The Returned

“You said they took you. Who’re they? Did you know these people and where are they now?”

“I don’t know who they are. I never really saw them.”

That didn’t make any sense. How could that be? “In two years you didn’t see them? How is that possible?” My frustration was getting the better of me again.

I was looking to her for answers but if she had none where was I supposed to go from here? How was I supposed to find my…children?

It was already all I could do to just sit here knowing they were out there somewhere. I’d hoped she could give me a lead at least, but here she was telling me that she didn’t know anything.

“Answer me Zandi, how can you not know anything after all this time?”

“Don’t yell at me Cade.” She brought her hands up to cover her ears and I felt like shit.

“I’m not yelling baby, I’m just trying to understand. No one could find any trace of you. It was as if you just disappeared off the face of the earth. I thought that once we found you we might at least have some answers, have a place to start to look for who did this.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know who took me or where I was or even how long I’ve been gone. I’m not lying to you Cade, I wish I knew more…”

“Two years, you’ve been gone for two years.” That seemed to surprise her and she shook her head.

“It can’t be, I…” she looked like she was trying to remember again, but it seemed to be causing her pain.

She seemed so distressed it was hard not to believe her fantastical story, but how could I? How could I accept after all this time that she knew nothing? Was that even possible?

“How did you escape?” I wanted to give her more time, but I couldn’t. Not with my children at stake. I felt like that hole I’d fallen into when she was gone had deepened.

“We’ll ask the questions McClintock.” I turned at the intrusion to see the cops, Anderson and Borelli entering the room. I’d forgotten all about them.

They entered the room their eyes glued to the bed. I checked to make sure she was completely covered by the inadequate gown and the light sheet that was pulled over her legs.

At least one thing hadn’t changed. I still get territorial whenever there was another man in the vicinity.

Zandi turned her head to look at them and I saw the raw fear. Her nails dug into my hand as they got closer. “Mrs. McClintock, Zandi…”

“It’s Mrs. McClintock.” I glared at the sanctimonious son of a bitch just daring him to fuck with me. “It’s okay baby, they’re policemen don’t be afraid.”

I helped her sit up and kept my arm around her as she got over her fear enough to face them. “Can you leave us alone Mr. McClintock?”

“Not going to happen.” He’s out of his fucking mind if he thinks that’s even a remote possibility.

“It’s okay Cade, maybe it’s best if I see them alone.” She said it more like a question but I still heard the hurt in her voice. I’d hurt her feelings with my anger, damn.

I wish I could wipe the smirk off Anderson’s face just once, but all that would get me is a long night down at the station for assaulting a cop.

“I’m not leaving you!” She settled against me again, her anger at me fading as soon as it appeared and I turned my attention back to Anderson.

I could see he wanted to say something smart, but just in the nick of time he seemed to remember who he was and who I am.

Putting aside his petty grudge against me, he couldn’t easily forget that my family had a great standing in our town with lots of good people behind us. I have no problem using everything at my fingertips to take him down.

He’d come close to losing his job the last time we tangled with each other, but I’d accepted that he was just doing his job even though he seemed to suck at it, and let things be.

His partner gauging the atmosphere and maybe remembering how things had gone off the rails last time decided to step in and calm the situation.

“We’re all on the same side here guys. We all want to know what happened to the lady. Now Mrs. McClintock, your husband told us that he came home to find you in the upstairs bedroom hiding in the dark. Is that correct?”

She nodded her head and looked at me. I squeezed her hand to let her know that it was okay, that she was safe. I realized then that I needed to hide my feelings from her so as not to burden her farther.