Should I surrender ?

Chapter 72

I needed all the support that an person could ask for. Especially during a time like this.

Annette-

Days were getting almost too much to take. Thankfully some of my family came around when the situation got serious. I couldn't believe that they thought this was all a game. And what my mama thought all these months long.

Was that my daughter would repeat some of my mistakes. Because in the past I'd just take off days or months at a time. I felt like no one in my family cared. I even done it when Janelle was small. At the time my ex-husband and I were going through some heavy things back then. I took off one day, came back only because I needed money plus Lemarr told me he wanted to work everything out. So I came back with my tail between my legs.

I had responsibilities, I wanted to give Janelle the stable home life. I couldn't be running the streets any longer. I suspected that my mother, his parents pressured him into marrying me. But I made the choice to go on ahead, do right by my child. And we had many good years together until seven and half years ago. When my daughter went down the way she did. The feeling of hopelessness was as heavy as it is now. It was even hurt to breathe, it felt like that somehow all of this was my fault.

And maybe it was. But at this time needed support. So I called the one person that should be helping me now. I would not be deterred anymore. I stood in the kitchen as I made the call.

" Lemarr. Now hear me out. You have to go to police station with me tomorrow. This is not an game. Janelle is actually missing so get yo shit together. Because this has everything to do with our daughter. You understand me. "

...........,...............

I met up with my ex-husband at the police station. I was guessing that now they finally believed me when I told them that my daughter was missing. Seeing the were working together with the detective now. She wasn't how they portrayed women her age. They didn't even take it into account about how she was severely ill not too long ago.

When we walked in, I was kind of nervous of this meeting. I didn't know what they would tell us. I went to the front desk, told the woman that managed it that I had an appointment. And she got up, told us to follow her.

In which we did until we reached an open meeting room. The detective was there, ushered to sit.

" Hello sir and ma'am please have a seat. We have some good leads on our case as of now, " he told us.

And we gave our greetings back to the detective as he spoke those words.

" Well I've called you two in because we have an huge break in the case. But first, do you know this individual ? " he asked as he pulled an photo from a file he had placed in front of him.

Lemarr and I both looked down at the picture. I was shocked by it. We both gasped but the first one to comment on what they saw was Lemarr.

" Yeah we know of him ! So what does he have to do with the case ? "

" He has everything to do with it. We have reason to believe that he's the one that has kidnapped your daughter, " the detective explained.

I was still in shocked, lost for words. I knew she was taken in my heart of hearts. And no one believed me. Even this fool sitting next to me didn't. My baby was a good girl, she didn't go forth into troubled territory as I have in the past. And my ex- husband wasn't so innocent either.

But as I looked between the detective and Lemarr. The detective had of look of sympathy on his face. And Lemarr's read anger. His face was red as the color. I understood them both.

" Where is my baby ? " I asked on the verge of tears. Hoping I wasn't going to receive the bad news every parents considered their worst nightmare.

" That we don't know. But we're in contact with an victim of his. "

Then he went on to say " That this individual has charges rising as he has committed attempted murder of said victim. Plus kidnapping, possible sexual assault. And if she's found alive we could get her side of the story. "

The last part of what he explained had me bursting out into loud sobs. I didn't care where I was or who was watching. I just couldn't hold myself back any longer.

I've trying to hold myself together since I had gotten his phone call. This was what I have been holding in, now it has came out in all it's messy glory.

___________

Nick-

I was drained when I finally made it up the stairs. I felt like I would pass out any second. I heard a noise as I entered the bedroom. I listened closely, it was coming from the bathroom.

Next thing I knew, the door came open, out came Janelle barreling into me. To my surprise, she was holding on to me almost like it was for dear life. She was crying, I really didn't know what to do.

So I hugged her back until she calmed down. And as I looked down at her. I felt something weird expand inside my chest.

I didn't want to name it. But it was lodged in my mind now.

It was guilt. And I didn't want to feel it but it was there.

Because all of this was done for nothing. I was tired, I sure as hell knew she was well.

Where did it all go wrong ?

Where and why did I get it all wrong ? I thought to myself as she softy cried in my arms.

Sorry for the chapter. I don't know anything about detective work. I tried my best, I feel like I've said this before. I'm telling you that I had a really tough time writing this chapter for various reasons. I'm tryna wrap this book up as best I can but the struggle is real.

Well eat your veggies, stay safe, I'm out.