Page 16 of Caged
"Hell, I could hear it in your voice when we talked last night. You decided that the moment you heard what the situation was. You'll help Danny while working to make his kidnapper suffer. I can't blame you. It must have been hell to be there when they brought the other boys out and cleared the house."
"I want in that house. I want to see what that asshole has around, find anything that might lead me to him."
"Not likely to happen, but we can dig into the police reports and see what they find. Take it slow on this one. It's fresh and evidence is still being collected. Hopefully, once they interview the three victims, we can find out more."
"They aren't victims," Marshall growled.
"You're right. They are survivors. I'm just saying give this one some time."
"I will. I can't do anything but wait for information. I'm not about to start digging for shit from my home computer. For now, I'm going to press Danny for information. He had to have seen things he doesn't think matter."
"Careful with him. He's going through a lot. Don't push him too much."
Marshall sighed; a bit pissed off that Jeremy would think he'd do that. "I know. I'm not pushing, but I want to be there if he talks to anyone. The more I know, the more I can use to hunt. How are things there? Anything new?"
"Nothing much. The usual shit. A few new vids, a few photos. I'm working them. You take the time you need and let things cool down. I'll call if we have something major. Right now, there's no stings scheduled."
"Okay. I'm headed shopping in a bit, then I'll be at the hospital for a while. I'll text or call when I get home later."
"You're a good man, Marsh."
Marshall snorted. "Right. I'm out for blood and looking to kill a man. That makes me such a great person."
"It does when the man you're after deserves to die. Call later and check-in."
"See ya." He hung up the phone.
As tired as he was, he was motivated. He didn't want to risk missing any interviews Danny might give at the hospital, so he quickly cleaned up his uneaten cereal and got on the road. Shopping didn't take long. He grabbed simple clothes, sweatpants, t-shirts, and things that wouldn't matter if the size was off a bit. He simply got what he would want if he was in the hospital and wanted out of that ugly hospital gown.
He was at the hospital just after nine and wasn't shocked to find the place busy. He took a minute to check with the front desk to find Danny's room, then headed upstairs, hoping nothing had gone wrong through the night and that Danny got some rest.
The door to the room was open as he approached, but he slowed, seeing a woman sitting beside Danny's bed. He paused at the door, listening to her speak.
"The half-way house is a good option. It will give you a chance to get on your feet. I know it's not what you wanted, but you're going to need counseling and help now that you're free. Without any family, I think this is the best option for you." The woman was in her thirties, with her hair up in a tight bun, and a folder in her lap, probably filled with what little information they had on Danny. "Honestly, you don't have a lot of choices. You have nowhere else to go."
Marshall cleared his throat, stepping into the room. "He does have another option if he wants it. He can come stay at my place." He said the words without even thinking about it.
"I'm sorry, you are?" The woman stood.
Marshall smiled at Danny. "I'm a friend." He ignored the woman's stare and went to Danny. "How are you today?"
"Tired." Danny held out his hand. "Thanks for coming."
"I told you I would. I brought you some clothes. Nothing fancy, but I figured you'd want something other than that gown." He nodded to the green hospital gown that Danny still wore. "There's also a razor and basic toiletry stuff. I wasn't really sure what you would need."
"You didn't have to do that, but thank you. I'd love to get in something comfortable."
"I still think going to the half-way house is your best option. You'll need the resources—"
Marshall shook his head. "He's already spent most of his life locked up, under someone else's control. The half-way house isn't where he belongs. If he wants, he can come to my home. He can arrange counseling, do what he needs to while learning how to live on his own. The only issue is I live next door to where you were held, and I'd understand if you turn me down because of that."
The woman flipped through the folder. "We need to discuss this. I'm not sure he's allowed to go—"
"He's an adult, not a child. He can do what he wishes. He needs stability and to feel comfortable. Are you telling me he'll have that at a half-way house, surrounded by others dealing with a mix of their own issues?" Marshall looked at Danny. "Before we argue with her about this, we should decide if living with me is even something you'd want to consider."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to." Marshall found he really did want to help Danny. He hadn't planned on offering his home, but now that he had, it seemed right. He couldn't imagine Danny at some half-way house, forced to live by new rules and limitations. "The choice is yours, and you don't have to decide right now. Just know the option is there if you want it. I have two spare rooms and you're welcome to one of them."
