Chapter 148

Chapter 148
Skylar

“Where were the two of you?” Freya asked.
“We went to take care of something,” Asher said.

“What did Hilda make? I’m starving,” Miles said.
“Seriously, we ate like two hours ago,” Asher said, looking at him.
“Hey, I’m still growing; I need food,” Miles said, walking into the kitchen.

He returned ten minutes later with a sandwich. I saw the door leading to the kitchen push open, and Hilda came into the living room. “Hilda, is something wrong?” I asked, looking at her. She looked worried.

“My daughter called me two hours ago; my grandson wasn’t at school. I went to help her look for him.”
“Did you find him?” Asher asked her.

" We did, but they won’t let him go. A woman, she has him, and she says she’ll only return him to us if we give her Adriel. I cannot do that; you have to do something,” she said.
“We knew they would come to you, but we didn’t think they would get your family members,” Asher said.
“You, you knew?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Miles said. We explained it to her.

“Why did you tell us?” Asher asked her.

“Why wouldn’t I? Your wife treated me like family. I was here when she brought Adriel home and have been raising him. He is akin to my grandchild. Why would I allow anyone to hurt him?” she said matter-of-factly.
“Okay, then. What are you supposed to do?” Chris asked her.

“I’m supposed to wait until Mrs. Rhys and Mr. Rhys leave, either to work or anywhere else, and I am alone with Adriel. I know Samuel is always around, so I wasn’t worried until she… She said I should poison the security. I refused, and she cut my grandson, so I agreed. I came back right away and told you,” she said shakily.

“Okay. We’ll give them what they want,” Asher said, and we began setting our plan into motion.
“She gave me a phone,” Hilda said, putting the phone on the table. Asher picked it up and checked it. Suddenly, the phone began ringing, and Hilda jumped. “Answer it and put it on speaker. Miles, get a pen and paper,” I said.

“Freya, can you take Adriel to the other room?” I asked.
Okay,” she said, picking up Adriel and leaving. Miles came back with a pen and notepad.

Asher:

“Answer it.” She answered and put the phone on speaker.

HILDA: He… hello.
STRANGER: Have you decided?

I looked at Skylar and Miles. “Sophia,” I mouthed, and they nodded. I looked at Hilda and nodded.

HILDA: Ye…yes. I… I’ll do it.
SOPHIA: Good. Now where are you?

I saw Sky hurriedly write something and then turn the notepad towards Hilda.

HILDA: I am back at work, in the kitchen.
SOPHIA: And where are they?

Sky wrote something again and turned it towards her.

HILDA: Out back with the rest of the family.
SOPHIA: Good. The minute they leave and you have a chance, call me. If you say one word to anyone, you can collect your grandson’s dead body.
HILDA: Please don’t, I’ll do it, I promise.
SOPHIA: Good.

The call ended, and Hilda was looking at us. “You’ll call her back and tell her we’re planning a dinner for tomorrow night, and you’ll be in charge of Adriel,” I said, looking at her, and she nodded.

“Chris, you’ll inform Detective Bryson on the situation, and we’ll get this all sorted out tonight.”
“Okay,” Chris said, standing up. Around five, Mateo and Lana walked in.

“Hey Rhys,” Lana said.
“Cutie pie,” she yelled, walking past me and heading straight to Adriel.
“Hey Rhys, are you good?” Mateo asked, patting my shoulder.
“I’m good,” I said, looking at Lana.
“It’s baby fever,” he said, and I shook my head.

I walked over to her and took Adriel away. “She’s a busybody,” I said to him and tickled him.
“Hey, I’m his godmother; it’s my right,” she said, looking at me. I looked at Sky, who had just walked into the room, and she nodded, so I handed Adriel back to her, and she smiled. During dinner that night, I read Lana and Mateo in on what we would be doing. “Okay, call the detective, and let’s get started,” Mateo said. “Hilda?”
“Yes, Mrs. Rhys, are you ready?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. She went back to the kitchen and returned with the phone in her hand. She put it on the table. Skylar already had the pen and notepad on the table. She began writing, and after a few minutes, she put it in front of Hilda.

“This is what you’ll tell her,” Sky said, and she nodded. “Wait, I’ll record this for evidence; can’t give her any chances to say it was a prank,” Miles said, and that was a good idea.
Hilda dialed the number, and it rang three times before it was answered, but the person on the other end didn’t say anything. I nodded at Hilda to speak.

HILDA: They will be gone tomorrow night?
SOPHIA: Where?
HILDA: Dinner, I’ll be alone with Adriel.
SOPHIA: See, it was that easy. Where are they having dinner? I don’t trust you not to lie to me, so I’ll have to make sure they are where you say they are.

Sky grabbed the notepad and scribbled something.

HILDA: I don’t know. I wasn’t told. You can always watch them when they leave. Wait—
SKYLAR: Hilda, sorry, I just needed to ask. Do you have enough snacks for Adriel? I don’t want him to become rowdy tomorrow night while we’re away. As it is, we won’t be returning until midnight or early morning.

Sky scribbled something else, and Hilda nodded.

HILDA: He has enough, Mrs. Rhys.
SKYLAR: Okay, then. I’m heading to bed. Good night.
HILDA: Good night, Mrs. Rhys.

Hilda didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and she looked at Sky, who nodded.

HILDA: That was close. She could have heard me.
SOPHIA: Good job. Now, the security details. Tomorrow morning, I’ll call you to meet me to get the drugs.
HILDA: What will the drugs do?
SOPHIA: You’ll find out. Wait for my call. The faster we do this, the faster you get back your precious grandson.

The call ended, and I looked at Lana. “We need a hidden camera for tomorrow. For Hilda,” I said. “And a baby. Well, a dummy in place of Adriel,” Sky said. “I’ll inform the detective,” Chris said.