Chương 6
“That’s different.”
“It doesn’t feel different.”
She looked toward the window.
“I couldn’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because you would have done exactly what you did tonight.”
He had no defense ready.
That bothered him because he preferred arguments he could repair.
Arianne continued.
“You would’ve shown up.”
“Yes.”
“You would’ve threatened him.”
“Probably.”
“You would’ve made it impossible for me to control anything.”
Baldric stared at the floor.
“I thought control was what he’d taken from you.”
“He did.”
Her voice softened.
“That doesn’t mean you get to take the rest.”
A nurse entered before Baldric could answer.
She checked Arianne’s blood pressure, adjusted the IV, and asked about nausea.
Arianne said she was fine.
The nurse gave her the look nurses reserved for patients who were clearly not fine but legally entitled to lie.
“You’ll likely be here a few more hours.”
“Can I leave sooner?”
“Not if you want my blessing.”
“I’m not very religious.”
The nurse smiled despite herself.
“Then you’re definitely staying.”
After she left, Arianne looked at Baldric.
“See?”
“What?”
“I can handle authority.”
“Clearly.”
His phone vibrated again.
This time the caller was unknown.
He almost ignored it.
Then Arianne said, “Answer.”
Baldric did.
“Mr. Hale?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Tessa Greene.”
The woman spoke quickly, as if she had already repeated the introduction too many times that morning.
“I’m with county child protective services.”
Baldric stood.
Arianne watched him.
“Where is Gideon?”
“I’m at the Vance residence now.”
Arianne pushed herself upright.
Baldric put the call on speaker.
“Is my son okay?”
“Mrs. Vance?”
“Yes.”
“Your son is physically okay.”
Arianne closed her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve spoken with him briefly.”
“Is Derek there?”
“No.”
Baldric frowned.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
Bertha’s voice suddenly sounded in the background.
“You have no right to interrogate a seven-year-old without his parents present.”
Tessa’s tone changed.
“I’m going to step outside.”
There was movement and the sound of a door closing.
“Mrs. Vance, your son says he wants to see you.”
“I want to see him.”
“I’m working on that.”
“Bring him here.”
“I can’t personally transport him without resolving placement.”
Arianne’s mouth tightened.
“Placement?”
“Because of the incident, we need to determine where he can safely remain today.”
“He remains with me.”
“That may be the outcome.”
“May?”
Tessa did not answer immediately.
“A hospital isn’t a placement.”
“I can discharge.”
Baldric shook his head.
Arianne glared at him.
Tessa continued.
“Your medical status is one factor.”
“My father can take him.”
Another pause.
“Mr. Hale?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll need to speak with you and complete a basic assessment.”
“Do whatever you need.”
Arianne reached for the phone.
“When can I see Gideon?”
“I’m trying to arrange that as soon as possible.”
“Is Bertha stopping you?”
Tessa chose her words carefully.
“Mrs. Vance is objecting to his removal.”
“She has no custody.”
“She has access to the residence and has been providing care.”
“That is not custody.”
“No.”
“Then take him out.”
Baldric heard Bertha arguing with someone again in the distance.
Tessa lowered her voice.
“There’s another complication.”
Arianne froze.
“What?”
“Your husband arrived back at the residence about ten minutes ago.”
Baldric looked at the clock.
“Back?”
“Yes.”
“Where had he been?”
“He declined to tell me.”
“Is he there now?”
“Yes.”
Arianne pulled the blanket away from her legs.
Baldric moved toward her.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving.”
“You can barely stand.”
“Watch me.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and immediately went pale.
Baldric caught her elbow.
“Sit down.”
“Don’t tell me to sit down.”
“You’re dizzy.”
“My child is in that house.”
“And you collapsing in the parking lot helps him how?”
Arianne jerked her arm away.
For a moment they stared at each other with the same stubborn expression.
Tessa spoke through the phone.
“Mrs. Vance, please don’t come here yet.”
Arianne looked at the device as if betrayed by it.
“Why?”
“Because your husband has requested that Gideon remain with him.”
“He assaulted me.”
“He denies that.”
“I’m in a hospital.”
“I know.”
“He gave me drugs.”
“That’s being investigated.”
Arianne’s face went rigid.
“What exactly did he tell you?”
Tessa hesitated.
“That you became confused and physically aggressive after taking medication prescribed to you.”
Baldric felt anger come hot and immediate.
Arianne went very still.
“And you believe him?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Mrs. Vance, my job isn’t to decide truth from one phone call.”
Arianne’s hand trembled.
Baldric wanted to take the phone from her.
He did not.
Tessa continued.
“Your son also told me something I need you to know.”
Arianne’s lips parted.
“What?”
“He said his father told him you were sick and might have to go away.”
Baldric looked at his daughter.
Something changed in her face.
The fear remained.
So did the exhaustion.
But beneath both came a cold steadiness he had not seen in years.
“When did Derek tell him that?”
“Gideon says last night before the argument.”
Arianne stared at the wall.
“That was before he found the apartment email.”
Baldric felt the connection before he understood it.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“He told Gideon I was going away before he had any reason to know I was leaving.”
Tessa said, “Mrs. Vance?”
Arianne lifted the phone again.
“I need you to ask my son one question.”
“I can’t coach an interview through you.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“Ask him whether his father told him where I was going.”
Tessa was silent.
Then she said, “I can ask an open-ended version of that.”
“Do it.”
The call ended a minute later.
Arianne sat back against the pillows.
Baldric watched her.
“What are you thinking?”
“That I’ve been stupid.”
“No.”
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Make me feel better before we know what happened.”
Baldric shut his mouth.
She looked toward the tray table.
May you like
“I need my laptop.”
“Where is it?”
