“How are you feeling today, Daniel?” Karen walked into the hospital room.
“I just want to get out of here.” Daniel was still very pale and sad. He couldn’t remember how long he had been in the hospital and still had no memory of exactly what had happened. How his son had died and who did it. Joe had come by several times and asked questions, but he just could not remember. He had been told that Clare, his mother-in-law, had been arrested along with his wife. It just didn’t seem real.
“The doctor told me you’re going home today.”
“Yeah.” Daniel sat in a wheelchair, facing the window. The trees were beautiful, dozens of colors. The grass was still green. The outside looked so beautiful. But he wished he couldn’t see it. He wanted to be dead like his boy. Tears started running down his face. Why did they have to save him and why could they not save his son? He hoped Clare and Amanda rotted in hell for this.
The door to his room opened again. Daniel wheeled around. It was Joe, Samantha’s ex. Daniel had no love loss for him either, but for now he had to tolerate him. At least until Clare and Amanda were convicted.
“Daniel, the doc tells me you can go home. Are you planning to go to your mom’s or the cabin?” Joe was never subtle. “Or maybe your house?”
“Of course he’s not going back there.” Karen threw her coat on the bed. “Joe, do you always have to be so heartless? I don’t know what Samantha ever saw in you. We’ve just lost our nephew and almost our brother and here you are, asking questions like that.”
Daniel turned towards Joe. “I thought the FBI took over this case. I believe Samantha is the Deputy Director and has made that call.”
“Just thought I would help. You know, make sure the right people are in jail and stay there.” Joe put his hands on his hips.
“Help?” Daniel’s jaw stiffened. “That’s not why you’re here. Surely you don’t think I shot my son and then myself. Or there was someone else there? Or are you just wanting to push Sam’s buttons again? Samantha and her team are handling this. Now, if you will excuse us.” Daniel asked Karen for his coat and motioned for Karen to wheel him out.
They wheeled down the hall. Daniel was silent. He had hoped he would never leave here without his son. Unbidden tears filled his eyes, blurring his vision. The closer they got to the door, the worse it was for him. Karen patted his shoulder, but it didn’t help.
Joe followed close behind. The three reached the entrance to the hospital. “There’s just one more thing I need to tell you, Daniel. Amanda is gone. You wouldn’t know where she would go?”
“Why would I care?” Daniel continued to walk out of the hospital. The car was waiting outside. Daniel took a deep breath.
No one was talking. There was nothing to say. They both got inside and pulled away from the hospital.
Daniel looked over at Karen as they left the parking lot. “I want to see my boy. I want to see Adam.”
Karen looked over at Daniel with tears in her eyes. Without saying a word, she turned the car towards the funeral home. She didn’t think she could go in and look at that tiny body again. She wanted to remember him playing in the yard and laughing. They did not speak for the rest of the trip. They only cried and held each other’s hand.