“Adams! What’s up, man?” Lukas bolts from his chair and stands behind me. “Fuck!”
My hands falter as I open the email with the subject, Your Beloved Daughter.
Mr. Adams,
You have caused too many problems for us. We had no other choice but to take your daughter. I really hope you find her body before the newspapers do.
Your dear friend.
Daughter’s body. Daughter’s body.
I can’t seem to read anything beyond this.
Mere, I need to find her. I cannot lose her. All the images from the past months of the young girls found in all states of distress flood my brain.
I dial her number. Hoping I’ll get something. It rings once, twice, until…
“Hello,” she whispers in a hushed voice.
Thank God. She has her phone.
“Honey, where are you? Just tell me whatever you know about the place.”
Lukas gently pats my back and I turn the speaker on. Two better than one, in case there’s something in the background.
“Dad? What’s happening?”
“Mere, don’t talk too much. Just the location.”
“I’m at the library, Dad. What’s the matter?” Her hushed voice shoots my heart rate up.
“Are you sure?” My stomach tightens, adrenaline shooting through my system.
“Yeah. I’ve been here since—” She pauses, I think looking at her watch. “Oh crap! I promised Clem I’d be home in an hour and it’s been almost two hours since then. We’re working on a school project and I lost track of time. I’ll leave for home now.”
“No,” I yell. “You just stay where you are. Are there other people in the library?”
“Yeah,” she replies with some hesitation. “Several students. What’s the matter, Dad?” Her voice is filled with concern and worry.
“Listen to me very carefully, Mere. You remember our secret code?”
There’s a moment of silence, before she whispers, “You’re scaring me, Dad.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of, sweetheart, but you need to tell me that you remember the code.” My pulse slowly returns to normal, hearing she’s safe.
“I do.”
“Good. Someone from my team will come to pick you up. Go with them only if they say the code.”
She hums a yes.
“Don’t move from the library, Mere. Someone will pick you up and then we’ll talk. Till then, act normal and…be safe.”
I’m about to end the call when she says, “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, honey.” I grab the phone tight, wishing it were my daughter and not just her scared voice. “All is fine. Don’t you worry.”
Ending the call, I turn to Lukas. “I need you to pick up Mere.”