Suffer Little Children

by Freda Hansburg

  FIFTY-FOUR

  ROBIN

  TIRES SCREECHING, BEN PULLED up to Vanessa’s house. He, Robin, and Sean jumped out of the car, sidestepping toys as they raced up the walk. The front door flew open at their approach.

  “Any word?” Ben asked.

  Vanessa shook her head. Tears streaked her face, and blond strands had escaped her haphazard ponytail. They stood out from her head, as if charged with electricity, or anxiety. She tugged at her ponytail, freeing more over-dyed strands. “She was supposed to be home over an hour ago. It’s practically dinnertime.”

  “Did you call 911?” Ben asked.

  Vanessa’s face froze. “Didn’t you?”

  Robin fought back a groan. They’d wasted precious time.

  “Jeez,” Sean muttered.

  Robin flashed him a warning frown. He shouldn’t throw a lighted match into the fumes seeping from Vanessa Martin.

  Glaring at his ex, Ben called the police dispatcher on his phone. He pointed his index finger at Vanessa, as if it were a loaded gun. “They want to know what clothes she had on.”

  Vanessa responded with a blank stare. Sean snorted, and Ben flashed him an angry look. Robin elbowed Sean in the ribs. They had no time for bickering, even if she had the urge to throttle Vanessa.

  “Jeans and a red-and-white-striped T-shirt.” Jaden spoke up from his mother’s side, where he had quietly appeared.

  Robin nodded at the boy. “Good job, Jaden.”

  Vanessa gave a dismissive sniff. “First useful thing that’s come out of his mouth.”

  Ben looked down at his son. “What else do you know?”

  Jaden shrugged, his eyes on the floor. “Nothing. Just... what she had on.” He swallowed.

  “Where did she go?” Vanessa demanded.

  Jaden remained silent, trembling.

  “See?” Vanessa told Ben. “He must know what she’s up to, but he won’t tell me.”

  “Officer, please hold on a second.” Ben approached Jaden and regarded him sternly. “Son, your sister may be in serious trouble. If you can tell us anything to help find her, you have to speak up.”

  Jaden gnawed at his lower lip.

  “She’s been going to Gloria’s, hasn’t she?” Robin spoke softly, but her question made Jaden’s face turn crimson.

  Jaden’s eyes welled. “I promised not to tell.”

  Robin gently brushed his hair back from his forehead. “You’re a good brother, but Amber is missing. She needs our help. Did she go to Gloria’s this afternoon?”

  Jaden nodded, his lip wobbling. “It’s because of Alex.”

  “What about him?” Robin kept her voice calm.

  “Gloria wanted to take him away to see a new doctor.”

  Robin’s eyes shot to Ben’s. “Tell the dispatcher. They need to get to Gloria’s house right away. She must have them both.”

  “Officer.” Ben looked grim. “We have reason to believe she’s been kidnapped.”

  FIFTY-FIVE

  AMBER

  GLORIA GRIPS MY HAND and yanks me toward the service building. My ankle hurts when I walk on it, and I yelp.

  She whirls around and glares at me. “Shut up. Do you want to use the bathroom or not?”

  I bite my lip to keep from yelling again and follow her to the building. I look around, trying to recognize the place, but I can’t tell one service area from another. I don’t know how long I slept or how far we drove. I’m still dizzy and nauseous. What I do know for sure is I can’t let Gloria give me another pill.

  We go inside. It’s more crowded in there than in the parking lot. The ladies’ room has a line, and Gloria makes an impatient face. She holds onto my hand like I’m a little kid. Women come out of the toilet stalls, and I try to catch their eye. Maybe one of them will notice she’s squeezing my hand so hard it’s practically falling off. I hope someone will figure out something’s wrong, but nobody does. I guess people want to get in and out of these bathrooms and back to their cars. I’m so nauseous all I can think about is getting to a toilet.

  Finally, a stall opens up, and it’s my turn to go. Gloria leads me to the toilet, and for a minute, I think she’s going to come inside with me. But she lets go of my hand and gives me a push.

  “No funny business. I’ll be watching under the door. And remember what I told you.”

  I close the door behind me and wonder how much time she’ll give me.

