Chapter 30 Officer
COURTNEY
It's been fucking days, No calls, no text, no ransom demands.
My eyes squint at the piercing sunlight traveling through my curtains and into my room. I sit up with a frown - one that's been plastered on my face since Zora's public abduction.
When did that happen again? Two? three weeks ago? I don't keep track of the days anymore.
Fuck this. I'd given it more than enough time already. Zora would have come straight here if she'd been released. It's why I chose to stay here with the kids, the only place she and I know of.
If only I'd waited to see what happened, but the panic in her voice when she ordered me to take Leah and Tyler out was too strong to ignore. Those children were her life— Wait! Speaking of children, where could those smart asses be?
I strained my ears for any slight traces of the usual early morning banters between them, but I'm met with a defeaning silence. My feet shuffle out of bed, and before I knew it, I was half-running down the corridor leading to their room.
“When's mummy coming back?”
I halt in my tracks, my knuckles turning white against the doorknob. Oh, Leah. Poor child.
Zora, please be safe and come back as soon as possible. Your children miss you. I miss you.
Blinking a stubborn tear back into my eyelids, I push the door open and step into the room. “Who's being a whiney little thing this morning?” I say, managing a playful tone in my voice while putting on my ‘best godmother' expression.
Tyler directs his forefinger at Leah, who instantly wore a look of betrayal on her face.
I grinned as I easily trapped Leah with my arms, finding all her tickle spots until tears roll down her cheeks from too much laughter. Soon, we all lay down on the carpet, trying to catch our breath.
“Did something bad happen to mummy?” Tyler's voice softly breaks through the silence, making my breath hitch. Tyler was a strong kid. Despite his outspoken nature, his eyes held a lot more maturity than any kid I'd known.
Perharps, it was the perks of being a big brother to Leah, despite being her twin at the same time. Leah had long lost all hope, but Tyler, he's holding on, maybe for the sake of his sister, and there was no telling how long he'd last.
“Of course not”, I replied, sitting upright and helping them up as well. “Your mummy is the strongest person I know or don't you know that?”
My gaze settled on his face, noticing the subtle flicker in his eyes for a moment. Please believe me, I prayed desperately in my heart.
It seemed to have worked because he soon nodded firmly, throwing his arms around Leah as he murmured in her ears.
"Mummy's going to be back."
"Alright," I stood up, "Let's get ready."
“I don't want to go to school today” Leah cried as we waited for their school bus on the porch.
“Oh come on Leah” I managed not to sigh out loud in exhaustion.
“Can't we just stay in today, watch some TV with you, maybe?” Tyler butts in after his sister, making me chuckle in disbelief.
“So what then? Your mum skins me alive for indulging in your wishes? And what does that say about my clean godmother slate?” I ask, glaring at the both of them, but when Leah's eyes suddenly get teary, my heart instantly swells with guilt.
“I want mummy to take me to school” Leah says in a muffled voice as she bursts into tears.
Fighting to keep my eyes dry at least until they're out of sight, I squat down to her height, pulling her into a warm hug.
Honk! Honk!
We turned to see the school bus pulling up in front of the driveway, so I dried Leah's eyes and promised to pick them up from school myself.
I watched their small, lonely figures climb the bus. and when they're finally seated, I muster a smile and wave at them.
Once the bus was long out of sight, I fell to my knees and let the tears fall freely.
I need to do something now.
I stared up at the bold letters hung to the roof of the building, ‘Idaho Central Police Station’. This was my last resort to find my best friend. She was somewhere out there in the world. And she needed saving.
The nice lady at the counter gave me a number and directed me to one of the offices, which had a small badge on the door, ‘Chief investigator’.
I knocked and gently pushed the door open, letting myself in. I was not surprised to find a large-bellied man with a nonchalant air hovering around him.
I felt my stomach sink regardless. But I had to go on either way.
“Sit down” he ordered without glancing at me. I patiently took a seat facing him and slid a picture of Zora across the table.
“Where was she the last time you saw her?” He inquired, still not a glancing towards me or the fucking picture.
“Her wedding day, on the aisle, just about to get married” I replied, clearing my throat as I finally let the memories of that day flood my head.
“Was she happy?” He asked again, finally turning his gaze to meet mine, only with a hint of suspicion. A knot formed in the space between my eyebrows as I stared at him like he was foolish.
“Of course, she was happy with Lucas” I defended, my voice rising a note higher. “Everyone saw it. It was hard not to. I mean, why would you—? If anything, she wouldn't leave her children, and for weeks, officer”
“It's just a possibility, miss, we can't take any chances here” he said, raising his hands in innocence.
“Well you don't even know shit about her to make that a possibility” I snapped at him.
What a prick!
I glared at him in irritation.
Why would he even suggest that? Zora loved her life here. She loved us. She loved her children even more.
“I don't have to know that much, miss whatever” he retorted, finally sitting upright as he inched closer to the table between us. “Do you know how many people have been reported kidnapped only to find out it was a goddamn stunt just to run away?”
His nostrils flared, sweat dripping from the loose pores. “You think you know a person, until they pull some kind of fucked up shit that makes you realize you never knew them at all” he continued, his fists circling on top of the table.
My gaze lowered to the picture in front of me. Cheerful eyes, bright smile. “She wasn't running away officer” I mutter, my voice is low and trembling. “Her home was here. Her safety was here”.
“How could you be so sure?”, he asked.
“Because–”
My phone vibrated in my purse, stopping me mid sentence.
I furiously took out my phone and placed it on my ears.
“Yes, this is she” I said into the call impatiently.
“What! Tyler?”
I sprang to my feet, feeling my vision blur from the immediate dizziness I felt.
“I'm on my way” I reassured the person, hanging up as soon as I could.
“Tyler and Leah are the names of her kids” I began, swallowing the sobs in my throat. “They were really happy to finally have a father in their lives, and now they've lost both parents. Do with that information what you wish” I said, pushing the picture of Zora to his end.
“Good day officer” I shut the door behind me and left.
So much for thinking this would work!