Chapter Text
(O.I.A.R COMPUTER POWERS ON AND BEGINS TO RECORD.)
CELIA RIPLEY:
(MUTTERING TO HERSELF.) If I move his wellness visit to Wednesday… Then I can pick up the cake on Thursday…
SAM KHALID:
(APPROACHES HER CUBICLE.) Knock knock. (HE KNOCKS ON THE WALL WITH HIS KNUCKLES.) I brought you some coffee.
CELIA RIPLEY:
Hm? Oh, thank you, Sam. (THERE IS A PAUSE AS SHE TAKES A DRINK OF THE COFFEE, THEN A TIRED SIGH.)
SAM KHALID:
You good? You look a little out of it.
CELIA RIPLEY:
Oh, I'm fine. Just- I'm trying to plan Jack's birthday party and now that my schedule is all flipped around working nights, I- (SHE EXHALES AND SETS THE COFFEE DOWN.) It's just a bit difficult. Since I just started here, I don't want to ask for a day off already.
SAM KHALID:
Well… You know… If you request off then I could take on your caseload for that day. So you wouldn't have to worry about being behind.
CELIA RIPLEY:
I couldn't let you do that, I mean-
SAM KHALID:
(WARMLY.) Well, you did cover dinner the other night. Just see it as me taking a turn treating you. I um- (THERE IS AN AWKWARD MOMENT OF HESITATION BEFORE SAM SPEAKS IN A SYMPATHETIC TONE.) I mean, he's only going to turn this age once, you should get to make the day special for him.
CELIA RIPLEY:
Sam… Thank you, I mean it.
SAM KHALID:
Of course! Just save me a piece of birthday cake, alright?
CELIA RIPLEY:
(LAUGHING.) Alright.
(SAM RETURNS TO HIS DESK, LEAVING CELIA RIPLEY ALONE.)
CELIA RIPLEY:
(SIGHS.) I'll get in that request off and let him know the day… (SHE MUTTERS TO HERSELF AS SHE CLICKS ON HER COMPUTER.)
NORRIS (COMPUTER):
(IN AN AUTOMATED SOUNDING VOICE.)
Report filed by Sampson Jones of the Greensville County Police. Date filed: 06/15/2002.
Reason for visit:
Repeated calls from neighbors over the sound of screaming and fighting being heard from the house at 212 Newcastle Lane. Fears of a domestic disturbance. Previous checks had been done at the residence, but tenants had always finished fighting by the time officers arrived on the scene and no one showed any signs of abuse, nor made the claim of abuse. Nothing could be done, but since there were still reports, it was policy to check them out every time.
(AUTOMATED VOICE SLOWLY FADES INTO NATURALLY SOUNDING HUMAN VOICE.)
Details of Event:
I arrived at 212 Newcastle Lane on June 14, 2002, at 4:53 AM. Verbal alterations could be heard from outside the house. Lights were seen on inside the home and the sound of multiple people screaming at each other from inside the house was loud. It was mostly male voices screaming.
I announced my presence and knocked at the residents’ door multiple times, but I was not given a response. The fighting inside the home continued. In response, I tried the door and found it unlocked. I entered the home with my hand on my holster as a safety precaution for myself.
The family of five (5) continued their dispute despite me being present. I don't think they even noticed me with all the commotion. I announced myself again and the family finally fell silent. I immediately noticed how the mother (Margaret Arpini, 53) flinched towards the hallway closet when she noticed me. The youngest Arpini child, (Cole Arpini 21) was on the sofa with a black eye and a busted lip that was still bleeding. In front of their younger brother and shaking, although visibly unharmed, were the older Arpini daughters (Kiera and Delaney Aprini, 27).
The patriarch, (Adam Arpini, 59) spoke to me first. He was clearly aggravated and asked why I was in his home.
I explained the reason for the visit and the reason for me being in the home. Neighbors had phoned the station and were worried about domestic violence, I pointed out the state of his son's face was a clear sign of abuse as well.
I tried to be calm since Adam looked near his breaking point, so I asked if he could explain his son's injuries.
The father, glaring, asked his son to tell me what happened. ‘Tell the nice officer here what really happened, son’. He said. I looked at the young man. He was distraught and not even looking at his father, but at the floor.
