A couple minutes later, Richie found her hovering in the doorway. “Ready to go?”
“Did you take the baby?” The empty car seat in his hand was answer enough, but she had to hold on to the faint string of hope.
“No, I left him here with you.”
The string broke.
“Angel, what’s going on?”
“She took him.”
“Who took him? What are you talking about?” His heart knew, but his mind refused to process it.
“The nurse. She took my baby.” Striding to the bed she rang the call bell again. Repeatedly. Insistently.
“Let’s not panic. Maybe she took him to get weighed before we left or something.” He didn’t really believe it, but he was trying to give her some hope. Richie didn’t wait for someone to answer the call bell. He rushed down to the nursing station.
Within seconds the hospital went into lockdown. Her room was quickly overflowing with hospital security, administration and medical staff. After a complete search of the hospital came up empty, the police joined the group.
Both Tori and Richie recounted their movements of the last fifteen minutes and described the nurse. Multiple times. The charge nurse knew immediately who they were talking about and left to check her records. She returned a few minutes later.
“Janice Green. She clocked out early. Sick. Human Resources is pulling her records.”
“See. She took him.” Tori’s hands clenched into fists. “I knew it!”
Richie reached out to cover one small fist with his much larger hand. Feeling how cold her skin was, he added his other hand and began to chafe hers lightly. “We’ll get him back angel.”
She appreciated his faith, and could only pray that he was right.
“We’d like to put out an Amber Alert,” an officer suggested, “but we need a photo of the baby to best do that. I don’t suppose anyone took any?”
“On my phone.” Richie pulled it out and forwarded the pictures he’d taken.
The officer in charge flipped his notebook closed. “Alright. I think we’ve got everything we need from you right for right now. You might as well go on home. We’ll check the security camera footage and track down this Nurse Green and we’ll be in contact with you.”
Tori didn’t want to leave the place where she’d last seen her baby, but she knew there was nothing she could do there. Nodding, she stood and let Richie help her out to the Hummer.
It was a quiet, tense ride home. Tori sat, grim and silent, staring out the window, grief, anger and frustrating radiating off her in waves. Richie kept shooting glances her way, but he knew there was nothing he could say to make everything better, and had no idea what to say to give her hope, so he didn’t say anything at all.
Arriving at the house Richie helped his wife inside and braced himself for what was to come.
“Hey. We were beginning to think they weren’t going to let you out today.” Dorothea met them in the foyer. Once glimpse of their faces told her something was wrong. Very wrong. “Where’s the baby?”
Richie gestured towards the living room. “Let’s go sit down. Where’s Jon?”
“In the living room with the kids. Tony’s here too.”
Stevie spied them as soon as they entered the room. “Mama! Daddy!”
When he reached her, Tori bent to scoop her son into her arms.
“Ow! Too tight Mama. Too tight!”
“Sorry Peanut.” Tori eased her grip, but didn’t let him go. She took a seat on the couch, keeping Stevie on her lap. “Hi Tony.”
Richie sat beside her with Lauren. “Hey man.”
“Hi. So where’s my newest nephew?” He looked back and forth between them. “What’s wrong?”
Richie sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “He’s missing.”
“WHAT??!!” The word came at them from three different directions.
“What do you mean he’s missing?” Jon added.
“I went to get the car. Tori needed to use the bathroom, so the nurse told her she’d stay with the baby until she or I got back. When Tori came out, both the nurse and the baby were gone.”
Dorothea frowned. “But how would she get him out of the hospital? I mean, they’re usually so careful anymore about the babies being moved....anywhere.”
“That’s what the hospital and the police are trying to figure out.”
“They at least know who the nurse is, right?” Tony asked. “So they can track her down?”
“They’re doing that now. They’re going to let us know what they find.”
“So, in the mean time?” Jon eyed his sister.
“We wait.” Frustration flared in her eyes.
“Have you eaten lunch?” Dorothea went into practical, caretaking mode.
Tori shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
“I’m sure you’re not, but you need to eat. I’ll go see what Rosa has left.”
