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Story: The Inquisitor

After I hung up with Hank, I called Bruce. After our conversation earlier, he would tell me everything he knew.

“I don’t know. I swear.” Fear made Bruce’s voice waver. “The only time I know something’s up is when they contact me to do something for them. No one has called.”

Silence filled the conversation as I waited to see how much Bruce wanted to get out of the organization by helping me.

“Normally I get a call a few hours before a job is needed. But I can call around and ask.”

“You do that and let me know. Text if you have to.” I’d given him a burner phone to communicate before I left the fishing resort.

Who had taken her? Why?

I paced around my office as thoughts pounded my head, trying to figure what to do. I didn’t have Olivia’s number, otherwise I’d call her too. Should I reach out to Bruno? Was he or his associates responsible for Kiera’s disappearance?

My phone rang and interrupted the silence in the room. I grabbed it, thinking it was Bruce, but it was Detective Donnelly.

Terror escalated, and my body tensed. Receiving a call from a detective at this moment wasn’t a good sign.

“Yes, Detective.”

“Sorry to bother you, Forrest. But we just discovered something disturbing. We need your help.”

Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at a residential street that overlooked the industrial section of town. Olivia’s car was parked crookedly along the curb, which told me they’d probably pulled over unexpectedly.

Kiera’s camera and a shopping bag from Full Circle Apothecary were in the back seat. She went to Grandma’s shop today? I should’ve gone with her and introduced them.

Detective Donnelly gestured to the house where the car was parked. “The resident claimed he heard crows and went to the window. He saw men push the girls into a black van and drive off. He didn’t get the license plate number because his vision is bad.”

The detective handed over Chococat with the heart pin. “This was in the street near the car.”

“Thank you.” I clasped the plush tightly as a sharp pain stabbed my heart.

I dusted the dirt from the stuffed animal and prayed Kiera and Olivia were safe.

Clenching my free hand into a fist, I vowed to find these assholes.

“I’ll have my officers review all the cameras around the vicinity and let you know if we find anything.” He pointed to the car. “We have to tow this for further examination.”

After speaking with Detective Donnelly for a few more minutes, I took Kiera’s and Olivia’s belongings with me and drove around the area, hoping to spot her. It wasn’t the most efficient idea. I knew I wouldn’t find her, but I had to look. Just being in the area where she’d been abducted made me feel closer to her.

Was she afraid? Was she safe? Did they hurt her?

So many emotions roiled inside me, and I couldn’t think clearly. Though I wanted to destroy the world to find her, I knew she needed my clarity and stability. She was waiting for me, and every second counted.

An hour or so later, I pulled over on the side of the road and called the campground, asking them to connect me to Bruno.

“I don’t know man,” Bruno said. “I’ve been trying to reach them because I need to return the rental tomorrow.”

I sensed the truth in his voice. “Let me know if you hear of anything.”

“Okay. I’m due to arrive in Providence for another photoshoot, so I won’t be around. You can reach me at this number anytime. Keep me posted on Kiera and Olivia. I’ll alert FitFlex.”

Next I called the PI. “Can you get all the video recordings around this area ASAP?” I rattled off the location. Waiting for the police to get back to me would take too long. My baby didn’t have time. “Track my girlfriend’s phone too. She’s missing.” After I gave him her number, I headed home.

I took a quick shower, hoping to release the stress and to clear my head. My phone rang again, and I rushed to pick it up.

I wasn’t in the mood to talk to Grandma because she’d have sensed something was wrong. I didn’t want to worry her, butI couldn’t ignore her call. What if she needed my help?

Grandma was the only other woman who worried me right now