I pursed my lips. “But what about–”
She held her hand up. “We’re taking you to the hospital to get checked out and then we will call your parents to meet you there. Okay.”
It was an order, not a question.
Nodding, I replied, “Yeah, okay.”
Detective Crossby drove me to the hospital and had me checked out. I had a sprained wrist from the fall and minor cuts and bruises on my arms. The cuts to my feet stung now and walking was slow, but it wasn’t too bad. I was alive.
I was finally given a bed, had an IV for pain relief, a drink and some toast. It was now just after six in the morning. I’d been awake for twenty-four hours. I felt like putting toothpicks in my eyes just to keep them open.
“Thank you, Adele,” I said as she handed me another cup of coffee.
She’d stayed with me, asking the odd question, while I waited for my parents and Jeremy to arrive. I’d asked for an update on Noah every five seconds, but they hadn’t found him or the rest of them yet. It’d been hours. He should’ve been found by now.
“Are they here yet? Has Noah been found?” I asked, feeling my eyes getting heavy. I yawned and blinked hard. There was no way I was going to sleep until I knew how he was. If I found my way out, then he should’ve done it by now. I didn’t want to think of any reason why he wouldn’t be able to.
“You’re exhausted, Scarlett, please try to relax. Your parents are due here any minute now, and I promise you as soon as we find Noah we’ll tell you. Now drink your coffee if you won’t sleep. I’ll wait outside your room until your parents get here.”
I waited until she got outside before I collapsed against the pillows.
Please hurry up. All of you.
Scarlett
I HAD BEEN IN the hospital almost two hours when my parents and brother burst into the room.
“Scarlett!” Mum sobbed. I started crying the instant I saw them. It was over, they were here, and I was safe.
“Mum, I’m so sorry,” I said, crying on her shoulder as she held me tighter than she ever had before. She smelt like home, and it made me grip hold of her and never want to let go.
“Shh, it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay now, sweetheart.”
We sat together crying for a good ten minutes. Dad and Jeremy joined in, huddling in on my bed.
“Are you okay?” Dad asked for the millionth time.
“I am now. Just worried about Noah.”
“He’ll be fine. They’ll find him,” Mum said, stroking my hair. “Does your wrist hurt? We can get you some more pain relief.”
“I had some not long ago. Stop fussing, I’m fine.” Jeremy stared out of the window, at the police officers outside my room. “What’s up, Jer?”
He turned back and spoke more to Dad when he replied, “I think we should leave, like right now? If they’re all in Ireland and the police feel the need to have two people guarding Scarlett maybe we should go.”
Mum squeezed my hand and looked up at Dad. “He has a point. The police in England can work with the police here. There’s no need for us to stay here.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, causing a stunned silence. “I mean it. Noah is out there somewhere, and I’m not leaving.” Besides, could they just go off with me? I was sixteen and a minor in the eyes of the law, they didn’t have me or adopt me, so they weren’t legally my parents.
“What?” Jeremy said. “These people almost killed you and you’re worried about one of them?”
“No. He’s not one of them; he’s one of us. I would’ve been dead now if it weren’t for him.”
“None of it would’ve happened if it weren’t for him,” Jeremy said.
I didn’t like how Jeremy spoke about him, even if it was understandable. I felt loyal to Noah, and I wasn’t going to let him down. “I know that, but it wasn’t his fault, not really. He realised the truth and put things right. Sound familiar?”
Jeremy’s mouth set into a hard line, knowing I was right. They’d nearly stood by while I was killed, too. “Fine.”
“Calm down,” Mum said. “Jeremy’s just worried, we all are, but we know exactly what you mean. Hopefully, Noah will be found soon, and then we can go home.”
“Can we go home? Are you allowed to do that?”
Dad smiled. “We’ve been speaking to a very good lawyer and a solicitor and both seem to think given the unique situation and circumstances we’ll be able to adopt you. It’s going to be a long process, but we’ll fight it.”
“So, I can’t go home with you yet?” I asked, panicking. Where would I go? I didn’t want to be in some facility; I wanted my room in the house I shared with my family.
“We’ve already applied for a Residence Order, which means we’ll be fostering you. After that, we’ll go for adoption. Our case is a little more complicated, but we’re hoping that might go in our favour,” Dad said.