CHAPTER 112: WORRY TO DEATH

I am sweating bullets right now like a frantic and agitated convict at his death row while staring at Pamela, who was talking to Marcus, her friend with connection to a certain group, over the line for almost an hour. I had been in this delirious state since yesterday when we received his call stating that the hired kidnappers will commence the plan. 

Every minute that passes, cold sweats excreted from my body that I could almost feel myself fainting at what would happen. I was extremely anxious for my daughter’s safety, although Pamela and Marcus gave me the assurance that there was nothing to worry about, I still couldn’t force myself to calm down and be optimistic just as Pamela was.

After what seemed to be like an eternity, Pamela finally placed her phone down and gradually faced me. Judging solely by the looks on her face, the radiant glow emanating at it, Marcus must have informed her with such great news about the plan. 

“What happened? Did the group manage to get Michelle safely? Was she alright?” I asked nervously, but she just remained in silence and simply smiled widely before walking her way towards me. My patience wore thin at her calm demeanor, which made me grab her by her arm to urge her to speak and tell me what I was dying to know. “Is my daughter safe and alright, Pamela?” 

“Yes! She’s fine, Michael! Michelle is now with the group and was unharmed as agreed upon!” She angrily muttered before hastily freeing herself after huffing scornfully. 

“When will we have her? When will they bring her to us? Or better yet we go there now and get her ourselves, right?” 

“Will you breathe, Michael! Stop fidgeting and get a hold of yourself! You have been enormously anxious for days and it’s driving me crazy! Calm down and breathe, alright?” 

“But…”

“This matter takes time, Michael. The group will not hand Michelle to us not unless we have the ransom money from Penelope. That’s the agreement. And we should comply with that agreement if we want to have Michelle.”

“So what now? When will we call Penelope to ask for a ransom?”

“I will deal with it. Marcus and I will discuss it further tomorrow morning. We better pack our things, because we will have to fly to New York to meet the group in person” I stared at her with uncertainty, not one hundred percent sure that everything will work out well. “Michael,” She held my hands with haste and her smile broadened. Her eyes were glistening brightly and assured. “Trust me on this. We have it in the bag. Everything will be alright and you will have Michelle soon just as we planned it.”

***

I was indignantly skeptical even if Lewis constantly assured me that everything will be fine. I couldn’t help but feel dispirited and completely frightened at the thought of my daughter’s current condition while we were on our way back to New York City. My mind was chaotically rummaging and I couldn’t think properly. All I ever wanted was to retrieve Michelle, to have her back, safe and sound. 

There was a huge part in me that resented being away from her. Although there were people delegated to protect her, I could have guarded her more if only I was with her the time she was held captive. I have already spoken to Carol and she detailed everything that occurred that day Michelle was taken. As I relived her words, tremendous fear swallowed me whole for my daughter’s safety. 

According to her, she and Michelle were on their way back to the mansion after spending hours at the mall. Almost near home, two cars barricaded their path and opened fire at them. The masked men forcefully opened the doors, pointed guns at them. At first she thought they could be robbers, until Michelle was taken, and not a single valuables were taken alongside with her. Their driver was shot at the leg for his attempt to fight the kidnappers, as she was rooted from her seat due to a gun pointed straight at her head. The incident happened so quickly like the kidnapping was meticulously planned. The masked men did the job in a matter of minutes and fled away as swiftly as possible. 

With her statement, it only proves that whoever those men were, their intentions were of almost certainty. And that was to kidnap my daughter for ransom. That’s the only thing I see fit why these wicked men did what they have done. They must have seen it on television, how I willingly offered a huge amount in exchange for the captivity of Nicole. 

These people were smart in thinking. If I had released a million dollar reward for my father’s murderer just like that, they knew that I would give whatever they demanded of me if it was my daughter’s life that was  at stake. And as of this very moment, there is no amount whatsoever that I wouldn’t hand over just to have Michelle back to me. Whatever it takes, how much it costs, I will without a shadow of a doubt give anything they ask for just to have a chance to see and be once again with my precious daughter. 

“We need to go again to the station network to inform the public of  Michelle’s disappearance” I nonchalantly uttered out of the blue, which made Lewis’ head automatically turn at me. 

“What? Why?” 

“To let the public be aware, so they can once again help us find whoever took her. I will once again do what I did to Nicole in order to find her whereabouts.” 

“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to do that, Penelope? What if this will make the kidnappers angry? What if this will trigger them to harm Michelle instead? Don’t you think it’s best if we wait for their call? I bet they will call soon enough and tell us what their demands are. I think  we should wait, Penelope. We couldn’t act irrationally, because Michelle's life is at stake here. One wrong move and we could jeopardize her safety.” 

I looked at him fully disoriented. I don’t know what to think anymore. I know he was right, but my anxiety was killing me by the minute. No mother would bear this kind of situation. No mother will not worry to death if their beloved offspring was kidnapped and God knows how they were doing right now. And just like any mother in the world, I am more than willing to give my very life and whatever it is in exchange for Michelle's safety.