Rodrick was standing behind me squeezing my upper arms gently. Then his thumbs went to the middle of my back and massaged my spine. Though there was no easing the tension in my body, it did feel good. Gideon was perched on the daycare’s wall not too far from where we stood. He was in earshot for sure. And he was staring at me with intense, grievous eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt he should be standing here with me and not Rodrick.
“We have somebody checking into the Ladykiller story,” said the detective, patting the air with his hand as if to tell me to lower my voice. “I’m trying to help you. I have a daughter too and I don’t know what I’d do if she came up missing.”
“I don’t wanna hear that. I wanna hear that you found my daughter! And standing around here asking me questions isn’t making that happen!”
Rodrick’s thumbs pressed harder.
“Can I talk to you two privately for a minute?” Rosan asked.
I was fuming, but me and Rodrick walked over to the side of the building with him, the only area that wasn’t crowded with police officers and nosy news people standing around.
He put a hand on each of our shoulders and dipped his head to look into our eyes. “I’m going to find your daughter, okay? There are certain procedures that we have to go through first. But I’m going to overlook all of them and get this search started. Tell me more about this Ladykiller person you’re talking about.”
I started by telling him about how often Ladykiller commented on my status updates. The detective’s face showed doubt, so I made it a point to tell him that Ladykiller’s presence on my page was abnormal. It wasn’t until I explained to him how crazy Ladykiller was—the “chance” meeting at the gym
My phone chimed once in my pocket and I pulled it out. I had just received a text from Gideon.
Gideon: Come back to the front real quick
Excusing myself, I raced over to where Gideon was sitting. He pointed at the screen of his phone, then gave it to me for me to read.
“I knew he posted on yo page a lot,” Gideon said, “but I didn’t know it was that serious.”
“This is The Site,” I said with surprise. “I thought you didn’t have a page.”
“I don’t. But when you said you thought Ladykiller took Kylie, I logged in to see who he was. Look what he posted.”
It was the comments feed from my status update about the KCPD not helping me find Kylie. I started reading.
God’s Angel: I’m praying for you and your daughter!
Trillyoung Sav: If yo daughter was white, they would’ve found her by now
Fedbound Marley: You and your daughter are in my prayers too
Atlanta Baby: I can’t believe anybody would take that precious little girl!
Velma Fenty: My granddaughter is coming home. We’ll go out and search ourselves, fuck them.
Bobby Mason: Me and my frat brothers will help you with the search party
Deja Michelle: i know you still might be mad at me but kylie is still my goddaughter and i’m praying for you and her text me if you need anything
Holly Carter: God will bring your daughter home. Trust and believe. I’m praying hard.
Quita Wheeler: OMG! @Tyesha816 I’m crying for you. This is horrible!
CousinPete: Did this little girl really get taken? Or is this SPAM?
VVS Vernon: I hate seeing shit like this. Whoever took her needs to be shot in the streets like the old days.
Rita RealSpit Gibson: I just inboxed you a number to a private detective if the KCPD won’t help. I’m praying for you as well.
Joanne Dunley: All my love and prayers are going out to you and Kylie tonight
I kept reading, looking for whatever it was that Gideon wanted me to see. But all I was seeing was a whole bunch of posts from people wishing me and Kylie well. The posts, though, seemed to revitalize my energy. I felt a stronger sense of hope knowing I had so many people—some of which I never met—in my corner.
Finally, I asked Gideon what he was talking about. He took the phone back and scrolled back up to where I started. There was a comment I didn’t see, right above God’s Angel’s post, and he showed it to me.
Ladykiller: You’ll find her soon
It floored me. I read the four words over and over, trying to interpret the meaning. Was he saying he was going to give her back? Would she still be alive?
I told Gideon I was going to show the comment to the detective.
“Okay,” he said. “But bring my phone back when you’re done. I have to make a run. Let Rodrick know too. If yall need anything, just call.”
Quickly, I reached in and gave him a hug. “Be safe,” I said.
“I will, Tyesha.”
I kissed him on the cheek.
Then I paced back over to the side of the building, where the detective was explaining to Rodrick what he could do through social media to help expedite the return of our daughter.
Rosan stopped mid-sentence when he saw the urgency in my eyes.
“What is it?” Rosan asked.
“Ladykiller just responded to my status update. Look at it.”
He read the screen and said, “Can you respond back to him?”
“Yeah. What am I supposed to say?”
“Ask him what he wants. Then try to get him to meet you somewhere. Kidnappers usually want a ransom. But in your case, it seems like he’s more infatuated with you as a woman than anything else. He’s a stalker, so he might not want money. He might want to trade you for her. Let’s find out.”
I used my own phone to go to Ladykiller’s page. I clicked on the message icon so anything I posted would be private between me and him. My first post was a question asking him what he wanted from me. It took him exactly six minutes to respond.
Tyesha816: What do you want from me?
Ladykiller: I want you to have your daughter back.
Tyesha816: How do I get her back?
Ladykiller: Keep looking. Don’t give up.
Tyesha816: Look where?!
Ladykiller: I don’t know. But I’ll help you.
I turned to the detective. I was frustrated with the conversation already. “He’s playing games with me,” I cried. “He’s not gonna give her back!”
“Yes, he will,” the detective assured me. “If he wants you to play a game, then we have to play. The ball is in his court right now. It looks like he’s gonna give you clues. Ask him can you meet him somewhere for the first clue. If he’s as obsessed with you as it seems, he won’t turn down a chance to see you again face to face.”
Looking down at my phone, I started tapping letters with my thumb.
Tyesha816: Okay, I need your help.
