Disclaimer: They aren't mine. I'm getting no monetary gain from them, just
a whole bunch of enjoyment.
Author: Catgurl83
Title: Burning Memories
Rating: PG. 13
Feedback: Feedback is very helpful. Thanks to all who have been giving it. My e-mail address is catgurl83@yahoo.com
Author's note: Just so you know, this is an emotional chapter. In fact, it is pretty emotional from here on out.
Thanks to Alex for beta reading this for me.
**********
Elisabeth watched as Robert struggled with his emotions. She could only imagine how difficult it was for him to relate this painful incident from his past. As she waited, questions ran through her brain. There were so many things that she wanted to know.
Robert continued in an emotionless voice. "I only saw the stroller because the car's lights hit it at the right angle. Otherwise, it would have been morning before it was found."
************
Flashback
************
Where the hell could they be? Robert wondered. He had driven this street and a few others close to it several times. He kept hoping that he'd see Nattie step out of a friend's house if he passed by enough times.
Robert looked around in all directions as the car crawled down the street.
He glanced out the window to the right. A ditch ran the length of the street. Shrubs and a willow tree lined the ditch, making it hard to see. Past all of the scraggly overhanging greenery he could make out rocks and boulders of every size.
He squinted. His headlights were reflecting off of something. Whatever it was, it looked metallic. It definitely wasn't a rock.
Robert pulled the car over and stepped out, grabbing a flashlight out of the glove compartment. Some kid had probably left a metal lighter out there when he was hiding from his parents. God, he hoped Jubilee never tried stunts like that.
He carefully climbed down into the ditch. He picked his way toward the object in question, being careful to avoid snakes as he walked.
He stopped in shock when his flashlight hit the object. It was a baby's stroller. He forced himself to go closer, assuring himself the whole time that it wasn't Jubilee's. It couldn't be Jubilee's, his mind screamed. How could it be?
Ice formed in his veins as he gently touched the ragged fabric of his daughter's stroller. His mind screamed at him, trying to deny what he knew to be true.
Slowly, as if in a haze he climbed back out of the ditch and walked to his car. He quickly drove home and exited the vehicle.
With leaden steps he made his way to the phone. With a steady hand he grabbed the phone and dialed the number that no one ever wants to have to use.
In later years, he would never remember the words that he used but whatever they were they got the police on their way. Hell, the next day, the next hour, he wouldn't remember.
But other parts of the night would be forever burned into his memory. They would cause a perpetual feeling of nausea.
***********
Robert could feel the ragged and torn fabric of his daughter's stroller. He could feel the branches grabbing at him, reaching out to stop him, as he climbed out of the ditch.
He could taste the sweat beading on his upper lip as he drove home. The salty taste of those long ago tears stung his lips and tongue.
He could hear the police officers as they stepped into the house through the still open door and found him sitting on the sofa staring at the picture of his daughter on the table next to him.
The officer's disattached voices still rang in his ears.
*************
Flashback
*************
"Dr. Ramano?"
Robert looked up, startled at the intrusion. Two uniformed police officers stood in front of him. One of them held a note pad in his hand.
"We need more information," one of the cops stated as she sat down on a chair across from Robert. She had gentled her voice hoping to get a response from the shocked man before her.
Robert forced himself to nod.
"Your wife and daughter are missing?"
Again, he nodded.
"How long have they been missing?"
Robert hesitated. "I'm not sure."
The officers waited for him to elaborate.
"I went to work while Nattie took the baby to the doctor," Robert shook his head. "When I got home a few hours ago they weren't here. No one had heard from them," he paused before going on in a slightly accusing tone. "I called you guys but you said they hadn't been gone long enough."
The officers didn't acknowledge his minor outburst. They were used too far worse than that. "When did you find the stroller?" the male officer asked.
"Right before I called you."
"You've called everyone in your family and all of your friends?"
Robert nodded.
"No one's heard from your wife?"
"No," Robert forced the word past his dry lips.
"You're sure it was your daughter's stroller?"
