Chapter 318 The Winding Path
I shot him a cold look and said, "I'll let you know if I hear anything. If something happens to Skylar, you're going down with her."
With that, I swung the door open and walked out of the hospital room.
Just as I was about to close the door, I heard Edward whisper, "If anything happens to Skylar, I don't know how I'd go on."
I didn't stop. I walked away quickly, but as the door clicked shut, tears started to slip from the corners of my eyes again.
Who took my Skylar?
After talking it over with Edward, we realized that the three people who knew Edward's condition best didn't seem to have the time or motive to kidnap Skylar.
But since the kidnapper followed Edward into the alley, there was a good chance that the surveillance footage tracking Edward would also capture the kidnapper.
With this in mind, I decided to start with the surveillance footage again. Feeling super uneasy, I called Joshua.
"Joshua, I need your help," I said.
"I was just about to call you," Joshua replied. "I have a feeling we missed some details when we checked the footage before. I was planning to review it again."
I was surprised that Joshua had the same thought as me.
Knowing Joshua was reviewing the footage, I breathed a sigh of relief—at least I was on the right track this time.
After hanging up, I decided to revisit the alley where Edward had collapsed personally.
I had to find this demon hiding in the shadows myself.
As I walked, the doctor's words kept flashing through my mind. I was convinced that place held the clues I needed, and my pace quickened.
When I arrived at the scene, memories guided me, and I took each step with extra caution.
I scrutinized everything—the trash cans, abandoned vehicles, even the scratches on the walls—but found nothing. Just as I was about to give up, a hidden path behind a metal fence caught my eye.
The path was narrow and overgrown with weeds, looking rarely traveled. But beneath the layers of weeds, there were signs of recent disturbance.
Following the path, I discovered it led to a chaotic, mixed neighborhood. My heart tightened, and a face flashed in my mind—Anne.
Anne had lived in this area before moving abroad, so she might know the terrain well and be aware of this hidden path.
Though the area was complex and crowded, for someone familiar with it like Anne, hiding here and kidnapping a three-year-old would be easy.
Could she have hidden Skylar somewhere here?
I couldn't bear to think further.
Had Anne, whom I had sent abroad, secretly returned to seek revenge? Or was there another hidden motive?I was determined to find out the truth. I couldn't wait any longer. Skylar's life was at stake, and I had to save her now!
My nerves were shot. Even the gentle breeze and rustling insects felt like threats.
Pushing through the weeds, I prayed silently, hoping to find any clue about Skylar on this hidden path.
With my anxiety through the roof, I called Joshua. "Joshua, I found a path near where Anne used to live. She mentioned it to me once. I think she might have taken Skylar."
"Diana, have you checked Anne's place?" Joshua asked after a moment.
"No," I admitted, feeling deflated. "I know she lived nearby, but I don't know the exact location."
Joshua said, "Your lead is valuable. Leave the area immediately and don't act on your own. Your safety is important too. I'll arrange for someone to investigate Anne's whereabouts. Trust the police, Diana."
"You have to hurry!" I shouted into the phone, on the verge of breaking down.
Skylar's fate was unknown, and every second felt like torture. I couldn't stay calm.
"Diana, calm down. Can you have your people remove the online posts? The police are under a lot of pressure." Joshua's request surprised me.
"What posts?" I asked, puzzled.
Joshua remarked, "The internet is flooded with news about this. It's hindering our investigation. I thought you were behind it. Sorry, I misunderstood."
Checking my phone, I noticed the internet was indeed flooded with headlines like: "Famous Businesswoman's Daughter Kidnapped, Police Powerless" and "Howard Family Feuds Over Daughter, Police Unable to Respond."
Someone had leaked the story to the media without our knowledge. The exaggerated headlines and false reports only added to my frustration, but I couldn't focus on that. I just wanted to find Skylar.
I said, "I didn't leak the news, but I'll post a clarification to minimize the impact on public opinion."
Joshua said, "Thank you, Diana."
I knew Joshua and his colleagues would do everything they could to ensure Skylar's safety and calm the public.
"I should be the one thanking you," I said honestly. "I still want to search the area. There might be new clues."
"Okay, but be careful," Joshua agreed, understanding my urgency.
Following the path, I soon found a building that looked like one I had seen in a photo on Anne's social media.
To confirm, I quickly checked Anne's account, but she had deleted all traces of her past life.
At that time, a boy on the street whistled at me, and I had an idea. I showed him a photo of Anne.
"Hey, have you seen this woman?" I asked.
"Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you," the boy said lewdly, moving closer.
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