Chapter 46: Waiting Game

Maryanne is huddled on the main couch of the living room; her body still not calm. Her hands tremble as she worries about Riley. There still has been no new updates regarding the case and it has been hours. The head detective has been telling Maryanne and Max to remain in the house. They have set up a trace on their phones in case the kidnapper calls with a ransom. They need the both of them within the house in case they get that call, so that they can talk to the culprit. Although Maryanne is petrified of talking to anyone remotely close to a suspect, she only wants Riley home, safe. She will do anything she can to make sure that happens.
Max enters the living room, hanging up on a call, but Maryanne isn’t able to hear who it was with. He sighs and stands quietly for a moment, just watching Maryanne as she stares off across the room, her eyes wide and bloodshot. Her knees are up by her chest, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders for warmth. She tries to tune out the aggravating voices of the officers within the foyer.
“How are you holding up?” He sits on the edge of the cushion, not too close to her as he senses the tension in her body.
Maryanne doesn’t respond to his question. Instead, she mumbles, “They say that Shelley is a suspect. I know she was angry at me, but I didn’t think she could do something like this.”
Max shrugs, “You never know what someone is capable of doing, until they do it.”
“Do you think she will hurt Riley?” As she asks him, Maryanne swallows her emotions building up, trying not to cry.
“We can only hope she won’t.” He reaches over and places a hand on her arm for comfort.
Pulling away from him, Maryanne pushes her hair from her eyes, “I know where she lives, maybe we should go and ask her.”
“No, Maryanne, that would be a stupid idea. The police probably are already there questioning her.”
She nods, knowing that it was a bad idea. She ponders for a moment, a frown curling her brow down, “Wait, Max, Shelley was at work for most of the day. She left early, maybe an hour before me, but I don’t think that would be enough time to run all the way here, take Riley and stash her somewhere before the cops are alerted.”
Max squeezes her shoulder, “We will see what the police dig up, but if she isn’t the culprit, who else would have the resources or the motive to take Riley?”
Maryanne shakes her head, exhaustion and disappointment filling her chest and voice, “I don’t know.”
“Maryanne, it will be alright. We’ll get her back.” Max inches closer to her, but Maryanne’s body only becomes more tense, her features tightening.
Desperation begins to leak out in her words, “No, Max, you don’t understand. Riley has gone through too much in the past year, and now she has been kidnapped? What is this going to do to her mentally?”
“We’ll help her through it.”
Maryanne does everything she can not to stand and run from the room. Her legs tense up, tingling with the need to move. Her heart races, making it difficult to sit still. She bites back a whine as tears build, “It’s not that simple. What if she was kidnapped because of your work?”
Max leans back, his brow trembling as confusion lines his features, “What are you saying?”
“Riley could’ve been taken in retaliation to a deal gone wrong, or because they want your money.”
“Maryanne,” he begins, uncertainty lining his lips. He reaches for her once more.
She pulls away, holding herself as a tear escapes her grasp, “No, Max, I can’t handle this all right now. I need some space.”
Max almost whimpers, “Maryanne, please.”
He gives in and just sits there, watching her as though any move he makes might send her careening away from him.
Setting his hands in his lap and ignoring the loud voices of the officers in the foyer, he says, “Just talk to me.”
“I can’t. Riley is out there, probably terrified, cold, alone. I can’t sit here and pretend like everything is going to be okay. Neither of us know for sure why Riley was taken. If you really want to do something, then use your connections to find her.”
Max nods, his lips tight and his features grim. He forces a fake smile to pull at his lips, but it doesn’t stay for long. “We’re in this together, me and you. We will find Riley.”
Maryanne’s features shift and she fights not to break, “Max, I can’t.” Her body quakes and she continues to stare at the ground. Why are they going through this? Why must they be punished? What has Riley ever done wrong?
He pauses, his head cocking to the side as he asks, “What?” He tries to shift on the couch, but the fabric only ends up squeaking under him, filling the room with the sound.
She is unable to look him in the eye. She tightens her grip on her hands almost to the point where her knuckles fade to white. “I can’t be with you.”
Max doesn’t try to reach out again. He instead stands and paces around before asking, “Why?”
As Maryanne opens her mouth to respond, a sob escapes first, sending her shoulders crumbling and her body quivering, “Because Riley is missing. If she is. . . If anything happens to her, I could never forgive myself. Never forgive you. I can’t be with you right now, when Riley is gone.”
It takes Max a moment to process her words. When he does, his own façade cracks and he releases a quivering breath and the inside of his chest twisting, “I am so sorry. This is all my fault. You’re right. I can’t even keep you and Riley safe; how could I possibly take care of you? This is probably all about my money. I promise, whatever they ask for, I’ll pay. I will get Riley back, no matter what.”