Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 29

Samantha told us a little more about what happened when she was kidnapped. She said the last thing she remembered was hearing Gillingham say he was going to get her out of there and then nothing until she woke up in the hospital and came out of her psychosis.

"Stanley said you weren't looking for me and that I wasn't even a story in the news. That you were happy I was gone because I'm so expensive."

She hadn't stopped crying while telling us the story.

"Oh, honey," Jenna said. "We called the police the instant we knew you were gone. I was at the school to pick you up and had them call immediately."

"And you were national news," Sarah said, tears on her face. "That's how we found out. But we checked in every day until we came out on the Friday before you were found."

"We would have never stopped looking for you," I said. "No matter how long it took."

She smiled a little.

"I kind of thought he was lying, but I didn't know for sure. And he ruined Mr Hippo."

"Who?" Brendon asked.

"My stuffed hippo I had as a little kid. He put him in my room so maybe I'd realize where I was. But I forgot my old room. Because he'd covered the one window and everything else was gone.

Every time he beat me, all I could see was Mr Hippo."

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," Jenna said.

"It's okay. I'm too old to for stuffies anyway," she said.

Just then the doorbell rang. Samantha stiffened. We all sort of did.

"Erin and their family aren't coming until three. Who could that be?" Jenna asked.

I shrugged and got up to open the door.

It was Detective Jake.

"Merry Christmas!" He said, coming inside.

"To you too. We weren't expecting to see you."

"I know. I'm sorry. I was going to call first, but I thought maybe I'd surprise you. How's Sam doing?"

"She's in the kitchen," I said. I walked Jake into the kitchen.

"Sam, do you remember Detective Jake?"

"Sort of," she said. "Hi."

"Hey! Hi to you too. You're speaking again!"

Sam nodded.

"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Jenna asked. "And can I get you anything? Eggs? Coffee? Cinnamon rolls?"

"Actually a cinnamon roll and coffee would be great if that's okay with you."

"Of course," Jenna smiled.

"So, Samantha, I have something for you," he said, picking up a black garbage bag.

"Ooh. Trash. Thanks," Samantha said.

"You're cheeky," Josh laughed.

Jake opened the bag and pulled out Samantha's back pack and her jacket. She looked skeptical about taking them.

"They were in evidence, so I can guarantee that there is nothing in there that can hurt you."

She took the bag and looked inside. Then felt the pockets of her jacket. She pulled out her phone.

"That's where it went!" She said.

She went over to the island and plugged it in to charge, since it had been dead for three weeks.

"Sam, since you're talking, is it okay if I ask you about the time Stanley had you? I know it's probably painful to discuss but Gillingham is being charged and we need all the information we can get from you."

"Okay," Sam said. "I just told my mom and dad, so I can probably tell you, too."

"Mom and Dad, huh?" Jake smiled. We smiled back.

Jake and Samantha went into the living room with Jenna so Jake could ask him his questions.

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Samantha's POV

I don't really want to tell Jake the story again, but even though I know Stanley is dead and can't be sent to jail for kidnapping me, Mr. Gillingham was involved. But in the end he got me out. So I don't want him to get in too much trouble. Because he did the right thing. And the only time he hurt me was when he knocked me out.

"Okay, Samantha, so, what do you remember?"

"Um, Mr. Gillingham came to the school and told me Jenna and Tyler were in an accident and he had to take me to the hospital. But when he took me outside, he knocked me out."

"Do you know how?"

"He hit me in the head with something hard. I didn't see it though. When I woke up, I was in a dark room and tied down to the bed. I thought at first maybe I'd freaked out at the hospital when I saw Jenna and Tyler, but then I realized it was too dark to be a hospital room."

"What happened while you were there?"

"Stanley beat me. All the time. Whenever he wanted to."

"What about Gillingham?"

I shook my head.

"He never touched me after he knocked me out. Except once when he said he thought I might have a fever because I'd been throwing up."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"He talked to me sometimes. I think. By then I'd found a way to sort of escape into myself. I could come back out sometimes, but it was safer there. I couldn't feel Stanley beating me when I was there. The only thing I remember him saying is the he was getting me out of there."

"Where were you in the house?"

"I didn't remember it, but it was my old room. Everything was gone but the furniture. And Mr. Hippo. Which Stanley used to try to remind me that I was in my room."

"Do you know how long you were in the house for?"

"No. It was dark all the time. I could only see a bit of light from under the door. He even covered the one little window I had."

"Okay, you're doing great Samantha. Anything else?"

"Well, I know this is going to sound weird, but, Mr. Gillingham, did the right thing in the end. And he wasn't horrible to me. The worst he did was knock me out. I don't want him to get into too much trouble."

"Well, honey, he broke a lot of laws when he escaped and kidnapped you. Even if he did the right thing in the end, he still needs to be punished."

"Okay," I said.

"Is there anything else you can remember about when they had you?"

"Um. Not really. Once I found the inside place, I stayed there as much as I could."

"Okay. Thank you Samantha. I'm glad to see you're doing better. Merry Christmas."

"Thanks. You too," I smiled.

Jake talked to Tyler and Jenna, Mom and Dad, again for a minute and then they came back into the living room."