CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Matt held Bree’s hand while she received three stitches and a tetanus shot in the ER. She wore borrowed hospital scrubs and rubber clogs. She had no significant injuries, and Matt tried not to think about her climbing into a sinking vehicle to save two people. The mental image would be his personal nightmare for some time.
Possibly forever.
Bree climbed off the gurney as if every inch of her body ached. She shoved her wound care instructions into her pocket and led the way out of the curtained bay.
Matt walked beside her in the hallway. “Are you OK?”
“Fine.”
“You don’t look fine,” he said. “You look gray.”
“All that creek water didn’t go down well.” Bree ran her tongue around her teeth. “My whole mouth is gritty. I think I swallowed more mud than water.”
He grimaced. “We’ll get some of my dad’s homemade soup.”
“It’s too late—too early—to disturb the kids and your parents. What I really want is a hot shower, my pajamas, and my dog.”
“Did you ever think you’d want a dog for comfort?”
“Nope.” Bree crossed the hallway to a bank of vending machines.
There had been a time when the presence of any dog would have given her an anxiety attack, but she’d mostly overcome her fear. He was proud to have helped, but the credit went to her. She was the bravest person he knew.
He bought her a ginger ale and a pack of peanut butter crackers. “Eric Zolek was treated for a sprained ankle and the dog bite. He’s on his way to the jail now.”
“Did you question him?”
“He lawyered up before I could say ‘Hi.’”
“Ugh.” Bree ate one cracker.
“Yes,” Matt agreed. “Sandy has a concussion. The hospital is keeping her overnight.”
“I assume she lawyered up as well?” Bree closed her eyes against the bright light.
“Nope.”
Her eyes snapped open.
Matt’s lips pulled back in a fierce grin. “She is so mad that Eric left her behind.” He gave a low whistle. “I think she’ll blab.”
“Sounds promising.”
“It’ll have to wait until morning.” Matt shook his head. “She’s getting X-rays and a CAT scan tonight.”
“Where is Sabrina Hopkins?”
“Upstairs. I assume you want to see her.”
“Grace too.” Bree sipped her ginger ale.
“Grace is right down the hall.” Matt spotted Mr. Abbott standing at a cubicle entrance. He held a small duffel bag in both hands, worrying the handle with his fingers. He looked relieved when Bree and Matt approached. His discomfort was as palpable as the chill of the hospital and the smell of antiseptic.
“I’d like to speak with Grace,” she said.
“I’ll go check on discharge paperwork.” Mr. Abbott leaned into the cubicle and set the duffel bag on the foot of the gurney. “I’ll leave your clothes here.” He backed out, and his footsteps faded.
Bree and Matt walked into the cubicle. Grace reclined on the gurney, draped in white thermal blankets.
She smiled. “I told them I’m fine. I just want to go home to Riley.”
“Can you give me a statement?” Bree pulled a plastic chair to the bedside.
“Yes. I want to get it done so I can forget about it.”
But Matt knew Grace would never forget.
Grace picked the edge of the blanket. “I thought he was my Uber. I was really distracted between the news that I was pregnant—again—and a threatening call from Howard. He said he got me pregnant on purpose. He put holes in his condoms.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Bree said.
Matt seethed silently. Sabotaging birth control, a.k.a. “stealthing,” wasn’t a criminal offense in New York, but it should be. He made a mental note to find the scumbag.
“I know that’s a whole different subject.” Grace stilled her hands by interlacing her fingers. “So, back to the kidnapping. Eric put me in the trunk. I didn’t know who he was then, though.” She took a breath. Her knuckles whitened. “When we got to the farm, he put me in the silo with that other girl—Sabrina. Sandy came in with food and whole milk for both of us. Told us if we didn’t finish everything, they’d beat us. They wanted the babies to grow strong and healthy. They were going to sell Sabrina’s baby—and mine.” She sobbed once, then pressed a hand over her mouth to compose herself.
Having been in the silo with Sabrina, Matt had already figured out the Zoleks’ appalling enterprise.
Grace sniffed, then sighed. “Later—I don’t know what time, but it was dark—they barged into the silo, dragged me out, and tied me up in the back of the SUV. Sandy said Sabrina wouldn’t be able to move fast enough, so they left her.” She tilted her head. “I think they had an emergency plan in place because Eric locked everything up in a minute or so. Then we took off for the woods.” She paused for a breath. “The rain and mud were awful. We got stuck a couple of times. Eric had to get out one time and push. They were both really angry.” She paused, focusing inward. “We crashed into the creek, and you saved us.”
Footsteps sounded in the doorway. Mr. Abbott leaned into the room. “They said you can go now.”
“I have to get dressed,” Grace said.
Bree stood. “We’re going to need more details, but that’s a good start.”
The nurse came in with a clipboard, and the cubicle was far too crowded. Matt stepped into the hall. Mr. Abbott did too.
They walked about ten feet and leaned on the wall, shoulder to shoulder.
“We’re going to do things different this time,” Mr. Abbott said without any prompting. “She’s going to stay at home, where she belongs—if she wants to, that is. I haven’t been the best father. I drew lines, and she felt like she had no choice but to cross them. I should have put her first. Now that I’ve had her back and met Riley ...” His words cut off with a choking sound, as if his emotions rendered him unable to speak.
“You’ll need to tell her that.”
“I will. We all made mistakes. I wish I could go back and change everything.” Mr. Abbott’s sigh sounded like it came from his huge work boots.
“Can’t change the past,” Matt said. “The best we can do is try to be better going forward.”
Mr. Abbott nodded once.
Bree emerged from the cubicle, and she and Matt left the ER. In the main corridor, they found the elevator. Matt pressed the “Up” button. Upstairs, they headed for the maternity department.
“I’ll flag down a nurse,” Matt said.
“No need. I see Mr. Hopkins.” Bree nodded toward a small waiting area.
He sat in a vinyl chair, his head bowed, his elbows on his knees. His clasped hands dangled between his thighs. Gray hair flopped over his forehead, hiding his face. He looked up as they approached. His eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed.
“Sheriff!” He jumped to his feet.
Bree extended a hand, and he took it in both of his.
“Thank you. I can’t begin to thank you enough. You found her.” He wiped his eyes with his hand.
“How is she?” Bree asked.
Mr. Hopkins released her hand and swept back his gray bangs. “She’s in labor. My wife is with her.” He looked lost. “We didn’t know she was pregnant. She didn’t tell us.” He shook himself. “But as long as she and the baby are OK, we don’t care.”
Rubber squeaked on tile as a nurse approached. “Mr. Hopkins? You have a grandson. Would you like to see him?”
Tears streamed down his face. “Sabrina is all right?”
“She’s perfect,” the nurse said. “They’re both just fine.”
He moved to follow the nurse, then looked back at Bree. “Did you need something from us, Sheriff?”
“Not tonight.” Bree smiled. “Go see your family.”
Her heart warmed. They had a long road ahead of them, but Bree had a feeling they would be all right. Sabrina had been through hell, but she had people who loved her and were clearly willing to support her. And her parents? They’d just received a miracle.
Matt steered Bree toward the elevator. “Ready to go home?”
“More than ready.”