EPILOGUE.

EPILOGUE - Reese



“Where's Lennie?” I panicked.

“She was right beside me, I kept her right beside me.” Luther ran his fingers through his hair as he paced around.

“Did anyone get here? Did you hear footsteps? She possibly can't crawl.”

“I have to notify the police, I mean... she was beside me...”

“I will call the rest.” I nodded at him and ran back inside to fetch my smartphone. I had called Regina first to break the news to her about Lennie's whereabouts. I searched everywhere for her, in fact I searched for places where it mustn't have been possible for her to have gone to.

I was devastated, knowing that someone did this and would cause my child harm. I called my parents and cried to them on the phone. My parents had assured me they would come to meet us as soon as possible. I had cried my eyes out after looking at the spot Luther placed Lennie in. A Lot of thoughts have run through my head, so many what ifs kept roaming in my head also. I didn't know what to do or say to Samuel. My mind wasn't at ease as the time flew by, Luther had assigned his private investigator to help us out about Lennie's whereabouts.

“Do you have any idea of who might have done this?” The investigator asked.

“I think I remember, we had issues with Petra and her uncle.” Luther said.

“Why can't David ever back off?” My mother had cried in the arms of my father.

“We didn't hear a footstep when it happened, we were so engrossed with whatever we were doing.” Luther explained to the private investigator.

“Alright Samuel, I will do everything I can to find Lennie. I promise.” She patted him on the shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.

I haven't been able to speak ever since we couldn't find Lennie. I could not seem to wrap my head around her going missing. All I did was sob silently, my lips quivered and it felt like I wasn't listening to what everyone was saying.

Samuel's private investigator had left, my parents including Regina decided to stay back in my house for a while. I haven't got the time to say anything to Luther either. I didn't know what to tell him, maybe if I hadn't suggested we go to the garden, Lennie wouldn't have gone missing.

“... Hey.” Luther uttered, walking towards me in order for him to sit beside me on the sofa.

“It was my fault, it was my fault... I should have...” I stuttered, trying hard to hold back my tears.

“We couldn't have known, we will find her.” His lips were pressed on my head as I felt him inhaling my hair.

“How? I can't... find my daughter.” I sobbed.

He engulfed me in a warm hug. “I promise you, we will find whoever is behind this.”

I nodded and wiped the tears off my face and hugged him tighter.

__

It has been four days since Lennie went missing and I haven't been able to eat. Luther hadn't left his place so he spent more time in my house. His overprotectiveness over me irritated me alot, I would get angry by the slightest thing he did and would break down into tears. I was miserable and pushed him away from me also.

“Reese I need you to understand that we have found a lead.”

“You have said that these four days, I am fed up.”

“I lost my child too! Do you think you are the only one affected by this? Do you know how hard it is for me not to have Lennie with us?” He roared in anger, I sat there livid and didn't know what to say to him. Whatever had made Luther vent today, meant he had been bottling up his sadness.

“I will get us some tea.” I uttered, quietly leaving to make us some tea.

Suddenly, I heard my phone ring. I initially thought it must have been Regina but the number on the ID caller was different. I hesitated to pick the call at first but I decided against it and gave whoever it was a chance.

“This is Reese Quinn, who am I speaking to?” I began.

The voice chuckled over the phone. “My... my... you have grown a lot.” I gasped as soon as I heard the familiar voice. It was my uncle's wife, how was she even able to reach me?

“What do you want?”

“Oh, I heard you people are trying to keep family matters discreet.”

“You and that miserable husband of yours should stay clear. Don't worry, I will be right here to remind you of all your deeds.” My voice sounded like there was viper and bitterness in it.

“Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, save yourself the stress. I have your child,” my heart raced as my eyes widened in shock after hearing what she said. “How I was able to pull it off is none of your business but trust me, I will ruin every bit of whatever gives you happiness and joy.”

“It was you...” I whispered.

“Don't fret too , darling. It will be good if you don't tell anyone about this, you call the police or tell Samuel, your daughter is dead.” I froze as she spoke.

I shut my eyes and tried to stay relaxed. “Okay, where should we meet?”

