BACK TO LOVE.

05

As soon as the driver parked in her driveway, Ayanda ran like someone was chasing her into the house because she was running late and knew her husband was pissed. Axel had been calling her nonstop since he got home and he hated tardiness. After she checked the kitchen and living room for him but he was nowhere in sight. Soshe ran upstairs to their bedroom and began getting ready hoping that by the time he showed upshe would be done.

'' You're late....."

He said walking into the bedroom from their balcony, she did not notice him standing there.

"..You should have been here an hour ago. You know this is a couples getaway and we are leaving with other people.''

'' Axel I know and I am sorry but you know how your mother is. Plus you asked her to talk to me about therapy, so she had a lot to say.''

'' I didn't ask her to talk to you, she _ forget it we'll talk about this at the retreat, we're running late.''

The doorbell rang just she put the final touches to her makeup and she quickly slid her feet into her sandals.

' That's probably the guys. Finish up and meet me downstairs. Our bags are already in the car.'

Axel said heading downstairs, she followed behind him after as soon after checking her image on the vanity mirror. Their bags were already downstairs but it was not their friends. The presence of police on her front doorstep made her nervous.

''Come in officers. Sit down.''

Axel showed them into the living room where they all sat down. Ayanda grabbed his arm and hand for comfort. The couple sat quietly waiting for their guests to speak.

'' Mister and misses Daniels, I'm afraid we have bad news ... ''

''What? What happened?"

Axel asked while he held his wife comforting her.

''A woman called into our station the morning after your interview was aired again and told us about her neighbor who they suspected might have taken your daughter...."

They patiently listened while the officer spoke.

"....Unfortunately when we got there it was too late. We found the lifeless body of a girl your daughter's age amongst other's.''

'' He took other children?!''

'' Yes in total there were four girls one your daughter's age, a younger one and two girls between eleven and twelve.''

Axel looked at his wife who sat in a frozen state as if she was a statue. Not saying anything, just breathing heavily. He took it upon himself to ask questions.

''You're not sure if the six years old is our daughter?''

'' No hence why we would like you to come down to the morgue and identify the body.''

' Who is this guy and why was he not on your radar because he sounds like a paedophile?"

'' Mister Daniels all we can say right now is that he is a sex offender who lived thirty minutes from the mall your daughter disappeared from and he was not registered with us as he had just moved in three months before your daughter dissapeared under a different identity."

Axel did his best to control his emotions.

" Didn't the police from his former town or city or wherever he came from not know about where he was?"

" Sir we can't-"

" Don't fucken tell me that! This guy took my child and I deserve to know!"

" Sir there's no need to be hostile and we cannot say anything right now because he is still under investigation and like we had mentioned before , we need atleast one of you to come with us to the morgue."

Ayanda squeezed his hand the only reaction she had since the police walked in.