12 CHAPTER 10

JAYDEN'S POV:

"What do you mean Bianca's missing?" I queried, "Weren't our men appointed to guard her ward?"

"Isn't that the problem?" He raged, "How could they let something like this happen? I don't even want to know what they were doing."

"But we still have Santiago under our custody!" Lan cried.

"Yeah, are you sure it's abduction?" I asked.

"She's not home, her mother's still there at the hospital, unaware of where she might have gone, and moreover, she isn't even discharged yet. This is all we've got now." Tommy briefed.

"Alright, get to work everybody! Find her, start right from checking the security cameras of the hospital, both in and out, some of you head to her house once again, including all the places she might have gone possibly like a friend's, relative's.

Hurry!" George instructed at a stretch.

I grabbed my coat and when I was about to head out, George blocked the way, "Where do you think you're going?"

"To the hospital?" I replied confusedly.

"No, you're not," he said.

"Um," I began, hesitantly, "Is there a problem?"

"There is. Regarding what the both of you were pulling off before I walked in." He answered me, pointing to James and I.

None of us uttered a word.

I apologized, although I knew nothing was going to change and no superpower could change his decision.

"Go home." He directed.

"What? But-"

"Which part of "Go home" aren't you getting?" George was clearly mad.

"But he's incharge of this case!He needs to be there, Colonel! " Cole cried.

"Not my problem. He should've thought that before what he did recklessly. Should a cop who's incharge of such a sensitive case be doing this? I don't think so. Now, the discussion is over, and both of you can leave now." He left.

The others were looking at me, unaware of what was to be done.

"Come on, don't stand there still, move your butts! Call me if anything comes up!" I told them off.

Ugh, so annoying! Why did those cops of an excuse had to return at a time like this?

I sat on the stairs that was located on the outer side of the station, leading to the terrace, for a while. Because, if I were to drive right away, I would most probably land in some serious trouble, crashing both people's as well as my skull.

Someone took a seat near me, but I didn't even bother to take a look, because one, I didn't have the mood, and two, I already knew who it was.

"It was totally unexpected of you to behave like that," Zienna said.

"What did you want me to do, then?"

"I don't know, control yourself?"

"He hit me first! Didn't you see?" I reasoned.

She just watched me reason, with her brows lifted.

"Well, I was taught like that," I continued.

"Like what?"

""Give and take""

"And who taught you that?" She chuckled.

"M Jlair."

"Oh?"

But then, I remembered something. I turned to her, "Did Ms Poker Face really laugh now? What did I see?"

"Sheesh? I laugh from time to time."

"Yeah, sure you do." I added, "But I'm still pissed about last time, I didn't forget."

"If I hadn't been that harsh, God knows what you'd have done to that poor Marcus!"

"I agree, but still!" I argued, "You could have been nicer!"

She held out her hand right in front of my face. With a confused look, I peeked in when she said, "Um I had one with me,"

She handed a band aid to me. I took it from her hands and, um, there was this awkward silence. I have to break it. I hate awkward circumstances!

"Um, Haha, yeah sure, thanks? Um, yeah, I'll get going, then?" I blurted something out.

"Yeah, right, wise decision! Um, Everybody should get going, yeah, it's cold, Ugh!" She walked away, at a speed that we'd hardly call it walking.

Oh wait, I wanted to ask you!

"Where were you? You weren't here the whole day!" I shouted.

Who am I talking to!?

I walked to my car, unfolded the rear mirror, and put on the band on my poor cut.

I drove home, as there was nothing I could do at the moment. Last time, when I was ordered to go home, I carried on with my work elsewhere, without George knowing, and it landed me in a perilous trouble.

Now, as things are already messed up the way it is, I'd rather lay low than to stir up more woe.

I reached home. I didn't have the mood to do anything else, so I hopped onto my bed just like that. The stretching part is my favourite after a tiring day.

In no time, I fell asleep.

No disturbances, no interruptions, such a peaceful sleep!

But then, there was this annoying noise that I heard.

Oh! The alarm?! It's morning already?

I don't want to get up! Ugh.

But as I was already late, whiling away the time, I got up, set everything and left earlier. I need to catch upon the details I missed as well.

I drove to the station and parked my car. As I was exiting the parking lot, a little guy came up towards my direction, running like his life depended on it. A young woman followed him calling out his name, "Alan! Stop right there!"

As soon as she saw me, she asked me to help her stop him, as she was too tired to move on further. So, I stopped him.

His mother reached us, stammering after a while. I asked her if there was a problem.

She replied, "No, sir. This naughty boy here, snatched a camera from a stranger! Thanks for the help!"

She thanked me and left with him. He turned back to me, and showed me a pouty face. He must think his expressions were serious! Cute little Acorn!

My phone rang. The call was from an unknown number. Even before I could say anything, the person at the other end of the line cried, "Jayden! Someone has kidnapped me! They're going to kill me! I managed to make a call."

"Zienna?!!" I was shook, "Calm down, you're going to be okay. Now, tell me what you see. Anything is okay."

"They're doing this for revenge. They're avenging for something, but I have no idea. I'm tied up in a red rope. I see a girl's pictures scattered all over here."

"What kind of place is it? A warehouse? Godown? Turn on the location on your phone!" I told her.

"This is a road. I'm in a car. Wait! It's near our station! I've turned on the location. But Jay-"

Before she could continue, I heard someone barging in, and yelling at her,

"You've got the nerves, huh? You'll regret it!"

And I heard her scream in pain.

The call got disconnected.

I was already half way through, according to the location. It was a deserted place, backside of the station.

As I was rushing there, I heard Tommy screech in agony. There were cops around the area.

My heart dropped.

There she was.

As I paced nearer, I hear someone say,

"Zienna Bretten, Time of death, 7:56 am-"

I couldn't hear a thing anymore. Everything was blurred,

I couldn't get hold of my legs;

my knees failed;

Before I realized, a pool of tears flooded down my cheeks.

"Please, No..."

***