The Dire Choice (Otherworld Series #7)

Chapter 1- Shaw

Sunday, June 23, Unknown Year.

A Child Adrift.

A newborn girl child was found drifting in a river, completely unaffected by the water. The authorities of the small town in Oregon handed her over to the local Orphanage after no parents turned up to claim the child.

Thursday, April 5, Four years later.

Monster Child.

Nuns claim that four year old turns into a monster at night and terrorizes the other children. "One moment she was a silent little girl and the next moment she turned into a dog faced hairy monster and attacked the children!" Sister Cynthia, the nun in charge of the Orphanage claims. Local authorities have taken custody of the child as christian villagers tried to attack her. The little girl had been adrift in a river, four years ago completely unaffected by the water. The child had been given back by adoptive parents numerous times.

Tuesday, December 12, One year later.

Lucky Girl.

Billionaire Richard Lancaster adopts five year old girl. On Sunday, December 10, well-known ancestral billionaire port owner, Richard Lancaster adopted a little girl from the local Orphanage. " We always wanted two children, as we are unable to have another child due to some complications, we are now blessed enough to adopt a child. Meet Bethany Lancaster, our newest family member." Said Mr. Lancaster in a recent interview. The billionaire already has a 10 year old son with wife Margaret. The little girl had recently been brought from an orphanage in Oregon and now has a hopefully permanent family.

Monday, Februrary 25, 10 years later.

Miss Ungrateful.

Billionaire Richard Lancaster's adoptive daughter Bethany Lancaster runs away! The 15 year old runs away on her birthday, 21st Feb, the Billionaire's team of security has been searching for the girl since the past four days. Richard Lancaster recently went through a divorce with wife Margaret Lancaster. Son, Benjamin Lancaster said, "I came home for her birthday. But, she was no where to be found." Father, Richard Lancaster has been notified of the disappearance but was unavailable for comments. The reason of her disappearance is unknown.

--

Detective Bradshaw McAlister finished reading the newspaper articles and placed them back on the desk.

A young man, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit sat before him. Benjamin Lancaster was as much of an influenced man as his father had been. He was blonde, with a neatly trimmed beard and a sharp handsome face. His eyes were blue and looked like they had seen too much in a very little time. He kept touching his watch as if he was taking care of the time.

"I've been trying to investigate things on my own. I did some digging and found these newspaper clippings..." He removed a smart phone and did some tapping and showed the screen to Shaw.

"She looks like this."

A young face stared up at him from the phone. Bethany Lancaster was petite, pale and pretty. She had pitch black wavy long hair and her eyes...they were two different colours. One green and one blue.

Shaw raised an eyebrow at him.

"Look, coming to a shady and different agency, like yours is not something I usually do but I have all the money in the world to find her and I have been trying. You are my last resort. "

"What gave you the idea of coming here, anyway. I thought hotshot businessmen didn't believe in the paranormal."

He took the phone back. For a well known rich guy, he had a really old phone. He placed it in his suit pocket and stood up. Shaw folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. If he expected him to stand then he was really wrong.

"Beth was different, okay? She was a quiet child, not fussy at all, she was really mature and really smart for her age. It was unlike her to just leave the house so suddenly. She might have been adopted, but I loved her like she was my own sister. At home, there were these whispers about her, the maids, the housekeeper, they said some pretty weird stuff about...what happened to her at night." He looked away.

Shaw looked down at the newspaper articles again. "So, when you lost all hope you dug deeper into her past and found this stuff?"

He nodded. "Actually I found the second article in her bedroom the night she disappeared. "

He picked up the clipping then whistled. "Monster Child." He nodded again.

"When I lost all hope, I called at the orphanage in Oregon and asked about this sister Cynthia, she told me that the girl had been shipped off to Massachusetts and then I tracked the rest from there."

"This certainty makes my work easier. Well." Shaw stood up at that moment and raised his hand for a shake. Mr.Lancaster came to foreward to shake it. And Shaw read his emotions.

Yup. Shaw could read thoughts and emotions with a touch, sometimes he could see stuff too, like right now.

He saw Benjamin holding the girl as loud voices shouted at each other. His parents fighting, something breaking in the background. Shaw then saw him leaving for New York, hugging the girl, telling her to be strong. He felt his sadness and his guilt for leaving her. He felt his love.

Benjamin was genuinely searching for her. Shaw smiled at him. "Don't worry, Mr. Lancaster. Thanks for choosing my shady agency. I assure you, I'll find your little sister, give me time."

He paused for a moment, cold blue eyes narrowing at the quip but then nodded. "Thanks. Take how much ever time you want. Just find her."

He left, and Shaw watched as his BMW pulled away from its spot on the curb and the latched his door, putting up a closed sigh in front of it. Then he cracked his knuckles and picked up his secret notebook.

Sister Cynthia

Oregon State Authorities

Right from the start, step by step, he would unravel the mystery that was Bethany Lancaster.