This chapter is dedicated to thebirdsmelody, an aspiring young Wattpad author with a great fresh voice. She is also a big Rena fan, having won first prize in the pre-launch contest together with HeyItsParmida. Thank you both for your support.

1 - In Front Of The Mirror

I avoid staring at the two-way mirror on the wall, remembering the last time I was forced to spend time in an interrogation room like this.

"Do you believe in happy endings, Doc?"

He is sitting at the smaller end of the table, scanning through his mails on the phone and doesn't even look up.

"Uhum. I'm happily married going on sixteen years. Guess that makes me a living example of one."

I sigh. In so many ways, I am jealous of him. His life seems perfect compared to mine.

"Do you think I'll ever find my happy ending?"

His eyes find mine. "Happy endings don't come overnight, Rena. You have to work hard to get them and even harder to keep them. And truthfully, you haven't done a really good job so far."

He returns to his messages and I grimace, knowing exactly what he is referring to. After the disaster with Connor, I swore that I was through with guys but on occasions, I wished I could just have a normal relationship like anyone else.

My fingers drum on the metal table until his frown stops me.

I shrug. "What?"

"You're driving me nuts," he grumbles. "Sit still."

I don't want to gaze at the mirror - knowing there are eyes behind it turns every muscle into a knot.

"Well, I'm glad you're here, Doc. Means a lot."

He places the phone on the table. "I was surprised to get the call. I didn't think you wanted to spend any unnecessary time with trailer trash like me."

I roll my eyes - the man can hold a grudge. "You took this way out of context."

He snorts. "Oh yeah." He pursues his lips before continuing. "Oh, doc," he mimics me in a high pitched voice. "I can't believe you grew up in Livingston. Isn't that where everyone lives in a trailer?"

I flash him a rueful smile. "I never used the word 'trash'."

"You didn't have to. Your wrinkled nose said it all. And stop grinning like that. You're not here to audition for a toothpaste commercial."

I shoot him a nasty look - he can be so annoying at times. I finally glance at the mirror on the wall.

"Do you think he'll be watching us?" I keep my voice on the lowest possible level.

His face darkens. "I'm sure he will," he mutters equally soft. "He's a senior official with the FBI and this matter will sooner or later come under federal jurisdiction. At that point, one of his buddies will take over."

My stomach turns to knots. They would lock me up and throw away the key if it was up to Ryan Parks. Once he had me in his clutches, he would hold on and never let go.

"What about Marcus?"

Doc shakes his head. "Not yet. They won't involve the State's Attorney's Office until they're ready to charge you."

I swallow hard. The thought of being charged with a crime is the absolute horror - I would not only face more trouble but my probation could be revoked. I would go to jail and Noah would be at their mercy.

Before I can fully draw out this dooms day scenario, three men step into the room - one is a friend, one an enemy and one - well, someone I have never seen before.

The friend, Noel Fallon, is wearing a fancy business suit and being his usual charming self with a boisterous twinkle in his eyes that I have come to appreciate and the enemy to fear. He has been helping me with my court case but it has been a tough fight.

Every time we seem to gain an inch, we are thrown back by a foot the next moment. The enemy is just so ruthless and it has been an uphill battle from the start. Noel has been making sure I wouldn't do anything stupid to get me into a bigger bind, but even he might be at his wit's end this time.

The enemy is Detective Briar who has been hassling me for the past six months. He is Ryan's sidekick and will do anything do get me to talk. Ultimately, he would love nothing more than putting me in prison and since he was also the one who investigated Brent's murder, he has a very low opinion of me. In a nutshell, he is a jerk who hates me.

The stranger is kind of cute and I guess if I was a normal teenager and not a convicted murderer, slash single mom, slash domestic abuse survivor, I might even find him attractive. He reminds me a bit of that Minho guy from the Maze Runner. Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way in my nineteen years of roaming the earth that looks can be deceiving. He might have a genuine smile on his lips, but that doesn't mean I would ever trust him.

Briar falls into the metal chair across from me and stranger boy claims the seat to his right. Noel organizes for an extra stool and chooses to sit at the other short end of the table across from Doc. With clear positions taken, we are ready to roll.

I feel like I've stepped into a boxing ring and if I get knocked out, I will not only lose my freedom but everything I hold dear. The stakes are even higher than the last time I found myself in in front of a mirror - if I lost Noah to Ryan Parks, there was nothing left for me to live for.

Noel is the first to speak. "Gentlemen, so that we're absolutely clear. My client is here because she's being held in contempt of court, but this interview is being conducted at her own free will. She's not required to cooperate with you. So let's keep this civil or I'll stop this immediately."

