by E. M. Leya
"But now what?" Danny blinked back tears. "What do I do now. I can't go home and pretend I'm a little boy again. My mom will expect me to have grown-up, but I don't know how to be a grown-up."
"I think you're wrong there. You've been acting very grown-up for years. You worried about the boys, you took care of a home, you put up with more abuse than most people could ever imagine, and you came through it all standing tall. I bet you're scared. I would be too, but you know what? None of us are really grown-up. We fake it. We're all still scared inside, fumbling our way through life. We do our best. We lean on friends and hope we make it through."
"I don't have any—"
"Yes, you do. You have me." Marshall stared at him. "I'm not going to just walk out of here and leave you. I'll find out where you're going, and I'll come see you. If it's far, I'll call until I can visit. You won't have to figure this all out alone."
Danny was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to stop the tears from dripping from his eyes. "Why? You don't even know me."
"But I do. I've gotten to know you in just the few hours we've been together. And I've known others like you. I know how hard recovering from this is going to be for you. If I can help in any way make this easier on you, I will. Even if that's just being someone you can pick up the phone and call when you have a bad day or something scares you. Hell, there might be times you don't understand something but don't want to ask anyone to explain. I can be the guy you turn to without fear of having anyone look down at you."
A knock on the door paused the conversation.
"I'm Detective Tripp. Are you up for a few questions?"
"Sure, I guess." Danny sat up straighter, and though he moved to the chair beside the bed, Marshall kept hold of his hand. "Have you gotten hold of my mother?"
The detective looked uncomfortable as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.
"What is it? Just tell me. She doesn't want to see me?" Danny's chest became tight at the thought.
"No, it's not that." The detective glanced at Marshall. "Can I speak in front of him?"
"Yes, of course." Danny gave Marshall's hand a squeeze. "What did my mother say?"
Detective Tripp took a deep breath. "When we went to contact your mother, we found she'd passed away five years ago. I'm so sorry."
Danny sucked in a breath, not even trying to hide the tears that now fell openly down his cheeks. He'd been so sure she'd be here for him. He thought she'd be excited to see him finally. How had she died and he hadn't known? Wouldn't he have felt something? "How?"
The detective looked even more uncomfortable. "Are you sure you don't want to wait to discuss this with someone else?"
Anger flared. Danny was tired of not getting any answers. "Just tell me."
"Suicide," the man said softly.
"Shit." Marshall stood, coming closer.
Danny didn't respond. How could he? It was the last thing he expected. Had he caused it? Was it because he'd followed that man with a puppy that day? Had she been so upset about it she took her own life?
As if reading his thoughts, Marshall bent closer to him. "This is not your fault. You didn't cause this. We aren't responsible for other people's actions. No matter how hard things get, suicide isn't the answer. No matter the pain. We can't know why your mother did what she did, but it wasn't your fault."
Danny just stared at him. What was he supposed to do now? Where would he go? The house was probably gone after all this time. There wasn't anyone else. He didn't have aunts, uncles, brothers, or sisters. He was on his own.
"What about the fucker who was holding him all these years? Did you catch him?" Marshall asked.
Danny looked up, wanting to know too.
"Unfortunately, no. We're looking for the car, but so far there is no sign of him." The detective looked as if he wanted to be anywhere other than where he was.
"Damn it." Marshall shook his head.
"I promise we are doing all we can to find him." Detective Tripp took a step closer. "We've alerted surrounding states, contacted every agency. The FBI has been called in on this one. We will find him."
Danny wasn't so sure. He'd lived with Larry. He knew how careful he could be. How well he planned things.
"Any other bad news?" Marshall asked.
Tripp didn't answer.
"What about the other boys? Are they okay?" Danny asked, praying for any good news tonight.
"I can't discuss their medical condition, but I can let you know they are expected to fully recover. Both boys' parents have been contacted and are on their way. One is from Colorado, but the other was from Wyoming. Hopefully, by tomorrow they'll be reunited."
Danny nodded. "Good." He could handle the letdown and pain, but those boys were too young to face even more than they had. At times, the boys had felt like family, like brothers to him, and he wanted only the best for them from here on. He hated the trauma they'd been through and hoped they could somehow move past it all and have a good life at some point.
Unlike him.
What was he going to do? A deep ache settled in his chest at the thought he'd never see his mother again. It was the one thing he'd held on to through the years. He'd kept the memory of her alive in his mind, using it as a comfort when things were at their worst. Now she was gone and he had no one.
Detective Tripp took out his notebook. "If you have the time, I'd like to get some information from you. We'll do a formal interview later, but for now, if we can get any information from you on where Larry might go it might help us catch him."
Danny sighed, not in the mood for questions. He had to think. Figure out what he was going to do now that he had nowhere to go, no one to go home to. This wasn't how it was supposed to work. "I don't know much that can help you. He didn't talk to me about anything. I never saw him with anyone and when he'd talk on the phone, he'd always go outside where I couldn't hear."
"In all the years, no one visited?"
"Never. And when people came to the door, he ignored them. He left the house often, but I never knew where he was going. He'd lock me in the bathroom while he was gone and the boys were locked in the basement."
