Free A Child is Torn: Innocence Lost by Dawn Kopman Whidden Page B

notice anything weird?” she asked him as he started the engine.
     
    He looked at her sideways. “Weird, no. I think she was jonesing for a drink though. She kept looking over where their liquor was stashed.”
     
    “No, not that. Didn’t you notice they never asked about the kid? Never once mentioned that little boy.”
     
    “Hey, give them a break. They just lost their son. Kid’s still alive.”
     
    “Something is off there,” she said, digging for a pack of chewing gum in her purse. She was jonesing for a cup of coffee and a cigarette herself.
     
    “That’s what you said about the kid’s uncle. Still think he has something to do with it?”
     
    “I don’t know. Maybe when I see the shrink later I’ll get a better idea.”
     
    “Personally, I think you’re wasting your time, Jean. Kid lost it, killed his parents. Bad seed, end of story. You just can’t see it because you were blessed with “The Stepford” children. Perfect little specimens who were secretly created in a lab. Even my Annie was a pain in the ass, more often than not.”
     
    “My kids are not perfect,” she said halfheartedly.
     
    He gave her a dirty look.
     
    “Well they are kind of perfect. But I still think we’re missing something here,” she added.
     
    “Give it up, Whitley.”
     
    “Want to put some money on it, Moran? If I find out that someone else was involved, someone else caused this—you up for it?”
     
    “No, your instincts are usually on the money. Keep digging, maybe you’ll find that smoking gun. But I just think you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
     
    “We’ll see,” she replied, laying her head back against the headrest and closing her eyes.
     
    Marty
     
    Marty was disappointed to find the kitchen empty when he came down in the morning.
     
    The Captain had set out a buttered bagel and a glass of OJ. He’d left a note on the counter for Marty explaining that he was going shopping and would see him later that evening. Knowing he needed to leave earlier than usual if he was going to stop off where Brad was sent to after being released from the hospital. Marty downed the juice in three big gulps, grabbed the bagel, and then scooped up the stuffed monkey on his way out the door.
     
    As he pulled into the building’s parking lot, he glanced into his rearview mirror to scan his teeth, making sure they were clear of bagel bits, and trotted up the steps to the front doors.
     
    A few children were being shuffled into a classroom as he entered the hallway. A freshly waxed floor caused his rubber soles to stick to the tile and he made a conscious effort to lift his feet to lessen the noise.
     
    Two women were exiting one of the offices, deep in conversation. He knew the taller, big-boned one, the supervisor of the hospital. The other one; an attractive doctor he had seen on a few other occasions. The dark haired beauty was tiny in comparison to her boss, but seemed to be in fine physical shape. Her legs were shapely and well toned with a thin waist and narrow hips.
     
    He was about to interrupt when he noticed the familiar face of his father’s old friend Gabriel Frost, entering the building. The big man immediately recognized the police officer and greeted him.
     
    “Marty, how you doing? How’s the Captain?” He extended his giant palm to shake Keal’s hand.
     
    Instead of shaking, Marty grabbed Gabby’s forearm and pulled the big man forward into hug. Grinning, the two men released each other.
     
    “Hey Gabriel, it’s good to see you. Captain’s good—you need to come visit.”
     
    The noise in the hallway caught Judy’s and Hope’s attention, and both women stopped their conversation. It was Judy who spoke first.
     
    “Officer Keal, right?” She didn’t wait for confirmation. “What can I do for you?”
     
    Marty lifted the hand holding Jack, the stuffed monkey.
     
    “Belongs to the Madison boy. I thought he may—I mean—can I give it to him?”
     
    He was stumbling