Robert nodded yet again. "It had a teddy bear blanket strapped to it that Nattie's mother made for Jubilee."
"What were they wearing?"
The questions went on and on.
************
"The police officers called in for more officers after they had questioned me for what seemed like hours. Even after more police arrived they stayed with me, asking me the same things over and over."
Elisabeth said nothing. She just let him say what he needed to say. She pushed back all of the nagging questions she had.
"By the time several hours had passed, my house wasn't really my house anymore."
**************
Flashback
**************
His front yard, his entire street, was crowded with vehicles. There were police cars, unmarked cars that belonged to the police, news vans, and regular cars.
Reporters crowded onto the front lawn. The only thing keeping them from the front porch was yellow police tape. They stood impatiently, waiting for news on the latest missing child.
Neighbors loitered along the edges of their own yards, trying to see all that they could. Rumors ran rampant among them.
Police officers and volunteers, some of them neighbors, combed the street and those surrounding it. They were looking for any possible piece of evidence that could lead them to the missing baby girl and her mother.
The closed ice cream shop was being searched by police on the off chance that they would find something important. Its owner had been woken from a deep sleep to come let the cops in. He sat at a booth out of the officers' way, wearily sipping a cup of coffee and wondering what this would do to his business.
The living room of Robert's house was filled to brimming. He still sat on his sofa but now he was clutching a mug of coffee that he couldn't force himself to drink. Several members of Nattie's family were dispersed around the room. They were all glaring at Robert accusingly. Robert's cousin Anthony had arrived and stood at the side of the room eating a sandwich. A police detective sat on a folding chair, he silently observed all of them. Other cops and volunteers came in and out of the house every few minutes, seeking instructions.
An elderly neighbor who adored Nattie and Jubilee had commandeered Robert's kitchen. Even Robert hadn't been able to tell the sweet seventy-something year old no. She had a never-ending pot of coffee made for all those helping out. She also had plates and plates filled with sandwiches, cookies, sliced fruit and vegetables, and other quick finger foods. She kept telling everyone that they needed to keep up their strength if they were going to be any help. She had even taken coffee to the reporters because she was worried that they would get chilled.
In the living room, Anthony walked over to Robert. "You should go change, man," Robert hadn't changed since he got home from the hospital. His trip into the ditch had ripped his shirt and a few pieces of shrubbery still clung to his shoes.
Robert shook his head silently.
"You'll just be in the other room. We'll get you if something comes up," Anthony assured him.
Robert wearily stood up. It wasn't worth arguing. He slowly walked to his bedroom and yanked something out of his dresser. Unable to stand the memories and images that this room evoked, he went to the guestroom to change clothes.
When he returned to the living room the atmosphere had changed. The quiet fear mixed with mild hope had been replaced with a buzzing, charged feeling. People were sitting on the edge of their seats straining to hear the police detective who had stepped into the foyer.
Robert marched past the people in his living room. He stood just inside the foyer waiting for the two policemen in the small room to notice him and tell him what was happening. His impatience got the better of him and he snapped out a demand for information.
The police detective turned to him with shuttered eyes. "We found something," he said vaguely and very quietly.
"What?" Robert demanded.
The detective hesitated for a brief moment, wondering how much to tell the obviously worried young man. His decision made, he spoke. "We found a bag in the dumpster behind the ice cream shop."
"A bag?" Robert repeated as if it were a foreign word.
"A diaper bag," the detective elaborated.
"What did it look like?" Robert demanded loudly enough for the people in the other room to hear him and catch their breath.
"I'm not sure. They are bringing it here. You can see it when it arrives," the detective answered.
Robert moved to stand near the window as if by doing so he could somehow force the bag to arrive sooner. He was careful as he moved a blind out of the way so he could see out. He didn't need or want a member of the press to spot him.
After several minutes of tensely watching out the window, Robert jumped back. He swiveled to face the door just as a young policewoman stepped into the house amid a barrage of questions from the assembled reporters. She carried a large plastic bag that obviously was concealing something.
