Cries in the Night Read Free Page B

summary of the evening’s events. “I’m taking Danny to the police station. We’ll wait for you there.” She gave the woman the address, and after getting her confirmation, Julie hung up.
    “Okay, Danny, we’re going to get to ride in a police car. Have you ever done that before?”
    He shook his head, but there was a spark of excitement in his eyes.
    “First, I’m going to trade you coats,” she told him. She released his parka from his backpack where she had clipped it and handed it to him. He took off her coat, and they exchanged. She welcomed the warmth as she slipped her arms into the sleeves and buttoned it up. Danny had a little trouble with his zipper, so she helped him get it started, then reached into the backpack and pulled out his cap. The first genuine smile of the night spread across his face as he put it on and tugged it into position. She didn’t even need a voiced “thanks” because his expression said it all.
    The police officer unlocked the doors of his cruiser and opened the back door for them. Julie glanced back at her white Kia that was parked down the street. She knew it was city policy that she couldn’t carry civilians in her personal vehicle and she had promised not to leave Danny’s side until his grandmother arrived. That left her no choice but to ride with him in the patrol car to the station. She would worry about getting a ride back to pick it up later. Since Danny’s grandmother lived in Fort Collins, it would take her several hours to get dressed and drive to the station.
    The spotlights that had illuminated the scene switched off as the fire trucks prepared to leave. With only the red and blue emergency lights still flashing, the night seemed darker and the shadows deeper. Julie glanced around. She had the uncomfortable feeling that Carlos was there, out of sight, but watching as she took his son away from him, hopefully forever. She shivered again and silently urged Danny to hurry up. She wanted to be inside the safety of the cruiser.
    As soon as he was inside, she climbed in after him and tried not to notice the telltale smell of urine and vomit that usually clung in the air of the back seats of all the patrol cars. It had been a long day and was turning out to be a long night. But she, like Rusty, loved her job and would rather be here than any place she’d ever been. Only she knew how desperate she was to never go back.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
     
    By the time Danny’s grandmother arrived, it was almost seven a.m. Julie carried the sleeping child to the grandmother’s car and settled him in the backseat. He was so exhausted, he didn’t wake even when she buckled him into the car seat and tucked a blanket around him. She handed the grandmother Danny’s backpack and made sure his cap was zipped safely inside.
    “I’m so sorry it took me so long,” the grandmother said. “The roads are icy, and I didn’t want to slide off into a ditch.”
    “I don’t blame you for taking it slow. We stopped at McDonald’s and Danny ate some chicken nuggets,” Julie told her. “Then he conked out. I’m sure it was a traumatic day for him. Who knows when it all started.”
    His grandmother shook her head. “I’ve told Gloria to leave that worthless piece of shit, but she won’t listen to her mother.”
    “Yeah, well, she didn’t listen to me either.”
    Gloria’s mother’s anger faded as she asked, “Did she lose the baby?”
    Julie shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to anyone from the hospital since they took her away. I’m going to drop by to see her later today.”
    “It’s Denver General, right?”
    “Yes,” Julie confirmed.
    “I’ll swing by there on my way home. Maybe they’ll let me talk to her.”
    “She needs to have a safe place to go,” Julie said gently. “I’m sure Carlos will come looking for her at your place, and you shouldn’t try to confront him. He’s going to be furious. And we both know he likes to hit women.”
    “I