When I got out, I was surprised to see a familiar car waiting for me.

Uncle Myron’s.

He lowered the window. “Get in,” he said.

“Something wrong?”

“You wanted to see your mother, right?”

“Right.”

“Get in.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I circled around and hopped into the front passenger seat. Myron pulled away.

“How did you get permission?”

“You said it was important.”

“It is.”

Myron nodded. “I explained that to Christine.”

Christine Shippee ran the Coddington Rehabilitation Center, where my mother was being treated for her addiction. Christine had told me in no uncertain terms that my mother would not be allowed any visitors, including her only child, for at least another two weeks.

“And she accepted that?” I asked.

“No. She said that you couldn’t come.”

“So how—?”

“Your mother isn’t in jail, Mickey. She’s in rehab. I told her that we were pulling her out of the program if she doesn’t let you see her.”

Whoa, I thought. “What did Christine say to that?”

I saw Myron’s grip on the steering wheel tighten. “She said that we’d have to find your mother a new facility.”

“What?”

“You said it was important.”

“It is.”

“So understand: Christine said that if we broke their protocol—if you saw her—then your mother would get thrown out.”

I sat back.

“Well?” he asked.

“Well, what?”

“What do you want to do, Mickey? Do we go and see your mother right now? Or do we let her stay in the program and get the help she needs?”

I thought about it. He made the right turn and up ahead, not more than another mile, was the Coddington Rehabilitation Center.

“What do you want to do?” Myron asked again.

I turned toward him. “I want to see my mother.”

“Even if that means getting her thrown out of the program?”

I sat back, crossed my arms, and said with more confidence than I really had: “Even if.”

CHAPTER 25

“I don’t understand this,” Christine Shippee said.

“I just need to talk to her. It won’t take long.”

“She’s going through withdrawal. You know what that is?”

“Yes.”

“She’s in tremendous pain. Her body is craving the drug. You have no idea how hard this part is on a person.”