The police detective silently took the bag from her and walked over to the cherry wood table against the wall. He donned gloves and carefully extracted the contents of the bag.
Robert held his breath. He silently, desperately prayed that the diaper bag inside did not belong to Jubilee. He could not begin to grasp the significance of that one fervent hope. He didn't want to. Didn't want to have to think about what that would mean.
The detective pulled the diaper bag out and laid it onto the table. He heard the nearly imperceptible moan that the doctor emitted. The soft sound was filled with the utmost pain. He recognized the bag.
Robert stared at the soft, cheery yellow diaper bag as he was engulfed in the horror of the situation. Unspeakable images and possibilities were filling his mind. The horrific images had taken over his mind making it impossible for him to think or speak coherently.
The detective fought to remain objective and detached as he watched deep pain engulf the young doctor. As he looked between the doctor and the diaper bag he imagined how he would be feeling if it were his wife and daughter. He violently choked those images off as soon as they formed. He could not afford to think like that right now.
As if in a trance Robert reached out to touch the drying blood on the band of the diaper bag.
The young policewoman grabbed his arm. "Don't!" she snapped loudly enough for several people in the living room to hear her and flinch.
That one word and the tone that accompanied it were enough to yank Robert out of his trance like existence. "It's hers," he said simply and very quietly.
The detective nodded as if he hadn't already known. He could allow the man some dignity. With his still gloved hands, he started to bring one item at a time out of the diaper bag for Robert's identification.
Robert stared at the detective's hands as he pulled the familiar items out. He nodded mutely as each item was shown to him.
Nausea threatened to overwhelm Robert more and more with each item that he saw. Dread was building to a nearly unfathomable depth. He hadn't known that anguish this deep was possible.
Anthony stood in the doorway unnoticed by anyone but the police detective. The detective had silently given him permission to stay. He observed the deep, soul-searing grief in his cousin's eyes, hoping with all his heart that the grief wasn't forced to multiply as events unfolded. He didn't know if Robert could handle any more of that all encompassing pain. But then, who could? It could rip you apart and destroy you in an instant.
**********
Elisabeth could see the evidence of unshed tears in Robert's eyes. That was the only outward sign that he exhibited; his face was still carefully masked against all emotion. She suspected that that was partially because he would not be able to hold anything back if he allowed it out at all.
Her heart and soul were aching for the man. Losing a spouse was awful enough, as she knew all too well. But to lose your spouse like this? And to lose a child. She could not even imagine the pain of losing a child. Especially not like this. This was every parent's worst nightmare and Robert had lived it.
She sat stiffly beside him as a tear slipped beneath her temporarily closed eyelid. She opened her eyes and gazed at him in admiration. How could she not admire him for handling this so well?
Robert continued in a flat voice. "The next day a new detective took over. Dylan. He never allowed anyone to call him anything but Detective Dylan or Dylan. The police were still searching my neighborhood but they had also branched out to the rest of the area," he paused for a moment. "It was all over the news. They had several pictures of the baby and a few of Nattie that they showed over and over. Later, on the evening after they disappeared, my cousin and I went outside to talk to the reporters."
Elisabeth blinked in surprise. Robert had a cousin? He never talked about his family.
"By that time, Nattie's mother and father had already spoken to the press." For the first time, a bit of emotion seeped into his voice. It was bitterness.
************
Flashback
************
"I would recommend that you give a press conference," Robert's parents' lawyer suggested.
Anthony studied his cousin. Robert hadn't slept since the kidnapping. Kidnapping. They had all pretty much accepted that that was what this was. Since Robert had worked the day before, he couldn't have slept in almost two days. He hadn't eaten much either. What he had eaten had pretty much been forced down him by old Mrs. Crissy from across the street. He hadn't showered and was wearing an old faded T-shirt and a pair of jeans with a hole in the knee. They did not need him going out to talk to the press right now.
Robert just sat morosely. He didn't respond to the lawyer's advice.
