Chapter 48: The True Culprit

It has been several hours since Maryanne stood before the reporters and spoke about Riley. Nothing has come of her speech except more phone calls with strangers’ saying how sorry they were and that they hope that Riley is found quickly.
Maryanne can’t help but think it is odd that the kidnapper has not called them yet. If it was related to Max’s work, then it would be about a ransom. Max has enough money. So why not call and blackmail him into giving them an insane amount of untraceable cash? What else could be a motivator?
Max paces back and forth across the living room. Neither have been able to go back to their rooms. It is too close to Riley’s for comfort. Maryanne has barely slept. The exhaustion is taking its hold on her, but she is fighting it. She shouldn’t be sleeping while everyone else is still awake and searching for Riley. Max has barely shown any sign of exhaustion. He is grim and alert at the same time.
He grumbles, pausing at the main window and watching the reporters, “They still have nothing new.”
Maryanne remains quiet, her eyes on one of the extra flyers on the table.
Max only continues, his shoulders bunched up and tense, “We shouldn’t just be sitting around not doing anything. We should be out there helping search.”
Opening her mouth to speak, her words don’t fall out right away. She has to clear her throat, and even then, her voice is still hoarse. “They want us here just in case the kidnapper calls in a ransom.”
Max waves the thought off, “They know that the police are here, they can just answer for us.”
“Maxwell,” Maryanne now looks over at him, her brow tight and her expression distraught, yet level. The glare she gives Max has him reeling back, clamping his mouth shut.
Blinking and looking away, he says, “I’m sorry, I’m just worried for her. It’s almost been twenty-four hours since she’s been gone.”
Maryanne tries to push all intrusive thoughts away. She can’t think of the worst, not now. “I know, so am I. They are doing their best to find her.”
“If Shelley wasn’t the one who took Riley, then who could it be? If it was for money, they would’ve called with their demands by now.” Max runs his fingers through his hair, uncertainty lining his features.
“I’m not sure. Are you positive that you can’t think of anyone that would want to harm Riley, or take it out on you?”
“No, none. I rarely make enemies in my line of work. Maybe people jealous of my money, or success, but I treat everyone fairly, and I haven’t even fired anyone in years.”
“Then who could’ve done this? It couldn’t be random, right?”
Max stands by the window and stares out at the yard and neighborhood, “I’m not sure. They came into our house, broke the window. They had to have been watching Riley for a while. They didn’t take her when she was outside, not that we ever leave her alone long enough for anyone to take her.”
Maryanne pauses, her mind working quickly to process all of the information. After a second, her eyes widen and she reaches out for Max’s arm, gripping tightly, “Wait, Max, wasn’t there someone else that had been watching us lately?”
His brow crumples together as he thinks, “You don’t mean. . . Caroline?” Now his eyes enlarge, and he stares down at Maryanne with both surprise and uncertainty.
“Do you think she has the capabilities of doing something like this?”
Max begins to shake his head, but decides to stop, “I’m not sure, it’s possible. She is sober now, so her mind is somewhat clear, but she also harmed you in that restaurant. She is reckless.”
Maryanne begins pacing back and forth as the pieces begin to fit, “She wouldn’t call for a ransom, though, because what she wants most of all is Riley. We don’t know if she even has a house to live in. She could be on the streets with Riley.”
Max follows her steps, “We would need to retrace her steps.”
Maryanne swallows the lump in her throat, “We have to tell the police.”
Giving her a curt shake of his head, Max says, “We can do this on our own.”
She frowns, standing in front of him, “Max, this is what they do for a living. They can help.”
He forces himself not to roll his eyes before giving in, “Fine, go tell them, but I’m going to do my own research and find her.”
Maryanne remains in the same spot, unsure, as Max whips out his phone and calls someone. She isn’t positive if this is a good idea or not. Should she tell the police? They can probably find Caroline a lot quicker than they can.
It takes her about ten minutes of standing there and staring at the officers, before she comes up with the decision to tell them. She doesn’t know what will happen, but surely they have the resources to find Riley. More so than Max who only has the money to buy information, not seek it out.
Maryanne takes a step towards the foyer, her mind made up. Her heart races with the fear of knowing that Caroline has Riley. She wouldn’t harm her, right?
Max rushes back into the room, grabbing onto her arm, “Maryanne, I found her.”
She blinks, trying to register his words, “You did?”
He nods roughly, “She’s staying at the abandoned duplex a few blocks from here.”
“She was that close this entire time?”
Max shrugs, “She must’ve wanted to be nearby, to watch.”
“We need to call the police.” Maryanne turns toward the foyer where there are still two officers sitting and chatting.
Walking into the opposite direction, towards the garage, Max says, “There’s no time. We know that she is unstable. If Riley stresses her out, there is a chance that she will snap.”