Chapter 29: Fifteen Minutes Late

I looked at my watch for the tenth time in five minutes. It was 9:45 AM. The board members were already sitting in the big dining room of the Vance estate. They were talking quietly and checking their phones. I stood by the large wooden doors. My eyes were on the long driveway.

Serena should have been here fifteen minutes ago.

"Edward, we need to start," Michael whispered, stepping up next to me. "The board is getting upset. Louise is already inside, and she looks very happy."

"She’s not answering her phone, Michael," I said, my voice low. I called her number again. It went straight to voice mail. "She promised she would call the second she got to her parents' house. Something is wrong."

"Maybe she just got busy with her mother?

"No. Serena knows what today means. She would not just go quiet." I felt a cold fear grow in my stomach. I turned to one of my headguards. "Send a team to the Blake apartment. Now."

I pushed open the doors and walked into the meeting. Louise was sitting at the head of the table. She had a smile on her face that made me very angry.

"Where is your lovely wife, Edward?" Louise asked.

"She’ll be here," I said, taking my seat.

I spent the next thirty minutes going through the motions. I showed the papers about the money fraud. I talked about the paid killer. But my mind was somewhere else. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out under the table.

It was a text from my guard: Sir, we found her car. The keys are in the car. The door was open. Her phone is on the seat. Serena is gone.

The room began to spin. My heart felt like it was being crushed. My phone slipped from my fingers and hit the carpet.

"Mr. Vance? Are you alright?" one of the board members asked.

I did not answer. I stood up so fast my chair fell back. "The meeting is over," I said loudly.

"Excuse me?" Louise stood up, looking shocked. "Edward, we haven't even voted on the CEO job!"

"I don't care about the vote!" I shouted, pointing a finger at her. "Where is she, Louise? What did you do with her?"

Louise blinked, looking confused. "I don't know what you're talking about. Is Serena missing? How sad. Maybe she finally saw she does not belong in this world."

"If you have hurt her, I will not wait for the police," I said, leaning over the table. "I will end you myself."

I turned and walked out of the room. Michael followed me.

"Michael, call every contact we have," I said as we ran toward the SUV. "I want every traffic camera in Oaktown checked. Look for anything strange near the Blake apartment. Louise is behind this. She has to be. She’s the only one with a reason."

"Ed, wait," Michael said. "Louise was here all morning. She came early. If she did this, she used other people. We need more help than just my team.”

"We’re going to find my mother," I said.

We drove fast to the small garden house Lily had been staying in on the edge of the estate. I went inside without knocking.

Lily was sitting by the window with a book. She looked up. Her face was calm.

"Edward? What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Serena is gone," I said, falling into a chair. I put my head in my hands. "Louise kidnapped her. She took her from her parents' house. I found the car empty."

Lily stood up and walked over to me. She put a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, my dear boy. I told you Louise was dangerous. I told you she would not let that girl take what she thinks is hers."

"I need your help, Mother," I said, looking up at her. My eyes were burning. "You know the people Louise talks to. You know the dark parts of this city. Help me find her. I don't care about the money. I don't care about the company. I just want my wife back."

Lily sighed and sat down. She looked calm. "Edward, if Louise has her, she won't keep her in the city. She will take her somewhere private."

"Wait... Louise had a secret place she once told me about. A small place by the water that nobody knows about."

"Where?" I asked. Hope grew in my chest.

"It’s an old fishing warehouse in the North Harbor," Lily said. "But Edward, you can't go there alone. Louise will have men. You need the police."

"I'm not waiting for the police to fill out papers," I said, standing up. "I'm going now."

"Wait," Lily said, reaching out to grab my hand. "Let me call a friend of mine. A private man who finds people. He can meet you there with help. We have to be smart, Edward. If we scare them, they might hurt her."

I looked at my mother. She looked so real, so worried for me. I felt bad for being so mad at her earlier. In the end, she was the only one I could trust.

"Thank you, Mother," I said, my voice breaking. "I'm sorry about before. I was just stressed."

"I know, Edward," she said, giving my hand a soft squeeze. "Family is the only thing that matters. Now go. Find your wife. I’ll stay here and talk with the man I know."

I stood up and walked back to the car. "Michael! North Harbor! The old fishing warehouse! Go!"

As the SUV drove away fast, I looked back at the house. My mother was standing in the doorway, watching us leave. I felt calm. Louise was strong, but my mother knew her better than anyone.

Hang on, Serena. I thought, holding the seat tight. I’m coming for you. I don't care if I have to fight Louise with my bare hands. I am bringing you home.