Both of the other men waited for Robert to respond. They knew that it would take a few minutes; he had been like this for the last several hours. He had withdrawn from them and everyone else. Anthony wondered if he was purposely retreating into the nightmarish images of what could be happening to his wife and little girl. Was he trying to cause himself the same pain that they could be feeling?
Natalie's family had finally left hours earlier after telling Robert that it was his fault. His job meant more to him than Natalie and Jubilee. If he had put them first this wouldn't have happened. Robert had just listened silently. He just didn't have the strength or inclination to argue. All fight had gone out of him.
The police had also retreated from the house. They were still keeping in close contact though.
The reporters, however, were still there, camped out on the lawn. In fact, many of their cohorts had joined them.
Most of the neighbors had long ago gone inside their own houses. Their interest had not diminished though. Nearly all of those who had the phone number had called. Several had 'dropped by' with a casserole because they 'knew that he wouldn't be up to cooking'. Some were still helping the police search. Many others from the community had also joined the search after hearing about it on the news. Mrs. Crissy had gone home for a few hours but was now back.
Robert met the lawyer's eyes. The lawyer was his parents only contribution to this devastating event. They said that they would have come themselves but they were out of the country. Of course, they couldn't come home early. "Fine."
The lawyer gave a brief smile. "Good. I'll prepare a short statement to read and then you can answer a few questions."
"No."
Robert's vehement tone surprised both men. He hadn't inflicted any type of emotion on his words at all that day.
"I'll read the statement," Robert was back to his flat tone of voice. "No questions."
The lawyer nodded in response.
A few hours later Robert, the lawyer Mitch, and Anthony went outside. The reporters had been notified about the press conference about an hour before. When the trio walked out into the yard, microphones had already been set up and cameras were immediately trained on them.
Mitch stepped up to the microphone while Robert and Anthony stood a few feet behind him. "I'm the Ramano family lawyer and will be acting as spokesman for them on this matter. Robert is going to give a brief statement. There will be no questions."
Mitch stepped back and Robert moved into Mitch's old spot. He looked out at the reporters and cameras apprehensively. He was careful to act confident and self-assured yet also like he was upset and cared about Natalie and Jubilee like Mitch had told him. "As you know, my wife Natalie and our one- year-old daughter Jubilee were reported missing by me last night. I want to thank all of the many volunteers who came forward to help after they heard about this on the news last night. Your continued help is very much appreciated. I also would like to thank all of you who have been praying for Natalie and Jubilee along with me."
As Robert turned to go back inside questions were shouted after him.
"Do you believe that your wife and daughter were kidnapped?!"
"Do you have any idea who did this?!"
"Could Natalie have left you?!"
"Are you aware that your in-laws believe that you might have had something to do with their daughter's disappearance?"
Robert was startled by the last question but he fought to keep his reaction from showing. He didn't need his reaction to that cruel lie broadcast all over television.
Inside the house, with the door closed, Robert whirled on Mitch. "They told the press that I am responsible for this? How the hell dare they?"
Mitch calmly sat down before addressing the much younger man. "I didn't know about that or I wouldn't have had you go out there unprepared. I'm going to have to make another statement soon."
Robert slammed his fist down on his coffee table. "What can we do?" he demanded.
"Not much at this point," Mitch stated.
"We can't sue?" Anthony spoke for the first time since coming inside.
"I have to get a copy of the entire statement before I can answer that. But even if we can sue, I wouldn't suggest it," the middle-aged man answered.
"Why not?" Robert demanded angrily.
"The grieving husband and father suing his possibly deceased wife's parents for lying about him while they were upset? The press would have a field day and you would look callous and unfeeling while they would be considered the victims," Mitch explained to the two younger men.
Anthony nodded in understanding. He could see that happening.
Robert gripped the edges of an end table hard. "So we have to just let them say whatever they wish?"
Mitch didn't answer. He could understand how frustrated Robert was. "I am going to arrange for an interview for you. It will help if you come across right. Plus, we have the truth on our side. The police don't consider you a suspect," Mitch assured him.
