Trapped

Chapter 18

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update. Hopefully you read the previous author's note. If not, I once again am sorry for the really late update. Anyway here it is (finally). Enjoy!😉

Jason

I walk up the steps to her front door. A few hard hits to the brown, oak exterior gets the door open. Agent Ramirez stands on the opposite side facing me with frustration in his eyes. When he notices it's me staring him directly in his unyielding gaze, he calms just a fraction. Not enough for his pissed off demeanor to change. I make a move to walk in, but he steps forward, blocking me from entering.

"I need to help. I can't just sit around while I know she is out there, subject to some psychopath's rage. You have to let me help." I plead with him.

I have never begged anyone but Lilian before, but when she was kidnapped I threw every ounce of pride I had out the window. She means everything to me and I don't care if they don't like me, I will help find her.

He sees my change in emotion and moves slightly to the left, tilting his body into the home. Not much, but enough that I know I am now welcome.

I step into her house and look around. I have been coming here every day since I got the news so I know the layout. What's been changed and what hasn't. I've been here several times before but only Lilian and I know that and it will stay that way. Who knows what her brothers would do to me if she or I told.

Yesterday there were at least 10-15 officers and other law enforcement agents here, but now there are only a few. Ramirez being one of them. I walk around and when I step into the kitchen, I am greeted by some very unhappy brothers.

"What are you doing here?" Justin demands as he starts to walk toward me.

I hold my hands to shoulder level. "Look guys—"

"You have no right to talk to us like that!" Justin takes a few more strides and pushes me against the wall. We're about the same height and weight, but he has an advantage. Chris and Cameron sit behind him, staring daggers at me. If I hit Justin, one of them will come to his rescue and put me in the same position I am in now.

"I just wanted to talk and get updates," I stare as calmly as I can with my shoulder blades being pushed harder and harder into the wall.

"Updates?" He laughs humorlessly at this, "You want updates?" By the tone of his voice, I would say there are none, or none that are being shared with the public, and he is taking his anger out on me.

Cameron walks toward Justin and places a hand on his shoulder. Justin removes his arm from my upper chest a few prolonged moments later, but doesn't look away from me as I rub my shoulder. I underestimated the guy's upper body strength.

"What do you want from us?" Cameron asks, sounding defeated.

"I want to help find her." I can't say her name. Not yet. Not until she is found and I have her in my arms and I can protect her again and next time, I won't do such a lousy job at it.

They exchange looks and each sit back down at the dining table. They look like they haven't slept in weeks. I probably look the same. " You can join the search party tonight. Six o'clock. You'll come with us and Ramirez." I stare at Cameron and think, That's good. That's a start.

I nod my head and leave the kitchen. I see Ramirez talking to Luke and walk over. They both stop talking and in unison turn their heads to face me. I tip my head in greeting and motion for them to continue. They don't.

They can't be serious. I am practically Lilian's family. We have been going out for almost a year now and her brother better get used to it.

Luke's face grows steadily angrier. "What do you want?" Same greeting. This should be fun.

"I want to know what leads you have." If there are any.

"We aren't in a position to divulge that information to the public just yet," Agent Ramirez cuts in before Luke has a chance to undermine me.

"You don't have any. Do you?" I ask, trying to get him to spill something.

"I didn't say that I just said that—"

"Yeah, yeah. You aren't in a position to divulge the information. But I'm not just some news reporter or concerned stranger. She's my girlfriend and I love her." Luke scoffs and Ramirez gives him a look that stops him in his tracks.

"I'm sorry, but as of right now hat fact does not matter. We cannot release any leads concerning her disappearance." Great I'm not getting anywhere with this.

"Is there anything you can tell me?" I ask, desperate for answers.

They exchange looks then look back to me. "We found a body buried in the woods a few miles away from where the other victims were found. She couldn't have been there for more than a few days."  Lilian. I start to hyperventilate when Luke stops me.

"It wasn't Lilian, but we don't have a positive identification on the girl yet." Oh, thank goodness. I take a deep breath and rub my temple.

"When do you think you will have that information?" Almost as soon as I ask the question, a woman wearing an FBI jacket walks up to Ramirez, holding a file.

"We found a missing persons report from 15 years ago. A Layla Jacobson from Austin, Texas. Her DNA matches the body we found at the dump site." The woman hands the file to Ramirez.

"Austin is over two hours away. This can't be our guy," Luke states with almost audible certainty.

"It's possible it's an unrelated murder, but we can't rule out the possibility that this was Daniels," Ramirez nods to the woman and she walks away. They both turn their attention to me. "You need to go. We will update you as much as we can." I don't argue because I don't have the energy and walk out the door into the cool mid morning air.