CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 10
The Kidnapping
The gunshot echoed across the cliffs.
Then came silence.
Only the crashing waves below broke the stillness of the night.
Grace Holloway ran as fast as her aging legs would allow, clutching the cassette tape tightly against her chest. The narrow coastal path was slick from the evening rain, and every step threatened to send her tumbling into the rocks below.
Behind her, flashlights cut through the darkness.
"She's heading toward the lighthouse!"
"Don't let her get away!"
The voices grew closer.
Grace's heart pounded violently.
For twenty-five years she had lived with fear.
Tonight, she refused to die carrying the truth.
The Lighthouse
At the top of the cliff stood an abandoned lighthouse.
Its heavy wooden door creaked as Grace forced it open.
She slammed it shut behind her and dragged an old metal cabinet across the entrance.
It wouldn't stop determined men for long.
But it might buy her a few precious minutes.
With trembling hands, she reached into her pocket and pulled out an old cell phone.
She scrolled through the contacts.
There was only one number.
Detective Michael Reeves.
Her finger hovered over the call button.
Then she pressed it.
A Call Interrupted
Back in the city, Reeves had just left Richard Hale's office with Victoria, Lily, and Ethan when his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"This is Reeves."
The line crackled.
A frightened voice whispered,
"Detective..."
Reeves stopped walking.
"Grace?"
"Listen carefully."
"You don't have much time."
Victoria immediately turned toward him.
"Is that her?"
He nodded.
Grace continued between frightened breaths.
"They're here."
"They found me."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"But they work for him."
Reeves spoke firmly.
"Where are you?"
"The old lighthouse..."
The sound of splintering wood interrupted her.
Someone was forcing the door open.
"They're inside!"
"Grace!"
"If I don't make it..."
"You must tell Lily..."
Her voice broke.
"...that I never stopped trying to protect her."
The line went dead.
The Race Against Time
Within minutes, police vehicles raced toward the coast.
Victoria refused to stay behind.
"So do I," Ethan insisted.
Lily looked pale but determined.
"If Grace risked everything for me..."
"I'm going."
Reeves didn't argue.
There wasn't time.
Too Late... Or Not?
Blue police lights illuminated the abandoned lighthouse.
The front door hung broken from its hinges.
Inside, the building had been torn apart.
Furniture overturned.
Glass shattered.
Blood stained the wooden floor.
But Grace was gone.
Victoria looked around desperately.
"No..."
Reeves knelt beside the blood.
"It's not enough."
"What?"
"If she'd been shot here..."
"There would be much more."
"So she escaped?"
"Or someone took her."
Outside, officers searched the surrounding cliffs.
One of them shouted.
"Detective!"
They hurried toward the edge.
Fresh footprints led away from the lighthouse.
Three different sets.
One belonged to Grace.
Two belonged to men wearing heavy boots.
The tracks ended beside fresh tire marks.
Someone had forced Grace into a vehicle.
A Witness
Just as investigators prepared to leave, an elderly fisherman approached.
"I saw them."
Reeves turned.
"What did you see?"
"A black SUV."
"Three men."
"And the old lady."
"Was she alive?"
The fisherman nodded.
"She was fighting."
"They pushed her into the back seat."
"Did you recognize anyone?"
The old man hesitated.
"One of them..."
"He called another man on speaker."
"What did he say?"
The fisherman frowned, trying to remember.
"He said..."
'We have the nanny.'
Silence.
Then...
'Tell Mr. Hale the problem is solved.'
Victoria felt the blood drain from her face.
Richard.
Again.
Richard's Denial
An hour later, police arrived at Richard Hale's penthouse.
He opened the door wearing a silk robe, appearing mildly annoyed.
"Detective."
"This is becoming a habit."
Reeves stepped inside.
"Where's Grace Holloway?"
Richard looked genuinely puzzled.
"I thought you were looking for her."
Victoria's patience snapped.
"Stop lying!"
Richard calmly poured himself a glass of water.
"You've searched my office."
"My company."
"My records."
"And now my home."
"Have you found anything?"
No one answered.
Because they hadn't.
He smiled.
"If you're going to accuse me of kidnapping someone..."
"I suggest bringing evidence."
Lily's Discovery
Back at the Ashford Estate, Lily couldn't sleep.
She wandered through the library, replaying Grace's final words.
"I never stopped trying to protect her."
Protect her from whom?
She picked up the stuffed rabbit Grace had kept for twenty-five years.
Its fur had faded with age.
One ear had been carefully sewn back on.
Almost absentmindedly, Lily squeezed it.
Something hard pressed against her fingers.
She frowned.
"This wasn't here before."
Carefully opening a small seam along the back, she reached inside.
Hidden beneath the stuffing...
Was a tiny memory card sealed inside plastic.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"Ethan!"
He hurried into the room.
"What happened?"
She held up the card.
"I think Grace left us one more secret."
The Video
Minutes later, they inserted the memory card into a laptop.
A grainy video appeared.
The timestamp read:
October 17 ā 11:41 PM
Earlier than the restored security footage.
The recording had clearly been made from inside Ashford Manor.
The camera shook violently.
Grace's frightened voice whispered,
"They're coming."
The video showed Charlotte asleep in bed.
Still wearing the jade pendant.
Then...
The bedroom door slowly opened.
A man entered.
Only his back was visible.
He wore black gloves.
Charlotte woke up.
Instead of screaming...
She smiled.
"Uncle Richard?"
Victoria covered her mouth.
The room froze.
The man gently lifted Charlotte into his arms.
"It's okay, sweetheart."
"We're going on a little adventure."
Charlotte giggled sleepily.
"Will Mommy come?"
"Later."
The man carried her toward the door.
Just before leaving, he turned slightly.
For one brief second...
His face became visible.
Crystal clear.
Richard Hale.
The Final Seconds
Grace whispered frantically behind the camera.
"I have to stop him."
The recording became chaotic.
Running footsteps.
A scream.
The camera fell.
The image spun wildly.
Then another man appeared.
He grabbed Grace.
The screen filled with static.
Before the video ended...
A voice shouted loudly.
"Start the fire!"
The recording stopped.
No one in the library spoke.
Victoria stared at the frozen image of Richard carrying Charlotte.
Tears streamed silently down her face.
For twenty-five years she had trusted the man who had stolen her daughter.
Ethan slowly closed the laptop.
"There it is."
"The truth."
Detective Reeves arrived only moments later.
After watching the video, he immediately reached for his phone.
"I'm issuing a warrant."
Victoria looked at him.
"For kidnapping?"
Reeves nodded.
"For kidnapping."
"For arson."
"For conspiracy."
"And for every lie that followed."
He dialed the number.
The dispatcher answered.
Before Reeves could speakā
His phone vibrated with another incoming call.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice whispered only one sentence.
"If you want Grace alive..."
The line crackled.
"...bring Lily to the old Ashford Manor."
The call disconnected.
Every person in the room stood perfectly still.
Victoria's heart nearly stopped.
They didn't just have Grace.
Now...
May you like
They wanted Lily.
End of Chapter 10
