Chapter 72
“Dal you think
my change un expression
1 guskis pulled myself together, pretending to stay calm, and shook my head. “No, Auden just got back to the country. Lean think of anyone wh would have a problem wich for here”
Í DOMIKÁNÍ TAK, AIVINE amvshing that might jeopardier Aiden’s future. Talking about the popped children now would complicate everything.
mind told me to keep quiet for
Once the police finished taking notes, they told so they would follow the usual procedure with the investigation
chack to them place after that. Once they were inside, I didnt start the car right away, lestrar, I pulled out my phone and
A bewe mmmmutes later. I found it. Trook a deep breath and dialed. The phone rang once, then someone picked up
ties” 1 said kaping my vobec
“Ms. Hinton, didn’t expect you to call me so soon, she said with a dry laugh.
ould feel my heart race. “So, you really did take Auden, didn’t you?!
“You’re quick”
replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Guess that’s what happens when you’re from the Smith family, smart as a whipt
She knew exactly who I was. Frustrated, I asked, “I already gave you hush money. What else do you want?”
“True” she said, sounding a little too calm. “I took your hush money and won’t mention your son again. But Aiden pissed off my man. He’s got a short tuse. I’m not sure he’ll just let Aiden go”
“Your man“” I was totally confused now, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth.
She laughed again bike she was enjoying the game. “No need for the details. You called me so I’m guessing you want to save him, right? I can talk to my man for 3 million dollar”
amount. Did she really think my thoney grew on trees?
She was asking for an outrageous amount
I stayed quiet, not wanting to say the wrong thing. I had been down this road before, and I wasn’t about to fall f her too far, she had Aiden
for it again. But I also couldn’t push
The woman’s tone shifted, almost mocking. “Funny thing is, he got into this mess because of you. What a fool, right! So devoted. Anyway, think it over. Just transfer the money if you’re in.”
She hung up before I could even respond. I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat and let out a shaky breath. My thoughts were a mess, swirling with worry.
Leaning back in my seat. I closed my eyes for a moment. Panicking wouldn’t help. I couldn’t go to the police yet, and there was no way I was transferring the money.
My only option was to figure out who this woman was and where she was hiding. Then, I would find a way to get Aiden back.
Once I had a plan, I drove straight to the sanatorium to find Rose. She had met this woman before, and if anyone could remember sqnething useful, it would be her.
the woman
I got straight to the point and told Rose that
an had kidnapped Aiden. “Rose, do you remember her name or what she looked like?” asked
Hove froze, her face draining of color. She looked shaken, probably as worried about Aiden as I was. After a moment, she stammered. “I–I don’t know her name. She seemed so… harmless. Young, kind of frail. I never though she’d pull something like this.”
She paused, wracking her brain. “Her skin was really pale. She was short, maybe 12“, and her eyes were round. Oh, wait, she had a mole at the corner of our ryc
That last p
part hit me like a
catruck.
I had a mole near her eye, too.
At Ben’s birthday party, Ed noticed a woman snapping pictures of me from across the room. She’d
I had assumed she was some nosy reporter at the time, so I didn’t think much of it. Now, though, it seemed anything but innocent.
Then I remembered the pushy photographer who had dragged me off for pictures at the party. Were they working together!
Chapter 72
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. Later, I’d checked the magazines for any photos from that night, but nothing ever turned up.
“Rose, come with me!” I rushed Rose to the hotel, found the manager, and made up a quick story to get access to the surveillance footage from the party.
We watched the video, and Rose immediately pointed at the screen. “That’s her “The woman n who was taking pictures of you!”
I hit pause and zoomed in, capturing the clearest image of her face.
Then. Rose made a call to have someone look into the woman’s background, and then we headed back to the sanatorium to wait for any updates.
Later that evening, Rose’s contact emailed us back.
Her name’s Gemma Hernandez. She’s 19, dropped out of junior high, and has been in and out of trouble ever since. Mostly petty theft, but she never served more than a few days in detention. Her address is 25 Chestnut Hollow in the old city.”
So. Gemma was clearly trouble, and the “man” she mentioned was probably some lowlife.
We didn’t waste time. If Aiden was with her, we needed to act fast. For safety, Rose brought two security guards from the nursing home.
The old city was rough–lots of run–down buildings and tight alleys that were barely passable. We parked at the entrance to Chestnut Hollow and walked the rest of the way.
By the time we got to number 28, the streetlights were dim, and the place felt eerie. Rose signaled for one of the guards to knock
He gave the door a couple of soft taps, then stepped back. It creaked open by itself. The door is not locked,” the guard said, glancing over his shoulder.
The room was completely dark, not a single light on, making it impossible to see anything.
One of the security guards clicked on his flashlight and cautiously stepped inside. “Ms. Brandt, Ms. Hinton, stay here. We’ll check it out.”
“Alright, just be careful, Rose said, her voice tense
It was a two–si
two–story place. The guards swept the first floor, finding nothing, then made their way upstairs.
A few minutes passed, but there was no response. I called out, “What’s going on up there!”
No answer. Rose and Lexchanged a look. She whispered, “Do you think the second floor is too far for them to hear us?”
I nodded, and we both stepped inside, heading toward the stairs.
I humbled around for the light switch and finally found it. The fluorescent lights flickered on, bright and harsh, making me squint for a moment.
Just then, I heard Rose scream, “Ah“”
Her scream was cut off almost immediately. Before I could even react, a shadow appeared behind me, and something heavy, a sack, was thrown over my head,
“You got here pretty quickly. I heard Gemma’s voice, cold and mocking. “Honey, you’re good.”
A man’s voice, confident and almost smug, responded, “When has the Forrest Green ever missed!”
Then everything went black. I passed out
