Page 14 of Caged
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 calledCaffeinator. 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.
