Linstead: Undercover Mission

Our Family is a Circle of Strength

Hey y'all! Thank you so much for the reviews! This week has been chaotic. And I noticed how my autocorrect changed "Adler Planetarium" to "Alder Platinum". Not sure why it did that, but I'll check it better! Thanks for pointing it out!

Enjoy and please review!❤️💙

Two hours. One hundred and twenty minutes. Seven thousand, two hundred seconds.

It was now eight fifteen. Erin and Jaxton had been gone for two hours. Not gone- taken.

The entire IU was working around the clock, not taking a moment to rest. They had patrol from surrounding districts out canvasing the city, following up on what little information they had. They hit dead end after dead end.

Jay hadn't left the computer at his desk. He couldn't even think. He could only look at the picture on his desktop screen- it was from the Charity Ball. Jay, Erin, and Jaxton were all dressed up, smiles bursting from their teeth.

Sometimes Jay would glance down at the picture on his desk. It was from the night long ago in Hawaii. It was the photo Erin and Jay took out by the palm trees. Erin flashed her ring, and Jay had his arms wrapped around her waist. They were playing a part at the moment the picture was taken, but the feeling and looks plastered were real. Their smiles radiated with love. It was one of Jay's favorite pictures of Erin and him.

"Does Charlie have any houses nearby? Like a cousin?" Jay faintly heard Kevin's voice in the back of the room.

Another hour of hitting brick walls passed. Jay's head perked up as a deed search turned up with something. "Hank, wasn't Jaxton's phone address last saw around West Englewood?"

Hank nodded. "Yeah, then it went dead. Or was shut off."

"I think they're at his ex stepdad's house. His grandpa, Jim LaRos is out of town in Florida. He flew out last week. His ticket is scheduled for December fifth. Charlie and he are close still from my understandings through social media. That's where he is holding them."

Jay and Hank looked up at the knock on the doorframe. "You guys are going to want to see this." Ruzek's eyes were big. Both of them glanced at each other and knew he was biting back tears.

Adam walked them over to his desk and told Jay to sit. He pressed the play button. Jay and Hank's face whitened.

The location was the same, but the camera was at a different angle.

Charlie stepped in front of the camera as Erin's unconscious body hung from the beam. Bruises and dry blood colored her abdomen severely.

Jay cringed through the camera.

"So, last time you saw us playing a new game. But now, we have a live audience." Charlie moved the camera so it was facing Jaxton. He was tied with duct tape in a chair, his hands and feet constrained while his mouth and eyes were untouched. "Jaxton, it's your father."

Jaxton tugged lightly against the restraints. "Hey dad." He muttered.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Tell him how you're doing."

Jaxton shook his head before looking into the lens. He didn't know the video was live. "I'm doing just peachy. You know, I'm tied up, mom is almost dead and I still haven't ate. Just hurry up dad and find us both." Jaxton had to be strong. He couldn't let Charlie knew he scared him. Jaxton was scared. Not only for his, but for his mother's life.

"How sweet. I'm starting to have tears in my eyes." Charlie laughed turning back the camera. "Some man you've raised, Jay."

Charlie walked over to where Erin was being held and shook her body.