Brand New Journey
Chapter 52
It was early afternoon the following day when Lee was coming back from downtown after checking on a lead from a case that had recently come up.
He entered Billy's office asking, "Have you heard from Amanda? She was supposed to help me go over these files. "
Billy answered, "She called while you were out and said she was running errands with Kelly but that she'd be here after lunch."
Meanwhile at the Rosslyn Metro Mall, it was busy with the lunchtime crowd as Amanda and Kelly stopped at the food court to get a drink.
Kelly queried, "Manda? Can we get a cookie? I'm hungry!"
Paying for the drinks and handing Kelly hers she led Kelly to a table as they sat down and she remarked, "No, Sweetie. Not today. We have to pick up Grandma Dotty from the dentist and then I have to get to work, okay?"
Kelly sighed stating, "I wish Daddy was here. He'd let me have a goodie."
Amanda shook her head thinking, Oh, boy. Kelly is at that age where she's acting spoiled. Hopefully, this phase will pass.
Finishing her drink Amanda got up and responded, "Okay, Honey. Let's go-"
But Kelly shook her head as she sat there commenting, "No! I want Daddy!"
Amanda sighed and answered in a firm enough tone, "Kelly, I'm sorry but he's not here and we have to go now. C'mon."
Kelly stood up and stamped her foot yelling, "No! You can't make me!"
Amanda cleared her throat and taking the drink from her as she threw it away she took Kelly's hand in a firm grasp and bent down to her remarking in a whisper, "I can because I love you and I say so. Let's go."
As they got to the exit Kelly cried, "Wait! Where's Chester?"
Amanda closed her eyes and shook her head as she thought, Oh, no!
Looking at Kelly she asked, "Honey, where did you lose him?"
Kelly brightened and responded, "Maybe at the toy store? I wanted to get him a brother but you said no!"
Amanda sighed remarking, "Because he was too expensive. Okay, let's go find a phone. I have to call Grandma Dotty at her dentist's office and then we will find Chester."
She and Kelly got to a pay phone and Amanda putting change in dialed the number she had in her purse.
As she waited for an answer Kelly whined, "What if someone took Chester? You made me lose him!"
Amanda sighed and commented, "I did no such thing! I told you to leave him at home and you know that."
The party on the other end answered and Amanda stated, "Hello? This is Amanda King,uh, Stetson calling. My mother Dotty West is expecting me there soon to pick her up. Would you please let her know that I'll be a bit late getting there? I'm still at Rosslyn Mall but I'll be there when I can. Thank you."
Hanging up she took Kelly's hand and responded, "Let's go find Chester now. I hope he's where you said he was, Honey."
But when they got to the other side of the mall where the toy store was there was a huge crowd with police and a bomb squad!
Amanda asked one of the shoppers nearby, "What's going on?"
The shopper commented, "There's a young woman in there who has a gun and won't let anyone in or out. Someone saw her stick something on a shelf way up high. It was a stuffed horse-"
Kelly overheard and yelled, "Chester!"
She ran toward the entrance and Amanda dropped everything and ran after her yelling to stop her, "Kelly, no!"
Suddenly there was an explosion and Amanda was thrown with force from the blast to the outside wall knocking her unconscious!
Soon there were paramedics being let in as the police found the woman inside as well as Kelly buried in the debris!
Lee was going over the file with Billy when they got the call about the explosion!
Billy, Francine, and Lee hightailed it to the mall where they learned the details of the incident and Lee asked one of the officers showing his badge, "My wife and daughter were here! Where are they now?"
The officer shook his head stating, "There were two women and a little girl, Sir. One of the women didn't make it. I'm sorry."
Lee was beside himself and Francine queried quickly, "Which one was it?"
The officer shrugged and remarked, "We don't have any info. There was so much debris here and we're still trying to figure things out-"
Billy showing his badge replied, "Can you tell us at least where they were taken?"
The officer responded, "Galilee General-"
With that Francine stated to Lee, "We'll go find out. I'm sure they're all right. C'mon..."
Lee woodenly got into Francine's car with her and asked, "What if-"
Francine gripped his hand tightly and shook her head commenting, "No! Uh-uh! We're not playing that game. Your girls are fine, all right? Let's go!"
They arrived at the hospital and Lee began firing questions at the receptionist about Amanda and Kelly when a nurse came out to them and Francine asked, "We're here about Amanda and Kelly Stetson. Where are they and are they all right?"
The nurse queried, "Are you a relative?"
Lee stated impatiently, "I am! Where are they?"
The nurse remarked, "Kelly is in the Pediatric Wing and your wife is back here but she still hasn't regained consciousness."
Lee shook his head bewilderedly and Francine stated to him gently, "Hey. I'll go check on Kelly and you stay here with Amanda. They're okay, Lee."
Lee swallowed hard and remarked to the nurse, "Miss Desmond is going to check on my daughter."
Showing her both their Federal ID's he exclaimed, "This gives us carte blanche to go anywhere here until they're released. You got it?"
The nurse nodded and answered, "Of course. I'm truly sorry about your family, Mr. Stetson. I'll take you back to see your wife now."
Lee replied softly clearing his throat, "Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm just very worried about them, you know?"
They headed back toward the exam room with Lee praying like he never had before! He thought as he followed the nurse, Please be all right, Amanda! I need to know how this happened!
TBC
