The weight of uncertainty had become unbearable for Angle. Each passing day without news of Belle was a dagger to her heart, and the feeling of helplessness gnawed at her insides. It was time to take action. After countless sleepless nights, she decided to hire a private investigator, a choice born out of desperation but fueled by the flicker of hope that they might uncover the truth.Angle scoured the internet for local investigators, her heart racing with each potential lead. After poring over websites and testimonials, she finally settled on a firm that had a reputation for solving missing person cases. They seemed compassionate, yet tenacious, and their glowing reviews provided a glimmer of optimism.She dialed the number, her hands trembling as she explained her situation. The voice on the other end was calm and reassuring, an anchor in her stormy sea of anxiety. "We'll do everything we can to find your sister," the investigator promised. "Can you meet with us tomorrow?"The next day, Angle found herself sitting in a small, cluttered office, the walls lined with framed newspaper articles and photographs of smiling faces—some recovered, others still missing. The investigator, a woman named Sarah, was in her late thirties, with sharp eyes that seemed to see beyond the surface. She listened intently as Angle recounted the events leading to Belle's disappearance, her voice shaking with emotion."I need to know what happened to her," Angle said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't sit back and wait any longer."Sarah nodded, taking notes. "I understand. We'll start by gathering any information we can. Do you have any leads or suspicious people in mind?"Angle hesitated, recalling the boys—their strange behavior, the whispered conversations that felt loaded with secrets. But she wasn't ready to accuse them outright. "I... I have some friends who might know something," she finally admitted. "But I don't want to put anyone in danger."The investigator leaned back in her chair, studying Angle with a mix of empathy and determination. "We'll approach this carefully. It's crucial to tread lightly, especially if there are people involved who might have something to hide."After they discussed the next steps, Sarah handed Angle a business card and assured her they would be in touch soon. With a sense of purpose igniting within her, Angle left the office, the weight on her shoulders feeling a little lighter. She would do everything in her power to find Belle.Meanwhile, the boys had been living in a constant state of panic, their days filled with guilt and worry. Billie was particularly restless, unable to shake the feeling that they were being watched. "What if Angle finds out?" he fretted, pacing the small room they often gathered in. "What if she goes to the cops?"Shawn shrugged, trying to play it cool, but inside he felt the tension. "We're fine. No one knows anything. We just have to keep our stories straight."But Billie's unease only grew as days turned into weeks. He avoided the news, afraid to see reports about Belle or hear whispers in the school hallways. The group had become fragmented, each boy consumed by his thoughts, their friendship strained under the weight of their secret.Meanwhile, Angle's determination fueled her resolve. She shared her plans with a few close friends, who rallied around her with support. They distributed flyers with Belle's picture, their faces a mix of hope and desperation. Angle even took to social media, posting updates and appealing to anyone who might have seen her sister.In her heart, she knew Belle was out there, fighting to survive, and that thought ignited a fire within her. She refused to give up. Each new day brought a renewed sense of purpose, and with Sarah's help, she was one step closer to uncovering the truth.As she sat in her room late one night, the glow of her phone illuminating her face, she scrolled through countless posts, hoping for any sign of her sister. That's when a message popped up—a tip. A vague but intriguing lead from someone claiming to have seen a girl resembling Belle near the woods not far from town."Could this be it?" Angle whispered, her heart racing. She quickly typed a response, her fingers trembling with anticipation. Whatever it took, she would follow every lead, no matter how small. Belle was out there, and Angle was determined to bring her home.Little did she know, the shadows lurking in the past were about to collide with the present, unraveling the tangled web of secrets that bound them all together. As the night wore on, the air grew thick with anticipation, and the hunt for the truth began to gain momentum, propelling Angle into a storm she never saw coming.
