Chapter 49: Chapter Forty-Eight

Two ambulances were on the way.

We’d removed all of Maddy’s bindings, and I took off my coat to cover her. I shivered in the fall air, but being cold was a small exchange for the safety of my girl.

Maddy’s eyes were closed. I rubbed her wrists and ankles, worried that being bound for so long might have reduced her circulation. Whatever drug Daniel had given her appeared to be overtaking her. She was short of breath and hadn’t spoken more than five words.

Her hair hung in wisps and was a weird brown color. What was that about?

Marie had handcuffed Daniel, and when the ambulances arrived—pulling into the lot right after each other—the paramedics loaded him into one of them. I must have done more damage to his head than I thought; they said his condition was serious. I didn’t care. If I could have hurt him more, I would have.

Other paramedics lifted Maddy onto a stretcher and headed for the second ambulance. I pulled my coat back on and followed. “I’m going with her,” I told Bob He nodded. “Of course. I’ll be in touch.”

In the ambulance, Maddy lay on a gurney, and I perched in a jump seat on one side. The paramedic was bent over her attentively, doing tests of some kind. “How’s she doing?” I asked.

He didn’t answer. His back was toward me, and he was absorbed in caring for her, adjusting equipment and the IV connection in her arm.

I asked again, my concern growing, and this time he turned to me, speaking over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll be at the hospital soon. The ER docs will take care of her.”

That was it for conversation as we traversed the darkening highway into the city. Maddy lay still on the gurney, her eyes closed. I gripped her hand tightly as I silently willed the driver to go faster.

At the hospital, she was moved directly into an exam cubicle in the ER. I stayed in the hallway as staff converged on the cubicle. Minutes later a young doctor came out and introduced himself. “We have the paramedics’ report, but what more can you tell us?”

“I don’t know. She was bound in duct tape when we found her, and she seems drugged.” I remembered Bob’s discovery in the garbage behind Daniel’s house. “We did find an empty prescription bottle for something called Zolpidem.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Thanks. We’ll check for that. She’s dehydrated, so we’re giving her fluids by IV, and we’ll continue monitoring.” He went back into the cubicle. I was still wound tight. What damage had she suffered at Daniel’s hands?

A while later the doctor appeared again. “We’re still waiting for the results of the blood tests. But I don’t think there’s anything too seriously wrong with her. We’ll want to keep her overnight to observe her, but she can probably go home tomorrow.”

“Doctor…” I wasn’t sure how to put this. “Can you tell…if he…” I couldn’t give voice to my deepest fears. If Daniel had done anything more to her, I didn’t think I could bear it.

He gave me a long look. “We examined her carefully, and there are no signs of injury or abuse that we can see, other than the drugging.” He added, “She’s sleeping now, but you can go in.”

****

I went in and stood by Maddy’s bed. My breath caught. She was lying still, appearing so small and vulnerable, like a little injured bird. Her chest rose and fell almost imperceptibly. She was attached to various monitoring devices, tracking her vitals. An IV tube drained into her arm.

My heart hurt for her. I pulled a chair up to her bed and settled in to keep watch. Even if she had no obvious injuries, she’d been through a horrible ordeal. How badly traumatized was she?

A couple of times I had to move out of the way when a nurse came in to check her condition or adjust something, but otherwise it was a quiet vigil. Watching the calm, organized teamwork by staff who obviously knew what they were doing, my anxiety started to subside.

In a calm moment, I texted Jenny.

—Maddy’s safe. I’m at the hospital with her.—

Her reply came a few moments later.

—Omg!! What great news!!—

—Long story. Later. But pls notify everyone?—

—Of course.—

Bless her. She’d handle letting all our friends know. They would all be thrilled to hear the good news, but I didn’t have the energy to handle contacting them myself.

A while later, Marie arrived and beckoned me into the hallway. She dragged a chair over next to mine and leaned in, her eyes on mine. “How are you doing?” When I shrugged, she added, “Daniel Kazan is at the Civic. I made sure he and Maddy didn’t go to the same ER—I didn’t want to subject you to that.”

I hadn’t even considered that possibility but was grateful it hadn’t happened. “Thanks. How is he?” What I meant was, how much damage did I do to him?

She didn’t fully answer the question. “He was in and out of consciousness. He’s under guard.” She patted my arm. “I’ll need to interview Maddy, but that can wait till tomorrow.”

****

Later Saturday night I texted Jenny again, asking her to pick up some clothes for Maddy from our house and bring them to me. When she arrived, we had a whispered conversation in the hallway outside Maddy’s room. I filled her in on the day’s events, but just the bare bones—she could tell I wasn’t up to more. She gave me a huge hug, peeked in on Maddy, hugged me again, and went home.

I stayed at the hospital that night, dozing in a chair by Maddy’s bedside. When I woke, she appeared to be in a natural sleep, not the drugged stupor she’d been in the evening before. The rattle of an attendant bringing her breakfast woke her.

