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Chapter 33 - Tying Loose Ends

A week later Taylor was released from the hospital. He had many offers thrown his way to do interviews on big networks, but he turned them all down for the time being. He just needed to get home and feel normal for the first time in a long time.

Officer Conrad stayed close to the family. He was always there incase they needed him for anything. He had brought Taylor back his notebook from the house. Taylor was very excited to get it back in his hands.

"I didn't read it." He told Taylor.

"I wouldn't mind if you did. These songs are going to be on a Hanson album some day if we ever decide to release the most depressing album ever." He laughed.

Back at the hotel, the Hansons were preparing to leave for their flight home. Taylor had just remembered that there was something he had to do before he left.

"Mom, what time did you say the flight leaves?" Taylor asked as he helped her pack her things.

"8:15 tonight."

"Is Officer Conrad still here?"

"Yes, he's in the other room."

"I need to talk to him about something. Can I help you with this later?" Taylor asked as he folded up a shirt.

"Of course Sweety." She said. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. "Thanks for helping me out here."

"Anytime."

Taylor walked out of the room. He saw Officer Conrad sitting in a chair, writing something down in the living room part of their Suite.

"Officer Conrad?" He looked up.

"Yes, Taylor?"

"You know Andrew..."

"Yes."

"Do you have his address?" Officer Conrad looked at Taylor confused.

"Yes. I know where he lived. Why?"

"I kind of told him I'd do something. Is there any way you could take me there?"

"I don't know, Taylor." He stood up, "I think you'll have to ask your parents."

"What does he need to ask me?" Walker asked, walking into the room.

"Dad, I have to go to Andrew's house. I promised him I'd tell his wife something."

"Taylor...I don't know."

"Dad. Please. It means so much." Taylor begged. Just then Isaac and Zac walked into the room.

"You really want to do this?" Walker asked seriously.

"What does he want to do?" Zac asked looking at them confused since he had just walked in in the middle of the conversation.

"I want to go see Andrew's wife." Taylor told him.

"Can I come?" Zac asked excitedly.

"I don't care." Taylor replied and then he looked back up at his father, "Dad, please?" Walker crossed his arms and looked at his son. He could tell that this meant a lot to him.

"Fine you can go." Walker said.

"Yes! Thank you so much Dad." Taylor said. He walked over to him and gave him a hug.

"But I'm coming with you in the car."

"Fine!" Taylor replied.

"Well I'm going too if everyone else is going!" Isaac said. Everyone turned and looked at Officer Conrad.

"What am I? A car pool service?" He laughed. "Alright everyone. Let's go to my car."

* * *

The police car pulled up across the street from a very nice looking house. It was small, but the perfect size for just two people. It looked so...normal.

"That's his house?" Taylor asked. He sat in the back seat with Isaac and Zac. Walker sat up front with Officer Conrad.

"That's it." Officer Conrad replied.

"Do you think she's going to blame me?" Taylor asked.

"Well Taylor, I don't know how she's going to act when she sees you. She just lost her husband and found out he was involved in your kidnapping. She's probably not in the best of moods right now." Officer Conrad told him. Taylor turned his head to look at his brothers.

"It'll be alright, Tay." Isaac reassured him. Walker turned his head and leaned over the seat a little.

"Want me to come in with you?" He asked.

"No.."

"Want me to?" Isaac asked.

"Or me?" Zac asked. Taylor laughed.

"No, no. Thanks, but...I have to do this by myself." Taylor said as he took off his seatbelt. He went to open his door to get out.

"Tay..." Taylor stopped and looked at his father. "You don't have to do this."

"Yes I do." He stepped out of the car. "I owe him this much."

"Ok, but we're right here if you need us." Walker told him. Taylor nodded his head and closed the car door. He crossed the street and walked down the sidewalk to the front door of the house. He looked back at the car before he knocked for reasurrance. Then he turned around and took a deep breath. He brought his right hand up and knocked on the door.

Nothing.

He stood there. Not sure of what to do. He knocked again.

Nothing.

After about a minute of this he turned around and looked at the car. Everyone was watching him. He shrugged his shoulders and decided that maybe she just wasn't home. Sadly, he turned around to walk back to the car. He got about 5 feet away when he heard the door open. He quickly turned around to see a nice looking, slender woman standing there, holding the door open.

"Can I help you?" She asked. Taylor took a few steps toward her.

"Hi..uh...I'm Taylor Han..."

"I know who you are, Taylor." She interrupted. Taylor closed his mouth and stood there for a few seconds, unsure of what to say.