"Do you know if he had any family?"
"I have no idea. I never heard him talk of any. He was careful not to even keep junk mail around for me to see. It wasn't until just a couple of years ago I found out his last name was Burns. He'd dropped a piece of mail and didn't realize it."
"Was it important mail?"
"I don't think so. It looked like ads from a dentist." How was he supposed to know what was important or not? He'd never gotten a letter in his life.
The questions went on for a while, and he answered what he could, which wasn't much. He just didn't know anything. When the time came, he'd have to tell them everything that went on, but right now, they were just concerned with anything that might lead them to Larry.
"I'm sorry I can't be more help. I just don't know anything about him. He shops at Walmart. I know that from the bags of stuff he'd bring home. He likes coffee from someplace called Caffeinator. He'd always leave old cups of that around for me to clean up. Other than that, I can't help you." Danny sighed. "I wish I could."
"It's okay. The little things you mentioned could turn into big things. We'll look into them." The detective closed his notebook. "I'm sorry about your mother. I wish it was happier news."
"Thanks." He swallowed hard.
"We'll be in touch tomorrow to talk more."
Danny watched him leave before glancing over at Marshall. "I can't believe she's gone."
Marshall sat back down on the edge of the bed. "I'm so sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to seeing her."
"She probably thought I was dead after all this time." He fought back tears. Now wasn't the time to cry. He needed to be strong until he figured everything out, then he could break down and let all the emotions out that he'd held in for years.
A knock on the door was a good distraction. He glanced up as the doctor walked in.
>
"Feeling okay?"
Danny nodded.
"Here's what we are planning. I want to keep you overnight. Tomorrow we'll run a few tests, get a few x-rays. You can get some rest, and then a counselor will drop by to visit with you so you can make some plans on where you go from here." The doctor leaned against the small counter as he spoke.
It was already almost morning, so staying wasn't a big deal. "Okay."
"Good. I'll get things moving so you can get comfortable. After the day you've had, I'm sure you're exhausted. Do you have any questions or need anything?"
With the news of his mother's death, he just wanted to be alone and think. "No, I'm good for now."
The doctor gave a nod. "Let us know if you need anything until we get you upstairs." He quickly left the room.
He glanced over at Marshall. "You should go home and get some sleep too. I shouldn't have kept you here this long."
"I didn't mind." Marshall stared at him. "Are you okay? You've had a lot to deal with tonight."
"I will be. I think more than anything I just need to think. The quiet will do me some good. I need to work things out in my head."
Marshall nodded. "Is there anything I can do?"
"You've done so much already. I'll be okay. Honestly, I just need to rest and think. That last bit of information did me in."
Marshall covered his hand. "Are you really okay? That's some hard news to take."
"It is, but I should have expected it as a possibility. It's been years. A lot happens."
Marshall stared at him as if he didn't believe him.
"Honest, I'm good. I'm tired, confused, overwhelmed, embarrassed, and probably a bit moody. The doctor is right, I need to rest. Tomorrow I'll start focusing on what I'm going to do, but for now, it's probably best if I ask them for a sleeping pill and just check out for a few hours. Go home and get some sleep. You've more than earned it." He turned his hand over to link fingers with Marshall. "Again, thank you for helping me so much. I'm a stranger, yet you've treated me like a true friend."
"We are friends." Marshall's fingers tightened around his. "I'll go home and rest a bit, but I am coming back tomorrow to see how you are. I guess it's actually later today, isn't it? Anyway, I'm going to leave my phone number with you. If you need to talk, you can call me anytime."
"Thanks, but hopefully, I'll sleep."
"I hope so too." Marshall stood, reaching for a pen and paper that was left on the small counter area. He wrote something down and slid it on the small bedside table. "Use it if you need anything."
"Thanks."
"You sure you're okay?" Marshall looked hesitant to leave.
"I'm alright. I just want some time alone to think about everything. Too much going on, too many distractions to focus on it all."
"Then I'll let you be. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't fight the doctors on tests. Let them do what they need to. It's possible evidence. You'll need all you can get to make sure Larry stays in prison once he's caught."
"If they catch him."
"They will." Marshall smiled. "Sleep well."
"Night, Marshall." Danny watched as he walked out the door, then closed his eyes, betting it was the last time he'd ever see him. From this point on, he was going to be on his own.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Marshall stirred a soggy bowl of cereal as he thought about everything that happened the night before. What were the chances that this would happen to someone involved with the Save the Kids Team? Taking down people like Larry was what he did for a living, and that was exactly what he planned on doing.
He needed more information. Needed the time to dig deep into his background and read all the police reports, but he would find the asshole if the cops didn't.
First, he needed to figure out how he could help Danny. After a restless few hours of trying to sleep, he decided he was going to go shopping and at least get Danny some clothes and basic things he might need, a razor, a brush, deodorant, and such. It was something simple he could do to help make things easier for him.
The sound of his cellphone drew his attention from the cereal. He saw Jeremy's name and smiled as he answered. "Hey, boss."
