Page 8 of Frankie and the Fed

“Do you have proof?”

“She told me herself. I saw the bruises on her face.”

“Second-hand hearsay is not enough. Can she call us?”

“No! He’s kidnapped her. Don’t you understand? You need to go and get her out of there.”

“I don’t understand how she got kidnapped if this is her house. The address you gave me is the residential address of Ayala Summers. That’s the woman you mean, right?”

It’s like I’m speaking another language, and they just don’t understand. No wonder Michael Summers openly took her. The universe works in his favor. “I sent you the pictures he sent her. He threatened my life. How is that not enough?”

“We can’t see who’s holding the weapon in the photos. Do you have any proof the pictures have anything to do with Mr. Summers?”

He continues to explain that he has no cause to enter the house, but I’m raging and shouting, unable to reach this guy. He doesn’t seem to understand how urgent it is.

After a heated conversation, I convince him to send a car there, probably more because of my threats and connections, than anything else, but he agreed, and that’s what matters. I ask that they connect me with the officer in the field. I have to talk to him.

“Officer Garrison. What can I help you with?” he says in a rough voice after the connection is made.

“Officer Garrison, Ethan Wolf speaking. I need to warn you, the man who lives there is dangerous. He kidnapped Ayala, my girlfriend. No matter what he tells you, she’s in danger. You have to get her out of there.”

“You live in New York, don’t you?”

“Yes. He kidnapped her from here.”

Garrison sounds surprised. “Kidnapped her? From New York? And why do you think she’s with him?”

“He came to New York to take her. Trust me, she’s there. He’s crazy.” I hear voices in the background.

“Wait, are you talking about Mrs. Summers? Mr. Summers’ wife?”

“Yes. She’s my girlfriend. And she’s with him. He took her. I know she’s there.”

“Okay, we’re getting to the address.”

I hear the critical tone in his voice, and I don’t like it. She’s his wife on paper, but that’s it. And by God, I’ll figure out some way to make sure she won’t be his wife any longer. I hold back, knowing that yelling at Officer Garrison now won’t get me any further.

I wait for long minutes for them to come back to me, to hear her voice, to know she’s okay, that they saved her.

When I see the number of the station again on my phone, I stop breathing.

“Did you find her?”

“We found Mr. Summers at the address. His wife is not in the house. He explained to us she had a breakdown and was hospitalized in a private institute.”

“Fuck! She’s not hospitalized. She’s there. Check. You need to force—”

“We checked. He let us in, but she wasn’t there. I’m sorry, sir, but she’s his legal wife. And he has all the documents of the hospitalization. He’s her husband, not you.”

I slam the phone against the wall, and it shatters on the floor. “Fuck!” I shout, and Ryan comes running into the room.

“What’s happened?”

“I wasted hours on the police, and they tell me she’s not there. Everything I set up, everything I’ve done, years of work, and in the end, I can’t save her. I can’t...” My voice cracks. I’m going to lose a woman I love again.

Ryan stands silent, his phone clutched in one hand. He’s the only one who knows the complete story. Knows why I must succeed. No. He’s not the only one. Ayala also knows, and she’s still alive. I must not lose hope.

I take a deep breath and try to control myself. Losing my temper won’t help. She still needs me. This story is not over yet.