She instantly lights up as she runs to the bed and sits down. I grab my phone from my pocket and dial his number. It rings over a few times before I hear his voice pick up. Even from the speakers, I can tell he is tired and run down. Something is wrong.
“Dad! It’s me! It’s Maddie. I’m at Miss Springer’s house. She has a room for me. It kinda sucks, but her house is really nice.”
I roll my eyes at her as I hear her dad act surprised. “That’s good to hear, baby,” he says on the other end of the receiver. “I thought those jerks were going to bring you to your grandmother’s house.”
“No. I wanted to go here.”
I smile, knowing the truth is that I asked for her to come here. Her grandmother didn’t have the long-term space, and there were no other relatives willing to take on a Mustang’s kid. When the social services officer asked me my opinion, I threw my name in the hat. If I wanted to keep her safe, I had to own up to the responsibility.
“I’m glad to hear you’re okay. Please stay out of trouble. Get your work done, keep your head down, and play by the rules. I’m sending Red Dog and Ace over later to monitor you. They’ll bring you something from me.”
I sit down quickly next to Maddie as I shout over the speakerphone, “Cal, you can’t do that. If they find out that you’re bringing your guys over here, it will only mean more problems for you. I’m sure of that.”
“Michelle, I’m not letting my daughter go unwatched when the Coyotes are out there looking for revenge. You don’t get that, do you?”
“I get it pretty well, but that doesn’t mean you should risk not seeing Maddie again over it.” I instantly regret it as I watch Maddie look at me in horror.
She pulls on my sleeve as she says, “I’m not going to see him again?”
Cal jumps in, “No, Maddie. She didn’t mean that. She just means we have to be really careful. We can’t pretend like we are seeing each other or that we are talking. Do you get me? This is a secret mission.” He lowers his voice as he adds, “But I’ll still send Red and Ace, okay? You may not be able to see them, but they’re there.”
Maddie returns to her old self as she says, “Okay, Dad.”
“Can you give Miss Springer the phone real quick? I just need to talk to her for a few minutes, and then we can talk all you want.”
Maddie hands me the phone and I walk off into my room with a pain in my stomach weighing me down. I sigh as I say, “It’s me. What do you need?”
“Michelle, I need you to take care of her. Okay? I need you to make sure she is happy. Do you promise me that?”
“Cal, I’m going to do my best.”
“No. You’re part of our family now. You either promise me or I’ll come right now to get her.”
I pause, mulling over the word ‘family’ before steeling my voice and agreeing. “All right, Cal,” I say, “I promise.”
I call for Maddie and she comes barreling out of her room into mine. She sits down on the floor with my cell in her hand as she talks to her father like they were never separated to begin with.
Chapter 24: The Call
CAL
Every night I dream of her. Of both of them. It starts with a dream of Maddie. Her and her smile as she rides on the back of my bike, her little arms just barely reaching around me. As we circle around the highway, I start to panic. I can’t feel her anymore. Her grip on me is gone. I look back, but all that’s there is the empty seat and the tail of my shirt flapping in the wind.
And then, she appears. Like a switch of a channel, everything goes from sunny days and bright colored skies to black and white. Michelle is sprawled out on my bed, her bare body for me to admire. I can see every little scar, every freckle, every line upon her face. She waits for me to join her, but I’m frozen in place. She calls out for me time and again, but I can’t answer her either.
I wake up sweaty and confused. I glance over at my cellphone, but it’s the same story. I haven’t heard from Maddie in over three days despite talking to her at least twice a day. The last time we talked, she was excited about Michelle taking her to a history museum in the next town over. It was something I had never thought to take her to, but she sounded like she wanted nothing else.
I send a quick text to the boys guarding their home and get one back, “All clear.” Every day has been “All clear.” I’ve got three men on duty in rotating shifts now as everything seems to be headed back to normal. Or, as much normality as it could be. But still I check in when my gut is telling me that something isn’t right. Why would Michelle not let Maddie call?