The Intern(55)

“Is she going to report me?” Madison asked.

“That’s what you’re worried about?”

“Not the only thing. I’m worried about Danny, too. Did you find out where he is?”

The judge heaved a sigh.

“You’re going to be fine.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just keep your head down. Stay away from Nancy and I can keep her from reporting you.”

“And Danny?”

“I believe he’s safe.”

“Where is he?”

“I told you what I know,” she said, but she wouldn’t meet Madison’s eyes, and her expression was guarded.

“You don’t know where he is?”

“They moved him. The database doesn’t say where to, and I was not able to get that information.”

“Are you serious? I could’ve told you that much.”

“I’m sorry my efforts don’t meet with your approval,” Judge Conroy said acidly.

“You think he’s safe, but you’re not sure?”

“He’s safe for now.”

“For now? What does that mean? Is someone trying to hurt him? And how can they refuse to tell you his location? You’re the judge in his case. There’s something you’re not saying.”

Her eyes flashed. “I go to bat for you with Nancy, and this is the thanks I get? You’re right, there are things I’m not telling you. I can’t. I won’t. This topic is closed. Don’t ask me about him again. Now I’m going to bed. Good night.”

It was just seven o’clock, but the judge picked up Lucy and hurried up the stairs. Madison heard her bedroom door slam. The dramatic exit left her shaken. The topic of Danny was now off-limits with the judge, and she hadn’t learned anything new.

She went up to the attic bedroom and called her mother. Mom had been suffering terribly over Danny’s absence, unable to eat or sleep. Madison wished she had more news. She did her best to put an upbeat spin on it, leading with the fact that Danny was safe, just leaving out the part about “for now.”

Her mother gave a half sob, half sigh. “Gracias a Dios. Where is he? Is it close enough to visit?”

“She doesn’t exactly know where he is. They moved him, possibly due to overcrowding or something. That wasn’t clear.”

“She’s the judge in his case. How can she not know where he is?”

“I hear you, Mom. When I tried to press her on that, she got mad. Like I said, judges are sensitive about people trying to influence them.”

“What are we supposed to do? This isn’t okay. I need to talk to him. Can we get a phone call, at least? Did she say when that might happen?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Can you ask again?”

“No. Not for a while anyway. It would be counterproductive.”

“Madison, please. I can’t go on not talking to my baby. Not knowing how to reach him. It’s killing me. Isn’t there more you can do?”

There really wasn’t. There was nobody to ask beyond Judge Conroy, who now said the topic was closed. And if she’d had any hope of looking into Danny’s case herself by searching court records, Nancy had squelched that by cutting off her computer access.

“I’ll think of something, Mom. Get some rest,” she said, and got off the phone.



* * *



The next day, Madison was grabbing a salad from the cold case at the law school café when her phone buzzed. As her mother’s number flashed across the screen, the guilt hit. She had nothing new to report. Sighing, she swiped to answer.

“Hello?”

“Is this Madison?” a woman’s voice asked.

It wasn’t her mother.

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“My name is Regina. I work with your mom at the nursing home.”

She put the salad down. “Is something wrong?”

“Yolanda’s in the ER. She was having chest pains. I came with her. They’re examining her now.”

“Oh my God. Where? Which hospital?”

“Mass General.”

“I’ll be right there.”

She was running, trying to order an Uber on her phone, when she nearly crashed into Ty coming into the café.

“Whoa, slow down there,” he said, steadying her. “Where you running off to? The law review meeting’s not for half an hour.”

“I forgot about that. I can’t make it today. Will you let them know?”

“Not a good idea to miss meetings unless you want to give me a clear shot at president.”

Great, just what she needed—a reminder that she was falling behind. Exams started next week also, and she was having a hard time concentrating on studying.

“I have to go,” she said, trying to push past him.

“Wait, I have a question,” he said, blocking her way. “I heard you haven’t slept at the dorm the past few nights.”

Anger flared. “Oh, are you keeping tabs on me now?”

“You can tell me if you’re seeing someone. I’ve been open about my relationship with Chloe.”

“Yes. You have. Now, get out my way. I have to be somewhere.”