Chapter 311 As if They Had Vanished into Thin Air
"Diana, you look exhausted. Did you get any sleep last night?" Joshua asked, his voice full of concern.
I forced a smile. "I was up all night searching and came straight here at dawn. Skylar's missing. How could I sleep?"
Joshua's face softened with sympathy. "Why don't you crash in my office for a bit? I'll check the surveillance footage myself. We might find something important."
His steady, reassuring voice gave me a bit of calm. He patted my shoulder and quickly left the room.
Alone, anxiety gnawed at me. I paced back and forth, the sound of my shoes echoing in the silence.
Every second felt like an eternity while Joshua was gone.
My head pounded, and my throat was dry, but my worry for Skylar overshadowed any physical discomfort.
The coffee Joshua had poured for me was long cold, its steam gone. I stared at the cup, my mind replaying images of Edward and Skylar together, each memory stabbing at my heart.
I slumped onto the couch, unlocked my phone, and opened the photo gallery.
It was filled with pictures of Skylar—each one capturing precious moments of her growing up.
"Skylar, where are you? I miss you so much," I whispered, gently touching her face on the screen, as if I could reach out and hold her. Tears blurred my vision, falling onto the phone.
I wasn't sure how much time had passed before the door finally opened. Joshua stood at the entrance.
I quickly wiped my tears with the back of my hand and looked at him. Despite his tired expression, there was a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
I rushed over, gripping his arms tightly, my voice trembling. "Did you find Skylar? Where is she?"
I watched his face intently, not missing a single change in his expression.
Joshua, breathing heavily, gently patted my hand to calm me. He took a moment to compose himself and said, "We haven't found her exact location yet. But we saw Edward carrying Skylar on the surveillance footage. She seemed calm, so he hasn't harmed her."
Hearing this, I felt the weight on my heart lift slightly.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tears flowed again. "Thank goodness, Skylar is still alive."
Joshua looked at me with concern. "Let me take you to see the footage. You know Skylar better than anyone; you might notice something we missed."
I nodded eagerly and followed Joshua to the surveillance room.
Inside, the harsh white light illuminated the officers' focused faces, and countless images flickered on the screens.
"This covers almost all of Wind City's surveillance," Joshua explained.I barely listened, my eyes glued to the screens.
When I saw Edward carrying Skylar, it felt like a dagger to my heart, each movement tightening the knot in my chest. Every passing second was a cruel twist of fate. As Edward turned into a dark, narrow alley with Skylar, the footage suddenly lost track of them.
My heart sank into a pit of despair.
Pointing at the screen, my voice choked with tears, I asked, "Where does that alley lead? Are there other exits?"
Joshua frowned, quickly typing on the keyboard, explaining as he worked, "It's an old district alley, leading in several directions—residential areas and some small shops. Normally, other cameras should have caught them."
As Joshua switched the screens, different angles of the surrounding area flashed by.
Officers gathered around, scrutinizing the footage for any possible clues.
The images were enlarged and paused, and every detail was examined. But as time ticked by, Edward and Skylar remained unseen, as if they had vanished into thin air.
Then Joshua helped me back to his office, gently closing the door behind us. He turned to me, his expression grave.
He said, "Diana, listen to me. The situation is urgent, and our usual methods have failed. We might need to use some unconventional means."
"Unconventional means? What do you mean?" I asked, confused and desperate.
Joshua took a deep breath and said, "I suggest you seek help from the underground network to find Skylar."
His voice, though low, was clear in the quiet office, each word hitting me hard.
I was stunned, barely able to believe what I was hearing. "Even the police can't solve this?"
Joshua sensed my hesitation and patted my shoulder, guiding me to sit on the couch. "I understand your concerns. We have to follow rules and procedures, which can limit us. Yet we don't have much time. The underground network can get information quickly, sometimes faster than the police can. Do you know anyone who might be able to help?"
My legs gave out, and I nearly collapsed. Joshua caught me, helping me sit back down.
My mind raced, thoughts colliding, until one idea struck me like lightning. I told Joshua, "I can ask my godfather, Nicholas. He has extensive connections and might know someone in the underground network."
Joshua frowned, worry evident in his eyes. "At this point, it's worth a try. Do you want me to go with you?"
I shook my head. "Nicholas doesn't like the police. I'll go alone."
Joshua hesitated but finally nodded. "Diana, be very careful."
I nodded and left Joshua's office, feeling lost and desperate.
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