Free Away by Megan Linski Page A

at me over his shoulder as he passes through the kitchen door.
    “Jack McGowan, kidnapping...” Dolly takes a long breath. “I don’t know whether to believe you. But I have to admit that Rosemary was acting a little funny when she was here. She was in the bathroom for ages and she didn’t eat much. I just thought she wasn’t feeling well.”
    “Did Jack mention where they were headed next?” I ask.
    “When Rosemary was in the bathroom Jack told me they were going to drive for awhile, and Jack told me he was going to look for a hotel nearby, but he didn’t say which one.”
    “Thank you,” I say. Wavering, I try to make my way towards the door, my legs feeling like watery jello. I’m so damn tired.
    “Now wait a minute, where do you think you’re going?” Dolly asks, rushing forward and grabbing my arm.
    “I’m about to go search every hotel around.” I suppress a large yawn.
    “Not like that you’re not. When was the last time you got any rest or food?” she looks at me in concern.
    “Last night...I think.” I put a hand on the wall to steady myself.
    “You can’t go around driving like that,” Dolly grabs my arm. “I live on the apartment above here. I’ll make you a quick bite and you can sleep on my couch.”
    “Thanks, but I can’t. I have to find her.” I go to leave again but she has a steady grip on me. I’m so tired I can’t even fight off an old lady.
    “Jack McGowan means his daughter no harm,” Dolly tells me. “He does love her. I’m not saying that she isn’t in danger, but I’m saying that you can’t rescue her on no sleep and no fuel. Sleep for a bit and then leave early in the morning.”
    “I have to find her,” I say, and I hate how my voice wavers. This is important. I have to be strong.
    “You’ll find her. Jack isn’t going anywhere once he stops for the night. If you leave early enough, you can catch up.” Before I know what’s happening Dolly is dragging me to the stairs, pulling me up them and pushing me onto a kitchen chair that’s in her clean, orderly apartment, one that looks like a room straight out of the 1970’s complete with doilies, floral wallpaper and shag carpet. She goes into her bedroom for a minute and I gaze at the kitchen tile dully. It’s starting to peel away in places.
    “I called the police and they’re looking for her as we speak,” Dolly tells me. “They might even find her before you do.”
    “He better hope they do. You know, you don’t have to do this. You don’t know me,” I protest. I put my arms on the table and watch as the room begins to spin. I’m seeing two of everything.
    “Nonsense. Anybody who cares about Rosemary this much is a friend of mine. I love that little girl.” Dolly’s bustling around her kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove and warming up something in the microwave. She hands me a glass of water and sits down at the table with a cup of coffee, taking a slow sip. I start gulping my water and the burning in my throat subsides, giving me a bit of relief. After a minute I look at her and ask, “Do you really believe that?” I set my glass down and look at her. “Do you really think that Jack wouldn’t do anything to harm Rosemary?”
    Dolly hesitates. “Not on purpose.”
    I freeze. “What do you mean?”
    She closes her eyes. “Years ago, Jack was waiting here to see Rosemary, but her mother never dropped her off. Apparently this wasn’t the first time she had done this. When the man supervising the visit told Jack he had to leave, he went ballistic. He punched the man in the face so hard it knocked him out. He started flipping over tables, breaking chairs. The cooks in the back had to restrain him. A few people ended up getting hurt. The police came and he went to jail for a few months. He paid for all the damages and apologized over and over again later, so it was obvious he regretted it.”
    “What?” I leap up, and the room shakes as if there was an earthquake. “Then I can’t