My Baby’s Gone, Chapter 28
Julian and Eve opened the door to the cabin. They found Sheridan, in the
middle of the floor, doing pushups.
“ Ninety-nine…one hundred.” Sheridan finished and looked up. “ Julian,
Eve.”
“ Sheridan.”, Julian replied. “ Where’s Ming?”
“ Right here.”, Ming replied, coming out of the kitchen with a spoon in
her hand. “ This is a lot better. You’ve got the spice combination right finally.”
Sheridan smiled. “ I told you I would.”
“ Sheridan, you cooked?”, Julian asked.
“ Yes, Julian. I didn’t trust anyone to give me food that wasn’t full of
drugs. So, I decided to cook for myself. Do you want some?”
“ Sure.”, Eve replied for the both of them. They all sat down for a meal.
“ So, Sheridan, no more episodes?”, Eve asked.
“ If you’re asking if I’m getting violent anymore, the answer is no.” Eve
looked at Ming, who nodded her head in agreement.
“ See, I told you I wasn’t.”, Sheridan said.
“ I’m glad. I’ll have to draw another vial of blood so that I can get it
to the lab.”
“ When am I going to be able to leave here? Not that the company hasn’t
been great, but..”
“ Sheridan, all in due time. This has to be planned and executed down to
the wire.”
“ Father has no idea that you have helped me.”
“ From what I can see, no. I take extra precautions to get up here, but
just in case, I won’t be back for another week.”
“ A WEEK?!”
“ Yes, Sheridan, a week. You can hone your culinary skills some more, and
do some more toning. From the shape of your arms, you seem to be working
out a lot.”
“ Ming knows Pilates, and is a qualified personal trainer.”
“ Good. Then, the two of you can work out some more. Patience is a virtue,
Sheridan. One that you must have. In a week’s time, I’ll return. Eve brought
you plenty of books and magazines. You can occupy yourself.”
“ What else do you have planned for me?”
“ Well, I’ve hired a good lawyer for you.”
“ Can he be trusted?”
“ SHE can be trusted a great deal. She’s on your side completely.”
“ Father can’t get to her.”
“ There’s nothing Father could say that would make her not represent you
to the best of her brilliance. But, the law can be slow going in certain
cases. And, in your case, considering what we’re up against, you have to
be willing to let them plan everything for a precise strike. Anything less
than that, Sheridan, and it will fall apart. Nothing less than your freedom
is at stake.”
Sheridan rolled her eyes. “ Julian, you do NOT have to tell me that. I’M
the one who has been locked up and doped up for months.”
“ I know that.”, Julian replied quietly. “ Which is why I’m not taking
any chances on you. I’m not. I’m going to come through for you, Sheridan.
I promise.” Julian took Sheridan’s hand and kissed it.
“ Julian, I know you’re going to help me. I was wondering, what about my
baby?”
Julian looked at Eve. Eve looked at Julian. Neither one knew what to say.
Sheridan noticed it.
“ What? What’s going on between the two of you?”
“ Sheridan..”
“ Julian, don’t lie to me. I can’t take anymore lies. For this to work.
For me to trust you, you have to trust me. And, that means giving me the truth.”
Julian looked at Eve who nodded slightly.
“ Ok. Eve and I have found your son.”
“ My son? You’re sure I had a son? I told you, I didn’t get to check out
the sex.”
“ Yes, Sheridan, you have a son. “
“ So, where is he? Can you bring him to me?”
“ Sheridan, that’s a matter we have to take care of in due time.”
“ In due time? What do you mean about ‘ in due time?’ Where is my son?”
“ He’s with his kidnapper – Beth Wallace.”
Sheridan put down her fork. “ You’re kidding, right? I mean, I thought
that was the drugs. I thought was sort of out of my mind. I didn’t know
if that was real. You’re telling me that I was right – that Marty is MY
SON?”
“ Yes.”
“ Then that means..”
“ That Beth is the one who kidnapped you. That she’s the one who held you
captive in her basement.”
“ You…you can prove this?”
“ Sheridan, I ran the DNA test myself. There are three of them, and they
all say the same thing: Baby Marty is YOUR son. “
“ Well, if that’s true, then we need to go get him! NOW!”
Sheridan tried to get up, and Julian stopped her.
“ Sheridan, no.”
“ What the hell do you mean NO. That crazy BITCH kidnapped me; held me
hostage; stole my child; and then tried to KILL ME by throwing me in the
ocean. Tell me one reason WHY I shouldn’t leave now, kill her and get my
child back?”
“ Because, if you kill her, you’re going to jail. Second, think about it.
Beth Wallace is a nothing. A nobody. Please explain to me how she’d be able
to do this all on her own.”
Sheridan looked at Julian with a stumped expression on her face.
“ I thought so. Sheridan, she couldn’t do it by herself, and that cripple
of a mother of hers isn’t a good enough accomplice. “
“ Then, who?”
“ Come on Sheridan.”
“ Father.”, Sheridan replied quietly. “ You think Father helped Beth.”
“ Yes, I do. I can’t prove it, but he’s the only one I can think of with
enough pull to accomplish this.”
“ My father REALLY hates me that much?”
“ Sheridan, he hates both of us. Remember, yours isn’t the first child
he’s taken.” Julian looked over at Eve, who had tears in her eyes. Sheridan
looked over to Eve.
“ Oh Eve.”
“ Sheridan, it’s ok. But, facts are facts. Alistair took my son away. Now,
he THINKS he’s taken yours. But, he hasn’t, Sweetheart. We know exactly
where Marty is. But, now, Marty needs for his Mommy to be smart. Smarter
than she’s ever been. I know everything in you is screaming ‘Go get my baby’,
but you can’t. Not just yet. You’ve got to give Julian the time to arrange
everything. So, when you hold your son again, you’ll know he’s not going
anywhere. So, will you trust Julian? Will you do as he asks? For yourself?
For your son?”
Sheridan sighed deeply. “ Ok, Julian. I’ll not do a thing. But, my patience
won’t last forever.”
“ It won’t have to, Sister Dear. I promise. I’ll get you your freedom and
your son.”
Sheridan knew that Julian had just given her his blood oath.