3 The Chain of Lies (23 page)

“They found her. They found Molly.” Emily could no longer contain her tears and a few broke free and trickled down her cheeks. She turned to the girl and threw her arms around her in her excitement.

Emily drew in a deep breath to calm herself. Releasing her hold on the girl, they turned and stared expectantly at the front door, waiting for the men to bring Molly out. Emily noticed one of the officers stationed on the porch was communicating with someone on his radio.

“Tony, what’s happening?” Emily asked.

“They’re calling for an ambulance, from what I can overhear.” The special agent repeated what he was picking up on the radio. “She was found in the crawl space, lying on a pile of blankets, she’s unresponsive, probably drugged.”

Emily spun around at the sound of a siren blaring from an emergency vehicle, growing louder as it approached. “Peter! The ambulance!” she called out, pointing toward the flashing red lights in the distance, the scream of the siren intensifying as it moved closer.

She’s going to be okay.
She has to be. Oh, God, please let her be okay.

A uniformed officer moved one of the patrol cars crowding the residential street, to make room for the ambulance. Two young men in stiff white shirts and navy blue pants sprang from the vehicle and sprinted to the rear, pulling a gurney out of the back door.

“Make way!” one of the officers ordered. His hands furiously directed them, and the small crowd that had gathered on the lawn moved aside.

The paramedics bolted up the few stairs and disappeared, with the gurney, into the house.

Emily willed herself not to cry. This was not the time or the place to break down. It was a time to be strong for Molly and for Camille.

Oh, my gosh
—
Camille. Should I call her?

It was all she could do to hold it together. If she had to explain the situation to Camille right now, she knew she’d lose it. But Camille and Jonathan had a right to know.

She dug her phone out of her pocket and stared at it, wondering what she should do, what she would say.

“Emily!”

Over the din of chatter from the crowd, she heard her name called. She turned toward the sound and saw Colin sprinting toward her from the street.

“Colin!” She yelled and waved him over.

“Ow! Some of us still have earpieces in, Emily,” Ellis scolded.

“Sorry.” She grimaced.

Colin rushed to her and pulled her into his arms. “Did they find Molly? I saw the ambulance. Is she okay?”

“Yeah, they found her. They’re bringing her out, but she’s unconscious so they’re rushing her to the hospital. Didn’t you hear about it in your earpiece?”

“No, I took it out when I left the hotel. I had to deal with the madam and her thug.”

“Why is it taking so long?”

“Be patient, Emily. Let them work.”
 

“Well, Maliwan has been keeping me company while we wait to see Molly.”

Colin released his hold and stepped aside, keeping one arm protectively around her waist. “Maliwan, hello.” He offered her a friendly smile.

The girl gave him a small, guarded smile in return.

“You were very brave back at the hotel.”

“Yes, you were,” Emily added.

“I need you to be brave a little while longer. I’ve asked one of the female officers to take you to the police station.”

Maliwan’s dark eyes grew wide and the fear that had begun to drain from them was instantly refilling.

“No, no, you don’t have to be afraid,” Emily said, in an effort to console her.

“We need to do some paperwork, you know, get your story,” Colin explained slowly. “Then you’ll be staying at a women’s shelter in town. They’ll take care of you for the next few days until we can sort this thing out.”

“Shelter?” Maliwan repeated.

“Yes, it’s a safe place to sleep with plenty of food to eat. They’ll take care of you there.” Emily wasn’t sure the girl understood all of what she and Colin had just said, but she nodded compliantly.

“It will be okay, Maliwan. Those bad people can’t hurt you anymore.”

She nodded again. A smile began to bloom on her face. It was clear that she understood that.

“Here comes the officer now.” Colin motioned her over with the rotation of his hand. “Officer Sanchez, this is Maliwan…I’m sorry, what is your last name?”

“Willapana.”

“Sanchez, this is Maliwan Willapana. Could you please escort the young lady down to the police station and take her statement? Sherry Howard from City Lights will be picking her and the other girls up when you’re done.”

“Yes, sir. Right this way, Miss Willapana.” Officer Sanchez gestured toward her cruiser. “What a pretty name.”

The girl hugged Emily quickly before leaving. “Thank you.”

She waved at Emily and Colin as she went with the police woman. Emily didn’t want to take her eyes off of her until she was safely seated in the squad car.

“Emily, have you called Camille and Jonathan yet?”

“Just about to,” she replied, turning her gaze from the car back to Colin. “I hope I don’t break down and blubber my way through it.” With the emotional roller coaster she had been on all day, she could sense her tears bubbling very near the surface again.

“Why don’t you let me do it?” Before she could give him an answer, Colin whipped out his phone and ventured beyond the driveway for some quiet space.

Emily observed him as he put the phone to his ear, grateful he took the initiative to handle it for her. She imagined his words to her friends and their relieved, yet horrified reaction. Maybe she should have gone and told them in person, but then she might miss their bringing Molly out. Her boots felt nailed to the ground. She had to stay.

Colin made his way back through the crowd until he returned to Emily’s side. “They’re on their way. Fortunately, they’re only a few blocks away. Maggie’s coming, too.”

“Emily!” A female voice shouted from the street.

Emily turned to see who had called her name and spotted Isabel cutting through the swelling crowd.

“I got here as fast as I could.” Isabel squeezed Emily warmly. “I heard they found Molly.”

“They should be bringing her out shortly.” Emily’s voice trembled. “She’s unconscious, Is.”

Isabel rested a comforting hand on Emily’s arm. “She’s a strong girl, Em, a lot like you. We’ll see her through this.”

Emily nodded and lowered her eyes. “I feel somehow responsible.”