The twin Arpini's tried to coax their brother to talk, but when he stayed silent the father snapped. ‘Tell the fucking cop how you did that to yourself or I'll-’
As quickly as I could, I tried to step in-between the two, but before I could the son shouted ‘I am not taking care of her for the rest of my life!’
The father lunged at the son at that point, his hands reaching for his child's neck. Thankfully, I separated them so he could not lay hands on his son again.
While the father and son shouted over me, the mother just began to sob. It took the help of the daughters to pull the father off. Then I was able to handcuff him and put him in the squad car. While outside, I called for backup and gave a brief explanation of the situation.
I took a breath and asked the father if he wanted to give me an explanation as to what the disagreement between him and his son was about before more officers came.
‘Check the hall closet.’
That was all he said.
At that point I didn't know what to expect, but I had already assumed there was something in the closet based on the mother's actions towards it. I thought it might be drugs or some other illegal substance.
I walked back into the home. The mother was sobbing and dabbing at her son's face with a wet rag while her daughters tried to console her.
I walked straight past them to the closet I had seen the mother standing in front of before. I tried the handle but it was locked. The thing locked from the outside and had several dead bolts added to the door. I think at that point the remainder of the family saw what I was doing and was trying to stop me, but I can't remember what they were saying. There was something important in that closet, something illegal. I had to know.
I undid all of the locks and opened the door. The stench inside, stale urine, mold, and filth made me stumble back. It was completely dark inside, but the light from the rest of the house was enough for me to see the small body of a child inside.
She was alive, but curled in the corner. Looking at me through long, messy hair. I couldn't see her very well, but she was so small I thought she couldn't have been older than 3.
It was at that time that my reinforcements came. They helped detain the rest of the Arpini's and get them loaded into cars for questioning down at the station. I had to call for help from child youth services and an ambulance since we weren't authorized to remove the child when we didn't know the state she was in.
When the EMTs and CYS arrived, the little girl didn't want to leave the closet. She screamed so loud that the lights flickered and finally she had to be sedated to be moved into the ambulance for the ride to the hospital.
I stayed behind after they left, in the empty house. With my flashlight I examined the closet. There was a plastic beach pail half full of human excrement and an old dog bed. I can only assume that they had made this little girl sleep on it. Who knows how often, if at all, they let her leave the closet.
When I got back to the station that night, my coworkers told me they were arresting the entire family on charges of child abuse, child engagement, and child neglect. They said they might even have additional charges after the investigation was finished.
That was their daughter. Lucia Arpini. They had told me that during questioning, the mother and brother were the first to tell the truth. They had told the interrogating officer that the young girl in the closet had been the youngest daughter in the family. That she was six. Something I couldn't believe based on her size. They admitted to locking their own little girl in the closet since she was six months old. Feeding her scraps, not talking to her, not bathing her, and not showing her an ounce of affection.
I couldn't believe it. I have kids myself. Two girls that I'd do anything for. I just couldn't imagine how anyone could do that to any child, let alone their own.
Something like this had never happened in that town before. Sure, we had a robbery or two, but it was a small town. Things like this didn't happen. I was disgusted.
I admit my next actions were wrong, but I went to Adam Arpini’s holding cell. I asked him how he could ever do that to his own daughter.
I remember the look on his face, how angry and defeated his black eyes were as he stared at me. ‘Have you seen the kid?’ He asked. ‘There's a darkness in her. She deserved it.’
I formally apologize for whatever I said to Adam Arpini then. I don't remember, but I'm thankful my colleagues pulled me away before I could reach through the bars of his cell and hurt him.
(VOICE BEGINS TO SOUND COMPUTERIZED.)
I just hope that little girl gets the care she needs.
I understand that I will be moved off this case because of my actions towards Adam Arpini. I just ask to know what happens to that poor Lucia and she's okay. I understand if you can't legally tell me, but after seeing that girl and hearing her own father talk about her… I just need to know she's going to be okay.
(NOW FULLY AUTOMATED.)
I will also use this report to document my immediate resignation. I don't think I'll be able to walk into the station again after this, and I'd like to spend more time with my own children. A case like this makes you appreciate that.
Thank you.
Signed,
Sampson Jones.
(NORRIS STOPS.)
CELIA RIPLEY:
I need to request that day off.