Legal Prejuduce 3 - Lessons In Life

Chapter 34

Jeff didn't think he'd ever felt so bad. His head was pounding with Emmie's screams which had gone on for hours as she shrieked, "You killed my Mommy." He'd yelled at Penny, "Stop telling her it's not her Mommy, you're making her worse." She'd subsided around an hour before and was now sobbing more quietly. Penny said, "You're going to love Canada Emmie. They have snow in the winter and we're going to get a nice place to live. Emmie wailed out, "I want my Daddy, take me back." Penny sighed, "We're your family Emily pumpkin." The ten year old shrieked making Jeff wince again, "You don't even know my name. No-one calls me that. I want my Dad." Jeff sighed and shook his head turning to his wife, "I think we need to make a stop. We've been going hours, it's dark and she must need the bathroom, food 'cause I know I do." Penny nodded, "Yeah, let's find a cheap motel, pay cash and leave her in the car until we've organised it so no-one sees her." They were approaching a town called Primm so they left the interstate and drove until they found a rundown motel. Penny ran inside to organise a room and left Jeff with Emmie and she immediately tried to open the door. He activated the central locking and she began screaming for help. There were a few parked cars but otherwise the parking lot was empty and Emmie realised hopelessly it was pointless, but couldn't stop. Jeff was tired and irritated and he bellowed, "For Christ's sake stop that. Emmie was terrified and turned to scream into the car's upholstery.

The guy on the desk took the cash from the well-dressed woman in front of him and heard the muted screams in his car lot. Leaning to look out of the window as he grabbed the receipt he could see the young girl in the car they'd arrived in tugging at the door. He said nothing but handing the paper over to the woman with a nod feigning disinterest and grabbed her a key. As soon as she'd gone he flicked out his phone and searched. He leaned back to look through the window to check the car, grimaced and dialled 911. Within minutes the car lot was smarming with police, no sirens, and as one uniformed officer came to the office, the others surrounded the door Penny and Jeff had gone through. The guy in the office nodded expressionless, "Is it the one they're looking for from LA?" The police officer nodded, "Looks like." They watched through the window as one officer knocked the door and when it didn't immediately open kicked it in to shouts and screams. The two adults were swiftly dragged out in handcuffs which looked incongruous on such a seemingly respectable middle aged husband and wife.

A female officer called Julie crept to where she could see the little girl crouched into as small a space as possible between the bed and the window. She dropped to her knees in front of her and said very quietly and gently, "Are you Emmie honey?" Not looking up or moving in any way she whispered, "Yes. I want my Daddy. They killed my Mommy and I want my Daddy." Julie shuffled a little closer, "My name is Julie and I'm a police officer. You're safe now we're here. Emmie, your Daddy is at the hospital with your Mommy right now. She's not dead honey, but she is very badly injured. My friend Carlos and I are going to take you to him. We'll put the flasing lights on and get you to him as quick as we can yeah. I know you're scared, give me your hand. Emmie looked up through her red raw eyes and tentatively reached out her hand. Julie rubbed it gently then stood up nodding to encourage Emmie to do the same and they made their way into a squad car where a kindly faced Carlos was waiting. He smiled and said Hi softly while Julie strapped her in and tucked a blanket over the seatbelt. She closed the door and quickly spoke to her boss while Carlos slowly passed a bottle of water to Emmie. Getting in the back seat on the opposite side Julie opened it for her and Emmie drank realising how thirsty she was. Carlos had already set off and drove swiftly back onto the interstate out of Nevada.

In the hospital waiting room Dylan had returned to take them up to where Allie had been taken after three hours of surgery. He reassured them, "She's been very stable, so she's doing okay. Let me get you up there." They were met by the ITU doctor and Dylan told him Daniel was Allie's husband. The doctor introduced himself as Aaron Kendrick and said, "I'll take you in, but before I do just don't be too alarmed at how she looks or all the machines. We have her really stable right now and the surgery went well. Her face looks bad, but all the swelling and bruising will go down it'll just take a few days." Daniel gulped and said, "Can we all go in?" Aaron reached for his arm, "Sure, the nurses will be in and out doing their thing, Allie has Liz taking care of her until the morning." They walked in and Susan turned to bury her face in John's chest glimpsing Allie in the bed and stifling a scream. Tom and a shocked Nathan stood back and Daniel moved to take the seat next to Allie's uninjured left side. With tears dripping he bent down and kissed her and stroked her hair, "Jesus Christ, what did they do to you my perfect girl? We're all here Allie we love you." Max felt his heart shattering as he gazed at the right side of her face which was so swollen and distorted he wouldn't have recognised her. He let go of Margie and pulled up one of the chairs the nurse had brought in next to Daniel and sat down taking her hand, trying to avoid disturbing her IV. Through tears he kissed her hand and said, "Oh my God, my poor, sweet girl. Allie sweetheart, come back to us, fight baby." Margie came behind him sobbing and he stood up to comfort her. Jeremy took his place and leaned to kiss Allie's good side. He put his hand on Daniel's shoulders and said, "I'll just go call Robyn. I promised to let her know when she was out of surgery." Nathan slipped out and Tom followed him. Outside Tom tried to comfort his boyfriend who was struggling with the enormity of what he'd just seen.