  The bathroom smells gross, which doesn’t help my stomach. I don’t have to go nearly as bad as I told Gloria, but I do feel dizzy sick. Maybe if I throw up, it will help. I get down on my knees and lean over the stinky toilet, where all those butts sat. That’s almost enough to make me puke, but I stick a finger down my throat to help it along.

  Sure enough, my mouth fills with spit, and I barf. I’m sweating and lightheaded, but I can think a little better. The puke smells, but I don’t flush in case Gloria thinks I’m done and makes me come out. I need to come up with a plan while I’m here.

  I put some paper on the sides of the toilet seat, like my mom once showed me, pull down my pants, and sit. I do have to pee, so that’s easy, but I don’t think I can poop. I picture walking Nina and how it sometimes takes her forever to do her business. That makes me cry a little. I’m afraid I might not see her again, or Mom or Jaden.

  I was so dumb to go sneaking off to Gloria’s. Nobody has a clue where I am—almost nobody. But I made Jaden swear not to tell where I went. And if he did say I took my bike to Gloria’s, they wouldn’t know where to look for me now. I don’t even know where I am.

  I can’t poop, but I grunt, so Gloria will think I’m trying. Meanwhile, I wipe the sweat off my face with toilet paper. I take a couple of deep breaths, even though it stinks.

  Gloria’s voice comes through the door. “Hurry up in there.”

  “Coming.”

  I could crawl under the divider and escape, maybe sneak into the next stall and surprise whatever lady’s there. I could make a scene and get away from Gloria. I glance down at the divider. It’s too low. I won’t fit. Anyway, Gloria’s watching my feet under the door. I’ll have to break loose and make a run for it on the way back to the car. I stand, pull up my pants, and flush the toilet.

  When I open the door, Gloria’s tapping her foot. “Let’s go.”

  She takes hold of my hand and drags me out of the ladies’ room. My head is clear. I’m not dizzy anymore, but my ankle hurts when I put weight on it. I probably wouldn’t get very far before she caught me. And if I yell for help, I’m not sure anyone will believe me. Gloria will tell everyone she’s my mother. Adults never take the word of a kid against another grown-up.

  Still, I need to do something. Just thinking of taking another of those pills makes me sick. But if I screw up, she’ll give Alex more medicine. I feel like I’m in another dream where I need to run but can’t.

  We walk out of the building and head toward the parking area. It’s now or never, I guess. I try to pull my hand away from Gloria.

  She yanks me back. “What did I tell you, Amber? Let’s go. Your brother is waiting.”I have to protect Alex, just the same as Jaden.

  As loud as I can, I holler, “Help! Somebody, help me, please!” I try again to free my hand from Gloria’s hold, but she grips my arm really hard.

  “Don’t make me hit you.”

  A lady with a baby stroller eyes us and frowns.

  “Please, ma’am.” I reach toward her with my free hand. “Help me!”

  The woman’s eyes shift to Gloria.

  Gloria rolls her eyes. “She does enjoy her drama.” She chuckles.

  The woman smiles and pats the little kid’s head in her stroller. “I can hardly wait.” She turns away.

  “No wait!” I call after her. “She’s not my mom. She’s kidnapping me.”

  Gloria shoves me toward the parking area before I can see if the woman looked back. I stumble and nearly fall, but she clamps her hand down hard on my shoulder and keeps it there as she marches me to her car. I b
lew it. Alex and I are done for. I let him down. If only someone could help us.

  FIFTY-SIX

  ROBIN

  “WHAT DID THEY SAY?” Robin asked the moment Ben ended the call with the dispatcher.

  He’d told them what they knew about Gloria using Alex as a proxy and Amber’s attachment to the boy. “They’ll go to her house and get a search warrant if necessary.”

  Robin shook her head. “By now they may not be there anymore.”

  Ben glared at Vanessa. “Why the hell didn’t you stop her from seeing that woman?”

  Vanessa put her hands on her hips. “Don’t lecture me.”

  “Well, somebody should,” Ben snapped. “How could you let her go there after I specifically forbade it?”

  “Hello? I didn’t know she went there, did I? Maybe if she had a father who wasn’t missing in action...”

