Chapter 10
…
Elizabeth looked out the window as Samar pulled up outside the small house, her first thoughts were how normal the place looked, how safe the neighbourhood looked. She saw Ressler talking to some of the forensic team as Samar and herself got out of the car and made their way up the path, Elizabeth closing the small gate behind her.
"Hey, you got anything?" Samar asked.
"You could say that, come with me."
Elizabeth and Samar followed Ressler inside, as they made their way down the hallway, Elizabeth saw some of the guys in the bathroom, her stomach lurched when she saw that there looked to be some sort of a commotion in the room, the cabinet by the shower lying on it's side. Ressler came to a standstill outside one of the rooms and looked towards Elizabeth.
"We thing this is where she was being held." He stated.
Elizabeth moved past Samar and made her way past Ressler and in to the room, the bed looked liked it had been slept in, a tray of uneaten food was lying on the bed side cabinet.
"Has the team already gone over this room?" She asked.
"Not yet."
Elizabeth nodded as she walked around the room, looking for anything that would tell her that this was the place Kate had been held in. She glanced over at bed, her eyes landing on something sticking out from under the pillow. Elizabeth walked over and removed the pillow to see the small bear underneath it, she leaned down and picked it up, examining it closely.
"What have you got there?" Samar asked.
"Stuffed bear, looks pretty old."
"If Mr Kaplan was being held in here, why would she have a stuffed toy?" Ressler asked.
"Maybe it belongs to Abigail, it's old…it must mean something to her."
"You should check with Reddington, maybe he'll know something."
All three stopped talking when the forensic team came in to the room.
"Sorry Paul, we'll get out of your way." Ressler said.
"Get this bagged up and booked would you. When you're done…I'll need it back?" Elizabeth said, handing Paul the bear.
"We'll be as quick as we can."
"Thanks Paul." She smiled as she exited the room.
Elizabeth made her way out of the house and breathed in the fresh air, looking a head of her when she spotted an old woman approaching the gate.
"Can I help you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sorry I was…I was just wondering what was happening?"
"Do you live around here?"
"I live next door."
"So you know the woman who lives here?"
"Abbey, oh yes…very well."
"You don't happen to know where she is, do you?"
"Well she left earlier, in an ambulance."
"She's hurt?"
"Not her my love, her friend." She replied.
"Her friend."
"Yes, I've never seen her before. Abbey said her friend was visiting and she was taken unwell."
"I don't suppose you know the name of her friend by any chance."
"No my love."
"Could you describe her to me."
"Well, I mean I didn't get a very good look at her, the poor thing was being carried away in an ambulance."
"Of course, I'm sorry to bother you." Elizabeth said, getting ready to walk away.
"But…she did have brown hair and glasses."
"She wore glasses, you're sure?"
"Oh yes, definitely."
"I don't suppose you know which hospital they were going too."
"Oh no my dear I'm sorry."
"Right, well thank you for all your help."
"Sorry I couldn't help more."
"Trust me, you helped a great deal."
"Abbey's not in any trouble is she?"
"You know Abigail well?"
"A little, I know she's had a hard life, in and out of foster care all her life, her birth parents abandoned her. She hasn't had it easy but she's tough and she's trying her best to make a good life for herself."
"I see."
"If she has done something, I'm sure she didn't mean too. If you find her and she needs help, tell her to call me."
"I will Mrs...?"
"Eldridge."
"I'll tell her, thanks again."
The older woman gave Elizabeth a small smile before she made her way back to the house. Samar walked out and over to Elizabeth, seeing the older lady leaving.
"Who was that?" She asked.
"The neighbour, apparently Abigail left earlier in the back of an ambulance, according to the neighbour, Abigail's friend was injured."
"Mr Kaplan?"
"Going by her description, it sounded like her."
"Which hospital?"
"She doesn't know, I'm gonna head back and help Aram ring round all the hospitals to try and find out, can you get a lift back with Ressler?"
"Sure, no worries." She said, handing Elizabeth the keys.
…
Abigail was sitting beside Kate's bedside early the next morning, the beeping from the machines echoing through the room. She moved her chair a little closer as she took a hold of Kate's hand in her own, feeling how warm it was. She studied the older woman closely, seeing for the first time how much she looked like her mother. A stray tear ran down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away when she heard someone entering the room, her head shooting around to see the doctor approaching her.
"Abigail, why don't you go home. It could be hours, maybe even a day or so before she wakes up."
"No, I want to be here when she wakes up."
"Fair enough, well the canteen is still open if you want to go and get something to eat."
"I'm fine, not hungry."
"Very well, before I go home I just wanted to clarify one thing with you."
"What is it?"
"The forms you signed earlier to allow us to proceed with the surgery."
"What about them."
"You signed them Abigail Sanders, I thought you said your name was Nemec."
Panic began to set in when Abigail realised she's signed the wrong name, looking up at the doctor.
"It it Nemec, sorry…I'm recently divorced, my married name was Sanders, I keep forgetting."
"Well that explains it." She smiled.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I suppose it takes some getting used too when you return to your maiden name. Don't worry about it, I'll bring some new forms for you to sign in the morning."
"Thanks."
"I'm heading home now, think about going home yourself, or at the very least…eat something."
"I will, later."
"Okay then, well good night."
"Night doctor and thank you…for saving her."
"Just doing my job."
"I know but…thanks anyway."
Abigail offered a shaky smile as the doctor made her way out of the room, closing the door gently behind her to give Abigail some privacy. Abigail returned her attentions to Kate, watching the older woman breathing in and out.
"Come on Mr Kaplan, please…wake up."
…
To Be Continued…