“If it doesn’t bother you, we’d like to wait,” Zander replies quickly. I can feel his speeding pulse under my hand.
“Not a problem for me. I’ll update you once I have more information.”
After the officer leaves with the nurse, Zander and I sit silently in wait, and I’m sure his thoughts are drifting to his own childhood, same as mine.
We stay in the waiting room for another half hour before Officer Cole returns.
“The boy’s name is Alexander.” My heartbeat escalates, and I grab Zander’s cold hand. “I just ended a call with the headmistress of the group home. He got there eleven months ago after his parents’ death in a car accident. He’s up for adoption, but it seems nine-year-olds aren’t in high demand.” Officer Cole’s lips flatten in annoyance.
I stay tongue-tied, not sure what to say next.
Zander clears his throat twice before speaking in a low voice. “Something must have happened recently for him to run away like that.”
“It seems the boy was rejected twice before a third refusal two days back. The whole incident, not to mention the recent loss of his parents, must have led to the decision.”
“And the home didn’t report the missing kid to the police?” My husband’s voice rises as his fists curl. He so rarely loses his calm, but this situation must be driving him crazy, especially now that we know the boy’s name.
Officer Cole once again seems taken aback by our reaction. I don’t know how he feels about Zander asking him all these questions. But after a beat, he replies. “It seems it’s not unusual for the kids to hide in the compound after such a refusal. They saw him last night, so he’s been missing since morning. My guess is that he escaped last night after dinner.”
My shoulders slump back in light relief. He wasn’t on his own for very long.
“What happens next?” Zander asks, tension dripping from his voice.
“Kid’s fever is down. The doctors gave him an IV, and in about an hour, he should be ready to leave. But as the weather isn’t so good, I’ve asked the headmistress to pick him up tomorrow. So, for tonight, I’ll take him to the station with me.”
“Police station?” My hands tighten around the cuffs of my shirt, and Officer Cole shrugs helplessly. “Can we take him for the night?” The question leaves my mouth before I’ve fully thought it through.
I look at Zander, who is equally surprised.
“You want to take him with you?” Officer Cole does a double take.
“We know it’s an unusual request,” Zander says, and his hand rests over my shoulder as we wait for the officer’s response.
“I don’t know what to say, Mr. Teager.” Officer Cole’s brow creases as he looks at us incredulously. When we continue to stare at him with a hopeful expression, he says, “I understand you’re feeling bad for the kid, Mrs. Teager, but I need to talk to the caseworker at the hospital to see if that’s even possible. I’d also need some sort of ID and your background information.”
Zander takes out his business card and his driver’s license from his wallet.
“You’re the CEO of Elixir?” Officer Cole sounds impressed, and I pray the small smile that pulls on his lips when he returns the cards means he’s in our favor. “I thought you looked familiar. I was reading your interview on improving the local economy with technology.”
“So, do you think there’s any possibility for us to take the boy?” Zander asks.
Officer Cole’s smile wavers, and his lips press together, making my heart race. “Like I said, Mr. Teager, I need to talk to the caseworker and then to the headmistress of the group home. Most importantly, I need to talk to Alex. If anyone thinks for any reason that it might not be healthy for him, I would have to, unfortunately, decline.”
Zander nods. “My lawyer can also draw up a document confirming my character, and maybe I can have something signed from the local judge. We’ll also make sure to give you updates every two hours, or anything else to keep you posted that he’s doing well.”
Officer Cole rubs the back of his neck under his collared uniform shirt before glancing up at my husband. “You understand why I’m surprised by your concern for a stranger, Mr. Teager? Even family doesn’t go to such lengths sometimes.”
Zander looks down at me, and the cautious police officer follows his move. “Rose and I didn’t have a normal childhood. My wife was raised in an orphanage before she was reunited with her parents not too long ago. I lost my parents at a young age myself and was raised by a man who took me and my brothers in.” He speaks in a steady, low-pitched voice. “We understand what the kid is going through.”
The suspicion in Officer Cole’s eyes is replaced with…a hint of awe, if I’m not wrong. “Let me talk to some people and see what we can do.” He ambles toward the exit, and at the last moment, looks over his shoulder. “I really appreciate what you guys are doing here. I just have to follow the process.”
When he leaves, Zander calls his lawyer, Grayson, and explains the situation. I only hear half of what he’s saying as my mind wanders to Alex, who’s alone somewhere in this big hospital.
Once Zander’s call is finished, we wait impatiently in the meeting room. I don’t know why, but this feels like a big moment for us.
“Are we doing the right thing?” I ask softly, afraid of my own words.
He turns around and grabs my hand. “We’re doing the right thing, couch girl. No one understands better than us how it feels to be cold, scared, and alone in the dark night.”