Chapter 31 Into The Trap
Everyone was caught by surprise. No one dares to talk when Rowan is talking, not to talk of yelling.
The supervisor took Rowan's silence for acceptance. He hurried to his office and came back with his laptop.
"I think I have the right schedule." The supervisor said after going through his email.
"Sorry?" Rowan asked as if he didn't hear the first time.
"She sent me the right schedule." The supervisor repeated.
"So how come you have another one?" The manager asked Belinda.
"I sent what she sent to me." Belinda responded, a little nervous.
"Let me have a look." The supervisor checked the document on Belinda's computer. "This document has been modified and it's from this computer, "he said.
"Did you do that? Rowan questioned Belinda. The tensed atmosphere in the office was palpable.
"I don't know how this happened but I promise, I didn't tamper with the document."
"But you can as well admit the mistake was not from me as evident on your computer." Amanda fired at Belinda. Her anger evident in her tone.
Rowan looked at Amanda but she looked away immediately.
"You had better fix this before the end of today or else you forget about your job." Rowan said to Belinda before he retired into his office.
The meeting was dismissed quietly with everyone gossiping about what just happened.
Immediately she got back to her office, Amanda sent Rowan an email. Her tone was professional.
"Good day, Mr. Rowan. I am having a bad day and I would like to take the rest of the day off so as not to affect other employees with my problem. Thank you for understanding sir."
When Rowan read the email, he knew that Amanda was getting back at him for what he said to her.
As she walked out, she declined the offer of a ride from Rowan's driver. "Thank you. I can find my way home and do not come to pick me up henceforth." Her tone was harsh.
The driver reported the incident to Rowan. He thought about what to do for a while, then he decided to take action.
"Get the car ready. We are moving in 10 minutes." Rowan instructed the driver.
Yes sir!"
Meanwhile, Amanda decided to take a walk from the junction to her house. She needed the walk to wash off her emotions. The incident with Belinda had left her frustrated and hurt, especially considering the way Rowan had reacted.
Amanda attempted to call Detective Wills once more. As usual, the call did not connect.
"What is going on with this man? It's been 3 days with no call or text from him." Amanda thought.
Just as she was about to put her phone back into her mini handbag, a video message notification appeared on her phone.
"What is this?" Amanda asked before opening the message.
Her heart raced as she opened it and saw her daughter, Adora, happily swinging at a playground. The smile on her daughter's face brought a momentary sense of relief and joy to Amanda's troubled mind.
But her relief was short-lived when she noticed the message that accompanied the video: "She's safe for now."
Panic washed over her immediately. She dialed her mother's number.
"Mother, where are you?" She asked when she picked up the call.
"I am still at the salon. What is it?" Mrs. Roberts asked.
"And the kids?" Amanda quivered
"They will still be in school. What is it, Amanda, you are getting me worried. Mrs. Roberts asked over the phone.
"Can you talk right there?" Amanda asked, looking around to see if she was being followed.
"Okay, give me a minute. I will call you right back." Mrs. Roberts dropped the call.
Right after the call dropped, her phone rang again. Thinking it was her mother, she picked up the call immediately.
"Mother, there is a problem." Amanda cries
"Did you just know that?" A husky voice asked her over the phone.
Amanda removed the phone from her ear. The call was from a private number.
"What do you want?" Amanda asked, trying to be confident.
"You" the man responded.
"Who are you?" Amanda asked again.
"You do not need to know." The man said. "But you know I have your daughter."
Amanda's heart sank in fear. "Where is my daughter?"
"Here, Safe. But just for a moment. I am not friendly with kids" The man over the phone laughed mysteriously.
Amanda started crying. "Please, don't hurt my daughter. She is just a little girl. Please."
The man mocks Amanda. "You want to save your daughter? Then it's simple, follow the instructions I am about to give to you."
"Okay," Amanda wipes her tears, trying to be attentive.
"If you tell anybody, including your mother, your daughter will be dead in 30 seconds." The man threatened.
"I will not tell anybody, I promise. Just keep my daughter safe." Amanda pleaded.
"Don't try to play smart. If you inform the police, I will not hesitate to kill your daughter. You will not even be privileged to see her dead body." The man continued with his threats.
"Please don't do that. I will not inform the police." Amanda cries.
The call dropped. Amanda's heart pounded in her chest. A message came in from the caller. It was an address.
"5396 North Reese Avenue, Fresno CA 93722. Come here. You have one hour"
Her phone rang again. This time it was Rowan. She fought the urge to pick up the call. She was scared she would spill out everything and that will put Adora in danger.
"How will I explain to Rowan that my seven-year-old daughter was kidnapped?
Her mother's call also came in but she ignored it. The threats were real, and the fear for Adora's safety paralyzed her.
She hurriedly made her way to the address provided. Upon arrival, Amanda found herself in an unfamiliar and desolate part of the city. The location seemed abandoned, with rundown buildings and overgrown weeds. There was an eerie silence.
She was about to dial the mysterious man when she saw a message notification. " Go in"
Amanda obeyed the instruction. There were no signs of life. "What now?" She asked herself.
Another message came in. "Drop your bag and every other thing with you except your phone."
Amanda sighed in frustration. But she dropped everything as instructed.
The next message was to walk in further and turn left then right again. She continued to go on further.
"Now drop your phone and turn right." Another message came in. At this point, Amanda was frustrated. She had a feeling she was being lured into a trap.
Before she dropped the phone, she put on her wifi and connected her phone to the other phone she dropped earlier. It was the work phone and the hotspot is always on.
After a while, Amanda realized that she was lost in the labyrinthine corridors of the old structure. With no further instruction or a sign of anyone. She tried to find her way back but the complicated building won't let her.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind, overpowering her. Before she knew it, she was tied down and blindfolded.
Meanwhile, Rowan who had followed her initially to apologize for what had happened at the office reached her residence. With nobody to attend to him, he was already leaving when Mrs. Roberts arrived.
"Mr. Xi, why are you standing outside? Is Amanda not home? She asked.
"I don't think so. I have been ringing the bell for a while." Rowan responded.
"Have you called her?" Mrs. Roberts pressed.
"She is not picking up." Rowan replied.
"She is not picking up my calls too." Mrs. Roberts was quiet for a while, wondering about the situation.
"Something is definitely wrong. She called and the conversation was weird. She asked if I could talk where I was and I told her to give me a minute. Since then, she has not been picking up my calls." Mrs. Roberts explained.
"She sounded distressed on the phone which is why I rushed back home."
Rowan listened intently. His heart raced as he processed the information.
"Thank you for telling me. Please go in. I will look for her." He said to Mrs. Roberts before he walked back into his car. He called the head technician at the office.
"Find Amanda now" His voice was clear, loud and fierce.