“I’m not following. I have no money,” she insisted.

He rubbed his face, and grunted in what sounded like frustration.

“Have you really not been paying attention? What do you think you do when you’re here?”

“I’m supposed to be recovering, but this place makes me crazy.”

He sighed heavily and sat down again, his intense stare aimed at her. “This is about money. It’s always been about money. You were just dumb enough to drag someone else into this mess.”

“What money?”

Leaning forward, he said, “Listen up because I won’t be repeating myself. Here’s how it’s gonna go. You are going to sign this, which will allow a transfer of two million dollars into an account. When I see it’s there safe and sound, I’ll let you see your husband.”

Thinking of Hazel, she sat up, feeling ashamed of how she looked and ran her hand down her hair to keep it in place. “What two million? How am I going to make two million magically appear?”

“See, this is the story. Pretty little Judith was being molested by her big bad uncle. She tries to commit suicide. When she doesn’t die, life goes on just as if nothing had changed at all. Am I on the right track?”

Rolling her eyes, she says, “Just go on.” This has been talked to death every time she’d come in for an evaluation.

The doctor smiled. “Uncle picks up right where he left off, but after your brother died, you had nothing to lose at that point and told his little girl—your cousin—all about it. Did she believe you?” He sounded bored with the story. “Not only did she believe you, but she blamed you. The family did. Uncle commits suicide. At the reading of the will, Little Judith—tempting, beautiful Judith—hits the mother lode or what we like to call a payday.”

Bringing her knees to her chest, she stared at him, holding a steady expression of disinterest despite the shock she felt inside. She had no idea what he was talking about with the will. Hold it all in, she reminded herself. Give him nothing.

“Yes, Judith, I’ve been doing my homework, have talked to you, to your family, and since we’ve kind of masterminded this whole thing, I want my cut now. As for this unfortunate husband, what’s his name?”

Silence and a hard glare were her only response. The doctor stood and started to walk away, but Judith said, “Is he still here?”

He mocked her with a hardy laugh. “I know his name, where he lives, his age, all about his disease, and who his parents are. What I don’t get is where you fit into his life or why you call him Hazel.”

Her eyes glinted with anger hearing Hazel’s name roll off the doctor’s tongue as if he has a right to even utter it.

“I don’t understand what you want from me? How you expect me to produce two million dollars when I can’t access a single dollar?”

“I’m sure he’s nearby. You’re wasting my time, Judith. For all I’ve done, for my time and my overdue compensation, I want my cut now. So think long and hard about your choices here. Husband or money? I’ll be back in twenty.” The door closed and the light went off, leaving her alone in the pitch-black room. She couldn’t even see her hand in front of her face. They’re trying to make me crazy.

Fight.

Fight.

Fight.

She felt for the mattress and climbed onto it. Lying on her side, she stared in the direction she thought the door was. Struggling to tell if her eyelids were open or closed, she tucked her head down and tried for sleep instead. This was going to be a very long month.

TAYLOR SAT IN the small town police station, waiting for someone to help him. When he was finally called in, he was led to a young deputy’s desk. They shook hands and the deputy asked, “What can I do for you, Mr. Barrett?”

“My wife is being held against her will at Bleekman’s.”

As soon as he mentioned Bleekman’s, the deputy sighed and leaned back in his chair. “There’s nothing we can do about that facility. They have regular inspections and pass code. If you’d like to file a complaint, Lucille can help you do that, but I have to warn you. It’s not a fast route.”

Taylor’s palms were sweating. “I have my lawyers looking into options, but I need to get her out today. They have her strapped down and drugged.”

The deputy picked up his pen and said, “Not to offend you, but if she doesn’t belong there, how did she end up in there?”

“Her parents admitted her.”

His chair squeaked as he leveraged back. “Why would her parents do that?”

“She’s not crazy, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

His impassive face wavered. “Look, when it comes to Bleekman’s it’s complicated.”

“You’re telling me,” Taylor added.

“I can’t just go in there and take people out free Willy. If you truly believe she’s not crazy, you can get a court order and send in an agent.”

Taylor stood up. “How do I do that?”

Eyeing Taylor, he said, “Get those big city lawyers of yours on it.”

As soon as Taylor got in his car, he called Caleb. “I want her out of there right now!”

“I’m working on it, Taylor,” Caleb Monroe said after a heavy sigh. “Nothing in the legal system moves fast. You know this.”

“What I know is what I fucking witnessed, and that’s my wife passed out, looking like she’s on the verge of death while they have her spread out on that fucking torture device. So don’t tell me what I know. Just help me get her out of there.”

“Give me an hour.”

“You’ve got thirty minutes.”

“Don’t go back there without a court order. Do you hear me, Taylor? I understand you’re upset, but don’t make this harder for me to get her out. Get something to eat and save your energy. You’re going to need it.”

“What have you found out about the conservatorship?”

“Her parents have full right and the hospital has some say in what is required for recovery. Look, you should have told me you got married and about her situation. I could have had a head start on this. We’re working against time now. And it’s not looking good.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s sitting in an asylum that her guardian and doctor think is necessary. On top of that, we’re going to have to fight the expert opinion that she wasn’t capable of making the decision to marry you.”

Sucker-punched in the heart. Suddenly terrified that he might lose Jude, Taylor couldn’t breathe. His only air worth inhaling was shackled to a hospital bed. “We love each other.”

“I understand that.” Taylor didn’t like his lawyer’s tone. “But it’s not up to us and this is not about emotions. It’s about what’s best for her. The courts will have to decide that. Listen, I need an hour. Go eat. Take care of yourself. I’ll call you back.”

Taylor started retracing their days after they got married. There was so much he should have done. He should have taken her to his lawyer so she could have filed to gain her rights back. He would have gotten her a phone of her own. He would have never let her go back to that hell again, much less alone. He failed her time and time again. So much he would do differently in hindsight.

He was determined to make things right for her, even though he sat in his car now, gutted by the fact he may have no rights at all, that he may not be able to help her, much less save her. He had great lawyers. This was their time to prove it. Starting the car, he looked down at his phone. He couldn’t just sit here any longer, so he backed out and drove to Bleekman’s to wait on his lawyer to call him back.

Fortunately he didn’t have to wait long. Caleb called, and said, “I’ve got a judge who will make a call for us. Since this will turn into a legal matter, he’ll request she be released into your custody. Be aware. They do not have to comply since her parents still hold legal guardianship over her. The marriage blurs lines in this case. I’m going to file on your behalf for an immediate transfer of guardianship based on not only the marriage license being legal, but on your clean record and upstanding citizenship in the state of New York.”