I clicked to hang up and parked in the nearest parking lot. I was at the park. My mom and I used to go here all the time. It was within walking distance. I used to ride my bike on the path. I went over to my dad's house to get Madeline free, only to learn that he had killed my mom. She never left me like I had been taught. My breathing was coming out shallow, and my hands wrung the steering wheel. I needed air. I opened the car door and pressed my lower back into the car door. Leaning over, I put my hands right above my knees. I saw spots. There was a ringing in my ears.
Sirens broke through the ringing. Turning my head, I watched a cop car, ambulance, and a fire truck all zoom by me, their lights flashing as they passed and headed to my dad's. He'd be caught and would be on the news. My family being in the news wasn't that unusual, but it wouldn't be for good this time. This time my dad will be shown being in handcuffs, court cases, and dragged through the mud he created.
My mom will be brought up. He told so many people that she had left him. Now the truth of him killing and hiding her body in his lab will be spread worldwide. Years ago, I had wondered where she had gone, but as time went on, I pushed her out of my thoughts. If she didn't care to stay with me, why should I continue to think about her? All those years, she was beneath my feet. All the times we lost electricity, was she defrosting then freezing up again. Groaning, I held my head and slid so that I was sitting on the ground. All those years, she and I had lost because of my dad.
Then it hit me. Madeline used to talk about a frozen lady…
Turning to the side, I dry heaved. I sat back up and tilted my head back, so the cool metal touched my head. My eyes watered. Closing my eyes, I could still see the old her. The way she held me and kissed my cheek. The way she threw her head back when she was laughing, she had a contagious smile. I could still see her playing with cars with me in the hallway. That day she held Madeline for the first time when I met her.
Taking in a deep breath, I brushed my fingers against my eyes. I pushed myself up from the ground and brushed the dirt off the back of my pants. I got into my car and drove back towards the center. I opened the car window, my left arm leaned against the top of the car door, the windswept across the top of my arm. My eyes still stung, and the heat was still in the back of my throat. I swung my car into a parking spot at the office where my dad worked. This time I went through the front door instead of the side door. The receptionist looked up from the computer.
"ID-" she started, but I ran past her. "Sir, I need your ID."
I turned down hallways until I got to the wing with the offices. Madeline's door was locked this time. I didn't have Dr. Green's key to unlock it.
"Madeline!" I screamed.
I rammed my shoulder into the frame and the door didn't budge. A scientist popped her head out of the door of another office.
"Call Dr. Green and tell him Sawyer is outside of Madeline's door."
She nodded her head and disappeared. It wouldn't surprise me if she were calling security.
"Sawyer?" a voice called through the door.
"I'm here. I'm getting the door to open, don't worry."
A few minutes later, Dr. Green was rushing down the hall. His brows scrunched, and his focus was on me.
"Sawyer? What's going on?"
"Open the door. Then we'll talk."
He nodded his head. Dr. Green took his keys off his ID badge and opened the door. Madeline was standing in the middle of her room, staring at the two of us. We walked in, and I closed the door.
"My dad was arrested." Madeline's eyes widen, and Dr. Green opened his mouth then closed it. "He and I were arguing at the house in his lab."
I turned to look at Madeline.
"The frozen lady? Do you remember talking about her?"
Madeline nodded her head. "Yeah?"
"Yeah, she's real." I took a deep breath and sighed. "Dad killed mom and had her hidden in his freezer all these years."
"Are you sure?" Dr. Green's mumbled.
I nodded. "I'd recognize my mom."
A curse slipped from Dr. Green's mouth. I didn't know he knew those words.
"I punched him, I might have broken his nose, and I booked it. I called the cops when I was driving. He's going to jail. He has to."
Dr. Green shook his head. "No doubt."
Dr. Green glanced at Madeline.
"Are you going to take her?"
Madeline looked over at me.
"Yes, if she'll come with me."
She blinked. "Really?"
"I'm giving you a choice." Dr. Green offered.
She nodded. "Let me pack."
"We'll stay at my friend Ricky's for a day or two because I'm sure the cops will want to speak to us, but after that, we're going back to Boston."
Madeline was throwing a few things into a bookbag from under her bed. It was only a few moments then she was by my side again. She interlaced her thin fingers with mine, and I glanced down at her.
"Are you ready?"
She smiled.
"Yes."
Epilogue
“You’re up.”
Turning around, I watched as Sawyer sat up in bed. His shirt was wrinkled from sleep.