“Why on earth would you say that?” Colin asked.

“She and I talked about this house and what might be going on here. I should have known she was too young to discuss this kind of thing. Me and my big mouth. If I hadn’t—”

“This is not your fault,” Colin insisted. “Tell her, Isabel.”

“He’s right. This is not your fault. These people were committing crimes against young girls, and Molly must have tried to do something about it. She’s a courageous girl to try to take these people on.”

“I hope Camille and Jonathan see it that way.”

“You hope we see what that way?” Camille and Jonathan walked up behind Emily and the small cluster of friends.

Emily looked their way, her mind racing for a good answer. No words would come, a hug would have to do. Emily reached out and pulled Camille into a firm embrace, which Camille returned. Isabel stepped up and softly patted Camille’s back, glancing over at Maggie, who had joined the group.

“They’ll be bringing Molly out any minute,” Colin remarked. “Like I told you on the phone, she’s unconscious, but alive.”

“I don’t understand,” Jonathan said through clenched teeth, staring at Colin, “why was she in this house in the first place?”

“We’ll sort it all out when Molly regains consciousness,” Isabel replied.

“If I hadn’t ordered her out of the room yesterday, none of this would have happened,” Camille cried, dabbing her eyes and wiping her nose with tissue.

“Don’t blame yourself, Cam,” Maggie said.

“If you want to blame anyone, blame the criminals that abducted her.” Isabel stroked Camille’s shoulder.

“Where’s Peter?” Jonathan asked, glancing around the yard.

“Up there by the door.” Emily pointed to him standing at the foot of the porch. “He’s videotaping them bringing Molly out.”

Maggie looked confused. “Videotapin’? But he doesn’t—”

“Look! Here they come!” Isabel shouted over the chaotic roar from the crowd on the lawn.

“Step aside, make way,” one of the officers commanded.

The crowd parted as the paramedics brought the gurney out the front door and down the few steps to the walkway.

“Stop!” Camille hollered, running up to the gurney.

“Step back, ma’am,” the officer ordered, sticking his hand out to block her.

“That’s my daughter!”

“Hold up, fellas,” the policeman requested, dropping his hand.

Camille bent over her daughter and stroked her matted red hair. “You’re going to be okay, Molly, sweetie. Daddy and I are here for you.”

Jonathan stepped to the gurney as well, his eyes glistening, wiping his sleeve across his face, while Peter stood at the foot of the metal contraption, continuing to tape.

“Ma’am?” One of the paramedics lightly touched Camille’s arm. “We need to get her to the hospital. “Would one of you like to ride with her?”

“You go, honey,” Jonathan suggested. “I’ll bring the car. We’ll need it later.”

Camille nodded appreciatively. Her hand remained fixed on Molly’s shoulder as she stayed beside the gurney, keeping up with the paramedics as they rushed to the ambulance.

“I’ll be right behind you!” Jonathan called after her.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have one of us drive you, Jon?” Colin asked.

“That’s probably best. Peter, can you drive me?” Jonathan’s voice was noticeably shaking.

“Absolutely. Let’s go.”

“I wanna come too,” Maggie said. “Camille’s gonna need me at the hospital.”

“The rest of us will get there as soon as we can.” Emily set her hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “We all want to be there for you and Camille.”

“Okay, let’s roll.” As Peter walked away with Jonathan and Maggie, he pulled his high-tech glasses off and he turned them around to face toward himself. “This is Peter MacKenzie signing off. You got that, Ellis?”

“Loud and clear.”

CHAPTER 20

It was almost midnight when Colin and Emily made it to the hospital. The visitors area was overrun with their close circle, waiting for any news about Molly. Tests had been run, vitals monitored, but nothing yet to report except that she had still not woken up.

Alex came strolling down the hallway with a box full of coffees.

“Thank you, hon.” Isabel took a cup from her husband.

“Anyone else?” He set the box down on the coffee table. “I made sure there are packets of sugar and creamer in there, too.”

The doctor pushed through the heavy swinging doors. “Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne?”

“That’s us.” Camille and Jonathan bolted from the chairs and rushed over to the doctor.

“I’m Dr. Reed. Your daughter has not gained consciousness yet, but she seems to be resting comfortably. If you’d like to come in and see her for a few minutes, that’d be all right.”

“Yes, please.”

“Can any of the rest of us see her, too?” Emily asked.

“For now, let’s just take her folks in.”

Camille and Jonathan clasped hands and followed the physician.

Watching her friends hurry away, Emily was unable to shake the feeling that she was partly responsible for their daughter lying in that hospital bed. She wrapped her arms around herself in a self-comforting gesture.

Colin must have sensed her need because he placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her in. Responsively, she wrapped her arms about his lean torso and laid her cheek against his chest. Clinging to each other, he gently kissed the top of her head as they stood in contemplative silence.

“Emily?” Isabel softly laid a hand on her friend’s arm.

Emily raised her head and extended her hand to Isabel, who took hold of it.

“Alex told me that when he went to the cafeteria for the coffees he saw Delia down there.”

“Why would she be here? Especially this late?” Emily looked up at Colin.

“Remember I told you Jerry Banderas was in the hospital,” Isabel replied. “I’m guessing it has something to do with him. I wonder if he took a turn for the worse.”

“Can you check on him?” Emily asked.

“I’m not family, but maybe I can play the FBI card and wrangle some details out of the nurse.”

~*~

Isabel took the elevator to the fourth floor. An older, heavy-set African-American nurse was reviewing papers on her desk when Isabel strode up to the counter.

“Good evening, ma’am.”

The woman peered at Isabel over the top of the glasses sitting low on her broad nose. “Hello, may I help you?”