Page 49 of Defending A Promise
“No. It’s not okay. WHERE IS MY SON?!?”
A small voice from across the room says, “I saw him leave already.” I turn to see a little boy talking.
“Joseph. Are you sure?” Miss Rachel asks as Joseph nods his head.
“Yeah. He waved at me as he walked out the door.”
“Who was he with, Joseph?” Miss Rachel kneels down so that she’s eye to eye with him.
Joseph only shrugs. “I don’t know who it was ‘cuz the sun was shining through the door.”
Miss Rachel smiles at him, “Do you know if it was a grown up? Maybe another teacher?” she asks him.
Joseph just shrugs his shoulders again as my entire world disintegrates.
As I’m speeding through town to get to Declan’s house, I keep calling and texting him, but he’s not answering. I know he’s in court all day and he warned me that he wouldn’t be available,but if he has Nicholas, then his phone should be turned on. But Declan doesn’t answer anything.
When I pull into the driveway, my car isn’t there, but for some reason, I’m hoping he left a note or something for me. I storm into the house and instantly Bella is on alert. She doesn’t bark at me, but she’s by my side immediately.
“Declan! Nicholas! Are you here?” I call out as I run throughout the house but find no one home.
I look on the kitchen counter, on the refrigerator door, and in Nicholas’ room for any kind of note or sign that either one of them has been here since this morning, but again, I find nothing. I’m just about to leave and drive to the hospital in the hopes that Declan just drove straight there when my phone finally rings and Declan’s face pops up.
“Declan! Tell me you have Nicholas,” I demand as I answer.
“What? No. What’s going on, Riley? What’s happened?”
“OH, MY GOD!” I scream.
“Riley, baby, tell me what’s happening.”
The realization that my son is now missing and my stalker has finally won hits me all at once. I’m never going to see him again. “He’s got him. Oh, my god. He’s got my baby!”
“Where are you, Riley? Tell me where you are baby. I’m on my way.”
“I’m at home.”
“Are the doors locked?” I can hear sirens in the background.
“Um, I don’t know!” I say into the phone. “I want my baby!”
“Riley, I need you to listen to me carefully. We’ll find him but right now I need you to lock all the doors, grab Bella and pull out one of the guns and go sit in my bedroom. Can you do that for me?”
With Bella attached at my hip, I go to the end table and open the keypad where Declan showed me the other day. My handsare shaking so bad, I put the number in wrong and it makes a buzzing sound.
“Baby, one number at a time. 34953.”
I enter the numbers slowly the second time and it unlocks. “You’re doing great. Grab Bella and go into my room, close and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone. I’m almost there.”
“Bella – come.” I say to her as we run into the master bedroom and then into the master closet. “Okay, we’re in your closet.” I’m out of breath, shaking, and feel so lost. “Declan.”
“Yes, baby? I’m here. I’m not hanging up on you.”
“He’s got our boy.”
“We’ll get him back. I promise.”
Bella nudges me and then leans into me, and I grab onto her with everything I’ve got. She knows something is very wrong and even though she may not understand what’s happening, she’s standing guard over me – doing her job – and at this moment, I’m so thankful for her.
