Happily Never After (sequel to Stolen Love)

Chapter 2

"Goodnight Abby. I love you." I told my daughter as I tucked her into bed.

"I love you too mommy."

"Goodnight sweetie." Alex chimed in now.

"Goodnight Daddy."

I closed her bedroom door and Alex and I walked into the neighboring room.

Alex plopped down on the bed and turned on his laptop. I read in my book.

After a few minutes Alex turned the laptop off and went to sleep; I finished the chapter. As soon as I closed the book, almost as if it was timed, my phone buzzed. I had a text from an unknown number.

I want all the information you have in the case of Cara Turner or the little boy dies. You have 24 hours.

Cara Turner was the most recent girl added to the case I had been working on. Why did this person want the information I had on her. What do I do?

My phone buzzed again. If you tell anyone about this, I kill him. There was an attachment. I opened it up to see a picture of a little boy. I couldn't make out where he was, but it was dark.

I messaged the number back. 'How do I get the information to you?' Within seconds there was a new message. 'Let me know when you have it and I will give you further instructions.'

I wasn't supposed to tell anybody, but I had to figure out who this little boy was.

I didn't sleep last night. I couldn't sleep knowing a killer had my number and had kidnapped a kid. That little boy was out there with a killer and he would die if I didn't give them the information they wanted. But why did they want it?

Alex rolled over.

"Hey. Did you sleep last night? You look terrible."

"No. I couldn't sleep. Go take a shower. We have work in an hour. He got out of bed and a few seconds later a text came through on my phone. Was this guy watching me?

'Remember, don't tell or the little boy dies.'

I messaged back. 'What do you want that information for?'

'I have my reasons. 16 hours left.'

As I sat there staring at my phone I couldn't help thinking, what information did this guy have on me? He had my phone number, so what else did he know? Does he know I'm a detective? Does he know I have a family? Does he know where I live? All questions I'm sure I would find the answer to if I didn't get him the information he wanted.

What if I gave my phone to some hacker? Could they find out who was behind this? I'm not sure I wanted to risk it. He probably had eyes on me to make sure I told no one.

I planned on using my computer at my desk to get all the information he needed and to figure out who that little boy was. But when Alex and I arrived at the station we were sent out in our case. We didn't go back to the station at all today.

That night, when Alex fell asleep, 24 hours from when the first text came through, My phone buzzed.

'Looks like little Jake wasn't enough motivation for you to get me what I asked for. Maybe someone who is a littler closer to your heart?' I opened the attachment. Abby. She was in the same place as the little boy was before.

I got out of bed and ran into her room. She wasn't there and the window was open. My little girl was gone and I had to figure out how to get her back.

Another text came through. 'Don't tell anyone or she dies. Get me the information. You have 24 hours.'

I didn't sleep at all again last night. How could I knowing my daughter was in the hands of a killer? Alex woke up and went to take a shower. A few seconds later I heard him yell something out to me.

"Em! Abby's not in her room and her bedroom window is open!" I got out of bed and went to see. I knew she wasn't there, but I couldn't let Alex know I knew she was missing. I acted surprised and scared. Very scared. I truly was. My daughter was missing and I couldn't be more scared for her life.

When we arrived at the office we got called into the chief's office.

"New case. Dead body found in the woods. Down by the river. The cause of death is undetermined at this point. Both of you will go down there and take a look at the crime scene, gather all the information you can, and they will clear the body out to do an autopsy."

Alex and I left the chief's office.

"I'll meet you out at the car. I have to grab something out of my desk. Just give me a minute." I told my husband.

When he was out of sight I opened the locked drawer in the bottom of my desk. Inside was every case file I had ever worked on. I found Cara Turner's file. I put it in my bag and walked out to the car where Alex was waiting.

When we arrived at the crime scene we were greeted by two other detectives.

"Body was found this morning. We don't know who it is yet, but we will find out with the dental records."

I walked over to where the body was lying. A little boy. The same boy who was kidnapped only a day before Abby was. So I guess now I know that this man will actually kill, and he will kill my daughter if I don't give him what he wants.

"Alex..."

"Yeah?"

"I can't be here. I feel sick. I need to get out of here."

"Okay. Go sit in the car. I'll finish up and meet you back there." I nodded my head in response and walked to the car. I got to the car and felt my phone buzz.

'Good girl. Keep it up. Get me that file and all of this will be over.'

I messaged back. 'I have the file. What now?'

'Put it in the garbage bin outside your house when you get home. I'll be watching. When I see you leave, I will retrieve it. Your daughter will be returned to you.'

I saw my husband coming and I turned my phone off.

"Still don't feel well?"

"I felt better after I left the crime scene, but I still feel sick."

"It's probably because Abby is missing and you saw the little boy dead and it freaked you out."

"Yeah. That's probably it."

"I'll take you home and then I'll head back to the station."

I waited for him to be out of sight then I pulled the file out of my bag and placed it in the garbage bin. I looked around for anyone watching then headed inside the house. I knew he wouldn't do anything if I was watching, so I didn't.

'Thanks for the file.' That was all his message said.

'You promised if I gave you the file you would return my daughter. Where is she?'

'I replaced the file with her. I got what I want you can have what you want. My business with you is done.'

I was really confused for a second on what he meant by "replaced the file with my daughter." Then it hit me. He put her in the garbage bin.

I ran outside and lifted the lid. Inside was my beautiful daughter. I pulled her out and noticed one thing. My daughter was dead.