“The same place I have Lennie, come alone tomorrow. I will direct you through the phone calls.” She announced and disconnected the call.

“Who was that?” a familiar voice said in. “You look like you have just seen a ghost, does anything matter?”

“No... not at all, it's just Regina.” I tried feigning a smile whilst I dipped my phone into my pocket.

Somehow, I hoped my lie was able to convince him, it wasn't possible for me to tell him anything, not even anyone. It was going to be a hard decision to make but one way or another, I had to be calculative. Luther looked into my eyes and wasn't able to speak, all he did was to hold my hands tightly.

“Listen, I'm sorry for raising my voice at you earlier. I shouldn't have done that.” His tone was laced with guilt in them.

I cupped his cheek with my palm. “I understand, things have been hard for you too but please don't bottle up things when you are with me, Samuel. I should have been considerate that we were both in this together. I just need us by our sides.” I kissed his lips thereafter.

“I love you.”

“Did the detective say anything about Petra?” I asked him.

“Apparently, she knows nothing about Lennie's disappearance but you will be suing her for defamation.”

“What else?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah... I am fine.” I feigned another smile at him again.

__

It was as early as six in the morning, like my uncle's wife had ordered me. I lied to Luther that I was going for a jog and I would be right back. Luckily enough, I was able to get him not to notice that I had used a car. The journey to wherever she was leading me took hours in fact but I would take risks for my daughter.

“Good morning, darling.” Her call came in as I set my phone on loudspeaker.

“I am on my way, I want Lennie.”

“It won't be that easy until I see you, the clock is ticking.”

“Where do I turn next?”

“Turn left and meet me at the old house you see.”

“Almost there.” I replied, disconnecting the phone call afterwards.

After getting to the location I was ordered to wait in, I took my time to observe the surroundings. The place was filled with trees, the house looked a bit crooked and old. It made me nervous at first but I managed not to panic.

“Look who we have here.” I turned to look at who it was, it was my uncle and his wife, smiling warmly at me as though they did nothing cruel.

“Where's my child?”

“Relax, angel.” He uttered, I watched as he placed Lennie on the floor. A sigh of relief released my mouth.

“But you see, you...” my uncle's wife had brought out a gun and pointed it at my head.

“Reese!” I heard Samuel's voice, I noticed my uncle and his wife had shifted their attention to the cops who had lined up with guns in their hands. I took advantage of that and ran to my left, then I heard a gunshot.

Shit! Luther has been shot in the arm and this time, I knew the chaos was going to begin.

“Stay back or I'll kill the baby!” My uncle's wife yelled at the cops as she pointed the gun to Lennie who was on the floor. Her feet were kicking in the air whilst she wailed.

I looked towards Luther who was bleeding but held his arm firmly. I covered my mouth with my palm as I tried not to cry out loudly.

“Drop your weapon!” A cop ordered again.

“No. She took everything from me, even my husband's love, I can't lose.” I knew it was me she was referring to.

It all happened so fast, my uncle had attacked a cop who was behind him, a gunshot was heard and I heard a thud down the floor. It was my uncle's body. I shut my eyes tightly and didn't want to hear whatever that was happening until I opened my eyes to see my uncle's wife fell along too. I didn't know if they were alive or dead but I knew the situation was going to be ugly. A cop quickly ran to take a hold of Lennie and scooped her gently from the floor. Paramedics rushed to us with different stretchers in their hands.

__

“She's doing fine, just a bit dehydrated. Luckily, no infections were detected.” The doctor announced after checking up on Lennie.

“Thank you, Doc.” Luther replied, flinching a bit whilst he held his bandaged arm.

“A Lot has happened to us and I can't believe we are still here.” I said to him.

“I love you.” He kissed me on the lips.

“So are they dead now?” I asked him.

“Your aunt couldn't make it but David is definitely going to suffer.”

“I am scared.”

“Don't worry, we're all in this together.” Luther assured me.

“How did you even get there?”

“I sensed something wasn't right about the call you made, so I tracked your phone and informed the private investigator. ”

“You, silly!” I hit him playfully on his bandaged arm which made him growl in pain.

“Well, two can play the game.” He winked at me then deepened his mouth.