  Robin put a hand on Jaden’s shoulder and pulled him aside. “Did your sister say where this new doctor is? The one she’s taking Alex to see?”

  Jaden bit his lip. “Uh-uh.”

  The exes stopped bickering.

  Vanessa turned to Jaden. “Tell us what you know this minute!”

  Jaden’s face reddened.

  “Shh.” Ben took hold of Vanessa’s arm. “Let Robin talk with him.”

  Sean nodded.

  “Jaden.” Robin kept her focus on the frightened boy. “Did she tell you the name of the doctor?” Anything he might know would be a start.

  He raised his shoulders, like a small turtle trying to squeeze into its shell. “It’s a secret. I promised.”

  “Jaden.” Robin knelt so they were at eye level. “Gloria is very dangerous. Amber didn’t know that. Wherever your sister is, she’s counting on you to help us find her.”

  A tear trickled down the boy’s face. “Is she okay?”

  Robin squeezed his arm. “She will be. Please—can you remember the name of the doctor Gloria said she wanted Alex to see?”

  The boy’s face screwed in concentration then relaxed. “John.”

  “John?” Ben hurried to his son’s side. “Your sister told you Gloria’s taking Alex to a doctor named John?”

  Jaden nodded.

  Robin gave his arm another squeeze. “John who? Can you remember his last name?”

  “Ummm...”

  “Jaden, tell her!” Vanessa said.

  Sean scowled. “Let the kid breathe.”

  Vanessa sniffed but backed down.

  Robin kept her eyes glued to Jaden’s face. “Do you remember what letter his last name started with? A? B?”

  Jaden shook his head.

  Robin kept going, encouraged to see him giving each letter consideration.

  When she reached H, Jaden’s eyes widened. “That’s it. John Something-with-an-H.”

  The name tumbled from Robin’s mouth the instant it hit her brain. “Hopkins?”

  Jaden beamed. “John Hopkins. That’s the doctor.”

  It made sense to Robin that Gloria might flee to a major teaching hospital in driving range. It was an ideal target for her Munchausen manipulations. And yet it struck Robin as too neat of a coincidence for Gloria to be on her way to Robin’s next destination. She gave Jaden a hug, stood, and beckoned Ben aside, out of earshot.

  “You told her, didn’t you?”

  He lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, Bird. I—” He darted a glance at Vanessa, busy reassuring Jaden. “I was negotiating with her. She tried to make a deal that Alex could stay with me if you’d arrange another biopsy for him at Mountainview.” He rubbed his forehead. “I—I told her you’d left.”

  “And you told her where I’m going.” Robin’s voice held ice.

  Ben managed to feed the woman’s obsession. Gloria had cast Robin in the role of savior in her delusion. But maybe I can use that.

  Sean took a protective step closer to his mother.

  Ben wore a pained expression. “I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. I just wanted her to know you wouldn’t be nearby, where she could harass you anymore.”

  Robin shook her head in disgust. “Call the dispatcher. Tell them we know where she’s headed.”

  FIFTY-SEVEN

  AMBER

  AS SHE MARCHES ME back to the car, Gloria swears I’m going to pay for making a scene with that lady. I’m getting a pill, she says, and thanks to me, Alex is too.

  I start to cry. “Please, no. You already gave him one. You’ll kill him.”

  She smacks the back of my head. “Cut it out, right now.”

  I shut up, but I’m still crying. I don’t understand how she can do this to her own son.

  The car’s in sight. Gloria still has her hand on my shoulder, and I don’t see how to make a run for it. It feels like some kind of death march. Then I realize, Alex needs me. I don’t understand why Gloria keeps saying he’s my brother, but he’s my best friend. Even if I could get away, it wouldn’t be right to leave him with Gloria, since I know she’s a psycho.

  Gloria comes to a dead stop, keeping me with her. I see Alex sitting with the passenger door open, facing out. He leans forward with his head in his hands.

  A man walks toward him.

  “Come on.” Gloria grabs my hand and runs toward the car.

  “Oww!” It hurts my ankle to go so fast, but she doesn’t slow down.

  The man comes up to Alex. “You all right, son?”

  Alex shakes his head.

