by Ryan P. Ruiz
Officer Harris was walking next to the stretcher. He grabbed the boy’s hand. “You did it, Cody. We got ’em, and Mandy is safe,” said Officer Harris.
Cody carefully smiled and clutched his chest. From the kidnapper’s punch, Cody had suffered three badly bruised ribs. The boy also had multiple lacerations on his face from being thrown against the concrete wall by the man. Cody was brought into a room and moved to a hospital bed by the medics. Officer Harris kept walking with Mandy who was up ahead in another stretcher. Two officers waited at the door of Cody’s room. A nurse and a doctor entered the room.
“Cody, I’m Dr. Panella. What you did was very brave. We need to get you X-rayed, but I believe you have some bruised ribs. You have cuts on your face that need to be fixed and a sore around your mouth. The man that did this to you made you breathe a substance called chloroform. It slightly burned some areas around your mouth. It also made you pass out. You’re very lucky,” the doctor told Cody.
Cody licked his mouth, and there was a sweet flavor still on his lips. He made a face and looked at the doctor.
“We are going to get you taken care of. Just get some rest and try not to move those ribs,” said Dr. Panella. “Let’s get him on a ventilator and hooked up to an IV,” the doctor told the nurse. “Also, we need to get some stitches on that cut above his eye.”
“Can someone please find my mom?” asked Cody.
“Your mom has been notified, and we are told she will be here soon,” the nurse said with a smile.
Even though he would be grounded for the rest of his young-adult life, Cody felt relief and just wanted his mama. He lay his head down and closed his eyes. The nurse started hooking Cody up to an IV and put an oxygen mask over the boy’s mouth. Dr. Panella came back in with some metal devices in his hands and set them on the counter. He carefully examined Cody’s head.
“We are going to stitch this up for you, buddy,” said Dr. Panella.
Dr. Panella had a super-thin needle and some tweezer-like objects on the counter by the wall. The doctor poked a needle above Cody’s eyebrow. It took ten sutures to seal up Cody’s nasty cut above his eye.
“See, no problem. Quick and easy. Completely painless, right?” Dr. Panella said, trying to make light of the situation.
“I guess,” the boy grumbled.
His pants and shoes also had drops of blood all over them. Cody looked like an underdog boxer that had just gone ten rounds with someone twice his size. The nurse cleaned up Cody’s face and put a bandage over the stitches. Cody’s black sweatshirt had dark bloodstains on the sleeves and chest area. Cody shut his eyes.
Within a few minutes, Cody’s mother and sister ran into the room. Both were crying as they went to the side of the bed.
Cody’s eyes opened.
“Mom? I’m sorry,” whispered Cody; it was painful to talk.
“Oh, Cody, I don’t think you will ever know how extremely upset I am with you. What were you two thinking? You and Zach were stupid for what you did.” She paused for a second then continued, “However, you saved a little girl’s life today, and I am proud of you.”
“Mandy is Olive’s age, Mama,” replied Cody as he looked at his sister who was hunched over, giving him a hug.
“I know, Cody. I know,” she said with some understanding.
“I will tell you the whole story when we get home. Have you talked to Zach?” said Cody.
“Mrs. Madden called me. Zach called 911 from a pay phone and then called his mom. She called me after, and I had to find a ride. Mr. Durkbridge brought us to the hospital. I thought you were…” Her words drifted, and she started sniffling.
“Mom, I’m okay. My chest hurts, but I’m okay. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but this is a little bit of a happy ending,” explained Cody.
His mother didn’t say anything else; she just sat next to her son. Cody looked at his sister and mustered a smile. Olive just smiled back and held her brother’s hand. Dr. Panella and the nurse walked back into the room.
“It’s time to get some X-rays on those ribs, Cody. We will get you right back with your family after we are done,” a nurse explained, acknowledging Cody’s mother.
Cody was taken out of the room by the nurse and doctor. Georgiana and Olive stayed in the room.
“Mommy, why did Cody do this?” the little girl asked.
Georgiana sighed and tried to explain to her eight-year-old girl.
“Your brother is a very smart person and thinks about things differently than other people. He and Zach found out about a bad man. Instead of going to adults or the police about the problem, they decided to not tell anyone. Your brother and Zach are very brave for what they did. They saved the girl that was missing. As much as we are upset with him, your brother is a hero,” explained Georgiana to her daughter, trying to be careful with her words.
“Like a Superman? That kind of hero?” Olive asked, raising her tone.
Her mother let out a small laugh and replied, “Yes, Olive, like Superman.”
“Mommy, will Cody be able to come home with us?” asked Olive.
“I don’t know, sweetie. He is a little hurt right now,” her mother told her and continued to tear up.
“But I want him to come home,” the little girl whined.
“I do too, Olive. Try to get some rest, babe, it’s very late. There are two chairs over there. Go put them together, and I will find a blanket for you,” Georgiana said.
“Okay, Mommy,” replied Olive, letting out a big yawn.
Olive put the chairs together and curled up in them the best she could. Before long, she was asleep. Georgiana found a hospital blanket in a closet in the room. She covered her daughter with the blanket and kissed her on the head.
