Chapter 9

Fear. That’s all Madison could remember feeling as she sat in an office cluttered with paper. Every surface in the small room seemed to contain paper either in it or on top of it. The desk was covered with photographs, paper, and half a cup of coffee sat in the middle of the desk, on top of the tall pile of papers. The air had a misty edge to it and she figured who ever called this office their work place hadn’t had time to clean it. She fidgeted with a button on her jacket, a nervous habit of hers while she waited. Waited for what, she didn’t know. The door clicked open and a man appeared. He had on a pair of tan slacks and a shirt and tie to match. His hair looked ruffled and he smiled when he saw her. "Hi there, Madison Crawford. We’ve been looking all over for you. I’m Matt Ryder…Private Investigator for the Los Angeles Police Department." He took a seat behind the muddled desk and peered at her over the stacks of paper. "Please, tell me why you were staying with Zachary Hanson." Madison shrugged. Why they wanted to know that was beyond her. Shouldn’t they be asking her why she ran away in the first place? "He didn’t…force you, did he?"

"Who? Zac? Never!" Madison laughed. This was insane. "Zac may be strange, but he definitely isn’t stupid and mean…and…and…" Madison trailed off.

"Okay, okay. We always have to ask that question, just to make sure. Why then, did you run away?"

"I dunno…" Madison shrugged.

"Well, there has to be a reason. Why would you want to runaway? You have a stable life, a nice home…your father…he hasn’t done anything to you, has he?"

"My father…"

"Madison, if something’s going on, you can tell me. We’ll help you, no questions asked."

"Nothing’s…nothing’s wrong."

"Madison, we’re going to conduct an investigation into why you ran away. If something’s wrong, we are going to find out."

"Nothing…"

"You say that. It comes from your mouth, but your eyes tell me differently."

"Sir…nothing, nothing is going on." Madison whispered. She couldn’t tell him. He wouldn’t believe her. No one would believe her. Who would believe her over her father…a successful lawyer, much respected in their town of Eureka?

- - -

Zac moaned and rolled over. It couldn’t possibly be morning…his eyes fluttered open and he looked over at his alarm clock. 4:00 P.M. So, it wasn’t morning…he was right. What was he doing sleeping at this time in the day? More importantly, why was he asleep? He rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. Madison. As if on cue, his chest began to throb in pain and he clutched at it desperately. It hurt so much. His chest felt like it was going to rip out of his body. "Oh God…it hurts…it hurts…" he croaked stumbling out of bed, still clutching to his chest. He flung open his door and slid down to the floor, the pain unbearable. "Oh…what’s happening to me? This isn’t normal…oh...oh God…" he cried, as sharp pain soared through his chest, making it almost impossible to breathe. He leaned his head against the wall; sweat trailing down his forehead in minute rivers. It felt like he was having a heart attack.

"Taylor…Isaac…help me," he groaned as dots began to invade his vision. For a moment he forgot about the pain and he concentrated on counting the miniature dots. But there were too many, and before he knew it, his head rested on his shoulder as his body slowly began to relax as he drifted off to a faraway place.

- - -

Jon Crawford sighed and ran his hands through his brown hair. His daughter, Madison, had been found. He should be happy…he should be glad that she was all right, but all he could feel was anger flowing through his veins. He hadn’t always been like this…when Sadie was alive they were a normal, happy family. They did have their problems, but never like this. He could not figure out what had driven Madison to runaway. He was a respected lawyer, and he provided for her and gave her whatever she needed. Of course, he lost his temper at times, but that happened in every family and they always made up. Madison had seemed happy enough, but the disappearance would prove otherwise. He couldn’t understand it…why was Madison behaving this way? One thing was for certain...he would have to teach her a lesson.

"Hi…Dad." Madison shivered and stood up as her father entered the small office. He looked like he always did. He was dressed in a tie and slacks, and not a strand of hair was out of place. He smiled, and pulled her in for a hug. Madison obeyed and hugged him back, afraid of what would happen when they returned home.

- - -

The car slowly rolled to a stop, gravel crunching beneath the tires. Madison stepped out of the car and swung her bag to her left shoulder. Home sweet home. It was later that night, and the moon shown brightly into the front yard. A plane ride and a half an hour car ride later they had still had not spoken to each other. She followed her father into the house and placed her bag on the sofa. She took a seat beside it and sighed. She knew that she wasn’t going to get away with running away. Not only had he sacrificed his case, and God knew that was number one on his list, she had made a mockery of her respected father…and that was not to be tolerated. She had heard it all before…when she had skipped class in seventh grade on a dare…in sixth grade when she had fallen off of the jungle gym and broken her arm. At least her mother was there to defend her then…now she wasn’t. Her father had disappeared into the kitchen, and she hoped he would stay there and forget all about her. That was all she ever wanted when she ran away…when her mother died.