Robert just stared down at the table, unconvinced.
*************
Author: Catgurl83
Title: Burning Memories
Rating: PG. 13
Feedback: Feedback is very helpful. Thanks to all who have been giving it. My e-mail address is catgurl83@yahoo.com
Author's note: Just so you know, this is an emotional chapter. In fact, it is pretty emotional from here on out.
Thanks to Alex for beta reading this for me.
**********
Elisabeth watched as Robert struggled with his emotions. She could only imagine how difficult it was for him to relate this painful incident from his past. As she waited, questions ran through her brain. There were so many things that she wanted to know.
Robert continued in an emotionless voice. "I only saw the stroller because the car's lights hit it at the right angle. Otherwise, it would have been morning before it was found."
************
Flashback
************
Where the hell could they be? Robert wondered. He had driven this street and a few others close to it several times. He kept hoping that he'd see Nattie step out of a friend's house if he passed by enough times.
Robert looked around in all directions as the car crawled down the street.
He glanced out the window to the right. A ditch ran the length of the street. Shrubs and a willow tree lined the ditch, making it hard to see. Past all of the scraggly overhanging greenery he could make out rocks and boulders of every size.
He squinted. His headlights were reflecting off of something. Whatever it was, it looked metallic. It definitely wasn't a rock.
Robert pulled the car over and stepped out, grabbing a flashlight out of the glove compartment. Some kid had probably left a metal lighter out there when he was hiding from his parents. God, he hoped Jubilee never tried stunts like that.
He carefully climbed down into the ditch. He picked his way toward the object in question, being careful to avoid snakes as he walked.
He stopped in shock when his flashlight hit the object. It was a baby's stroller. He forced himself to go closer, assuring himself the whole time that it wasn't Jubilee's. It couldn't be Jubilee's, his mind screamed. How could it be?
Ice formed in his veins as he gently touched the ragged fabric of his daughter's stroller. His mind screamed at him, trying to deny what he knew to be true.
Slowly, as if in a haze he climbed back out of the ditch and walked to his car. He quickly drove home and exited the vehicle.
With leaden steps he made his way to the phone. With a steady hand he grabbed the phone and dialed the number that no one ever wants to have to use.
In later years, he would never remember the words that he used but whatever they were they got the police on their way. Hell, the next day, the next hour, he wouldn't remember.
But other parts of the night would be forever burned into his memory. They would cause a perpetual feeling of nausea.
***********
Robert could feel the ragged and torn fabric of his daughter's stroller. He could feel the branches grabbing at him, reaching out to stop him, as he climbed out of the ditch.
He could taste the sweat beading on his upper lip as he drove home. The salty taste of those long ago tears stung his lips and tongue.
He could hear the police officers as they stepped into the house through the still open door and found him sitting on the sofa staring at the picture of his daughter on the table next to him.
The officer's disattached voices still rang in his ears.
*************
Flashback
*************
"Dr. Ramano?"
Robert looked up, startled at the intrusion. Two uniformed police officers stood in front of him. One of them held a note pad in his hand.
"We need more information," one of the cops stated as she sat down on a chair across from Robert. She had gentled her voice hoping to get a response from the shocked man before her.
Robert forced himself to nod.
"Your wife and daughter are missing?"
Again, he nodded.
"How long have they been missing?"
Robert hesitated. "I'm not sure."
The officers waited for him to elaborate.
"I went to work while Nattie took the baby to the doctor," Robert shook his head. "When I got home a few hours ago they weren't here. No one had heard from them," he paused before going on in a slightly accusing tone. "I called you guys but you said they hadn't been gone long enough."
The officers didn't acknowledge his minor outburst. They were used too far worse than that. "When did you find the stroller?" the male officer asked.
"Right before I called you."
"You've called everyone in your family and all of your friends?"
Robert nodded.
"No one's heard from your wife?"
"No," Robert forced the word past his dry lips.
"You're sure it was your daughter's stroller?"
