“What’s going on, Mack?” I asked as I lowered myself into a kitchen chair.
“He’s being held on the Patriot Act, which means, he cannot contact anyone. Not even me.”
“Oh, my god,” I rasped, tears making their way down my cheeks. “Is he okay? Will they hurt him?”
“I don’t know, honey, but try not to freak out, okay? We have friends in law enforcement. You know they’ll do whatever they can to watch out for him.”
“Where did they take him?”
“He’s being held at a secure facility in Portland. That’s all we know.”
“Mack, you have to find a way for me to speak to him. At the very least, make sure he’s okay. Safe. I don’t want him getting shivved in the shower or something horrible like that.”
“Technically, he’d be shanked with a shiv,” Mack said.
“I swear to all that is holy, are you telling me there’s a possibility he might be shanked?”
“Bad joke. I’m sorry. Pretty sure he can take care of himself, Maisie.”
“Not even he can survive a shank wound.”
I could tell he was holding back laughter as he said, “As soon as I know anything, I’ll call you.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I hung up and Payton slid a cup of coffee in front of me then sat down. “We’re gonna figure this out, honey.”
“God, I hope so,” I whispered, just as my phone rang again. “Hi, Poppet.”
“What’s going on with Sid?”
Poppy had called Hatch ‘Sid’ (Stand-in-Dad) ever since he’d adopted her. Hatch’s love and acceptance of my daughter had helped further soothe the loss of my late husband, Niall. The heartbreak something I thought I’d never survive. Before Hatch and I got married, Poppy had fallen hard for his nephew, which Hatch had kyboshed, but love always found a way, and the two had been married for almost a year now.
“We’re not entirely sure, darling. Just that he’s being held and they’re citing Patriot Act so he can’t ring me,” I said.
“Well, that’s a load of shit,” my daughter hissed.
“I know, love.”
“I’m coming over.”
“Okay, darling. I’ll see you soon.” I hung up again and stared at the wall.
“What does everyone want for breakfast?” Cassidy asked.
“Nothing, love,” I said. “I don’t think I can eat.”
“Which would piss Hatch off,” Payton said.
She was right. It would. I sighed. “Eggs.”
“And bacon,” Cassidy added.
“Sure. I have loads of it, considering I’m married to a bacon hoarder.”
I rose to my feet, but Payton tugged me back down. “It’s Maisie Day, honey. We’re cooking and taking care of the kiddos until all this shit is sorted.”
I sat down again and focused on my friend. “What if he’s stuck, Payton. What if he never comes home?”
