Bridget rubbed her forehead. “I thought it would be. With the resources the state has, I don’t know why I can’t find them. Leticia hasn’t either.”
“There must be a reason. I wish I had better news, Bridget.”
“Thanks for all you did today.” Bridget ended the call and then dialed Todd. Maybe he had information she could use. He’d been gone for a long time, so maybe he’d learned something.
It took a few rings, but then he picked up. “Bridget? Everything okay?”
“No. I have about five minutes to convince the doctor that either the parents don’t exist, there are alternative parents, or he’s making the decision about surgery. He wants me to decide, but I can’t. Please tell me you have good information for me.”
There was a moment of silence before Todd spoke. “I’m not sure what you need, but pretty sure I don’t have it.”
“No.”
“I parked in the garage and will heading up in a minute, in case you lose me when I get in the elevator.” He filled her in on his drive to Wayne, and what he learned there, and his conversation with the busboy who found Eliza. “I have this crazy idea.”
She glanced at her watch, then at the ICU door. The doctor could come find her. That would buy her a little more time in case Todd had learned something he didn’t realize was helpful. “I’m all ears.”
“What if her family went into witness protection?”
“Huh.”
“You think it’s a bad idea?”
She thought through the implications. “No, I think it makes a strange sort of sense. The accident could have been on the newsbefore it was scrubbed. Though that would take some serious power.”
“I don’t know that anyone could do that.” She heard the ding of an elevator, then his voice continued. “I’m stymied to think what else it would be.”
It did make a weird sort of sense, but it also didn’t help right now.
The elevator doors slid open, and Todd stepped out. Behind her, the ICU doors opened. She didn’t want to turn around because she didn’t want to see Dr. Lyons behind her.
“Ms. Ellis, it’s time. I need a decision.”
Todd raised his eyebrows at her, and she mouthed, “What do I do?”
He shrugged. “I don’t have the authority to make this decision.”
“Ms. Ellis?” Dr. Lyons’ voice insisted she turn around and face him. “I’ve waited as long as I can.”
Bridget eased around, met his gaze, and saw his concern. “You’re certain this is the right thing?”
“I don’t see an alternative, or I’d pursue that instead.”
“You’ll take good care of her?”
His smile was confident, but that’s what she wanted in the man who was about to drill into Eliza’s skull. “The best.”
Todd slid an arm around her shoulders, and she sank into his side, not bothering to pretend she had the strength to stand anymore. “Okay.”
“Great. We’ll get her prepped and take her up in the next ten minutes.”
“Thank you.” Bridget started to follow the doctor, then grabbed Todd’s hand. “Come with me?”
“Absolutely.”
Having him go with her as she went back to Eliza’s room and prayed over the girl before the medical team took her away was anew experience. There was something special about sharing the pressure and burden with him. It was nice to share it rather than carry it alone.
She clutched his hand as the techs wheeled Eliza away one more time. “Please tell me we’re going to find who did this to her.”
