Found #2

Chapter Thirteen

"Kiersten, I found something."

It took approximately half an hour for the both of us to meet up at a park the next town over. At first, she questioned why I chose a different environment to see her in, but I practically knew everyone in Fairland County.

I couldn't risk them seeing me with the other kidnap-ee if that was a word. They'd probably surround me like vultures, zeroing in on the details of my life and whatnot.

Brush Heights was a small quiet neighborhood. The houses here were quaint and there were many kids outside playing. My mind couldn't help but think it was better me than any of these innocent children.

"So what's up?" Kiersten smiled. She brushed a piece of blonde hair into a ponytail and leaned back on the picnic table.

I'd brought my laptop, bookmarking all of the websites I'd found information on. Powering it on, I took a deep breath and rubbed my eyes.

"We have to take everyone involved down," Kiersten was quiet, nervously picking the skin off of her thumb.

"For good." I said.

"Like...kill?"

"Well...I'm not sure. If it comes to it but I'd rather not have blood on my hands."

She looked at me in a funny way. "You've definitely changed. You were so scared. Feeble. And now look at you."

I didn't know if that was a compliment or not so I simply shrugged. "Maybe. I'm just tired of hiding and waiting for the police to get a lead. To be honest, they're probably not even worried about it anymore." FCPD was probably the worst most laziest police department in the history of ever.

"Right right. Okay, where do we start?"

"We find Keith. He's as much involved as Bill is."

"He can be anywhere."

I sighed. She was right. He could be in another country for all we knew. "Fuck...I didn't think that part through. Maybe—"

Just then my phone buzzed. It was a notification from the local mews station. The first few words made my heart plummet to my toes.

No. No.

My hands shook as my eyes skimmed over the screen. The headline in big bold ink said:

"Citizen Has Posted Bail for Kidnapper, Bill Ross"

"What?" Kiersten asked worriedly. She placed a small hand on my shaky one. I couldn't bring myself to repeat those words. I just slid my phone over to her, my heart pounding.

Kiersten's eyes widened. "Wait. This could help us."

"H-how." I managed to sputter out.

"If he gets out we can find him and demand the information. But who would bail him out?"

My brows furrowed. "What if he tries to kill us?"

"We'll bring reinforcement." The mischievous look in Kiersten's eyes scared me. She was only 15 yet she had so much confidence and strength. I kind of envied her.

"Reinforcement". Did she mean people? Police? Weapons? I couldn't tell. But whatever she was getting at, I was ready for it.