“Maxwell, you got someone at the front desk asking for you.” Kowalski yelled as he appeared at the top of the stairs and came into our office.
“Who?”
“Don’t know, a young guy and a kid. I didn’t really see them. Desk serg just told me to tell you.” I nodded and got to my feet. I had no idea who it would be, but I needed to deal with it fast. I had a kidnapper to find and stop.
OLIVIA
Cole and I had to wait in the entrance of the police station for Kade to come down from his office.
“It’s ok Livy. Just breathe for me.” Cole whispered. We were sitting on a bench just inside the door, and he was holding me as tight to his side as he could without me crawling into his lap.
The place was just too busy, with five cops behind the desk, busily working away, and more back and forth past us. There were people waiting on benches all around where we sat, and there was just so much talking and noise. After we had been followed, I felt even more uneasy, and I was more than willing to admit I was freaking out, quite a lot.
I wanted to reassure Cole I was alright, because I could feel how tense and worried he was, by how taut his body was at my side, but I couldn’t speak. I was sure if I did I would either throw up, or cry.
“Livy, breathe, please.” Cole said, more firmly this time. I was breathing, just way too fast. I felt shaky, and the room just seemed to be getting hotter and hotter, causing me to break out in a sweat.
Then Kade came down the stairs just ahead of us, and I was already on my feet, clutching Cole’s hand and dragging him behind me, just needing to get us away from the chaos and to feel the comfort of Kade’s arms.
“Livy? What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Kade asked as I pretty much launched myself at him, releasing Coles hand and flinging my shaking arms around Kade like a vice.
“We need to get her out of here. It’s too crowded.” Cole warned, sensing my impending meltdown.
“Come on.” Kade picked me up, sweeping my feet from the floor. Since I could barely breathe enough to speak, I just went with it.
The sounds and loud voices became quieter and quieter until finally they disappeared. I heard a door close, closeby and looked up. We were in what looked like a small kitchen, with a table and four chairs in the centre.
Cole pulled one of the wooden chairs out and Kade lowered me into it, then knelt before me and gripped both of my hands in his.
“Deep breaths now, Love. In for three and out for three like Matt always says, yeah?” He said softly, his smooth voice and calmness helping me settle enough to try and take deeper breaths.
Since I hadn't gone into full on panic attack, I managed to get back pretty good control of my breathing in a few minutes. My body started to cool down quickly too, but the trembling remained.
“Are you cold?” Kade asked, but I shook my head.
“I’m ok….better.” I assured him, and finally he smiled a little.
“Good. Just keep breathing for me. I’ll get you some water.” He stood and moved to the kitchen, filling a glass with water.
“What’s going on Cole? Why did you bring her here?” He asked as he handed the glass to my trembling hand.
“We went to her appointment this morning.” Cole began.
“Did it go ok?” I could hear the worry in Kade’s voice. They were all scared I would freak out and refuse to go to the therapist at some point, especially after how hard I had tried to avoid it initially.
“Great. Livy did amazing. I even got her to get lunch with me afterwards in the city.” Cole beamed, like he was proud, and I had to admit it felt good.
“That’s brilliant, Love. Real progress.”
“It is. On the way back to my truck though, we were followed, Kade.”
“Followed by who?” Kade was growling, and he shot up to standing, as if he may need to leap into action at any moment.
“I don’t know. Livy spotted him. She told me when we got to the truck. I tried to chase the fucker down, but I lost him.”
“I….I’m pretty sure he followed us from the sub shop. He was t-taking photos of me.” I added.
“I was hoping you could check street cams, get a picture of him?” Cole asked. Kade looked a mix of angry, worried and determined.
“I can, but things are crazy here today.” The look I saw pass across Kade’s face when he glanced at me, instantly had me worried. There was something in the fear when his eyes met mine that told me whatever was going on, whatever had made the station so chaotic, had something to do with me.
“H-have you….did you find him?” I gasped. “The Shadow?” His eyes dropped back down to me and they told me exactly what was going on. He was panicking, freaking the hell out, about me, about my reaction. He wouldn't feel that way if my kidnapper was caught. There was only one thing he would have to tell me that would have him that worried of my reaction. I felt sick as I made myself get the words out.
“He did it again, didn’t he?” The words were pushed out through clenched teeth, as I fought not to panic.
“We don’t know that yet, but yeah, there’s a missing girl.” He admitted. He and Cole both braced in front of me, ready to handle what came next from me.
I
