Page 54 of Defending A Promise
There’s another file here and I click on it. “What’s this, Smith?” I ask as he stands there filling out reports.
He looks over at what I’ve clicked on. “That’s the footage from the elevator, but I’ve already watched it. It’s only Riley and Roxanne Dawson, the real estate agent. They don’t talk to anyone else.”
I nod and hit play to see for myself. Maybe I can see someone in the background since the elevator is made of all glass. At this point, I know I’m grasping at straws, but I don’t know what else to do.
The elevator doors open and the real estate agent, Roxanne, and Riley step inside. This video has audio.
‘Wow. I’m impressed. Why is security so tight here’” Riley asks on the video.
‘Not to break confidentiality or anything, but there may be a financial institution or two located in the vicinity.’ Roxanneanswers Riley. “Tell me, what will you be using the office space for?’ Roxanne asks as she pushes the button on the wall.
The entire time they’re chitchatting, I’m watching the background for anyone.
“See anything?” Eli asks as he and Jax stand next to me.
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
‘Nothing as exciting as that. I have my own event planning company and I’m expanding from my dining room table. Being a single mother, I’m constantly having to either move toys out of the way of my work or having conversations with my clients with cartoons playing in the background. It’s time to have a dedicated workspace for my business.’ Riley tells Roxanne.
‘Oh, where’s your son, now?’
‘I just dropped him off at daycare.’
We watch the doors open as both Roxanne and Riley step out of the elevator. “Did you see anything?” Eli asks me.
I shake my head. “No. You?”
They shake their heads when Riley stands up from the couch. “Play that back again.”
“Why? What did you hear?” I ask her.
She shakes her head, “I don’t know, just play it again.”
The tone of her voice has the attention of Detective Smith, too, so I hit the play button and turn the volume up to the max as we listen to it again.
I watch as Riley’s face goes pale. “Riley! What is it? Tell me.” I run around the kitchen island to her side. “Tell me, baby. What is it?”
She looks up at me. “I never told her I had a son.”
Just as Kowalski and Smith start orchestrating a manhunt for Roxanne Dawson, the burner phone that Riley has been holding onto for hours hoping to hear back from the kidnapper lights up.
Unknown: Where have you been?
“Just like before, Riley. Talk to him as a parent,” Kowalski says.
“Don’t you mean ‘her’?” I grit through my teeth.
“No, I don’t. We don’t know for sure if it’s Roxanne, the security guard, or this Crystal person – hell, we don’t even know if this person is the one who has Nicholas. It’s best not to change tactics right now until we know for sure. We’ve got people looking for them and executing search warrants to all three of their homes and businesses as we speak."
"It’s fine, Declan. I don’t give a fuck what we call this person, I just want my son back.”
Riley: I’m home. Where are you?
Unknown: Again with the lies. You’re not home.
Riley looks up at me and then to Kowalski. “What does this mean? We’ve been living here since Saturday night.”
Suddenly, Jax, Eli, both detectives and I realize where Nicholas might be. “FUCK!” Jax and Eli yell in unison as they go running out of the house.
