“Ebony, we want to talk about what happened yesterday when you left day care. Can you tell us what happened, why you left without your mum?”
“Am I in trouble, Mummy?” She ducked her head and picked at the blanket.
“No baby, certainly not. The person that took you didn’t ask me first so I need to sort it out so it doesn’t happen again. Mummies should always know where their little girls are, don’t you agree?”
“Yes. You always tell me not to talk to strangers and I didn’t, I promise.” Her bottom lip dropped.
“Ebony, you’re not in any trouble so don’t worry. The person who took you without asking your mum is going to get spoken too, but that’s nothing for you to get upset over. We just need your help to make sure they don’t do it again.” Ryder grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Do you remember what happened yesterday after I dropped you off?”
“Um, I found my friends and we played outside.” She picked at the sheet with her fingers before looking up at Ryder again. “Grandad came and he talked to me. He does that sometimes.” She gave a shrug of her shoulders.
“What did you talk about?”
Eb shook her head.
“Ebony, your grandad spends a bit of time helping out, doesn’t he? I bet he has some great stories to tell you.” Jake glanced quickly at Ryder. “Did you go anywhere with him or did you stay in the garden?”
“Grandad was sad. He helped Amy out in the office and then came into the garden to talk to me. I showed him the little green frogs by the fence to make him smile and then he went home. I had to go and have morning tea with my friends.”
“Are you sure Grandad didn’t stay with you while you had your snacks?”
“I don’t think so. He wouldn’t do anything wrong. He loves me. He said so.”
Jake looked over at Ryder and saw the shiver go over her skin. So many sexual predators were family members. Something in the back of his mind niggled. He still had his doubts about Ethol. “Can you tell me what you did after your snack? Did you go outside and play again?”
Ebony screwed up her face and tilted her head looking at him. She touched her lip, pulling on it with her index finger. “I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
“Do you remember what you had for snacks, honey?” Ryder ran her thumb over Eb’s hand.
“Not really. I had my water bottle and some fruit. Did I have cookies too?” Another shrug of her shoulders. “Can you ask Amy, ‘cause she makes good cookies.”
“Sure, honey.”
“Maybe I went to sleep.”
“Maybe you did, Ebony.” Jake switched off the recording in his pocket and saw the disappointment flash across Ryder’s face. “I’d better let the doctor check you out so you can go home. Ryder, call me if you think of anything or want any help. I might call in later today if that’s alright? Something might come back.”
“Sure. And if you hear anything…”
“No problem. You take care, Ebony, and I’ll see you ladies later.”
* * *
Ryder watched him walk out and sat back in the chair.
“Mummy, when can we go home? The kittens will be waiting for breakfast and Milo will be sad ‘cause I’m not there.”
“Let me go and find the doctor and see if he’ll spring you out of here right now, okay?” She jumped up, dropped a kiss on her daughter’s head, and hurried out the door to the nurse’s station. Ryder knew the chances of Eb remembering anything were little to none. That was just the way that particular drug worked. There was the merest possibility she would get a flash of memory but a five year old girl knowing what it was seemed unlikely. Ryder would have to be vigilant and hope her baby would remember something while she was around.
It didn’t take long for the doctor to sign Ebony out of the hospital with instructions to take it easy for a couple of days and call back in if Ryder was at all concerned. “You might understand the effects of this drug more than most, but I’m always here if you need to talk about it from a medical point of view.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
The drive home was incredibly emotional for Ryder. Not all abduction cases turned out so well. Getting her little girl back was the best result and she felt a twinge of sorrow for those parents still waiting, like those of Paris and Daniel. Re-opening their cases had given the families a glimmer of hope or the cruel reminder of a nightmare they didn’t want to revisit. Either way, Ryder couldn’t ignore the cases. Waiting for Sydney to analyse the tapes and computers from the security company was nerve wracking for everyone at the station.
A huge sense of relief swamped her as she turned into their driveway. When Ryder had bolted out of the house last night, she hadn’t even thought of locking anything up or turning off lights. Milo barked when he saw the truck and bounded around the fence line excitedly.
“Oh no.”
Splashes of bright red paint stained the side of her house, splotches of it dripping down the walls to land in the sad neglected flower garden. The empty can lay in the grass by the path. While she was at the hospital, someone had come calling—again. “Stay in the car, honey.”
“But, Mummy, I want to see Milo.”
“Let him come to you while I have a look around, okay?” Ryder slid out of the truck, her phone already in her hand. She opened the gate to let Milo out and after getting covered in wet slobbery kisses, led him to the back door of the truck. As soon as she opened the door, he launched his huge body inside licking Eb who squealed in delight.
“Both of you stay there.” She looked around for any sign of
