"I will look for Doug," I announced. "You
wait here. You'll be safer."
I started to lower him to the floor where I
hoped he could hide behind the toilet.
I unwrapped my fingers and left him standing
on the tile floor.
"Danny!" Matthew shouted at me. "Don't leave
me here alone!"
I swallowed hard. He looked so pitiful and
frightened. "I don't have any safe way of
taking you with me, baby," I explained in a
soft, reassuring tone.
"Well, look for him as fast as you can,"
Matthew said. "If you don't find him, come
back here. Don't stay gone longer than 15
minutes, all right?"
I assured him that, if I could not quickly
locate Doug, I would return for him. "Just
stay hidden until I get back," I said.
I waited to watch him scurry to the back of
the toilet. Then, I emerged into the party,
which was a huge, swirling mass of humanity.
I was determined to find Doug. That sociopath
wasn't going to do this to Matthew and myself
and get away with it. I would force him to
restore Matthew and then I would finally
order him to stay the hell out of my life.
But, even forcing my way through the crowd
wasn't an easy task. Soon, looking at my
watch, I realized that 15 minutes had passed
and I still hadn't caught sight of Doug.
Realizing Matthew must be very worried, I
turned back reluctantly to the bathroom.
I entered the bathroom, announcing that I
could not find Doug anywhere.
I was surprised to discover...