Jeremy huffed. "Hardly, but you see me how you will. How's things going on your end? Anything new about the pervert next door?"
"Nothing. Last I heard was about four this morning and the cops still hadn't tracked him down. He's probably halfway to New York by now." Marshall pushed the bowl away, his appetite fading. "Were you able to find anything?"
"Not much. I've started a file for you on the guy, but there really isn't a lot. Other than a few traffic tickets, he's got no record. No family listed either. Not a hell of a lot to work with, but we've dealt with that before. It might take time, but something will come up sooner or later," Jeremy said. "The police give you a hard time?"
"Haven't talked to them yet. I'm sure they'll track me down today sometime. Other than a brief statement yesterday, there's been nothing. I stayed at the hospital with Danny until they moved him to a room. The guy's been through hell. All he wanted was to reunite with his mother, then he finds out she committed suicide a few years back. I can't imagine what he's going through. The poor guy hasn't been free since he was a kid, now he's got to face all this."
"And you're going to help him, aren't you?" Jeremy laughed.
"How'd ya know?" Marshall wasn't surprised Jeremy was on to him. Any of the team members would do the same thing in the situation.
"Hell, I could hear it in your voice when we talked last night. You decided that the moment you heard what the situation was. You'll help Danny while working to make his kidnapper suffer. I can't blame you. It must have been hell to be there when they brought the other boys out and cleared the house."
"I want in that house. I want to see what that asshole has around, find anything that might lead me to him."
"Not likely to happen, but we can dig into the police reports and see what they find. Take it slow on this one. It's fresh and evidence is still being collected. Hopefully, once they interview the three victims, we can find out more."
"They aren't victims," Marshall growled.
"You're right. They are survivors. I'm just saying give this one some time."
"I will. I can't do anything but wait for information. I'm not about to start digging for shit from my home computer. For now, I'm going to press Danny for information. He had to have seen things he doesn't think matter."
"Careful with him. He's going through a lot. Don't push him too much."
Marshall sighed; a bit pissed off that Jeremy would think he'd do that. "I know. I'm not pushing, but I want to be there if he talks to anyone. The more I know, the more I can use to hunt. How are things there? Anything new?"
"Nothing much. The usual shit. A few new vids, a few photos. I'm working them. You take the time you need and let things cool down. I'll call if we have something major. Right now, there's no stings scheduled."
"Okay. I'm headed shopping in a bit, then I'll be at the hospital for a while. I'll text or call when I get home later."
"You're a good man, Marsh."
Marshall snorted. "Right. I'm out for blood and looking to kill a man. That makes me such a great person."
"It does when the man you're after deserves to die. Call later and check-in."
"See ya." He hung up the phone.
As tired as he was, he was motivated. He didn't want to risk missing any interviews Danny might give at the hospital, so he quickly cleaned up his uneaten cereal and got on the road. Shopping didn't take long. He grabbed simple clothes, sweatpants, t-shirts, and things that wouldn't matter if the size was off a bit. He simply got what he would want if he was in the hospital and wanted out of that ugly hospital gown.
He was at the hospital just after nine and wasn't shocked to find the place busy. He took a minute to check with the front desk to find Danny's room, then headed upstairs, hoping nothing had gone wrong through the night and that Danny got some rest.
; The door to the room was open as he approached, but he slowed, seeing a woman sitting beside Danny's bed. He paused at the door, listening to her speak.
"The half-way house is a good option. It will give you a chance to get on your feet. I know it's not what you wanted, but you're going to need counseling and help now that you're free. Without any family, I think this is the best option for you." The woman was in her thirties, with her hair up in a tight bun, and a folder in her lap, probably filled with what little information they had on Danny. "Honestly, you don't have a lot of choices. You have nowhere else to go."
Marshall cleared his throat, stepping into the room. "He does have another option if he wants it. He can come stay at my place." He said the words without even thinking about it.
"I'm sorry, you are?" The woman stood.
Marshall smiled at Danny. "I'm a friend." He ignored the woman's stare and went to Danny. "How are you today?"
"Tired." Danny held out his hand. "Thanks for coming."
"I told you I would. I brought you some clothes. Nothing fancy, but I figured you'd want something other than that gown." He nodded to the green hospital gown that Danny still wore. "There's also a razor and basic toiletry stuff. I wasn't really sure what you would need."
"You didn't have to do that, but thank you. I'd love to get in something comfortable."
"I still think going to the half-way house is your best option. You'll need the resources—"
Marshall shook his head. "He's already spent most of his life locked up, under someone else's control. The half-way house isn't where he belongs. If he wants, he can come to my home. He can arrange counseling, do what he needs to while learning how to live on his own. The only issue is I live next door to where you were held, and I'd understand if you turn me down because of that."
The woman flipped through the folder. "We need to discuss this. I'm not sure he's allowed to go—"
"He's an adult, not a child. He can do what he wishes. He needs stability and to feel comfortable. Are you telling me he'll have that at a half-way house, surrounded by others dealing with a mix of their own issues?" Marshall looked at Danny. "Before we argue with her about this, we should decide if living with me is even something you'd want to consider."