"Can I come in?" He asked. She hesitated to let him in, but she nodded and pushed the door open further. Taylor looked back at the car and waved to let them know it was ok, then he followed her into the house.

The house was very nice on the inside. He saw pictures of Andrew and his wife all over the place. It was very clean. Taylor pulled to door shut behind and him and followed her into in the living room. She sat down on a recliner chair and said nothing. Taylor looked around the room, wondering if he should sit. He decided to take a seat on the couch across from her. Since she wasn't saying anything he decided he should just start talking. He had said over and over in his head what he was going to say to her.

"I don't know what the police told you about what Andrew did for me." He said nervously, hating the look in her eyes. "I know this won't bring him back and it won't make up for him lying to you or make up for him even being involved with Ron, but I needed you to know this," he took a breath, "Your husband is the reason I'm alive. He was the only one there who treated me with any kind of respect. I could tell he hated being there, but he was too afraid to go against Ron. He helped me in more ways than one. He bought me a new notebook when Ron destroyed mine, he stitched up my hand when I...uh...had an accident. Most importantly he mailed my letter and that's why I'm here today. I appreciate everything he did for me. He's the reason I'm alive. He was a good man. I don't know why he even got involved in the first place. But...after Ron shot him he told me to tell you he was sorry." Taylor finished. He looked at her, waiting for her to say something. She sat there expressionless. He began to feel very uncomfortable and decided it was time to leave. "I..uh..I guess I can tell by your silence that I shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything." Taylor said. He stood up and began to walk out of the living room.

"We lost our jobs."

Taylor spun around hearing her talk. He could tell by th expression that was now on her face that she was ready to talk to him. He walked over and sat back down on the couch.

"I'm listening." He told her.

"We both worked at a hospital. The hospital was shut down. We were sent packing. As time went on, with both of us unemployed, we couldn't pay the bills anymore. They were threatening to take away our home. We were going to be out on the streets. Then Andrew told me he got a new job at a new hospital. He said not to worry about money now because we would have plenty of it. I thought it was odd, but I trusted him. I didn't question him...and he was right. The money did start to come in. We were able to pay off all our bills and keep the house." She looked at Taylor sadly, "That's why he did it. I would have never thought he would sink so low that he thought being involved with a kidnapping was his only way out." She shook her head, "I'm sorry Taylor. I'm sorry for all that happened to you."

"You don't have to be sorry. Your husband saved my life. He's a hero." She wiped her eyes of her tears.

"The police told me he saved you, but they still made him seem like he was a piece of garbage for even being involved." She said. Taylor stood up.

"No. He was kind and caring and he saved me. He wasn't like the rest of them." Taylor walked over to her, "He loved you. I could tell."

"He told you about me?"

"Yes and by the way he talked about you I could just tell that he loved you so much." He said. He was starting to get all emotional himself. He hated seeing her like this. He felt umcomfortable. He glanced at his watch. "Listen, I have to go. My family and I have a plane to catch."

"Are you going home?" She asked him. Taylor smiled.

"Yes."

"Good for you." She said with a smile on her face.

"Yes. Yes it is good for me." He said. He turned to walk out.

"Taylor?" He turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Did he...did he suffer at all when he died?" She asked. Taylor thought for a few seconds. He didn't want to tell her the truth.

"No." He lied. "He went quickly." She nodded her head.

"Thank you for coming, Taylor. Have a safe flight home."

"You're welcome. I will."

He walked out of the house feeling extremely emotional. He wiped his tears as he walked back to the car. He got in and sat next to Isaac and shut the door. Everyone looked at him waiting for him to say something.

"How did it go?" Walker asked, leaning over the seat.

"It went well...all things considered." He replied, still trying to fight his tears. "I love you all so much." He said.

"We love you too, Tay." Walker replied. Taylor leaned his head on Isaac's shoulder. Isaac put his arm around him. He put his other arm around Zac and held them close. Taylor closed his eyes, letting the tears fall out.

"Let's go home." Taylor said.

Officer Conrad started up the car and to take them back to the hotel. After meeting Andrew's wife he realized that he couldn't even imagine what she was going through. Even though he had been put through the worst situation of his life, he still had his family. He hadn't lost anyone like she had. She had no one. For the first time in what seemed like forever he felt lucky.

He watched the scenes outside the window as the drove on. Soon he would be on a plane with his family back to Tulsa. He could leave everything behind him and start over with his family, the only people he could trust and count on, by his side.

> The End <