"Sure thing, Mr. Fallon." Briar gives him a sweet smile. "There's only one question I need answered and after that, we can all be on our way." His eyes narrow when he focuses on me. "Where's Noah, Rena?"

I shrug. "No clue."

His arms fold in front of his chest as he sucks in a deep breath. "And you expect me to believe that?"

I grin. "Truthfully, you can believe whatever you'd like - I don't really care."

Noel clicks his tongue and shoots me a warning look. I ignore him and keep the wide grin on my lips. Briar will not rattle me - he doesn't need to know how terrified I am.

"Is he with your father, Rena?"

I glance at Noel and he gently shakes his head.

"I prefer not to answer that."

A low hiss escapes Briar's lips as he leans back in his chair. "Okay, Rena, let's take this from the top. When did you see Noah last?"

I scratch my chin. "Let's see. I gave him his bottle at about 7:30 and tucked him into bed. I checked on him again at 11 and he was sound asleep in his crib. At some point, I dozed off on the couch while watching CSI Miami. When I woke up at six, he was gone."

Stranger boy's eyes burn into my forehead and I return his glare. He is at the edge of his seat, paying utmost attention. Maybe he is some type of special investigator who is trying to catch me in a lie.

"Did you file a missing person report?" His voice is a deep baronet, causing a tingling feeling in the nape of my neck.

I bite my lip, staring at his fine boned hands. His fingers are long - he could easily be a pianist. I imagine them balling into fists. His punch would probably not be as hard as Brent's, but could still cause some serious damage.

I am torn from my horrid fantasies when he clears his throat. "Ms. Cooper?"

I blink at him. "Excuse me, could you repeat the question?"

"Sure." His intense eyes keep assaulting me and I lower my gaze. "I asked whether you called the police when you discovered that Noah was gone?"

"I-I..." I stare at Noel with wide eyes when I realize I stepped into a trap. Every normal parent would have freaked out if there child went missing and alerted the authorities.

"Who are you anyhow?" I ask him to buy some time.

He flashes a badge at me. "I'm special agent Sam Cho. I work with the FBI."

Doc and I exchange a glance. "You work with Ryan Parks?"

"No. I work with the Child Exploitation Task Force."

His eyes are yet to falter from my face and I twitch on the chair, sweat forming on my forehead. He looks so young. How can he be already part of the machinery that is trying to destroy me?

"And why are you exactly involved?"

He sighs. "My team deals with parental kidnapping cases. Look, Ms. Cooper, at the moment, this is just a chat and I'm only an observer, but if you continue to play games, this can turn real ugly."

Noel jumps in. "Are you threatening my client, Agent Cho?"

A small smile curls his lips. "I apologize, Mr. Fallon, I didn't want to give that impression. We're all adults here with busy lives and I don't like to waste my time, so please instruct your client to cooperate."

Pressing silence follows his words. I play with my cuticles, not intending to answer any of his questions.

Briar picks up the ball. "Rena, I know that you don't agree with the court's decision to grant temporary custody to the Parks, but hiding Noah is not the answer. You'll end up behind bars if you don't tell us where he is."

I cringe at the thought of having Noah grow up without knowing his mother and desperately fight the building lump in my throat. How can they expect me to turn over my son to Ryan after what he did to Brent? He will break my little boy and turn him into a monster.

Noel finally comes to my rescue. "I really don't like where this is going and will stop this interview here."

Briar jumps up. "If this is how you want to play it, fine with me. I'll have your client booked for civil contempt and maybe she'll come to her senses after a few days in the holding cell."

The thought of being locked up again turns my stomach to knots. "Wait."

Noel reaches for me. "Don't say anything else, Rena." His voice is low and insistent. "They will book you anyhow and are just reaching for straws. This will turn into a criminal case next and I'll call my mother."

Tears trickle down my cheek. "I'm scared, Noel. I don't think I can handle spending any time in jail. I'll crack."

I turn to Doc who looks fazed and I realize that all is lost. No one can get me out of this mess. What was I even thinking when I sent Noah away with my dad? Ryan's minions will eat me alive - they will leave me to rot in a jail cell until I will break under the pressure and then they will go after my son. I will lose him.

As two cops guide me down the corridor, his face flashes in front of me. He is the most adorable baby with his twinkly eyes and chubby cheeks. I had sworn to protect him from harm on the day he was born and today, I failed him. An incredible pain tears at my insides and a sob rises from the depth of my throat. I force the tears back down, keeping my chin held up high. I can't bear the thought that I might never see Noah again, but at least Ryan will not get the satisfaction of wearing me down. 

So Rena is back in trouble, this time for disobeying a judge's order. Her father took off with her son and Ryan is after her. Let me know how you liked this first chapter and if this drew you in. Looking forward to your feedback and please don't forget to vote if this chapter deserved it XD