She sat up, gazing around the room, and finally settled her eyes on me. “Mom? What’s going on?” Her voice was a hoarse whisper.

That would be a long conversation, but not one to have now. “You’re safe. You’re in the hospital, but you’re okay. You’ll be coming home today.”

She stared at me, her eyes hollow. “Where’s Daniel?”

Oh God, where to start. “He’s been arrested. He won’t be bothering us.” That was enough detail for now.

Maddy turned to her breakfast, wolfing down the two pieces of cold toast and congealed egg as if she were starving. I blinked tears away, imagining what yesterday had been like for her.

Just as Maddy finished eating, the doctor on duty came bustling in. She checked Maddy over and reviewed her chart. “Looks like you’re good to go,” she declared with a smile. Turning to me, she added, “She’s bounced back well. We’ll discharge her this morning.”

Maddy did ask about her phone; I told her the police had her belongings and would be returning them.

By ten o’clock I’d signed her discharge papers and had helped her into the clothes that Jenny had dropped off. To my eyes Maddy appeared pale, but I accepted the doctor’s view that she was ready to go home. A young male attendant arrived, pushing a wheelchair.

Maddy’s eyes widened. “Is that for me?”

Startled, I turned to the orderly. “Does she need that?”

He shrugged. “I’m supposed to take her…”

I turned to Maddy. “Do you want a ride?”

“Sure.” She plunked herself into the wheelchair and gazed around alertly as the orderly took us down to the main floor in the elevator.

“Can you stay with her while I bring the car around?” I asked. He nodded, and Maddy seemed content to wait with him.

The day was sunny. There’d been frost again overnight, but the sun had already melted most of it and—despite the cold weather of the previous week—it was a brisk but lovely fall day. I couldn’t help but take the sunshine as an omen, a sign that things were brightening for us.

In the car, Maddy said, “I didn’t really need the wheelchair, but it was fun.” I was glad she could enjoy something. Anything.

She was quiet on the way home, leaning against the passenger-side window. I wasn’t sure if she was awake or dozing, but when we arrived and I went around to open her door, she pushed past me and stood up without my help.

“I’m okay. I can walk.” She had her head down, and I couldn’t see the expression on her face.

I grabbed my purse and headed up the walkway after her, reaching around her to unlock the front door. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water, her back to me.

Putting my arm around her shoulders, I leaned over to kiss her temple. “I love you, sweetie. I’m so happy to have you home again.”

She turned to me, throwing her arms around me and leaning into my shoulder. Her voice was muffled. “Thank you for coming to save me.”

My eyes misted. “I’m just glad we found you.” I held her tightly. I never wanted to let her go. She sobbed for a few minutes while I patted her back.

****

I needed to prepare Maddy for the police visit ahead. “You remember Constable Boucher? Marie? The one who came to see you and Emma before? She’ll be coming by this morning to interview you. She’ll need to ask you about everything that happened.”

“Okay.” We were still in the kitchen. Maddy turned toward the fridge. “I’m still hungry. Can I have something to eat?”

“Of course.” I quickly put together a tomato and lettuce sandwich, while she dropped into a chair and fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers on the table. I was desperate to know what had happened—where she’d been, how Daniel got hold of her—but I didn’t know where to start. All my questions were dammed up inside me. If I let them out, I feared they’d overwhelm both of us.

But if I took it one thing at a time…

I handed her a plate with her sandwich. “I was so worried! When I realized you were gone…”

Her eyes flicked to mine, then away. “I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t stop myself. “Why—?” I wasn’t sure how to finish the sentence.

She bent her head, taking a bite of sandwich. Chewed. Swallowed. “You know why.” Gazing up through her eyelashes, she added in a low voice. “We were fighting. I was sick of it.”

A pang went through me. That’s what I feared.

“Plus you said you weren’t my mother.”

And that. My objection burst out of me. “I didn’t say that at all! I said you are my child. I told you the DNA test was wrong.”

She took another bite of her sandwich. “That’s not what Daniel said.”

Ahh. “What did he say?”

I was desperate to ask how she ended up with Daniel, but I’d leave that for when Marie interviewed her.

She looked at me. “He told me the test said you aren’t my mom.” She blinked back tears. “And that’s what you told me too.”

Her words pierced my heart. “But I told you it was a mistake.”

She shook her head, her eyes now on her half-eaten sandwich as she placed it back on her plate. I bit my lip in frustration. I didn’t have anything further to back up my declaration. The second DNA test, the one I’d submitted samples for on Friday, might provide answers, but I didn’t have the results yet.

“Listen,” I said desperately, “we’ll get that sorted out. But you’re home now, and you are my daughter.”

****

Maddy was relieved to be home, glad to see her mom after all the confusion. But she wasn’t sure what would happen now. Her familiar frustrations threatened to surface again—had anything changed?

Her mom had been right about Daniel. He did turn out to be dangerous. Maddy couldn’t understand why he’d suddenly gotten mean, when he’d been so nice at the beginning.

Maddy finished her milk. “Can I go to my room?”

