"Should we keep going up? We must be nearly there and then we could maybe find a different way out of here." Beca whispered.
"Beca's right. We are certainly closer to the top than we are the bottom."
They sent a message to Aubrey just to say what they were going to do. Her response was that if it got messy, they would come in.
"Should we go in, Bree?"
"No, let's just wait, at least we can see if anyone else actually goes in, and if they do, we message, stay behind and follow."
"What if they can't message?"
"What if it was just nothing, though?"
"We can't be too certain though. How would you feel if you were Beca and someone had gotten Stacie and tonight?"
"Fuck, you're right. I have no idea how she's calm. I know she's a bit of a, I don't know. Let's put it this way, Chloe says she acts like a 'badass' but come on. If your wife went missing and it turned out kidnap was in play, how could she be calm?"
"I don't know her or the ins and outs, but didn't they say she was shot? I don't know, maybe, just maybe, rather than guns blazing, she's just being cautious."
"Any other person getting shot would either be dead or take the precautions to keep safe, right?"
"Maybe she's not even thinking of her, she could be thinking of Chloe?"
"You're right, Jess. Let's give it another ten, message and if they don't reply within a minute, we go in. Have you got your badge? I know we're safe in the car, but out of the car, we're not."
"We should get a uniform rather than a car. I mean, what if there are real serious issues?"
"What? More serious issues than killings left, right and centre?"
"No, I mean, what if, for example, a parent is with their child because they've not been able to get out of work in time?"
"We do have numbers if anything serious comes up."
"Bree, look, don't you just think maybe a uniform could be good? Think about it, if we even TRY and get involved in whatever scuffle, boom, we are dead."
"I know but no one's actually reported anything like that. Besides, if it wasn't for knowing Chloe, we wouldn't even know about this. I'll ask my Dad about it. The worst that'll happen is they say no. But you're right. I know, if I saw a kid out here I'd want to intervene and get them safe."
"Thank you."
Reaching the top, they'd not bumped into anyone yet, not had they heard anything from Aubrey or Jessica other than the message about someone down there.
"Is there another part of this building we are missing? Like a basement?"
"I don't know, Stacie. I didn't see a door, did you?"
"Wait. The door that we used to come up here, opposite that, there was something, not sure if it was more stairs or what, but I'm sure there was something there? Is it worth it?" Beca asked in a low voice.
"There's only one way to find out. There's no one around here. I'll message Aubrey. But whoever is here, if they are here, it's not going to be easy."
"I know, but she's my wife, all your friends. Like please, it's worth a try, right? You'd kick yourselves if she was here and we didn't look. Please?" She pleaded.
Stacie and Amy nodded.
*BANG*
"What the fuck was that?" Stacie whispered.
"Not a gun for a start so don't panic, but a door, yes. Wait here, keep an eye. I'm going to check if there's another door we can head down."
*BANG*
Beca and Stacie both jumped. As if it couldn't get any worse, the door that they'd used to get up the stairs had slammed shut. They looked down and it was pitch black, they couldn't see if anyone was coming up.
Beca quietly stepped out to try and get Amy's attention who was just across from them. Indicating with her hands about the door.
She nodded. She'd heard the second bang.
Amy lifted her right hand in the air and waved it towards her. She'd found something on the floor.
"That's C-Chloe's ring. Her wedding ring. She's here! Please help me find her."
The words 'leave me alone' echoed. It was a girl shouting, and Beca know that voice.
"Chloe!" Beca bolted.
Before Stacie and Amy could say anything, she was out of sight. Running down the ramps, certainly not keeping quiet.
To Aubrey: They're here. Beca's gone.
