As they were leaving with the second ambulance, he and Rebel worked with the babies, taking their temps and weighing them, even going as far as to measure them for their length. Both were doing much better now, but he was worried that once they were a few hours older, the bruising on the little girl’s head might cause her some issues. But they’d have to wait to get some X-rays before he would know anything.
“They wanted me to tell you that Todd is in jail.” The driver of the ambulance, he couldn’t remember his name right now, told them both. He told him he was sorry and asked after it. “Basil Basken. My mom thought that having an herb name would ward off the devil. I didn’t have any tempting very much, so I’m thinking she did right. I asked Layman about the gunshot wound he had in his shoulder, and they said he could suffer until tomorrow. That the two of you had your hands full with the children. One of his men shot Todd so he’d not use the axe on the missus.”
“Have you been called to that home often?” Rodney looked at Rebel when she asked. It was something he never did when on a call, asking for personal information that didn’t pertain to his job. Basil told her it was at least twice a week and also to the school when the children showed up beaten. “Someone should show him how it feels to be beaten like he did those little girls.”
Rodney hadn’t seen the children. Rebel had not just sent them ahead to the hospital but had also ordered a lot of tests to be done, as well as putting them in the same room. Having them stay overnight was the best way to calm them. Rodney wondered what was going to happen to the babies when there was no one to take them.
I’ve got some information on the family if you’d like to have it. Rodney asked Harris if it was bad news. He couldn’t take anymore tonight. I don’t blame you. I’m so sorry that you lost her. She was, according to those that knew her, a very nice woman that had it bad with her husband. Or who they thought was her husband. He wasn’t, just so you know. Not legally anyway. Also, just a heads up, the other two do not have Todd’s name on their birth certificate. I’m looking into how that happened, but until I do, their last name is the same as their mother’s was. Avery.
Tell me what you know. But kindly tell me the bad shit with a few good things sprinkled into it. I’m telling you now, I don’t think my heart could take much more. The little boy I’m holding right now not only lost his mom, but the man who killed her was his father. He’s been shot and beaten up, and he’s not even an hour old. She told him again how sorry she was. I am as well. These little ones are going into the system, aren’t they?
I don’t know how to answer that. There is a great aunt that might take them, but I’m doubting the courts will allow her to. She’s in her late sixties. Also, Belinda, the mother, has a sister and a brother that I know of. The brother is in the service, married with four kids of his own. The sister is off the grid. I’m not sure where she is, but I’ll find her. He asked her what off the grid meant. She’s a ghost. No working social security number, no address. No job that I can find. She doesn’t have any credit cards, no utilities. There is a post office box number for her in this town that I’ve found, but according to the people there, Belinda is the one that gets the mail out of it and goes through it. Then I guess she sends it to another P.O. box in another state. So far, I’ve found nine more of those that someone sends off to another address. Could be she’s in the service as well and being moved a great deal, or she’s hiding from someone.
But you don’t think that’s the case, do you? Either of those ideas? Harris told Rebel that for some reason, it didn’t feel right. I remember my mom telling us if it doesn’t feel right, then it’s not. With you, that would go double. What is it you think she does?
What I was doing.
Well, there was a lot to be said about that, but they were pulling into the hospital now, and he no longer had the time to speak to her. After telling her what he was doing, Harris told him she’d get back with him.
Sheila met them at the nursery department. She was going to assist Rebel in whatever she needed to do with the little girl. Adaline had shown up too, but she was working in the overcrowded emergency room, and he told her that if she didn’t mind, it would be good for her to help out. There had been a wreck on the highway just out of town, and they weren’t sure what to expect yet.
The little boy had been quiet since he’d given out his first lusty cry. After getting him cleaned up better, then diapered, he looked to be doing well. The five stitches in his thigh were photographed, then sent to the police, along with his paperwork as to what had happened to him. By the time he was finished up, Rebel came to see him.
“She’s doing fine now that she’s had a bottle. Belinda’s doctor has been notified, and he told me what the plans had been for the children when they were born. It was just a staff employee, he told me. Belinda didn’t have a preference, he told me, other than someone who would be kind to the babies.” He asked her if she
