Page 7 of Caged
For the first time, Danny looked up and really looked at the man. He wasn't much older than he was. He looked worried, but he also looked in control, which was a comfort because Danny was anything but in control right now. "Thank you for believing me."
"It was obvious you were upset, and Larry wasn't happy about you talking to me. That's the first clue something was wrong. How long did you say he'd held you there?"
"I'm not really sure. I think ten years. I was eight or nine when he took me, I think. Then he took the other two boys about two years ago. It's hard to know for sure. I couldn't keep up with time." Listening to the news at night helped him keep track of days, but that hadn't started until Larry had taken the boys and moved Danny upstairs.
"You're safe now. I'm sure a lot of people will be happy to know you're alive. That's a long time to be missing." Marshall's voice was so calming.
"I don't know how to get hold of my mom."
"The police will help with that. Let them figure all this out, then I'm sure it will be the first phone call they make for you."
An ambulance pulled up outside, and Danny stood. "I have to see the boys."
Marshall stood with him. "We can go out on the porch and watch, but let the police do their jobs, okay?"
Danny nodded.
Outside, there were a ton of people around, some watching, wondering what was going on, others were police, moving in and out of Larry's home. It was a relief to see the police in control of the house, but he worried about the boys. There were three ambulances there, and he prayed that the boys were alive and would be okay.
"Come sit." Marshall nodded to the top porch step. "I'm worried you're going to fall."
Danny glanced at him. "I'm not hurt."
"No, but you're in shock. You can see everything from here." Marshall sat down and patted the spot beside him.
Danny hesitated only a moment, but the truth was, his legs were shaky and he did feel weak. He sank down beside Marshall. "I can't thank you enough for helping me."
Marshall smiled. "Anyone would have. I wished I'd known what was going on. I would have done something sooner."
"No one ever knew." Danny folded his hands together, nervously. "He made sure no one knew."
"Well, they know now and you're safe. No one will hurt you again." Marshall nodded. "The boys are coming out."
Danny went to stand, but a firm hand on his arm stilled him. "They won't let you close right now. Let them get treated and then we'll see if you can see them."
Each boy was on a gurney, oxygen masks over their face. Danny tried to see how serious the injuries were, but he couldn't tell from the distance they were at.
"You're Danny Gilbert?" an officer asked as he approached the porch.
Danny nodded.
"I'm Officer Rice. I'd like to ask you a few questions if you're okay with that."
"Sure." Danny still stared at the boys. "Are they okay?"
"They will be. They're beat up and bruised, but I don't think there is anything life-threatening. Do you know their names?"
Danny shook his head. "I wasn't allowed to ask and they weren't supposed to tell me, but I heard one of them call the other Reese."
"How long ago were you taken, Danny?" The officer leaned against the porch railing.
"I'm not sure. I think ten years. It was hard to tell time." They should have had records. Hadn't his mother reported him missing? "I was at the park with my mom. There was a guy with a puppy and I went with him to see the dog. He grabbed me and put me in the car and brought me here." Danny closed his eyes, remembering bits and pieces of his first few days with Larry. "He hurt me."
Beside him, Marshall tensed, his fists tightening at his sides.
Danny glanced at him.
"It's okay. It just makes me mad when men hurt kids." Marshall used his soft, calm voice. "No one is mad at you or going to hurt you any longer."
