Stay Away (The Beocraftian Gambit - Book One)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE SEARCH FOR HER KIDNAPPED DAUGHTER

Kevin entered the hospital where Mirabel had been admitted. Except for the smell of antiseptic which lingered, the air was crisp and clear. He went into the room and met Mirabel's mum sitting on the corner of the hospital bed. She was engaged in an interrogative conversation with Alex, who sat facing her in an old, rusty armchair. He was putting down some information, which he considered vital, on a little note—until Kevin interrupted when he pushed the pewter white door open.

"I apologise for taking so long," he said, trotting towards the distressed single mother.

"Mrs Lena, who is this, please?" slightly pissed, Alex asked, his eyes following Kevin as he came in and sat beside her.

"T-t-this is Kevin," Lena stuttered, tears trickling down her eyes. "H-h-he is the one I told you about who's been helping me and my daughter."

"Hello Kevin, I'm inspector Alex Krevoy, head of state security." He stretched his hand for a handshake.

"Hello, inspector." Kevin grabbed his hand firmly. "Have you gotten any lead on the masked man that kidnapped her daughter?"

The sudden drop in his facial expression told Kevin all that he needed to know.

Alex ran his hand through his hair, sighing in exhaustion. "Honestly, with the information she's provided so far, it would be pretty difficult, almost impossible, to locate this kidnapper since he had a mask on. It is harder even to understand the motives behind the kidnap."

He glanced back at the note. "Mrs Lena stated here that she wasn't rich, in fact, they barely even manage to survive. So the kidnapper's motive for ransom is off the books for now. Mrs Lena also stated that neither she nor her late husband had any enemies. She said they'd lived in harmony with everyone they came across. So the kidnapper couldn't have kidnapped her daughter for some kind of revenge either."

Kevin turned to look at Mrs Lena. She looked terrified. "Did you get a closer look at his mask?"

"He wore a blank, unreadable mask of ornate gold leather over the small eyes in a fire design with a small hook nose on it."

He didn't think it would be possible, but he was pushed to ask, "Did you notice some kind of C-shaped mark carved on his mask, a little close to his left eye?"

Mrs Lena blinked in surprise, raising her head to look at him, her eyes widening. "Yes. There was a letter 'C' mark on his mask."

The room was left in complete silence and all eyes fell on Kevin as though he was some accomplice or a suspect. Alex shot a glance at him as if waiting for an explanation about how he knew that. Kevin looked surprised.

"Obviously, Mrs Lena left out the part about the 'C' mark on his mask." He took out a pen to jot it down, returning his suspicious gaze to Kevin. "How did you know about this marking on the kidnapper's mask, if I may ask?"

His eyes were wide, chest heaving. If this is true, then it means his past has finally caught up with him. They are here in this city. "I knew this because—a year ago—I was also kidnapped by this same masked man."

A blot of silence.

A phone rang, ripping the cold silence. Kevin took out his phone from his pocket, it was Landry calling.

"Excuse me, I have to take this call," he said and hurried outside.

"Kevin, they've found her!" came the voice from the phone.

"They've found who?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"The little girl you told me about earlier."

His brows knitted. "Mirabel?" He felt a tingle of excitement.

"Yes," he said. "They found her body lying in City Park a few minutes ago. She was tortured to death. I think you should come see this."

Kevin froze.