"We checked the hospital CCTV," Detective Marina Pedro said as she laid several four by six pictures on the table before the Mckade family, who watched the pictures with hawk eyes.

Detective Pedro was a woman in her early thirties. Strawberry blonde hair, eyes as dark as the storm, and a physique that was maintained through years in the field. She had taken several cases like Annie's and wasn't worried about fitting this particular jigsaw puzzle together.

Before she took this job, she had taken her time to study the family. She knew every detail, big or small, about them. During their interrogation, she picked a few things about each of them. But the person she was still yet to figure out was Lukas Russell. She had looked into his profile and found nothing suspicious about him. He had no bad record about him which was a suspicion itself.

No one had a spotless life.

Detective Pedro's dark eyes took in each of the victim's family expression. Cassie Mckade's eyes were red and blotchy and not in the beautiful way either. Ella Mckade sought comfort in the arms of her husband, who looked to be keeping his shit together by a thread. Same thing goes for Kaden and Arabella.

The only people who seem less affected was Steve Mckade and Lukas Russell. Even though Lukas tried his best to look forlorn, Detective Pedro could tell that it was not genuine. It seemed as if he had something else on his mind. Meanwhile, Steve Mckade didn't bother to hide his displease about the whole thing.

That much she gathered from the CCTV in the hospital.

"We found a footage of the ginger haired nurse, whom I named Jane Doe for now, saying something to your Ansela Mckade in her room." Detective Pedro pointed at one of the pictures. "We couldn't hear what was being exchanged but as you can see here, she looked terrified. Any idea as to why that is?"

The family exchanged questioning glances and all of them shook their head.

"No." Kaden said. "Even when she returned home after almost dying, we were not able to pinpoint what happened to her. We were hoping that she'll tell us about it."

Detective Pedro nodded at her assistant, who scribbled something on her note. "Detective Cinders tried to get information on Jane Doe, but her file was either delete from the system or was never there in the first place. But I would go with the first." She pointed at another picture. "That is Mrs. Cassandra Mckade talking to Jane Doe."

Cassie pulled away from Kaden's arms with wide eyes. "I swear that I didn't know it was Annie under the covers. I had my suspicion but when the nurse said Annie was going to be better I thought I was crazy and that there was no way Annie could be dead without the hospital informing us. I swear I didn't know it was her." She burst into a sob.

"Shh." Kaden embraced her again and kissed her head. "It's okay, Cass. No one's blaming you."

Detective Pedro raised an eyebrow at Kaden's word but didn't comment on it. "What we know so far is that Miss Mckade was kidnapped by two masked men and Jane Doe. The van they used had a registration number, but it was too far from the garage CCTV to get a clear picture. We have sent the picture to the Tech team. The result would be out in five days. Until then we'll look into what we can find."

Lukas scrubbed a hand on his face. "We have to find her sooner. Also I think you should question my cousin about her whereabouts. He seemed to be so obsessed with her."

"Your cousin?" Detective Emily Cinders asked. "What does your cousin have to do with Miss Mckade's disappearance?"

"He was the reason why she came back to Philadelphia in the first place. He thought she was cheating on him with me and hit her on her chest after calling her names I do not dare repeat." Lukas sniffed as tears welled in his eyes. "Annie was accused wrongly. She does not deserve this."

Detective Pedro nodded at him. "What is your cousin's name?"

"Jovon Phim. He is currently in West Mercer and is staying in the family house." Lukas said. "He can't travel due to the bad weather."

"How do you know all this? Besides, what makes you so sure that he kidnapped Miss Mckade?"

"That's because that girl has no sense!" Steve said with a scowl on his face. "I always knew that carefree attitude of hers would put her in trouble one day. Not only is she carrying a bastard, but now she's missing."

William, who had been quite all along, glowered at his father from across the room. "What is wrong with you? Do you deem this the best time to talk about that crap? Have you no shame at all?"

"Yeah, go ahead. I have no value in this house anymore. No one wants to hear the truth."

"Steve!" Arabella shouted, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. "How dare you talk about your own daughter that way? Is this how you show your worry for your own missing daughter? Huh? Everyone is worried and. . ." She started sobbing and Lukas moved to her side and wrapped his arm around her.

Detective Pedro knew when to retreat, so she gathered the pictures and tucked them away into the brown envelope she brought them in. "We'll let you know if we have any leads. And in the mean time no one is allowed to leave the country until we've concluded our investigation."

