She’s missing
After ensuring Dora was resting peacefully in the bedroom, Austin stepped out and collapsed onto the living room couch. The previous night had been sleepless for him as he kept checking on Dora, who was emotionally drained. Though he, too, was exhausted, he knew he had to stay strong for both of them. The untouched breakfast on the table was a testament to his lack of appetite, his mind preoccupied with Dora’s fragile state.
To distract himself from the overwhelming thoughts, Austin grabbed his laptop and began working on pending tasks that demanded his attention. Hours slipped by as he sat in the living room, buried in his office work. Skipping breakfast entirely, he relied on coffee to keep himself alert and focused. His plan was simple: finish his work before Dora woke up so he could devote his full attention to her without any distractions.
Just as he was getting into the rhythm of his work, his phone rang. The caller ID showed an unknown number. At first, Austin ignored it, assuming it was a random spam call. But the caller was persistent, ringing repeatedly. Annoyed, he finally answered.
“Austin,” a faint, trembling voice whispered on the other end. It was Paulina.
“Paulina?” Austin frowned, his heart skipping a beat. Her voice was barely audible, cracking as if she were struggling to speak.
“Ab… hey… don’t…” Her words were fragmented, making it hard for Austin to understand.
“Paulina, I can’t hear you properly,” he said, pressing the phone closer to his ear.
“Help…” she managed to utter before the call abruptly disconnected.
Austin’s worry spiked. Thinking it might be a network issue, he hurried to the balcony, hoping for better reception. But when he tried calling back, an automated message informed him that the call could not be connected. Panic set in. He immediately dialed his mother, Ruby, hoping she might have some information about Paulina’s whereabouts. The last he had heard, Paulina was visiting her family.
“Austin, what happened in the hearing?” Ruby asked as soon as she picked up, her voice filled with concern.
Ignoring her question, Austin cut straight to the point. “Ma, where is Paulina? Is she with you?”
“Paulina? She said she was on her way back from the airport and would be home soon. Why are you asking? Is something wrong?” Ruby’s tone shifted, now laced with worry.
“When was the last time you spoke to her? What did she say? I thought she was visiting her family,” Austin pressed, his anxiety growing.
Ruby hesitated before replying. “She mentioned she was stopping somewhere to buy something for your birthday. She wanted it to be a surprise. Austin, tell me honestly, why are you asking about Paulina? She should have been here by now.” Her voice broke, and a sob escaped her.
Austin’s mind raced. “Did she say where she was going? Anything specific?”
“I think she mentioned the mall… Infinity Mall,” Ruby recalled, her voice trembling.
Without wasting another second, Austin sprang into action. He grabbed his jacket and rushed toward Dora’s room to check on her. Peeking inside, he was relieved to see her still asleep. Closing the door gently, he made his way out, instructing his mother, “If she calls you, let me know immediately.” He hung up before she could respond.
Grabbing the house keys, Austin dialed Ronan, a private investigator and former serviceman with a network of contacts. “Ronan, can you trace a call?” Austin asked urgently.
“I can’t do that without the phone’s IMEI number or prior tracking setup,” Ronan replied matter-of-factly.
“Damn it! Paulina… my friend, she’s missing,” Austin said, sprinting down the apartment stairs instead of waiting for the elevator.
“Even if you go to the police, they won’t be able to trace her without more information. I need something concrete to work with,” Ronan explained.
“What else can I do?” Austin asked, frustration evident in his voice as he jogged toward his parked car.
“Let me check with my contacts. I’ll call you back,” Ronan said before hanging up.
With only the lead about Infinity Mall near the airport, Austin drove toward the destination. It was a weekday afternoon, and thankfully, the traffic was light. Ignoring speed limits, he weaved through the streets, his mind racing with worry. Every second felt like an eternity.
As he drove, a thought struck him. He called Ronan again. “Can you check the CCTV footage from Infinity Mall?”
“It’ll be difficult, but I can try. What am I looking for?” Ronan asked.
“I’ll send you her picture. See if you can spot her in the mall’s surveillance,” Austin said, shifting gears with one hand while holding the phone with the other.
“I’ll get back to you,” Ronan replied.
The minutes dragged on, each one amplifying Austin’s anxiety. His instincts screamed that Paulina was in danger, but he had no idea where to start looking in the vast city. Paulina had been his rock during his darkest times. When he needed a friend, she had extended her hand, helping him move to the U.S. and even securing him a job at her father’s friend’s firm. Despite her own struggles, she had always been there for him. Now, it was his turn to help her.
“Where are you, Paulina?” he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the hum of the car engine.
As he neared the mall, Ronan called back. “Austin, I found a match. She was taken from the parking lot by masked men in a van.”
“What?!” Austin’s heart sank.
“They looked like professionals. I’m trying to locate the van’s license plate, but it’s like finding a needle in a haystack unless they left a clue by mistake,” Ronan explained, the sound of rapid keyboard typing in the background.
Over an hour had passed since Paulina’s distressing call, and there was still no progress in finding her. “Which direction did the van go?” Austin asked, pulling over to the side of the road.
“It looks like they were heading toward the highway, in the direction of Carter Road,” Ronan replied.
“I’ll drive around and see if I can spot anything. Send me the van’s picture,” Austin instructed.
For the next three hours, Austin scoured the area, searching for any sign of the van. Ronan continued to work on his end, but the leads were scarce. Just as Austin was beginning to lose hope, his phone rang again.
“Hello?” he answered, his voice tense.
“Abi…” It was Paulina. Her voice was weak and broken, but it was her.
“Paulina! Are you okay? Where are you?” Austin’s heart pounded in his chest.
“Abi, why didn’t they kill me? Why did they leave me to rot?” Her sobs choked Austin’s throat.
“Paulina, please, tell me where you are. I’ll come get you,” Austin pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation.
The chapter ends with Austin’s determination reignited, his resolve to find Paulina stronger than ever. The mystery deepens, leaving readers eager to know what happens next. Will Austin find Paulina in time? What danger is she in? The stakes are higher than ever, and the emotional weight of the situation keeps the tension alive.
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