Chapter 4 - WHERE IS NOAH?
“NOAH!”
Arthur sprinted upstairs.
Empty bedroom.
Empty bathroom.
The stuffed dinosaur Noah slept with every night was lying on the hallway floor.
Maria came running behind him.
“I only looked away for a second!”
Arthur stared at the open service staircase.
Elena had taken Noah through the kitchen entrance while everyone was focused on the police.
Detective Warren radioed the plate number immediately.
“All units, possible parental abduction. Black Mercedes SUV heading east from Briar Hill.”
Arthur grabbed his keys.
Warren blocked him.
“You’re not driving.”
“That’s my son!”
“And you’re angry enough to kill somebody. Ride with me.”
Maria stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
“You stay here,” Warren said.
Maria’s eyes flashed.
“No.”
“Ma’am—”
“If Noah is scared, he’ll ask for me.”
Arthur looked at Warren.
“She comes.”
Thirty seconds later, the three of them were in the detective’s car.
Arthur called Elena.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
On the fourth try, she picked up.
“What do you want?”
“My son.”
“He is my son.”
“You kidnapped him.”
“I took my child out of a hostile environment.”
Arthur clenched his jaw.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can’t control me.”
Noah’s voice sounded faintly in the background.
“Dad?”
Arthur leaned toward the phone.
“Noah!”
The call ended.
“Damn it!”
Maria closed her eyes.
“Call again.”
“She won’t answer.”
“Don’t call her.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Call Noah’s watch.”
Noah wore a child-safe smartwatch Arthur had bought him after a school trip.
Arthur opened the tracking app.
The location icon appeared.
Moving.
Fast.
Route 17.
Northbound.
Warren hit the lights.
“Got them.”
They accelerated.
Maria gripped the seat.
“Where does that road go?”
Arthur stared at the map.
Then he knew.
“Our lake house.”
The house had been empty for months.
Private road.
Limited cell coverage.
A perfect place to disappear temporarily.
Forty minutes later, they reached the property.
Elena’s Mercedes sat outside.
Driver’s door open.
Arthur jumped out before the car fully stopped.
“Noah!”
He ran inside.
The living room was empty.
Kitchen empty.
Back door open.
Then he heard crying.
Downstairs.
Basement.
Arthur rushed toward the sound.
“Noah?”
“Dad!”
He found his son locked inside the wine cellar.
Arthur punched the security code.
Wrong.
Again.
Wrong.
Maria crouched beside the glass.
“Noah, sweetheart, we’re right here.”
Noah pressed both hands against the door.
“Mom said I had to stay!”
Arthur grabbed a fireplace poker and smashed the control panel.
The lock clicked.
He pulled Noah into his arms.
The boy buried his face against Arthur’s neck.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
Arthur held him tighter.
“I will always come.”
Warren searched the house.
“No Elena.”
Arthur looked around.
“Her car is here.”
Maria walked toward the kitchen window.
“Then she left another way.”
Noah suddenly tugged Arthur’s sleeve.
“Dad?”
“What?”
“Mom was talking to Mr. Daniel.”
Arthur went still.
“What did she say?”
Noah swallowed.
“She said you found out too early.”
Arthur glanced at Maria.
“What else?”
“She said they had to go to the airport.”
Warren immediately reached for his radio.
Then Noah added one more thing.
“And she said Maria has to disappear before tonight.”
Maria’s face went pale.
A loud crack exploded through the window.
Glass shattered.
Arthur threw himself over Noah.
Warren drew his weapon.
May you like
Maria screamed.
A bullet had buried itself in the wall exactly where her head had been.
