Travis considered him then straightened. “I have a shift to finish, and I can take care of myself.”
Todd took a napkin and wrote his cell phone on it. “Here’s my number. Call me if you need anything. We’ll get you taken care of.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I try not to do that.” Todd clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks for grabbing me last night. We’re doing our best to help that girl.”
“I’m glad you came by.”
“Me too.”
Doris exited the kitchen and handed him two bags. “The fries are hot. I’ll keep an eye on Travis.”
“I’m serious about him calling if he needs anything.”
“I’ll make sure he knows that.”
“Thanks for the food.”
When Travis got outside, his partner looked a little pale. “What’s wrong?”
“Just got off the phone with Dani. The judge finally released the paperwork.”
CHAPTER 17
“It’s time to decide what to do.” Dr. Lyons’ stare bored through Bridget.
She swallowed back bile as she knew what Leticia would want her to do. Punt the decision long and hard. But the neurosurgeon had made it clear that while Eliza’s bleeding hadn’t spread far, it wasn’t getting better. “You’re sure there’s not another option. Not a medicine or something less invasive than brain surgery?”
“This is relatively routine. Not without risk, but less risky than letting her continue with the pressure.” He crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter. “When she wakes up, she’ll have a bad headache, but we have pain medicine for that. At least she will wake up.”
“And you can’t decide this is in her best interests for medical care why?”
“Because we must show that all other avenues have been exhausted. Can you prove that?”
“It’s been less than twenty-four hours.” She tried to keep her voice steady but felt her panic raising her tone. She fought to bring it back down. “Can I call Detective Westmont and seewhere he is?” She’d also try Sydney and Dani again. Someone had to have something for her.
“I’ll be back in ten minutes. We really are running out of time.”
“I understand.” She pressed her hand against her stomach, hoping she could fight the growing sensation that she would be sick. She dialed Sydney first. “Please pick up.” No reception. She growled and hurried to the waiting room, where she tried again.
“I was about to call you.”
“Thank goodness. Please tell me you have news.”
“The judge just released the paperwork to us.” Sydney paused. “It’s not conclusive.”
“What does that mean?” Bridget sank to the couch and buried her head in her hand, holding the phone with the other.
“Just that. The baby is unnamed—just listed as baby girl—and the adoptive parents aren’t either. The agency is all that’s listed. He only gave her a copy of her consent because it wasn’t going to an intermediary like an agency that could reach out to the other parties to ensure they were willing to be contacted.” Sydney was quiet a minute. “Dani was really upset and had to go pick up Brianna. I think she was headed home.”
“No, no, no.” Bridget needed a win here. “Dani must be the mom so she can decide about the surgery. At least if she is, we can make the argument to the court that she has the best legal position to be placed as the temporary guardian while the court decides who Eliza should be placed with permanently. I have nine minutes to find someone other than me to make this decision.”
“You might have to do it.” Sydney’s voice was soft, full of compassion, but it also brooked no argument. “There’s nothing else we can do tonight to get more from the court. I don’t think we can do anything else without evidence to show that the adoptive parents are gone.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Shouldn’t it be easy?”