She returned a few minutes later with sandwiches, Rosa following with coffee for Richie and tea for Tori.
“Thanks.” Richie took a bite.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Where Zachry?”
“He’ll be home soon.” Richie set his sandwich down. It tasted like sawdust.
Tori picked at hers. It took her half an hour to eat half a sandwich.
Jon watched her for a few minutes, exchanged a glance with Tony, rose and left the room.
Noticing that Lauren had fallen asleep and Stevie was nodding, Tori stood, reached for Lauren and urged Stevie up. “Come on. I think it’s nap time.”
“You should try and get some rest too angel.” Richie urged softly. He wasn’t surprised when he didn’t get a response.
When Jon returned, he looked around the room, frowning when he noted his sister’s absence.
“She went to put the kids down for a nap.” Dorothea informed him.
Nodding, he sat and raked a hand through his hair. He sent a sympathetic look towards his wingman. “How are you guys holding up?”
Richie sighed and shrugged. “I think we’re still in shock.” He looked towards the doorway his wife disappeared through. “She’s not talking much and I’m not pushing her at this point.”
“I’ve called in reinforcements. Not sure who all will be coming, but support’s on its way.”
“Thanks. I just wish I knew what to do. I feel so fucking helpless!”
Dorothea moved to sit beside him and squeeze his shoulder. “We just have to have faith that the police will find him and bring him home.”
“I’m trying Dot. If they don’t.....I don’t know what it will do to her.” Or me.
Late afternoon, the door flew open and Ava ran in, tears running down her face. Richie had called Heather earlier to let them know. She hugged first Tori then Richie. “Have they found him?” At the negative response, more tears flowed. “Why? Why would she take him?”
“We don’t know Bean.” Richie stroked the blonde head. “But we’re going to get him back.”
A couple hours later, the police came to update them. Tori sat beside her husband, their hands clasped tightly together.
“We checked the address she gave to the hospital, but it was bogus. She’s never lived there.” The officer was apologetic. “We’re circulating both her picture and your son’s to all media outlets state wide asking for the public’s help, and the Amber Alert has been issued. The FBI has been alerted as well and are standing by if we need them.”
“How did she get him out of the hospital?” Jon asked.
“The security camera shows her leaving wearing a large, loose coat. We think she was hiding him underneath it. Probably in one of those sling things. They found the baby’s bracelet in a needle disposal container.” He paused. “And she was flirting with the security guard on her way out, so he didn’t follow the hospital’s security procedures. Needless to say, he’s now looking for a new career path.”
“Have you found out anything about her? Why she would take him? Was it a random choice or specific to us?” Tori asked.
“We’re checking out her background, but don’t have anything useful yet.” The officer stood to leave. “I promise you, we’re doing everything we can to find your son.”
Richie rose and shook his hand. “Thank you.”
“We’ll keep you updated.”
When they were alone again, Tony voiced what they were all thinking. “So, what now? Do we just sit around and wait to see if they come up with anything?”
Tori looked at Jon. “Do you have that private eye friend?”
“Yes. Do you want me to call him?”
“Yes.”
“What are you thinking angel?”
“That the police will do the best they can, but there are limits to what they can do. Plus, they may not tell us everything they know, and I want to know who this bitch is and why she took my baby.” Her voice wasn’t emotional, just strong and determined.
“I’ll call him right now.”
When Richie went up to bed – to lay down, but probably not to sleep – he found the bedroom empty, even though Tori had gone up a half hour before him. He wandered down the hall until he found her in Stevie’s room, sitting in the rocking chair she’d pulled up next to the bed, Lauren asleep in her lap.
“Angel, you need to get some sleep.” He kept his voice quiet so as not to startle her or wake Lauren.
Tori shook her head. “I’m not leaving them.” Not ever again.
Understanding her fear, he searched for a solution. “Why don’t we put them in our bed?” Scooping up Stevie, he helped her stand and lead the way down to their room.
With the children safe between them, they were able to rest their bodies even if they didn’t really sleep much.
Who is this b****!!!! Lol...good lord...
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