

     Evie was walkin’ round the department (outside), stretchin’ her legs. Dillon had called and asked her if she cared to come get him. It had been a grueling day. After the ditch incident, it worried him that he would hurt himself. Or worse, someone else. Sadly it was almost midnight and he was just gettin’ everything wrapped up. 

     As Evie circled back behind the building, a baby started screaming. It took her completely by surprise. The noise was coming from a weird box that was next to a none-descript door. She had passed it before but didn’t pay it much attention. 

     She questioned herself if she should open the box, hovering over it. Suddenly, it stopped. She convinced herself, it was all in her head. 

     Dillon opened the door for her with a baby in his arms.  Evie gasped, “where did it come from?”

     “Out of the box. Want to hold him?”

     “Why was there a baby in that box?”

     Dillon slid the baby into her cradled arms.  “He had a note pinned to the little chest of his shirt, ‘I’ve destroyed too many lives. I will not destroy another one’. The box is a Safe Haven box. There’s one at the hospital. One at each fire station. Honestly, I never thought anyone would use this one. Mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns can anonymously surrender an infant.”

     “This is heartbreaking.”

     “But if someone adopts and loves him. Isn’t he better off?” 

     Evie walked around, cooing to the now silent baby. “It’s sad that the mother felt so desperate. That had to be gut wrenching.”

     “At the same time, it took tremendous courage.”

     Tiny came out from the back, with the mouth piece of her headset bent over her head. “I thought I heard an alarm. Someone really used it.” Evie held the baby out to her. “Oh no. Children hate me.” She looked back and forth between Evie and Dillon. “Are you gonna keep him?”

     Evie and Dillon just stared at each other, she spoke first. “Is that even an option?”

     “I don’t know what the process is once we take him to the hospital. I’ve not had this happen before. I assume he will go into the foster care system.”

     As Evie and Dillon drove to the hospital, she asked, “you said you didn’t think anyone would use the baby box at the sheriff’s department?” He moaned an acknowledgment, while holding the baby as she drove. “Do you think it could be connected to Deek?” Dillon was stunned by the comment. When he didn’t speak, she continued, “all the deputies know about that box. As I’m sure their families. Is someone trying to tell you something?”

     “I may have to deputize you yet.”