“562 in progress, Pine Ridge Adoption Agency, corner of Oak and 12th, be advised, 25 youth suspects, all units report,” the dispatcher’s voice crackled out in my ear. I drove to the scene.

There were already several cars, officers chasing kids, officers loading kids into cars. I joined a group going inside, I figured that was the root of the problem.

“Detective Walsh! Over here!” called an officer. I went into the dining hall. Two aproned women were bound and gagged in chairs back to back. We freed them.

“The babies! Go Upstairs!” they shrieked.

We ran upstairs with the two women leading. Inside the nursery we found four children, two tiny babies, a toddler and one pre-teen girl feeding a bottle to one of the little ones.

“Oh! Sara! Bless you!” said one of the women.
“I couldn’t let them cry, Miss Gruber, I had to feed them! Besides I didn’t want to get into trouble,” replied Sara.

“What happened here?” I asked.
“Well it all started normally,” began Miss Gruber.
“We served breakfast, and the kids ate.”