Chapter 104: Where’s My Wife? …

***Albert***.

The car drives into the drive way and I panic, as I see several police cars at the front.

I don’t even wait for the car to stop, I drop down, rushing into the house. My entire world is in there. 

“Selene! Selene!” I call as I walk past a few cops searching and dusting stuff at the foyer.

I see an officer picking something up and slipping it in an evidence bag. I push forward, ignoring them. I need to find my wife. 

“Selene!” 

“Albert.”

“Albert.” 

Both Henry and Kirsten call me, simultaneously. They are here. I try to quell the fear that suddenly erupts, but I fail. 

Kirsten’s crying and she has a wailing Isabel in her arms. My knees threaten to give as I recall the vision I saw of Selene moments ago in the car.

Isabel sees me and stretches her arms. I carry her, rocking her as I stare at them. 

“Where’s Selene?” I ask, horrified. 

“We don’t know, Albert. Faye called us minutes ago to tell us she couldn’t find Selene. So we rushed here, after asking her to call the police. We been calling you. Where were you? The police are dusting for finger prints.” Henry explains.

A distraught Kirsten is clutching him tight, as she cries. I look around, my entire world already tilting. I see my phone. Missed calls.

“Selene…” I mutter under my breath as I march. “Where’s Faye?” I ask crossly, as I move further inside.

Henry and Kirsten follow behind. 

“Faye is being questioned by the police. They suspect kidnapping. No demands have been made yet.” Henry walks with me, as I see Faye in the kitchen being questioned. 

I’m fucking mad as I come in and see the woman on a hot seat.

*Does she look like a fucking criminal to them?*

Whoever took Selene is out there, probably giving himself a fucking trophy for getting my wife. 

“Does this woman look like a fucking criminal to you, officer?!” I slam my hand hard on the marble, as I glare at the officer in charge.

Both of us lock gazes. Isabel’s shrill instantly breaks my anger and I find myself rocking her again. She cries for a few moments, before she quiets down.

“How dare you come in here and accost an officer?” The man barks.

“I own this house and the woman you search for is my wife. You stand here, asking the nanny, when the fucking criminal that took my wife, is there probably drinking a few beers celebrating.” I retort, trying not to scare Isabel again. 

“My kid needs her mum and you're here questioning her nanny. Have a heart, man.”

All this time, Henry’s trying to calm me down, holding me, but I shrug him off. 

“Let go, Henry! Someone needs to tell these guy the truth.” I throw at the man.

He looks at me, affronted. 

“I can arrest you for insulting an officer…”

“I’d like to see you try, officer and you will tell the judge the reason my child is crying, and you are accosting her nanny for something she didn’t do...”

“Sometimes, it’s the innocent ones who commit the crimes. We’ve seen it many times in our field of work…”

“Bullshit!” I roar and storm out of the kitchen.

I palm my face in frustration, pacing for a few seconds. 

“Albert, please calm down for Isabel. She needs you now.” Kirsten cries.

I look down at Isabel, who is clutching me tight and my heart breaks. My girl is missing her mum. I can see her pain. I feel it in my heart. 

“Mr Bethel.” It’s the officer again.

I don’t turn around. If I do, I’d do something I would regret. 

“I understand your anger and it is justified. But we were only following procedure in there. We had to question her to see what she can remember.” 

“Where’s my wife?” I ask, crossly. “You’re here, bugging an innocent woman who has done nothing but love my kid and you tell me you were following procedure.” I still don’t turn.

My eyes sting with unshed tears. 

God knows the situation Selene is in right now.

My chest tightens from the fear I feel. I wouldn’t put it past Alia to do this. The woman is mad. 

“Is there anyone you suspect?” The officer asks.

My mind races to a million possibilities but nothing. I can’t give him Alia, because I don’t even know where she is.

I heave a heavy sigh, Isabel already sleeping in my arms. Her soft hair beneath my chin. Her mum’s perfume floats in my nose.

Now I shed tears. 

I stand like that for a few seconds and cry. I feel Henry behind me, comforting me and I just go on. I don’t mind being surrounded by others as I break.

Selene has the better part of me with her and If I don’t find her, am nothing. 

“I need my wife.” I mutter repeatedly under my breath.

Kirsten comes forward and guides me to a divan in the living room. I sit down and I suddenly perceive Selene’s scent on the divan. I can feel her presence on it. I sink in, taking my comfort from her scent. Letting it cool my troubled spirit. 

“She will be fine, Albert.” Kirsten assures.

I raise my tear brimmed eyes to her, nodding. She smiles, touching Isabel’s soft hair as she sleeps. Henry’s standing on my other side. 

“Did you find her phone? I put a tracker on her phone.” I finally breathe, looking at the officer.

My mind beginning to work again. 

The officer turns to one of his men and instructs him. They ask for her number and I give it to them. 

“We will be on our way now. When we track her phone, we will inform you…”

“No, inform my cousin; Mr Macklesfield here.”

“Why?” The officer looks at me, confused. 

“Because I'm going to search for my wife.”