44
The cops were interviewing Noel when I was released, so I slipped over to see Ben. I couldn’t believe they were really letting me see him. Of course, I did sort of slink into his room, so maybe no one noticed. Ben had been cleaned up a bit, but until his mom arrived they couldn’t treat him. Apparently it had taken a while to track her down, but she was on her way. I sat with him for a few minutes before he opened his eyes.
His cracking voice squeezed my heart. “Syd, I’m sorry.”
“For what, you goober?”
“He said he was a cop. He had a badge and everything.”
I reached out to stroke his hair gently, mindful of bruises. “It’s okay, hon. Everything’s okay now.”
“Where is he?”
“Don’t worry. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Syd, he beat the s**t out of me. Where is the mother fucker?”
“He’