Robert nodded yet again. "It had a teddy bear blanket strapped to it that Nattie's mother made for Jubilee."
"What were they wearing?"
The questions went on and on.
************
"The police officers called in for more officers after they had questioned me for what seemed like hours. Even after more police arrived they stayed with me, asking me the same things over and over."
Elisabeth said nothing. She just let him say what he needed to say. She pushed back all of the nagging questions she had.
"By the time several hours had passed, my house wasn't really my house anymore."
**************
Flashback
**************
His front yard, his entire street, was crowded with vehicles. There were police cars, unmarked cars that belonged to the police, news vans, and regular cars.
Reporters crowded onto the front lawn. The only thing keeping them from the front porch was yellow police tape. They stood impatiently, waiting for news on the latest missing child.
Neighbors loitered along the edges of their own yards, trying to see all that they could. Rumors ran rampant among them.
Police officers and volunteers, some of them neighbors, combed the street and those surrounding it. They were looking for any possible piece of evidence that could lead them to the missing baby girl and her mother.
The closed ice cream shop was being searched by police on the off chance that they would find something important. Its owner had been woken from a deep sleep to come let the cops in. He sat at a booth out of the officers' way, wearily sipping a cup of coffee and wondering what this would do to his business.
The living room of Robert's house was filled to brimming. He still sat on his sofa but now he was clutching a mug of coffee that he couldn't force himself to drink. Several members of Nattie's family were dispersed around the room. They were all glaring at Robert accusingly. Robert's cousin Anthony had arrived and stood at the side of the room eating a sandwich. A police detective sat on a folding chair, he silently observed all of them. Other cops and volunteers came in and out of the house every few minutes, seeking instructions.
An elderly neighbor who adored Nattie and Jubilee had commandeered Robert's kitchen. Even Robert hadn't been able to tell the sweet seventy-something year old no. She had a never-ending pot of coffee made for all those helping out. She also had plates and plates filled with sandwiches, cookies, sliced fruit and vegetables, and other quick finger foods. She kept telling everyone that they needed to keep up their strength if they were going to be any help. She had even taken coffee to the reporters because she was worried that they would get chilled.
In the living room, Anthony walked over to Robert. "You should go change, man," Robert hadn't changed since he got home from the hospital. His trip into the ditch had ripped his shirt and a few pieces of shrubbery still clung to his shoes.
Robert shook his head silently.
"You'll just be in the other room. We'll get you if something comes up," Anthony assured him.
Robert wearily stood up. It wasn't worth arguing. He slowly walked to his bedroom and yanked something out of his dresser. Unable to stand the memories and images that this room evoked, he went to the guestroom to change clothes.
When he returned to the living room the atmosphere had changed. The quiet fear mixed with mild hope had been replaced with a buzzing, charged feeling. People were sitting on the edge of their seats straining to hear the police detective who had stepped into the foyer.
Robert marched past the people in his living room. He stood just inside the foyer waiting for the two policemen in the small room to notice him and tell him what was happening. His impatience got the better of him and he snapped out a demand for information.
The police detective turned to him with shuttered eyes. "We found something," he said vaguely and very quietly.
"What?" Robert demanded.
The detective hesitated for a brief moment, wondering how much to tell the obviously worried young man. His decision made, he spoke. "We found a bag in the dumpster behind the ice cream shop."
"A bag?" Robert repeated as if it were a foreign word.
"A diaper bag," the detective elaborated.
"What did it look like?" Robert demanded loudly enough for the people in the other room to hear him and catch their breath.
"I'm not sure. They are bringing it here. You can see it when it arrives," the detective answered.
Robert moved to stand near the window as if by doing so he could somehow force the bag to arrive sooner. He was careful as he moved a blind out of the way so he could see out. He didn't need or want a member of the press to spot him.
After several minutes of tensely watching out the window, Robert jumped back. He swiveled to face the door just as a young policewoman stepped into the house amid a barrage of questions from the assembled reporters. She carried a large plastic bag that obviously was concealing something.
