Chapter 115

“I owe you, Captain,” Will said.
“Damn right. I’ll keep you in the loop if I find anything else.”
“Thanks.”
Will hung up and looked at Spencer.
“Captain Damon Whitlock,” he clarified. “He’s got us some solid information.”
“Good,” Spencer yawned. “What time is it?”
“Five,” Will answered with a yawn of his own. “I’ve got to call Alex and Sabrina.”
“Will they be awake?”
“Sabrina will be. And if she’s awake, Alex will be as well.”
Will dialed Alex’s number. Alex answered on the first ring.
“What you got?”
“Captain Whitlock called. He’s got us some info.”
“Already?” Sabrina asked. “This Whitlock guy is pretty impressive.”
“You don’t even know,” Alex said with reverence and fear in his voice.
“That’s a story for another time,” Will snickered. “All right. So, he had one his guys, a hacker, track the signal from Jess’s phone. The message that Emma got was sent from right outside the building here. And then the phone was turned off about ten minutes after that.”
“Fuck!” Sabrina gasped. “So, Jess was used as bait?”
“It seems that way. Jess’s phone hadn’t been used for 24 hours prior to the message being sent. Whoever took Emma was waiting for her right outside. It was a trap. And it’s confirmed that Jess is missing as well.”
“Oh my God!” Sabrina yelped. Both her best friends were missing. She put her head into Alex’s chest, seeking comfort. This couldn’t be happening.
“It could be that her phone was stolen,” Spencer offered as an alternative.
“That is a possibility, but Captain Whitlock doesn’t think so,” Will said. “It rules out Jess has having anything to do with this either way. But it does solidify that my uncle is involved somehow. She was trying to expose him for what happened to her dad and that worker at the construction site.”
“We’ll save them, babe,” Alex soothed. “They’re going to be okay.”
“Our suspect must know Emma then,” Spencer said.
“What makes you say that?” Alex asked.
“Well, they used a message from her friend as bait. They must have known that she would answer it. They know what kind of person she is.”
“That’s a good point,” Alex mused. “They used her good nature and loyalty against her.”
“Hmmm,” Sabrina said, her voice thick and heavy with sarcasm. “Who do we know that has done that to Emma before? Any guesses?”
“Captain Whitlock also had the recording analyzed. The caller was a woman,” Will added.
“Well, there we go! What more evidence do we need? Grace is in cahoots with your uncle and together they are trying to take you out by kidnapping my friends! Case closed!”
Will couldn’t speak. After everything that happened, he still couldn’t believe it was Grace would do this. She used to be so gentle and caring. Like an angel on earth. His feelings for her were gone. Eradicated by what she had done… it was just so hard to believe that someone could change so much. But, with the evidence presented… it seemed like Sabrina was right.
“Call her, Will. Call her and figure this out!” Sabrina urged.
“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Alex said. “But she can’t know you suspect. She may delusional enough that she may believe you if you say you’re calling her for comfort. She could trip up and give you some information.”
“Yeah,” Will was dazed. How could the Grace that had once provided him so much solace, be someone that would do something so heinous? She had been his harbor. How could she be so different? Is it me? Did I do this to her? Am I going to ruin Emma like this too? Will shook the thoughts from his head. He needed to focus. “I’ll do that. But first, I need to get Lizzie somewhere secure.”
“Bring her here,” Sabrina said.
“Two babies won’t be too much?”
“No. Damian doesn’t fuss much. And Magnolia is always here.”
“Good,” Will said. “Alex, any updates on my uncle?”
“No movements, but my people are still on him.”
“Is it possible to put ‘people’ on Emma’s dad?” Spencer asked. “They may use him as a bargaining chip as well.”
“Good thinking,” Alex said. “I’ve already got someone on it. He’s completely safe and has no idea what’s going on.”
“Sooner or later, we’ll have to tell him,” Spencer urged.
