CHAPTER 38

TRAVIS

The light turns on and it wakes me up. I am sitting at Adam’s bedside waiting as the night nurse comes in to check his vitals. She gives me the nod as in he seems to be improving and after the doctor told me the next few days are going to be touch and go that is a good sign. 

He was in surgery for about 10 hours and in those 10 hours I had several cops and detectives question me on what happened. Finally the owner of the club surrendered over the surveillance footage from the club. It was a female that had already been there before we got there and was seen watching us the whole time we were there. 

They are running her facial recognition now and we should have a name here soon. One of my colleagues came here off the clock to check on me. He was so worried about Lucy and worried about me. He even asked me why I wasn’t out there looking for her but like I thought to myself I can’t get myself in trouble looking for her. I will end up hurting somebody in the process. 

I have never publicly been open about how much I love him except the club. So, to be by his side in the hospital is bringing new things to light. My friend from work that came by had concern in his eyes that I was at that club with Adam and my wife. But, I never let his concern worry me or offend me. 

They have started a man hunt trying to look for my vehicle and Lucy. So far there hasn’t been any luck and the trace they had with traffic cameras got lost when they made it to the country. So that just means she is somewhere probably in an abandoned building or house all alone and cold. 

I swear if I ever get hands on the person that did this to both of them I might end up in jail myself. I need to get out of here so bad but I know the moment I leave here it won’t end up good. So I am going to stay in this hospital until he wakes up and we figure out more about why she did this. 

I take the blanket off of me and get up out of the recliner I am sitting in. I start pacing around the room and just keep looking at him. He is hooked up to all the equipment and he looks almost dead and I just want to hold him and make it all go away. 

I have to step out for a minute to get a breather. I walk to the elevator and take it down to the 3rd floor where the cafeteria is. I haven’t eaten in like 40 hours and it is starting to catch up to me. The nurse tried to bring me some food earlier but I just couldn’t eat. The face she made when I denied it I could see the heartache in her eyes. 

I got in line and grabbed a sandwich and some chips. I paid the sweet lady at the cash register and went to sit down at one of the tables away from the other people in the cafeteria. The only person I can probably handle right now is the nurse. Shit I need to call her parents. Fukc why have I not thought about that. 

It is super late so I doubt they are up but I call them anyways. Her mom answered and I told them they needed to come to the hospital ASAP. The line ends and I throw my phone back in my pocket. They should be here in about 10 minutes so I need to finish eating and get down to the lobby to meet them. 

I finished what I could stomach of my food and wrapped the rest up for later. I grabbed it and started making my way to the elevator. I get on and hit “L” for the lobby and the doors close. My mind is racing and I am so mad at myself that I never called them. How could I not even think to call them?

The doors to the elevator open and I see them walking into the hospital as I am getting off the elevator. They rush over to me and both hug me at the same time. 

Her dad speaks first, “What happened son?”

“I still don’t know. I am so sorry I waited so long this happened last night. Adam is currently in the ICU and had surgery last night and Lucy…Lucy….”

Her mom gasps, “No she’s not!”

“No no as far as I know she is alive. She was kidnapped last night.”

Her dad huffs, “What do you mean she was kidnapped?”

“A few weeks ago she got a threat note left in her car. We had heard anything since then and we all decided to go out last night just to get our minds off of it. Well, Adam got a threat via text and I told him to take her to the car and I went to ask the owner for footage. While talking to him he got a call about a body in the parking lot. When I got there Adam was bashed in the head and Lucy and my car were gone.”

I put my head in my hands and continued to cry. I couldn’t hold it in anymore explaining to them what happened. They both pull me back in for another hug. 

Her mom says, “Have they got any leads on where she might be?”

“No, not yet. We got the warrant to seize the footage from the club we were at and it was a female that attacked them. So, they are running facial recognition now to see if they can identify her. I have been by Adam’s bedside since he got out of surgery and my mind has been all over the place trying to figure out what this woman wants.”

Her dad chimes in, “We completely understand and we will do whatever we can to get her back son. Trust and believe we want our daughter back just as much as you. I got some friends on the force as well and I will get them to dig into this.”

I look at him confused, “You got friends on the force?”

He laughs, “Oh yeah, I have a few friends in the FBI and CIA. I just never talk about it to protect everybody and especially their identities.”

“That is totally understandable. That is why nobody but you two knew about our relationship with Adam until now. But, at this point I don’t care as long as they both are safe and come back to me.”

I lean into them more because for as long as I can remember they are my only parents and I need somebody right now. 

“I am so sorry I couldn’t keep your daughter safe.”

Her dad pulls back, “Son, you did everything you could and more. If we knew anything about you, it is how much you love and care for our daughter. That will never change. We just have to work together alone with the police and get her home safely.”

“I know, I just should have left with them and maybe I could have kept them safe.”

Her mom grabs my arm, “Or maybe you would have been hurt just as badly as Adam and we wouldn’t have known anything. You did the right thing and we will get her back.”

I handed her dad Adam’s phone, “Here is the threat he got.”

He reads it and says, “There must be something seriously wrong with this girl! But, it looks like she just wants Adam. So why hurt him?”

“I don’t know, that is what I am trying to figure out!”