The police detective silently took the bag from her and walked over to the cherry wood table against the wall. He donned gloves and carefully extracted the contents of the bag.
Robert held his breath. He silently, desperately prayed that the diaper bag inside did not belong to Jubilee. He could not begin to grasp the significance of that one fervent hope. He didn't want to. Didn't want to have to think about what that would mean.
The detective pulled the diaper bag out and laid it onto the table. He heard the nearly imperceptible moan that the doctor emitted. The soft sound was filled with the utmost pain. He recognized the bag.
Robert stared at the soft, cheery yellow diaper bag as he was engulfed in the horror of the situation. Unspeakable images and possibilities were filling his mind. The horrific images had taken over his mind making it impossible for him to think or speak coherently.
The detective fought to remain objective and detached as he watched deep pain engulf the young doctor. As he looked between the doctor and the diaper bag he imagined how he would be feeling if it were his wife and daughter. He violently choked those images off as soon as they formed. He could not afford to think like that right now.
As if in a trance Robert reached out to touch the drying blood on the band of the diaper bag.
The young policewoman grabbed his arm. "Don't!" she snapped loudly enough for several people in the living room to hear her and flinch.
That one word and the tone that accompanied it were enough to yank Robert out of his trance like existence. "It's hers," he said simply and very quietly.
The detective nodded as if he hadn't already known. He could allow the man some dignity. With his still gloved hands, he started to bring one item at a time out of the diaper bag for Robert's identification.
Robert stared at the detective's hands as he pulled the familiar items out. He nodded mutely as each item was shown to him.
Nausea threatened to overwhelm Robert more and more with each item that he saw. Dread was building to a nearly unfathomable depth. He hadn't known that anguish this deep was possible.
Anthony stood in the doorway unnoticed by anyone but the police detective. The detective had silently given him permission to stay. He observed the deep, soul-searing grief in his cousin's eyes, hoping with all his heart that the grief wasn't forced to multiply as events unfolded. He didn't know if Robert could handle any more of that all encompassing pain. But then, who could? It could rip you apart and destroy you in an instant.
**********
Elisabeth could see the evidence of unshed tears in Robert's eyes. That was the only outward sign that he exhibited; his face was still carefully masked against all emotion. She suspected that that was partially because he would not be able to hold anything back if he allowed it out at all.
Her heart and soul were aching for the man. Losing a spouse was awful enough, as she knew all too well. But to lose your spouse like this? And to lose a child. She could not even imagine the pain of losing a child. Especially not like this. This was every parent's worst nightmare and Robert had lived it.
She sat stiffly beside him as a tear slipped beneath her temporarily closed eyelid. She opened her eyes and gazed at him in admiration. How could she not admire him for handling this so well?
Robert continued in a flat voice. "The next day a new detective took over. Dylan. He never allowed anyone to call him anything but Detective Dylan or Dylan. The police were still searching my neighborhood but they had also branched out to the rest of the area," he paused for a moment. "It was all over the news. They had several pictures of the baby and a few of Nattie that they showed over and over. Later, on the evening after they disappeared, my cousin and I went outside to talk to the reporters."
Elisabeth blinked in surprise. Robert had a cousin? He never talked about his family.
"By that time, Nattie's mother and father had already spoken to the press." For the first time, a bit of emotion seeped into his voice. It was bitterness.
************
Flashback
************
"I would recommend that you give a press conference," Robert's parents' lawyer suggested.
Anthony studied his cousin. Robert hadn't slept since the kidnapping. Kidnapping. They had all pretty much accepted that that was what this was. Since Robert had worked the day before, he couldn't have slept in almost two days. He hadn't eaten much either. What he had eaten had pretty much been forced down him by old Mrs. Crissy from across the street. He hadn't showered and was wearing an old faded T-shirt and a pair of jeans with a hole in the knee. They did not need him going out to talk to the press right now.
Robert just sat morosely. He didn't respond to the lawyer's advice.