“Not if we get her back soon. He’ll never have to know.”
“You have to get them back,” Sabrina cried. It was jarring. She was a force. Never one to back down and a fierce protector of her friends. Ever since having a baby of her own, that ferocity had only increased. She was a lioness poised to strike at a moment’s notice. But now, she was small, and scared. “Please.”
“Baby,” Alex was upset. He hated seeing her like this. “I know you’re scared. But we’re working hard and we’re going to get them back. We are.”
Will could hear Alex give her a reassuring kiss.
“I… I… feel so useless. I don’t know how to help.”
“That intuition of yours,” Will said. “You’re smart as hell.”
“It’s true,” Spencer added. “I’ve never known someone that just knows things.”
“We won’t keep you in the dark about anything,” Alex soothed her. “You’re just as big a part of this investigation as the rest of us.”
“I’m… I’m sorry,” she sniffled.
“Don’t be sorry. Will, we’ll see you in a little while, okay?”
“Yeah. See you soon.”
They hung up. Neither of them moved for a few seconds. Sabrina’s emotional outburst made everything feel more real. Almost as if the gravity of the situation hadn’t truly sunk in. A hollow, gnawing feeling had settled in the pity of his stomach. A black hole formed in the center of his chest. It was as if he’d been run through with red hot steel. Air felt like lead in his lungs and each breath was struggle. It was like trying to breathe in ice water. And he knew that feeling wouldn’t go away until they got Emma and Jess back safe and sound.
Lizzie began to fuss in her crib.
“That’s our cue,” Will said. “Go into my apartment and pack up some clothes. My stuff should fit you.” Will tossed him the keys.
“Okay.” Spencer’s response was wooden. “Anything else?”
“There is some paperwork on a desk in there. And a laptop. Pack that up. And anything else you want.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a few.”
Spencer walked out of the apartment and into Will’s. Will let out a bitter laugh. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he had been in there. Before all of this happened, he and Emma shared a moment. It was a moment that could have led to so many other possibilities. If he hadn’t been such a coward, if he had just…
He wouldn’t make that mistake again. As soon as they got Emma back, he was going to tell her everything. It was obvious now that he couldn’t wait any longer.
He walked into his daughter’s room. She was struggling against her blanket but cooed and giggled when she saw him.
“Hey there, Princess. Daddy’s here.” He picked her up and held her for a moment. A cool feeling rushed over him. It filled the empty spaces and soothed his ravaged soul. He took a deep breath, allowing himself that moment of reprieve.
After changing and feeding Lizzie, he packed a couple of bags for her, and they were ready to go. Spencer came to the apartment with two duffel bags and a laptop bag.
“I packed some things for you too.”
“Thanks.”
Spencer perked up when he saw Lizzie.
“Hey there, sweet baby,” he smiled. She fussed and smiled at him. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? How can she manage to make things feel okay by just being here?”
“It is,” Will agreed. “I never thought I’d have children. But now… I can’t imagine how I would exist without her. All I want to make sure the world is safe and happy place for her to live in. And I know I would obliterate anyone that would try and hurt her.”
“Maybe,” Spencer said, smirking at Will. “Letting you back in wasn’t such a mistake after all.”
“I sure hope not,” Will said. “My car is in the parking garage. I don’t have a car seat though.”
“I have one. Meet me down there. I’ll get mine and put it in your car.”
“All right.”
They walked to their cars; the light moment Lizzie had provided already beginning to darken. After a few minutes, Spencer came back with the car seat and installed it Will’s car. The settled the baby in and began the drive. The air between was thick with despair, angry, and worry. It was charged with their determination to save the woman they both loved. As they drove, somehow, they both knew. When this was all done, one of them would have his hopes dashed. But who it was… they’d have to wait and find out?
“Has the kidnapper contacted you at all yet since the first call?”
“No,” Will answered.
“Then what the hell are our further instructions?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t intend to sit around and wait.”