Chapter 16

Logan sat on the floor, thinking about Ashley, wondering what might have happened to her, wondering who might have abducted her, and what should he do from now. What should be his next move in finding Ashley? Who wanted to hurt him or had provoked anybody with her articles?


Logan knew the risk of her job, he had heard tales about journalists being abducted or worst, being killed because they wrote something and people were pissed with the article. Maybe that had not happened because Ashley barely write now, all she does was edit, he knew that when he had teased her on a certain day when she was on her laptop reading through a very long piece.





He had asked her about the time she had settled down and written something that long. Ashley had taken the time to explain it to him, the same way she always explained everything about her job to him, the same manner in which she had taught him a lot about journalism even when he was uninterested.



Now he just wanted to hold her in his arms even if they will speak about nothing. He just wanted to see his Ashley. "Logan!" Shouted Tyler.



"Logan!" Tyler's voice echoed all over the penthouse.



"There you are," he said. " Sorry I came as soon as I heard. What do we do now?" Tyler added.



"Let's go" Logan stood up, and grabbed his car keys as they walked out.



Jessica walked helter-skelter, around her office building, showing people Ashley's photographs on her phone,7 everyone gave her a similar answer, some recognized her as the journalist because her photo used to be on her write-ups for the Johnson daily Newspaper. A lot of people recognized her but nobody had seen her that day. Jessica wondered who would want to harm Ashley; because she knew her friend dearly and almost everybody could ascertain that Ashley was a lovely fellow.



The results that she got, prompted Jessica to give up on the search but she couldn't; Ashley was her family, her best friend, and her ride-or-die. She recalled how they had been friends, the day she walked into the office as a young juvenile writer, Mr. Johnson had introduced her as Ashley Biggs. Jessica recalled that Ashley was shy as she looked down at the floor scared to look at all the workers that had their eyes fixed on her. On her first day, Mr. Johnson had given her a whole lot of workload for her to complete in a week. Jessica felt for the new girl because of the work only to find Ashley smoking a blunt on the balcony.





*flashback*





"Aren't you scared about the work that was given to you," she asked the new girl.



"Scared? I can finish this overnight?" Jessica was shocked.



"Why don't I believe you?"



"Let's make a bet" she handed her the blunt.



"Okaaaay?" Jessica wasn't sure about what she getting herself involved with but she agreed regardless.



"I will submit all the articles tomorrow and then I can tell you what you want from me."



Jessica was left perplexed; she wondered if this was the woman that she had assumed to be shy just a couple of hours ago, in all of her worries she was impressed with the girl's character.



The following day came, and Ashley walked up to her cubical and informed, "Want to see my review?" They both walked up to Mr. Johnson's office. His office looked like how a managerial office will look, with the bookshelves filled to the brim. Some papers and documents on his table, and a section to receive visitors. The incredible office had a skyline view outside. As soon as he saw Ashley.



"Ashley, I saw your articles. I loved it, you are an amazing writer, and I believe with the right guidance and tutelage; you will be among the finest writers of The central city" Ashley bowed and walked out of his office.



Jessica waited by the door looked at Ashley and said "You beast. What is your request?" She asked.



"Just be my friend?" Ashley smiled. Since that day henceforth they had become friends, sisters, or anything that could describe a friendship that one could give her life for the other without thinking twice about it.





*flashback ends*





Jessica was interrupted by a phone call from Logan "Where are you at?" He asked.



"Just by the next street."



"Okay, I am coming to get you," he cut the call without even waiting for a response. Almost immediately, Logan came over with Tyler by his side, they dropped for the car and met Jessica.



"Why shouldn't we involve the cops?" She asked Logan.



"Because maybe Ashley wasn't missing. You said she once ghosted on you like this?"



"Yes, but she was replying to her messages."



"And she isn't?" Tyler asked.



"Here is the phone that will reply to the message." Jessica handed the bag to them.



"This is serious," Tyler admitted.



"What will make anyone kidnap Ashley?" Logan asked.



"That is the million-dollar question," Jessica said. She looked at Logan and asked. "Who do you think will have any issue hurting Ashley? Logan look me in the face, the other day Ashley talked about you coming home in blood, don't you think they want a payback?"



Logan went silent for a while, he had thought about his sprawl with Eric, but did he have the balls to kidnap Ashley, does he even know he had anything to do with Ashley, they had kept their relationship a secret, and only their close friends knew about it.



Maybe someone had known about his sprawl with Eric the giant and sees it as an opportunity to hurt him without going unnoticed, either way, he felt like he was the reason for Ashley's abduction.



"I will report to the office, you guys should inform people of your clan."



Jessica called Mr. Johnson to inform him of the sad news. Logan sent a broadcast message of Ashley's photo and the caption, "She is missing; any information about her whereabouts will be hugely rewarded."