Page 13 of Caged
"I don't know why, but I do know I'm glad it was today. I'm glad I was there to help you. I hate to think what would happen if no one had been around. If no one heard your screams. In this day and age, people don't always help when they should. They hide away, not wanting to get involved." He sat down on the edge of the bed instead of the chair, tightening his hold on Danny's hand. "The good news and the only news you need to focus on right now is that it's over."
"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.