Two nurses came back in with Cody. Cody was in a hospital gown, and his ribs were wrapped in gauze. The boy was wide awake.
The nurses placed Cody’s bed back to where it was and left the room. One of the nurses put a syringe filled with a drug into his IV. Cody heard someone running right outside his room. It was his best friend. The officers outside the door let his friend through. Zach was slightly out of breath when he arrived. Mrs. Madden was still walking down the hall thirty feet behind.
Zach could barely look at Georgiana.
“Mom, could I talk to Zach for a minute alone?” asked Cody.
She nodded, walked out of the room, and met Mrs. Madden in the hallway with a huge hug.
Zach just stared at his friend with concern. Zach’s face was bright red as he continued to stare and not say anything.
“I’m okay, man. We did it. I couldn’t have done it without you. You saved my life and Mandy’s. I’m glad you didn’t come into the house with me,” explained Cody in a soft voice.
His friend finally spoke.
“Dude, I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I just ran and went with my instincts. Something seemed off when I spoke to him. I yelled as loud as I could so you would hear. You were not responding on the walkie-talkie. I have never been more scared in my life than I was tonight,” responded Zach.
“You acted perfectly and did the right thing,” said Cody.
“It killed me to leave you in that house, but I knew you would fight with everything you had. I almost came in. I really did,” said Zach.
“Believe me, I did. I actually cut his arm with my pocketknife. He punched me in the chest, and my ribs are bruised. The things I saw in that house were…” Cody’s voice faded away.
“I hear you, buddy. You don’t have to explain. You found Mandy, and you knew all along that the man was bad,” said Zach.
“I really don’t know what I would have done without you, Zach. You believed me from the start and never once backed out. You are my best friend, and now we saved Mandy,” replied Cody.
Zach grinned
and replied, “You’re telling me! There are news reporters everywhere outside the hospital. There are cameras and crowds of people outside. The police will not let them in the hospital. The television in the waiting room is on, and that’s all the news is talking about. Our names are not mentioned, though, but people know. We are heroes! They have identified Melvin Wermer as the kidnapper of Mandy Coefield. They also may have linked him to abductions in Ohio and other states. This is bigger than we imagined, Code. And it was all because of you.”
Cody smiled and started feeling more relaxed.
“Wow. I don’t really remember being taken here. It all happened so fast. The man put a rag to my face with a weird smell to it, and I was out within seconds,” said Cody.
“Oh man!” Zach exclaimed, trying to keep his voice down, not wanting to wake up Olive.
“Yeah, right,” replied Cody. His voice was low, and he was getting groggy.
“Well, dude, you need rest. I will be in the waiting room for as long as you’re here, buddy.”
“Thank you,” Cody said as he faded off to sleep.
“You’re welcome, pal. Thank you,” said Zach, leaving the room.
A distinct and vivid dream occurred that night. It was Cody and his Papa sitting on a bench in an unfamiliar park. His grandfather spoke.
“Cody, you are the man that I always thought you would grow into. What you did took courage and guts to do. I am proud of you, grandson!” his Papa said in the dream as if he were still alive today.
Cody hugged his grandfather and didn’t let go.
“Papa, you were with me the entire time, weren’t you?” asked Cody.
His grandfather squeezed him tighter.
“All the signs in my dreams—you knew, didn’t you?” the boy continued.
His Papa didn’t say anything. He just hugged his grandson with the greatest amount of love he could.
CHAPTER XVI
The Day After
The following morning, Cody woke up in his hospital bed to a quiet room full of balloons and flowers. It was just him in his room. The badly bruised ribs he had sustained were even more painful than the previous day. His body ached and was sore all over. A nurse entered the room.
“Good morning, Cody! Well, I have some good news for you. If all goes well with the doctor today, you’re going home this afternoon. Also, you have a packed waiting room full of people waiting to see you. There are also some special visitors waiting to see you.”
The nurse left, and two adults walked into the room. The man was taller, had a mustache and thick glasses. The woman had curly brown hair past her shoulders and was holding a bouquet of flowers. They were Mandy Coefield’s parents. The woman set the flowers on the table next to him, and the woman immediately hugged the boy gently.
“Thank you, Cody. Thank you for saving our daughter from that man. Thank you for saving her life. Thank you for allowing us to hold our daughter again,” she said with a scratchy voice.
Mandy’s father just looked at the boy with a concerned look on his face. Mrs. Coefield reached for her husband’s hand. Cody looked at both of them and replied, “You’re welcome. I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through, and I’m sorry I couldn’t find her sooner,” responded Cody softly.
“Well, you found her, and that’s all that matters. Our little girl stayed locked in that basement, thinking no one would ever find her. And you did, and I can’t thank you enough. We don’t have a boy of our own, but if we did, we would want one just like you,” the father said, and a tear dripped down his face.
Cody started to cry too as he hugged them both.
“Thank you. That means a lot to me,” he said with chills running down his arms.
Cody’s mother and sister walked into the room. They saw Cody hugging Mandy’s parents and stayed quiet. Georgiana looked at her son with both of the parents and started to cry. The moment was so surreal.
