Hidden(12)
I see her pull one from the shelf and the cover has a half-naked couple in an embrace with their lips touching. Of course. No wonder Laney spent hours in her room.
She turns to me with the book in her hand. “Did you call the police?”
“Yeah. They’re going to check things out. Was it just you and your mom?”
“Yes.”
“Amy, what happened in that house?”
She sits on the end of the bed holding the book to her chest, and I remain standing just inside the doorway. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
“The skinny man in the suit. He hurts my mother. She hid me and protected me from him all this time, but he’s coming back for me. She just wanted to take us away so he couldn’t hurt us anymore,” she says, looking at the wall with her lips quivering. I just want to wrap my arms around her and take away her pain, but I know I can’t. She’s still in a daze and doesn’t seem to be quite lucid. I hear the doorbell ring and hurry down the stairs to the door. Two police officers enter.
“Sir, are you the one who called about the house down the road?” one of the officers ask.
“Yes.”
“Just checked it out. Are you related to Allison Frank?”
“Um…no. Her daughter is here. She felt threatened and came here for help.”
“Is she dead?” Her small voice drifts from the stairs. I turn my head to where she’s standing. Her arms are wrapped around herself.
“Ma’am, can we sit and talk?”
She walks toward us and I gesture towards the kitchen table for us to sit. I pull the chair out for her and she sits without taking her eyes off of the officers.
“Ma’am. Is your mother Allison Frank?”
“Yes.”
“Were you aware that your mother had a mental illness?”
“Yes.”
“She was taking a drug called Clozapine, which is used to treat serious mental illness. She should have been monitored very closely by a physician.”
“She hasn't seen a doctor for a really long time and she stopped taking them.”
“That would explain her suicidal tendencies. Ma’am, she tried to overdose on these drugs and they have very dangerous side effects. She has been taken to a hospital for evaluation. She’s in bad shape. Do you have someone you would like me to call for support?”
“No. We were alone. We were hidden.”
“She told me there is a man that comes to the house and hurts her mother and she’s afraid he’s coming back for her,” I explain.
The two officers’ exchange looks. Officer Douglas writes something down on his tablet and looks back up at Amy. He must be the one in charge. He’s probably near retirement, his graying hair a dead giveaway to his many years in service. Nothing seems to faze him. He is very matter of fact. “What do you mean, you were hidden?”
“We never left that house. She never told me why. The skinny man in the suit would come to the house and hurt her and threaten her. Another man would come and leave us boxes full of food and things. We don’t have a car or phone. I don’t even know where I am.”
“You’re in Colorado, Ma’am. You’re about three hours from the city. Can you describe the two men?”
“One is very skinny and always wears a suit. I remember his boots. His steel-toed black boots. I never saw his face. The other man is older and fat. He never came in the house.”
“Did either of these men ever hurt you?”
“No. My mother told me to stay hidden.”
Office Douglas hands Amy his card. “If you remember anything that might help us find them, please give me a call. In the meantime, please stay out of that house until we have completed a full investigation. Do you have somewhere to stay?”
“She can stay here.” I say immediately.
The officers’ nod their heads and one of them says, “If there’s any more trouble, please don’t hesitate to call.”
The officers leave Amy and me sitting at the table as they show themselves out. I turn towards her. She sits stiff as a board on the kitchen chair.
“I’m so sorry about your mom. Do you want to talk?”
She just shakes her head no, her lips quivering, her eyes still darting around the kitchen. “It’s just me here. This is my dad’s ranch, but he’s in the city. You’re safe here. I promise. Is there something I can get you? Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“Thirsty. Can I have some water, please?” Her voice is hoarse and cracking like she might break down again at any moment.
“Sure.” I push away from the table and grab her a bottle of water. I haven’t thought of what to do next. She’s alone with me and I can tell by her skittish movements that she’s very uncomfortable. It’s almost midnight now and she looks completely exhausted. I hand her a glass of water and crouch down next to her chair so I don’t look threatening and she can see my eyes and trust what I want to say to her. She looks down at me, her eyes looking directly into mine.