Both of the other men waited for Robert to respond. They knew that it would take a few minutes; he had been like this for the last several hours. He had withdrawn from them and everyone else. Anthony wondered if he was purposely retreating into the nightmarish images of what could be happening to his wife and little girl. Was he trying to cause himself the same pain that they could be feeling?
Natalie's family had finally left hours earlier after telling Robert that it was his fault. His job meant more to him than Natalie and Jubilee. If he had put them first this wouldn't have happened. Robert had just listened silently. He just didn't have the strength or inclination to argue. All fight had gone out of him.
The police had also retreated from the house. They were still keeping in close contact though.
The reporters, however, were still there, camped out on the lawn. In fact, many of their cohorts had joined them.
Most of the neighbors had long ago gone inside their own houses. Their interest had not diminished though. Nearly all of those who had the phone number had called. Several had 'dropped by' with a casserole because they 'knew that he wouldn't be up to cooking'. Some were still helping the police search. Many others from the community had also joined the search after hearing about it on the news. Mrs. Crissy had gone home for a few hours but was now back.
Robert met the lawyer's eyes. The lawyer was his parents only contribution to this devastating event. They said that they would have come themselves but they were out of the country. Of course, they couldn't come home early. "Fine."
The lawyer gave a brief smile. "Good. I'll prepare a short statement to read and then you can answer a few questions."
"No."
Robert's vehement tone surprised both men. He hadn't inflicted any type of emotion on his words at all that day.
"I'll read the statement," Robert was back to his flat tone of voice. "No questions."
The lawyer nodded in response.
A few hours later Robert, the lawyer Mitch, and Anthony went outside. The reporters had been notified about the press conference about an hour before. When the trio walked out into the yard, microphones had already been set up and cameras were immediately trained on them.
Mitch stepped up to the microphone while Robert and Anthony stood a few feet behind him. "I'm the Ramano family lawyer and will be acting as spokesman for them on this matter. Robert is going to give a brief statement. There will be no questions."
Mitch stepped back and Robert moved into Mitch's old spot. He looked out at the reporters and cameras apprehensively. He was careful to act confident and self-assured yet also like he was upset and cared about Natalie and Jubilee like Mitch had told him. "As you know, my wife Natalie and our one- year-old daughter Jubilee were reported missing by me last night. I want to thank all of the many volunteers who came forward to help after they heard about this on the news last night. Your continued help is very much appreciated. I also would like to thank all of you who have been praying for Natalie and Jubilee along with me."
As Robert turned to go back inside questions were shouted after him.
"Do you believe that your wife and daughter were kidnapped?!"
"Do you have any idea who did this?!"
"Could Natalie have left you?!"
"Are you aware that your in-laws believe that you might have had something to do with their daughter's disappearance?"
Robert was startled by the last question but he fought to keep his reaction from showing. He didn't need his reaction to that cruel lie broadcast all over television.
Inside the house, with the door closed, Robert whirled on Mitch. "They told the press that I am responsible for this? How the hell dare they?"
Mitch calmly sat down before addressing the much younger man. "I didn't know about that or I wouldn't have had you go out there unprepared. I'm going to have to make another statement soon."
Robert slammed his fist down on his coffee table. "What can we do?" he demanded.
"Not much at this point," Mitch stated.
"We can't sue?" Anthony spoke for the first time since coming inside.
"I have to get a copy of the entire statement before I can answer that. But even if we can sue, I wouldn't suggest it," the middle-aged man answered.
"Why not?" Robert demanded angrily.
"The grieving husband and father suing his possibly deceased wife's parents for lying about him while they were upset? The press would have a field day and you would look callous and unfeeling while they would be considered the victims," Mitch explained to the two younger men.
Anthony nodded in understanding. He could see that happening.
Robert gripped the edges of an end table hard. "So we have to just let them say whatever they wish?"
Mitch didn't answer. He could understand how frustrated Robert was. "I am going to arrange for an interview for you. It will help if you come across right. Plus, we have the truth on our side. The police don't consider you a suspect," Mitch assured him.
Robert just stared down at the table, unconvinced.
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