“I really appreciate you coming to see me. I have a sister that’s your daughter’s age, and she means the world to me,” said Cody, pointing in the direction of his sister.
“Thank you again, Cody,” Mandy’s mother said and walked out of the room. Mandy’s parents walked past Cody’s mother and sister, looked, and managed to smile at them. They exited the room.
Georgiana and Olive walked over to Cody.
“Hey, Code, there is a bunch of people waiting to see and meet you out there. Just be prepared, you are famous now,” his mother told him.
“Yeah, Code, the police are everywhere trying to keep people from talking to us,” said Olive in her cheery voice.
The nurse brought in a tray with breakfast on it. “Here you go. Some cereal, juice, milk, fruit cup, and toast for you. Please hit the red button on the phone if you need anything.” She then left the room.
“Eat up, Cody, you need some energy,” his mother told him.
Cody certainly needed energy as he looked at the tray. Cody picked up a piece of toast and took a bite out of it. He was starving and scarfed down his breakfast. He paused in between sips of his juice.
“Is Zach still here?” he asked.
“Yes, sweetie, Zach is still here. I’ve been talking with his mom. You two are grounded for a while, we’ve decided,” his mother said in a playful but stern tone.
“Kind of figured that, Mom,” said Cody.
“Well, at least, we can have more time to play together,” added Olive.
“Very true,” replied Cody to his sister.
“You need to let your brother get better first, Olive,” their mother said.
“I know,” said Olive.
Dr. Panella entered the room.
“Hi, Cody! I have great news. We are going to get you out of here today! The nurse will have your discharge papers in about an hour. You need to get home and rest. Your ribs need to heal on their own. Try to stay off your feet and not walk too much,” Dr. Panella explained with enthusiasm.
“Okay, Dr. Panella, I will stay off my feet. Thank you for taking care of me,” replied Cody.
“No, Cody. On behalf of everyone here at Sheldon General Hospital, thank you for your bravery in finding Mandy,” said Dr. Panella. The doctor shook Cody’s hand and left the room.
“Mrs. Madden is taking us all home. Her husband flew home last night. Mr. Madden is in the waiting room too. He will take Zach home,” explained his mother.
“Okay, I just want to get home, Mama,” said Cody.
“Very soon, babe, very soon,” Georgiana said.
“Me too,” whined Olive.
“I know, sweetie. We are going soon,” her mother told her.
“Hey, Code, I have to ask you something. When the man in the car asked you if you wanted a ride to school that day, why didn’t you tell me?” his mother asked.
“I wanted to, Mom, I really did. I felt that if I told you or others, no one would believe me. The secretary at school certainly didn’t,” said Cody.
“I am your mother. You can always trust me with anything, Cody. I love you and your sister more than my own life. You must know you can always come to me, Cody, even if you think you can get into serious trouble,” his mother replied.
“The sad thing is, deep down, I already knew that,” said Cody.
“Mom, Papa always told me to protect you and Olive. I felt that a man like Melvin Wermer should not be out there preying on kids. I thought about what if it was Olive that went missing—of how terrible that would be. When Mandy went missing, Zach and I really focused on our investigation,” explained Cody.
“Though it was a very stupid thing to do, I understand, Cody,” replied Georgiana.
An hour went by fairly quickly, and the nurse came in with the discharge papers. His mother signed them while another nurse brought in a wheelchair for the boy.
“Code, I
brought you clean clothes from home to change into. As soon as your IV comes out, get some clean clothes on,” said Georgiana.
“Okay, Mama,” replied Cody.
The nurse disconnected the IV and adjusted some of the machines on the other side of Cody. The nurse helped Cody up and into the bathroom. Cody slowly put on his clothes as the soreness in his ribs made it difficult to breathe and maneuver. It took ten minutes, but he eventually was able to get all his clothes on and rinse off his face. He noticed a cut above his eye in the mirror. The boy wondered when that had happened as everything was very foggy in his memory.
Cody hobbled out of the bathroom, and his mother helped him into the wheelchair. The nurse wheeled him out of the room, and two police officers followed on the side. When they went out the double doors of the hospital wing to the waiting room, there were hundreds of people in the large waiting room, holding more balloons and flowers. The crowd of people, led by Zach and his parents, let out a large cheer as Cody turned the corner. Everyone was standing and clapping. Even nurses and doctors stopped to join in the hospital hallway.
A huge sign someone was holding read “thank you, cody! Love, the people of Sheldon Township.” The boy couldn’t believe his eyes at the amount of people that were there to see him. Zach ran to greet him.
Mr. Durkbridge was standing in front of the crowd clapping.
Cody looked up at his mom next to him.
“Mom, what is our neighbor, Mr. Durkbridge doing here? asked Cody.
“Oh, honey I told you. Mr. Durkbridge brought us to the hospital and hasn’t left since. You and your sister need to be more nicer to him. He is harmless and really is a nice man.” said Georgiana.
“Oh. I forgot you told me. We will Mom, we will.” said Cody.
The nurse stopped wheeling Cody.
He gingerly looked up at his friend next to him and grabbed his hand then threw both arms in the air. The crowd of people erupted as the two friends smiled back at everyone.
CHAPTER XVII
