Time is Running Out

Chapter 1

Once there were three best friends. They were Emma Javenski, Rachel Arden and Joy Kalayna. The three visited each other every day. Sometimes they'd go to Rachel's house, sometimes Emma's, sometimes Joy's.
 
One day in summer, they were at Joy's house. Joy's mom was in her home office, busy working on a new case for the police.
 
"What's your mom working on, Joy?" asked Emma as she checked the time on her watch, flicking her dark blonde hair behind her shoulder.
 
Joy shrugged, her chocolate-brown hair in pigtails flying as she did so. "Mom won't tell me. She's been working on it for a few weeks already."
 
"Does it have anything to do with this?" Rachel asked, pointing at something in the newspaper she was reading. Her bonfire hair was straight and gleaming in the midday sun.
 
"What's 'this'?" asked Emma, her cobalt blue eyes showing a speck of curiosity.
 
"Why are you reading the newspaper? Newspapers are bor-ing," Joy added, her mystic green eyes looking hungry for chocolate.
 
"I actually have the same opinion, but my mom wants me to read it. Every single day," Rachel said. "But really, does it have anything to do with this?"
 
She indicated the newspaper again. Joy and Emma looked.

LAURA PARIS MISSING
Laura Paris, an eleven-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes, has been reported missing for two days. Reporter Glen Green went to talk to the girl's parents. "She's been kidnapped! I'm sure she has,"Minnie Paris, Laura's mother, said when asked. "We're petrified that she's missing,"Joe Paris, Laura's father, said frightfully when asked. The ever faithful police are working hard to see if Laura Paris being missing has anything to do with The Tammy Brendon Incident. If you have seen Laura or Tammy, please contact 9-1-1.

"What's the Tammy Brendon Incident?" asked Emma curiously.
 
"Oh, that's a girl missing," Rachel replied.
 
"So both are missing?" Joy asked.
 
"Yes, that's why people think the two incidents might be connected," confirmed Rachel.
 
"Remember last year, when things went missing and we found the culprit?" asked Emma.
 
"You mean we should investigate again?" Rachel asked, getting a bit too excited as her emerald green eyes sparkled.
 
"But this isn't like some sort of middle school drama, this is the real, dangerous world having a big problem," Joy objected. "I mean, do we know how to stop this bad guy and stuff? How do we help those missing girls?"
 
"Well... I've read detective books..." Emma suggested feebly.
 
"And I've seen movies..." added Rachel. "Plus, we're just finding the bad guys for the police. We're not going to catch them."
 
"Well... fine. Let's see if she'll tell," relented Joy.

✴✴✴

"No," said Josie, Joy's mom. 
 
"Please, Mom!" Joy begged.
 
"Please tell us, Auntie Josie!" Rachel pleaded.
 
"Yeah, please, Auntie Josie, we can help you with this!" Emma added.
 
"No. I won't have you three running into danger," Josie said firmly. 
 
The girls persisted for two weeks. Finally Josie relented.
 
"I'll tell you only if you promise not to investigate further," said Josie.
 
"Well..." Joy looked at the other two, unsure.
 
"Do you promise?" asked Josie. "Tell me within this very minute or I reconsider my deal."
 
Joy looked at Rachel. Rachel looked at Emma. Emma looked at Joy.
 
"Well..." said Rachel, trying to stall for more time. "Well, uh..."
 
"What is your choice?" said Josie exasperatedly. "I'm giving you thirty more seconds."
 
Joy, Rachel and Emma's breaths caught in their throats. They looked at each other.
 
"Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight," began Josie.
 
Joy's eyes were wide. Rachel's mouth was open. Emma's jaw was clenched.
 
"Twenty-five, twenty-four, twenty-three, twenty-two, twenty-one."
 
The three friends were breathing raggedly.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Time's u--"
 
"Fine. I promise." "So do I." "I promise too."

In the deep, dark woods, the Kidnapper was out for a stroll.    
 
Neither of them look like Miya. How many more do I have to kidnap till I find a replacement for her?