Page 15 of Caged
He glanced over at Marshall. "You should go home and get some sleep too. I shouldn't have kept you here this long."
"I didn't mind." Marshall stared at him. "Are you okay? You've had a lot to deal with tonight."
"I will be. I think more than anything I just need to think. The quiet will do me some good. I need to work things out in my head."
Marshall nodded. "Is there anything I can do?"
"You've done so much already. I'll be okay. Honestly, I just need to rest and think. That last bit of information did me in."
Marshall covered his hand. "Are you really okay? That's some hard news to take."
"It is, but I should have expected it as a possibility. It's been years. A lot happens."
Marshall stared at him as if he didn't believe him.
"Honest, I'm good. I'm tired, confused, overwhelmed, embarrassed, and probably a bit moody. The doctor is right, I need to rest. Tomorrow I'll start focusing on what I'm going to do, but for now, it's probably best if I ask them for a sleeping pill and just check out for a few hours. Go home and get some sleep. You've more than earned it." He turned his hand over to link fingers with Marshall. "Again, thank you for helping me so much. I'm a stranger, yet you've treated me like a true friend."
"We are friends." Marshall's fingers tightened around his. "I'll go home and rest a bit, but I am coming back tomorrow to see how you are. I guess it's actually later today, isn't it? Anyway, I'm going to leave my phone number with you. If you need to talk, you can call me anytime."
"Thanks, but hopefully, I'll sleep."
"I hope so too." Marshall stood, reaching for a pen and paper that was left on the small counter area. He wrote something down and slid it on the small bedside table. "Use it if you need anything."
"Thanks."
"You sure you're okay?" Marshall looked hesitant to leave.
"I'm alright. I just want some time alone to think about everything. Too much going on, too many distractions to focus on it all."
"Then I'll let you be. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't fight the doctors on tests. Let them do what they need to. It's possible evidence. You'll need all you can get to make sure Larry stays in prison once he's caught."
"If they catch him."
"They will." Marshall smiled. "Sleep well."
"Night, Marshall." Danny watched as he walked out the door, then closed his eyes, betting it was the last time he'd ever see him. From this point on, he was going to be on his own.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Marshall stirred a soggy bowl of cereal as he thought about everything that happened the night before. What were the chances that this would happen to someone involved with the Save the Kids Team? Taking down people like Larry was what he did for a living, and that was exactly what he planned on doing.
He needed more information. Needed the time to dig deep into his background and read all the police reports, but he would find the asshole if the cops didn't.
First, he needed to figure out how he could help Danny. After a restless few hours of trying to sleep, he decided he was going to go shopping and at least get Danny some clothes and basic things he might need, a razor, a brush, deodorant, and such. It was something simple he could do to help make things easier for him.
The sound of his cellphone drew his attention from the cereal. He saw Jeremy's name and smiled as he answered. "Hey, boss."
Jeremy huffed. "Hardly, but you see me how you will. How's things going on your end? Anything new about the pervert next door?"
"Nothing. Last I heard was about four this morning and the cops still hadn't tracked him down. He's probably halfway to New York by now." Marshall pushed the bowl away, his appetite fading. "Were you able to find anything?"
"Not much. I've started a file for you on the guy, but there really isn't a lot. Other than a few traffic tickets, he's got no record. No family listed either. Not a hell of a lot to work with, but we've dealt with that before. It might take time, but something will come up sooner or later," Jeremy said. "The police give you a hard time?"
"Haven't talked to them yet. I'm sure they'll track me down today sometime. Other than a brief statement yesterday, there's been nothing. I stayed at the hospital with Danny until they moved him to a room. The guy's been through hell. All he wanted was to reunite with his mother, then he finds out she committed suicide a few years back. I can't imagine what he's going through. The poor guy hasn't been free since he was a kid, now he's got to face all this."
"And you're going to help him, aren't you?" Jeremy laughed.
"How'd ya know?" Marshall wasn't surprised Jeremy was on to him. Any of the team members would do the same thing in the situation.
