Chapter Sixty-Seven
After thanking her parents for the ride, insisting they go to dinner without her since she may be awhile, Jules rushes through a horde of reporters and into the hospital. News that Minnie Agbayani has been found alive after five years spread quickly.
The hospital staff is abuzz. Jules tells the receptionist who she is, why she’s here, and she’s whisked into the back. A police officer meets here in a corridor lit by harsh fluorescent lights.
“Thank you for coming.”
“No, thank you,” Jules says. “It’s really her?”
“They had her prints on file. It’s a match.”
“How? Who?”
Officer Weberman shakes her head, leads Jules into a small room. Inside is the child psychologist who volunteers for Find Them.
Jules is experiencing what can only be described as sensory overload. She thanks the psychologist, who briefs her on what she knows:
Minnie appears unharmed, she was told her parents were dead, and the couple that raised her—presumably the people who took her—appear to have treated her well.
No signs of physical or sexual abuse. It appears the woman had experienced several miscarriages and everyone in the small town believed the couple adopted Minnie from outside the country.
A private investigator visited the couple on a hunch and when he saw Minnie, the man who abducted her tried to kill him.
But the P.I. took him down, detained the wife until police arrived.
Jules’s heart almost breaks when Minnie’s parents arrive. The father is a slight man in his forties with kind eyes. The mother holds a cane and is so thin, like she’s unwell or recently suffered a severe illness.
Jules introduces them to the psychologist. Mr. Agbayani is trembling like he can’t believe this is happening.
“They say it’s her, it’s really her,” he says, tears streaming down his face.
“I’m told Minnie will be here within the hour. She’s confused, so Dr. Morris can talk about how we can make this easier for her.” She directs them to a small table where they can confer.
Before they take a seat, the couple lunges for the door.
Jules fears that Minnie arrived early and they still haven’t had time to prepare.
But it isn’t Minnie Agbayani at the door.
Jules almost can’t believe what she’s seeing.
Mr. and Mrs. Agbayani are hugging a man.
They’re crying and Jules feels herself getting choked up.
“You did it!” Mr. Agbayani says. “You found our Minnie.”
Jules can’t take her eyes off the hero. No fucking way.
When the visitor finally takes notice of the others in the room, he comes over.
“Jules Delaney? What are you—”
He’s interrupted as a little girl appears in the doorway. She runs and throws herself into her parents’ arms.