This can’t end now. I’m so close.
“Hi, is something going on?” Sienna asked, sounding concerned. “What happened?”
“There’s no problem, ma’am. We’re just doing our morning sweep.” The officer glanced once more toward the bathroom, then shrugged but didn’t leave “You feel better, little miss.”
“Officer, do you want a cookie?” Sophie asked him, exaggerating a cough. “Can you ask my doctor if I can have a cookie? I really want one.”
“Yes officer, would you like to join us for a cookie?” Sienna asked. “We don’t have any milk though.”
I couldn’t see his face, but it must have been working because I heard him thank Sophie for a cookie and say goodbye. I let out the breath I’d been holding. There was no way I was leaving the safety of the dark bathroom. I could feel my whole body begin to shake.
“Imogen, it’s okay now,” Chloe said from across the room. “The nurse just popped her head in and said he left the floor.”
I gathered myself and walked out into the room.
“Crickey, that was too close.” I sat down in the nearest chair. “I told you he wouldn’t give up. He clearly knows I’m still in the hospital somewhere.”
“I agree with Imogen, that was seriously too close,” Sienna agreed. “Hurry up and change your clothes and I’ll go find a wig in the playroom.”
“No, you have to get the Ariel wig. Imogen will look really pretty with red hair,” Sophie cried out, then turned to Chloe. “She has to get away from a bad man, right mommy?”
“Yes, baby she does, and you were so brave when the officer came in the room.” Chloe hugged her to her side.
Five minutes later Sienna ran back in the room with the Ariel wig. I’d changed my outfit and was stuffing my hair under when Sienna’s cell went off. She gave the thumbs up that our escape had arrived. I ran over to give Chloe and Sophie a big hug. They had saved me, and I wasn’t even sure if I’d ever see them again.
“You are a very brave, smart and special little girl,” I told her with tears running down my face. “You get better, then ask Sienna how to find me.”
The nurse opened the door. “I checked the stairway and no one is in there right now,” she said, waving us out into the hall. “Another nurse that I told about this is going to distract the officer on the next floor so he doesn’t go to the stairs, but we have to hurry.”
“Be safe,” Chloe called out as we ran from the room.
Sienna took the lead as we ran down the stairs. One flight to go and six feet to get through step one. Sienna reached the door two steps ahead of me but froze when she peered out the small window.
“Stay here,” Sienna ordered, then dialed a number on her cell and exited to the outside.
I leaned against the back of the door with my ear, trying to hear what was happening. Sienna was putting on a show for sure. I could hear her faking an outrageous anger for her privacy.
“Daddy, you said no one would see me leaving and some officer is here bothering me,” Sienna cried into her cell. “He can’t see me like this. I want you to fire him.”
I could feel nervous laughter trying to bubble out of me.
If this works, she’ll need an award for her acting.
The officer stammered and stuttered, sounding rather concerned about his job when Sienna started throwing a temper tantrum.
“What is your name officer?” Sienna screeched at him. “Daddy, his name is Fred, I can see his badge. I want you to get him fired right now. You promised no one would see me.”
“Ma’am, it’s okay, I’m leaving right now,” the officer said. “I just stopped by to make sure you were safe. You have a good day.”
Crickey, it worked.
A light tap on the glass, then I heard Sienna tell me to hurry into the car. This was it. I pulled the door open and ran to the car, diving in like a swimming pool. Sienna jumped in behind me and the car sped away.
Oh.
My.
God.