Chapter 3 - The Broken Home
The word hung in the warm air of the executive office like a block of ice.
Friday.
Today was Monday. A seven-year-old and a five-month-old baby had been left alone in a freezing city for three days.
Elliot felt a dark, dangerous fury blooming in his chest, but he kept his face entirely serene. He knew that if he showed his anger, Maddie would run. She would think she had done something wrong.
"Did she leave you any food, sweetheart?" Elliot asked, his voice a gentle caress.
"There was some bread," Maddie said. "And a little bit of peanut butter. But Rosie can't eat bread. I tried to give her water, but she cried. I knew... I knew I had to get a job. If I have a job, I can buy the cans with the babies on them."
"You did the right thing, Maddie," Elliot said, leaning forward. "You are an incredibly brave sister. Rosie is alive because of you. Do you understand that?"
Maddie finally looked up, her brown eyes shiny with tears. She gave a single, jerky nod.
"But you can't be the only one taking care of her anymore," Elliot continued. "It's too big of a job for a seven-year-old. I want to help you. I want to make sure you have a warm place to stay, and all the food you and Rosie can eat. But to do that, I need to know where you live."
Maddie looked terrified. "Are you going to call the police? The neighbor lady said if the police find out Mom is gone, they'll put us in cages."
"No cages," Elliot promised, his voice ringing with absolute, unbreakable authority. "I own this company, Maddie. I have a lot of power in this city. Nobody is going to put you or Rosie in a cage. I will personally make sure you stay together. But I need you to trust me."
Maddie stared at him. She looked at the silver letters of his name on his desk, then at the warm, sleeping baby in her arms. Slowly, she reached into her wet sneaker and pulled out a damp, folded piece of paper.
"This is our address," she said. "The landlord slipped it under the door. He said we have to leave tomorrow because we owe him money."
Elliot took the paper. The address was a tenement building in the Hill District, one of the poorest and most neglected areas of the city.
He stood up, walking to his desk. He tapped his intercom. "Sarah, get my car and driver to the front entrance. And call Dr. Charles Vance. Tell him I need him at my estate in Sewickley immediately with a pediatric team."
"Yes, Mr. Whitaker," Sarah's voice replied, entirely serious now.
May you like
Elliot walked back to Maddie. He reached down, and this time, Maddie didn't shrink away. She let him gently scoop Rosie into his arms, while he offered his other hand to her.
"Let’s go home, Maddie," Elliot said.
