“Cole, we’ve found her. She’s not hurt, but she’s sick. We’re taking her straight to Dr. McGinnis’s office. Can you meet us there?”
He leaned back on the cabinet for support and tipped his face toward the ceiling. Tears streamed down his face, and he was unable to speak.
Thank you, thank you!
“Cole? Are you there?”
He cleared his throat. “I am. Yes. We’ll meet you at his office. Is she all right? She’s not hurt?” He knew what she’d said, but he needed to hear it again.
“We haven’t questioned her about details yet. We’ll do that with you present. But yes, she appears to be physically unharmed for the most part.”
“Does she know who took her?”
Mattie paused. “We’ll fill you in on what we know when we’re all together.”
“Of course. Sure. I’ll be there.” Cole started to disconnect the call but caught himself. “And Mattie. Thank you!”
“It’s Robo you can thank, Cole. We’ll talk later.”
As he tapped the disconnect button, an adrenaline rush like none he’d ever felt hit him. Everyone was upstairs, shut away in various bedrooms, except Mrs. Gibbs. She had finally taken a break and was resting on the couch. Shoving his phone into his pocket, he raced into the den. “Mrs. Gibbs!”
She startled and sat up, her newly permed hair mashed on one side. Cole grabbed her in a hug and lifted her from the couch. “They’ve found her. She’s okay.”
Holding onto his shoulders, Mrs. Gibbs pushed him away to tip her head back and look into his face. She broke into a grin and then hugged him hard. “Thank the good Lord.”
Cole took her hand, twirled her into a dance step, and pulled her in for another hug. He broke away and headed upstairs, taking them two at a time, shouting, “Angie, Jessie, Olivia! They’ve found her. Get up! They’ve found her!”
Tears choked him, forcing him to quit shouting as he awakened his household. He knew everyone would want to go with him to see Sophie. No one would be left behind.
Stella had called into the station when Robo got the hit, so Brody was with her when Mattie and Sophie met them at the top of the verge. He picked up Sophie and carried her down to the road. With his strong hands, it took only a few seconds for him to cut the chain off Sophie’s wrist. It was such a relief to free her of the cruel restraint, especially since Mattie didn’t want Cole to have to see her that way.
Sheriff McCoy had also come. Deciding that Sophie held top priority, and since she wouldn’t let go of Mattie, they left the crime scene in Stella’s hands and Gus Tilley under Brody’s watch. Mattie rode in the back seat of McCoy’s Jeep, Sophie snuggled under her arm, clutching the toy dog to her chest and sucking her thumb, a habit Mattie hadn’t seen for months. Robo lay on the other side of Sophie, occasionally nudging her with his nose, and she would stroke his head with her free hand, an absent gesture as she stared at the seat in front of her. When Mattie leaned to press her cheek against the top of the girl’s head, it was hot with fever.
McCoy made quick time of the drive into Timber Creek and arrived at the doctor’s office. A silver Volvo was parked in front with everyone from the Walker household standing beside it, including Mrs. Gibbs. As they pulled up, Cole’s eyes connected with Mattie’s while he mouthed “thank you” before looking beyond her to search out his daughter. Sophie stirred and rose to peer at her dad. He placed his palm on the window, and tears streamed down the little girl’s face as she pulled her thumb from her mouth and reached across Mattie to put her palm against his.
When she heard the backdoor locks disengage, Mattie unbuckled their seat belts and opened the door, helping lift Sophie across her lap and into Cole’s arms. The family pressed around her, touching and hugging, and it was at that moment that Sophie spotted her mother.
“Mommy!” She threw herself from her dad to her mom, and Olivia staggered under Sophie’s weight as Cole passed her over. He hastened to assist, putting an arm around Olivia, and together the two of them held their child.
The sight of Cole’s arm around his beautiful ex-wife drew a lump to Mattie’s throat. As she swallowed hard, Robo nuzzled her arm, and she took comfort by hugging him against her. Vaguely, she remembered she still hadn’t given him ball-play to reward him for his greatest find ever. She reached into a pocket in her belt and gave him a treat. It would have to do until later.
McCoy exited the vehicle and approached the family. Spreading his long arms wide, he gently pressed the clustered family toward the front door of the doctor’s office. “Let’s go inside now,” he murmured. “Dr. McGinnis is expecting us.”
Since Robo didn’t have the security of his own compartment inside the sheriff’s Jeep like he did in their K-9 unit, Mattie hurried to clip a short leash on his collar and took him with her, following the group inside the building.
The receptionist, a kindly looking Hispanic woman, came from behind the reception window and opened a door that led to the exam rooms. “Just Sophie and her parents back here, please,” she said.
The sheriff moved forward, gesturing with his hand toward Mattie. “And Deputy Cobb. She needs to attend.”
Olivia looked askance at Mattie. “Must she come?”
Cole spoke softly. “Mattie’s our friend, Liv. Sophie loves her. She’s completely comfortable with her.”
“I’m required to stay with Sophie until we have a chance to interview her, Ms. Walker,” Mattie said, her tone respectful but firm. She handed Robo’s leash to the sheriff.
Cole took Sophie from Olivia. “Let me take you now, half pint. You’re too big for your mom to carry.”
Still clutching the toy dog, Sophie encircled Cole’s neck with her free arm. From over her dad’s shoulder, she looked at Mattie, her dirty face pale and exhausted, and gave her a sweet smile that melted her heart. As she followed the group from the lobby, Mattie glanced back at Robo, who’d moved toward her until he reached the end of his leash, anxiety showing on his face.
She tried to reassure him. “I’ll be right back.”
By the time Dr. McGinnis completed his exam, Stella had arrived at his office in the K-9 unit. She and the sheriff had decided it best to interview Sophie in her own home, and now the child sat on the couch in the den, nestled between her parents, leaning against her mother with the toy dog in her lap. She’d been sponged clean by the nurse, given acetaminophen for the fever, and her wrist wound had been treated and bandaged.
Dr. McGinnis had used a gentle and expert manner to determine that Sophie had not suffered sexual assault or molestation by her captor. Although her torso and arms bore bruises from rough handling, and she’d developed an upper respiratory infection, he found no major concerns. Physically. Before leaving, Mattie saw him take Cole aside and tell him to get psychological support if needed. Cole assured him they were already connected to a counselor they would consult.
Stella and Mattie sat in chairs pulled close to the couch. Earlier, Mattie had moved the coffee table away, so that it wouldn’t be a barrier between them and Sophie. Mrs. Gibbs was in the kitchen making soup, and Jessie and Angela had left on a grocery run to buy some of Sophie’s favorite foods. Mattie couldn’t help but recall the good times she’d shared with Cole, his kids, and Mrs. Gibbs in this room. And now Olivia was here, and Mattie wasn’t sure she belonged anymore. She pushed away the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her, focusing instead on the joy of having Sophie back in their midst.
Since she had the best rapport with the family, and probably since Stella wasn’t that comfortable interviewing kids, the detective had asked Mattie to lead the interview.