Page 70 of Injustice and Absolution

I lower myself back into my chair with the knowledge that, until Ifindher, there is nothing I can do to help her.

But does she trulyneedhelp? Drew may have been an asshole to the landlord, but that doesn’t mean he treats Delilah like that. She knows she’s always welcome to call. To come home. But maybe she’s getting everything she needs from Drew.

Another bitter pill to swallow.

I can’t begin to think about Drew fulfillinganyof Delilah’s needs.

“Delilah is an adult. She can make her own decisions. I told her to call if necessary, and I’m sure she will if the need arises,” I dismiss Maggie, turning my attention back to the paperwork in my hands.

And staring straight through it.

“Yes, but my point is, what if she isn’t allowed to reach out?”

My eyes snap back to Maggie’s.

“I told you I didn’t trust that motherfucker. I think he’s keeping her from us. Isolating her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he orchestrated the attack on her to scare her into moving in with him.”

The same thought occurred to me just before she uttered the words.

“I’m worried, Royce. You need to do something.”

Maggie looks at me in a way she hasn’t since she was a very little girl and wanted me to buy her a baby doll. She threw the worst goddamn tantrum she’s ever thrown in that store. Her eyes pleading, as though she’d die without it.

I see that same look in her eyes right now and can’t deny it fucking kills me. Maggie never asks me for anything anymore. She wouldn’t be now if it weren’t serious.

She has no idea exactly how much I care for Delilah. My soul shares Maggie’s worry, and I let go of every qualm and hesitation I’ve held where Delilah is concerned.

Maggie may never understand it, and selfishly, I run the risk of ruining any kind of relationship I could have had with my daughter. But I’m no stranger to her hostility. And right now, Delilah’s safety is more important. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get her back where she belongs.

And she’ll never leave again.

“Keep texting with her as normal. Don’t let her know you know. If she’s in danger, we can’t run the risk that he’s monitoring her phone.”

It occurs to me that there’s a chanceDrewmay be the one Maggie has been talking to the whole time.

“What do you know about the guy? Anything?”

“Only that he lives in Harrisburg.” Maggie’s face fills with shame before she continues. “Delilah was right, I’m a horrible friend. I didn’t like Drew, so I made no attempt to ask her anything about him. I just expected her admiration would fade, and she’d lose interest. That’s what’s happened with all the other guys she ever took a liking to.”

I hold back my cringe when the words “all the other guys” fall from her lips.

As tears build in Maggie’s eyes, I try like hell to keep my discomfort from showing. Maggie knows I can’t be any comfort to her, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be. I wish I were a better man. A better father.

“If I were a good friend, I would have tried to get to know him more. Maybe I could have stopped her from leaving... Or I-I could have gotten a small piece of information that could help us find her.”

“Don’t blame yourself, okay?” I leave out the fact that doing so isn’t helpful to our cause. “We have his name. We know where he lives. That’s enough to go on. We’ll find her.”

She swallows and swipes away at her tears before nodding.

“Let me know if she says anything to you out of the norm, but Maggie,” I make sure I have her undivided attention before I continue. “It’s imperative you don’t voice your concern. If he’s monitoring her and he gets spooked in any way...”

I want to finish my sentence, but I can’t bring myself to admit an error in Maggie’s judgment could result in death for Delilah.

But I don’t have to. As fear flashes in Maggie’s eyes, I know she understands what’s at risk.

I nod, dismissing her from my office before I pick up my cell phone. Typing out a message to Draven, I alert him to this development.

My cell rings almost immediately.

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