"We'll be summoning you all one by one for questioning, " Detective Cinders continued. "So, we suggest you all have your phone with you always, and don't try to leave the country or you'll be arrested and detained until Miss Mckade is found."

Later when they were in the black pickup they came with, Detective Pedro tapped her chin thoughtfully as she watched Cinders stash the envelope and her note pad in the glove compartment of the car. Detective Cinder leaned into the seat and turned to her with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Do you believe that Lukas guy?" Cinders asked Detective Pedro. "He seem, I don't know, sketchy to me. And unless he's keeping tab on Jovon Phim, there's no way he could tell where he would be."

"You're right." Detective Pedro said. "He seemed to know a lot about Ansela Mckade for someone who claims to be a friend. Also, he said he went to ease himself, yet the CCTV in the restaurant at the airport showed him making calls to someone in a muffled voice."

"Think he's responsible for Miss Mckade disappearance?"

"No. But he knows where she is." Detective Pedro reached for her cellphone. "His hands were shaking the whole time we questioned at the station. He kept asking for water and toying with his ring finger. He did the same thing when he was talking about his cousin."

Detective Cinders inserted the key into the ignition and reached for her seatbelt. "But why would he want kidnap Miss Mckade?"

"I don't know, but I have the feeling that we would very soon."

*                            *                            *

Ella volunteered to clear the kitchen to keep herself occupied and bade the rest of the family goodnight. When the kitchen was tidy, she turned out the light and went into the living room.

William was slumped in the far corner of the sofa, his head resting on the back cushions, his legs and feet stretched out in front of him. Ella could barely make out hid form in the darkness, which was unrelieved except for the jaundiced glow of the streetlight through the draperies.

For the first eighteen years of her life, she'd been overlooked by people more intent on making each other unhappy than on the happiness of the child they'd conceived in a rare second of marital harmony. Perhaps that's why she'd chosen a job where she had to be constantly seen and heard and even recognized. Once a neglected child, she now had people who cared for her. She'd been ridiculed and rebuked, but rarely was she ignored. Maybe that's why she knew that William was putting up a brave act in front if the family. The William she knew would never, ever brood in silence.

Tonight, he seemed withdrawn and particularly self-absorbed. She debated the wisdom of walking into this lion's den. But cautious approaches had never been her style. There was also the case of the small elephant in the room that they haven't addressed.

She crossed the room and planted herself directly in front of him. Without preamble, she said, "You can't just act like we are all chummy with each other."

"Why not?" At least he didn't play dumb. "We have more problem to deal with at the moment."

"I know that. But shouldn't you acknowledge the fact that I lost our baby?"

He shrugged as though to say, I never cared in the first place.

"Even if you didn't love your baby," She said. "Shouldn't you at least apologize to me after all what you put me through? I am hurting, here William."

"I didn't love the baby. I don't see why I should care about it's demise."

"You. . . How dare you speak of my baby as if he was an object? What's wrong with you? My baby isn't an object."

"Isn't? You speak of it as if it's still alive. It's better that you lost that baby."

If he had started speaking in tongues, she couldn't have been caught more off guard. "What the hell is wrong with you? What did that poor defenseless child ever do to you?"

"I was afraid!" He jerked to his feet, blazing with appraisal. "I was afraid I was going to loose you again. I lost you when you were pregnant with Aggy and Tina. I was scared you would be taken away from me and I would never see you again."

Ella stumbled back with a gasp. Tears filled her eyes. "I-is that why you were acting like that? Why you neglected me? All because if some stupid childish fear?"

"It's not stupid." He pulled his hair with a frustrated groan. "You were not the one who searched for three years. I was sad. I couldn't function properly. I kept imagining you dying or being tortured wherever you were."

"Which was why you got Mandalena pregnant and almost married her?" She scoffed. "Did you ever even love me or I was just some prized possession to you?"

Eyes flashing, he crossed the room and grabbed her arms. "Don't you ever doubt my love for you."

"You're making it difficult not to." She snatched her arms from his grip. "After I returned from the hospital you treat me as though I'm invisible. I have never demanded roses or chocolates from you. I wanted your love and attention. I want you to look at me and not through me as if I don't matter."

"I love you,Raffy." He said. "More than you'll ever know. I am just afraid of loosing you again."

"And you sure know how to show it by treating me this way. Until you finally pull your head out of your ass and come to apologize for neglecting me, stay away from me. And don't even bother coming into my room. Stay away!"

"Fair enough."

"Good. Fine. Good night."

"Good night."

Alone in the bedroom, laying on the too large bed, Ella realized that she'd made her point. But it was a very empty victory.