  Gloria rushes up to the man. “What are you doing to my son?”

  He steps away and holds up his hands. “Take it easy, lady. The boy looks like he doesn’t feel too well. I came to see if he needed help.”

  Gloria puts a hand on Alex’s shoulder. Her other one still holds mine. “He knows better than to talk to strangers.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn’t leave your sick kid alone in a car.”

  “We’re on our way to the doctor,” Gloria tells him. “I left him here to rest while I took my daughter to the ladies’ room.” She smiles at the man. “Sorry to be short with you. You know how mothers are about their children.”

  “She’s not my mother.”

  The man looks at me then lowers his gaze to Gloria’s hand gripping mine.

  “She’s kidnapping us.”

  Gloria laughs. She lets go of my hand and takes ahold of my neck, pretending to be affectionate, but I know she’s warning me. “She’s still angry that I wouldn’t buy her a T-shirt from the gift shop. Sweetheart, you already have more shirts than you can wear in a month.”

  “Well, as long as everything’s okay,” the man says. “I guess you better get on your way to that doctor.”

  I want to say something, but Gloria squeezes my neck hard. “Come on, dear. You can sit up front with me so Alex can stretch out in back if he needs to rest.”

  She’ll give Alex another pill if I speak to the man again.

  “Son, get in now, and we’ll be off.” She hustles Alex into the back of the car and pushes me into the passenger seat.

  The man walks away. My eyes tear up. He may have been our last chance.

  Gloria starts the engine. “No more rest stops. In a few miles, I’ll pull over, and you’ll both take your medicine. Now let’s get out of here.”

  I watch in the side mirror as the man who talked to us stands behind the car and takes out his cell phone as Gloria drives away.

  GLORIA SPEEDS OUT OF the rest area and gets back on the Turnpike. She’s driving so fast it scares me. I can tell it’s making Alex nauseous because I hear him whimpering in the back. He probably wanted to throw up in the parking lot and didn’t get a chance.

  Gloria glances in the rearview mirror. “Go to sleep,” she tells him. “You’ll feel better.”

  Then she tells me, “Your brother needs his rest.”

  “Why do you keep calling him that?”

  “Because he’s your brother. You have the same father.”

  For a second, I can’t breathe. “My father?”

  “He’s also Alex’s.”


  I don’t know what to say. I wish she hadn’t told me. I don’t mind the idea of Alex being my brother, but I don’t want to think about Dad and what that means.

  “You love Alex, don’t you?”

  I turn and lean my head against the window. “I’m tired,” I mumble. “I need to take a nap.”

  “Okay,” she says, “but we’ll stop soon so you can take your pill.”

  I wish I could forget. It’s starting to get dark. Somehow the idea of being trapped with Gloria during the night makes me even more scared. I reach into my jeans pocket and close my fingers around the bird figurine Robin gave me. I forgot I’d brought it to show Alex. I take it out and hold it in my lap and say a silent prayer that someone will find us, even in the dark.

  FIFTY-EIGHT

  ROBIN

  ROBIN LISTENED AS BEN explained to the police why they believed Gloria would be traveling south on I-95. Too edgy to sit, she clenched her hands tightly, digging her nails into her palms. Sean stood by her side. Vanessa sat on the sofa with Jaden, her arm around his shoulder.

  Ben looked up from his phone, his expression grim. “They got the search warrant and found Amber’s bicycle in Gloria’s garage.” He drew in a sharp breath. “Oh jeez, for all I know, she was in that house when I saw Gloria.” He seemed stricken.

  Robin almost pitied him.

  Vanessa frowned. “Wait—why were you at Gloria’s?”

  Robin braced herself. The question might prelude another round of dramatics. Vanessa didn’t yet know her ex-husband had fathered Gloria’s child.

  “Jaden,” Robin said. “Maybe you could introduce Sean to Nina and take her for a walk together.” She glanced at Vanessa. “If that’s okay with you.”

  She nodded.

  “I’d love to meet your dog,” Sean told Jaden, taking his mother’s hint.

  When they left, Vanessa demanded, “What’s going on, Ben?”

  He sighed. “Alex is my son.”

  Vanessa flinched as if he’d slapped her. “What?”