"Madison, come here please." His voice…asking her to join him in the kitchen. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She slowly walked into the kitchen and saw him by the sink. His back was turned to her but she could tell that he was washing the dishes. Strange. She took a seat at the round kitchen table and placed her head in her hands. She heard footsteps...his footsteps. A hand on her shoulder…his hand. She shivered and pulled away.

"What’s the matter Madison? Are you scared? Are you afraid that I’m going to do this?" his voice was just above a whisper. His hand tightened around her neck until she cried. "Does that hurt Madison? Tell me, does that hurt?" he growled as he lifted her from her seat by her neck.

"Yes Daddy…please stop…"

"Sorry Madison. That’s not possible. See…when you disobey me, there are consequences…and this…this right here…" he paused and kneed her in the back. "…Is the consequence…" Madison groaned as her knees buckled. "Why…this is nothing compared to what I plan to do to you…you made me look like a fool, Madison. Do you know what they are going to do? They are going to investigate this…this stupidity of yours. You may have cost me the one love in my life…my job." Madison closed her eyes. Her father was beyond upset…he was insane. He shoved her up against the counter and grabbed the front of her neck. "Don’t you ever…ever do this to me again. You hear?" his eyes were wide and they seemed distant.

"Okay…" she whispered, closing her eyes.

"LOOK AT ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!" He screamed as he began punching her in the stomach. Madison inhaled a shaky breath and tried to stay as still as possible. Maybe he would just go away…maybe the world would just go away. A sudden smack to her face brought instant pain and tears. "I told you to look at me when I speak to you." He whispered as he yanked her by her hair into the living room.

"Daddy…please stop…" she whispered.

"Why? So you can disobey me again? I don’t think so…." He punched her again and she stumbled backwards. Now was her chance. She was out of his grasp…she could make a run for it. She took off at a run weaving in and out of furniture and towards her room. Her door had a lock…if she could just reach her room…she was halfway up the stairs when a hand encircled her foot and sent her tumbling down the stairs.

"Daddy…please…" she pleaded covering her face with her hands as he began punching her…that’s when she noticed he had something in his hand…a frying pan. She gasped and began murmuring apologies for disobeying him.

"You will never disobey me again, I’m going to make sure of that…" he growled as he lifted the frying pan above his head.

- - -

Mary Coelson took a seat on her sofa and switched on the television. It was a cool Oklahoma night and she wrapped herself in a blanket. The news had just started so she leaned back and prepared to hear what had been going on the past few weeks while she was gone in Florida on vacation. "Fifteen year old Madison Crawford from Eureka, California was turned in yesterday and returned to her father. Madison had run away from her home in Northern California to Los Angeles a few weeks ago. Upon returning to her home with her father, she was taken to the hospital. She allegedly fell down the stairs. Although handprints were found around her neck area and this incident along with the running away of Madison is being investigated. More on this story later tonight at eleven." Mary inhaled a shaky breathe before closing her eyes. Madison…the daughter of her sister, Sadie. What was going on? She had always known that Jon was odd, but this…this was insane. She was sure that he had sent Madison to the hospital. Handprints on her neck? Shock was quickly replaced by anger as she stood up; determined to rescue Madison from what she was sure was hell.

- - -

"Zac…hey buddy. How ya feeling?"

"Ike?"

"Yeah, that’s me." He smiled and brushed a stray hair out of his brother’s face.

"What happened?"

"Man, Zac. You are under way too much stress. You passed out in the hallway. We heard you calling for us but before Tay and I got there you were already out. We called the doctor and he came and told us that it was caused by stress. Your chest was hurting because you were having a muscle spasm in your chest. You gotta relax."

"Wow, Ike…come up for air…"

"Sorry."

"That’s okay…God, Ike…I was so scared."

"I know."

"I thought I was having a heart attack or something…and you know what the funny thing is?"

"What’s that Zac?"

"All I could think about was…Madison." Zac smiled sadly and shook his head.

"I’m sorry."

"Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?"

"I don’t know Zac…I just don’t know."

Chapter Ten
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