Her mom hesitated, then nodded. “Until Marie comes to interview you.”

In her room, Maddy’s gaze swept over everything. She’d been away so long it was like a stranger’s room. And it was so tidy! All her usual mess was gone. Her mom must have been in here, putting stuff away.

What was she doing in my room? But Maddy squelched her automatic protest. The image of Mom cleaning her room for her was actually kind of comforting.

A part at the door announced Oscar’s entry. With a rush of affection, Maddy picked him up and buried her face in his warm fur. She’d missed him. She carried him to her bed and curled up, nuzzling him until he squirmed away.

She stood and crossed to her dresser, pulling out a drawer and grabbing a pair of black leggings and some underwear. She dragged several tops out of the closet and tossed them on her bed. The outfit Jenny brought to the hospital was okay, but Maddy wanted to make her own selection.

After trying out several outfits, she settled on a long green sweater over the black tights and added the silver earrings that Grandpa had given her last year for Christmas.

On impulse, she turned back to the closet and pulled out several items at random. With an inner smirk, she tossed them on the floor.

Yeah, I’m home now.

****

Watching Maddy answering Marie’s questions, I ached for my daughter. She described going to Daniel’s house, playing with his dog, him offering her a place to sleep, him cooking for her, playing cards. And her shock when—after treating her well, she thought—he “turned mean.”

She’d trusted Daniel—God knows why, but she had—only to have her trust shattered.

It hurt to see her in pain, but I was conflicted too. I was furious at Daniel, of course, but I couldn’t help feeling hurt that Maddy had run away in the first place.

Though I knew I was in large part to blame for that. I reminded myself that I was the adult here, not the victim. And my training in child development should have equipped me to do better.

I had failed to keep our relationship on an even keel. The tension between us had become so toxic that I’d driven Maddy out of the house. She was just a kid; it wasn’t her fault that things had broken down.

Marie finished the interview and gave Maddy a little hug. “Thanks for that,” she said. “I may have more questions for you, but that’s all for now.”

She put away her notebook and rose, grabbing her coat. “I’ll be interviewing Daniel today,” she said to me. “I’ll be in touch later.”

****

Daniel had been resting in his hospital bed when the policewoman appeared. Though he couldn’t really call it “rest”—he had a splitting headache. The doctor who saw him this morning said they were still monitoring him for concussion. And he couldn’t turn over—his arm was handcuffed to the bed rail.

Squinting, he saw it was the lady cop who’d led the search at Aunt Ruby’s house. She started asking him questions, but he had a hard time following. His head was pounding.

You fool—you’ve landed yourself in more trouble than ever.

He’d watched enough TV shows to know he should have a lawyer if a cop was questioning him, but he didn’t know how to get one, not here in the hospital.

But his first worry wasn’t for himself—it was for Tucker. He felt terrible for leaving him behind. By now, Tucker must be frantic.

Lifting himself up on one elbow, he broke into whatever the cop was saying. “Where’s my dog?” His voice sounded hoarse, so he repeated himself, louder this time. “Where’s Tucker?”

The officer glanced at him. “Your dog is fine.”

“So where is he?”

“One of our officers picked him up from your house yesterday.”

“When can I get him back?”

She shook her head. “You’ll be in custody. You won’t be having a dog with you.”

Daniel’s breath caught. “So what will happen with him?”

“I don’t know. He’ll probably have to go to the Humane Society shelter. Maybe someone will adopt him.”

Or put him to sleep, more likely. Who’s going to adopt an old dog?

Daniel fell back against the pillow, pressure building up behind his eyes. He tried to shift his position to relieve the sick feeling in his stomach.

After a moment he realized the cop was talking again, saying something about him endangering the girl.

That got his attention. “Where is she now?”

The cop stared at him. “She’s back with her mother, where she belongs. And she’s fine—no thanks to you.”

“What do you mean, her mother?”

“With Dr. Koss, of course.”

Daniel snorted. “With her? You’ve got that wrong. That’s not her mother.”

“Mr. Kazan, You know Maddy’s not your granddaughter.”

“Yeah, I know that.” That dream was gone. “But she’s not that woman’s daughter, either.”

The policewoman looked blank.

He half sat up. “Ask your Dr. Koss about the DNA test.”

“What do you mean?”

“It said she wasn’t the girl’s mother at all.”

She frowned at him. “I don’t know anything about that. Maddy is back home now.”

He closed his eyes. It didn’t matter anymore.

Wait. Maybe…

Daniel opened his eyes again. He forced himself to keep his voice slow and calm.

“The girl and Tucker got along real well. Maybe she’d like to look after him.”

The cop cocked an eye at him. “You think Maddy Koss would want to take care of your dog?”

Mustering his last reserves, Daniel nodded. “Just ask her. She likes animals. And she likes Tucker.” With that he collapsed back onto the bed.

Dimly, he heard the cop talking to one of the doctors. “We’ll have to interview him properly when he’s in better shape, but I’ll leave him for now.”