I watched through the double-sided glass, a sneer on my face that seemed to be permanent these days.

Harold Charles sat across from my partner, head down and fidgeting in his handcuffs.

"We found you around the victim's bodies, you understand that, right?" Detective Reynolds said. "There's no getting out of this."

"My lawyer will be here any minute."

"You won't get a deal," Reynolds said, a humorless laugh billowing his lips.

Charles made eye contact with him and said, "That's what you think."

Reynolds stood and calmly walked out the door. He stood next to me, my eyes never moving off the criminal. "Don't worry," Reynolds said. "This case is pretty much open and shut."

"That's not my problem," I said, running my fingers across the rough stubble across my chin. Of all my problems, that was not one of them.

"I wish you would just tell-"

"No," I said, sighing. I faced him and smiled, the humor never reaching my eyes. "I'd rather not."

"I could just look it up," he said. "In the files, you know. There are whispers and I never listen to any of them. You know how hard that it?"

"It's because you're a good man, Lee," I said. "Thank you for that. I'll tell you... later. When I'm ready."

"Your wife knows, right?"

I snorted. "Of course she knows. She's my wife!"

Reynolds lifted his hands in defense. "Sorry, I was just asking."

I shook my head, muttering a, "It's not your problem," as I shuffled back to my desk, settling behind my computer screens. I saw I had a message.

"Would love to meet you ;)"

Well, that's good news. I typed back, "Ur sweet. Maybe later."

The response was instantaneous. "Tonight."

I laughed and called my partner. "Reynolds, get over here! We got another hook."

Reynolds was by my side in a second. "He took our bait?" His eyes scanned the screen. "Perfect. Where are you going to meet him?"

I held up a finger and then typed, "idk ;) where would we go?"

"Bransom?"

"I guess... when?"

"You don't sound excited? :("

"Uh oh, you're losing him," Reynolds said.

"I'm not losing him," I said, furiously typing out the brief message, "That's kinda far away from my house."

I pursed my lips and looked up at Reynolds. "Maybe we did lose him."

There was a ping on the computer and when we both saw the picture, we grimaced. "No, we still have him and more," Reynolds said. I shook my head and disbelief and read the message out loud, "How about now?"

I couldn't help but let out a dramatic gag as I typed, "How could I say no to that? ;)"

"8"

"perfect <3"

I sat back in my chair and sighed. "Clear your schedule for eight tonight."

"Winston, you're gonna have to clear your schedule. On second thought, don't."

I spun my chair to face him. "What do you mean?"

Reynolds groaned and ran his face in his hands. "Your wife will kill me. Again."

I stood and then fell back into my chair as I remembered. "Holy crap, my anniversary."

"Don't you have a homemade dinner planned?"

I stood and grabbed my jacket off my desk. "Not really, her mom's making the dinner and my dad is taking the kids. I've got to go now or I'll be late."

The fact that I was a detective didn't qualm my fears about being pulled over on my way home. I only felt relief when I was safe in my garage. Sara met me in the hallway. Her face was full of surprise and joy. "You made it?!"

I hugged her and gave her a quick kiss. "I did not forget if that's what you're thinking."

"You never forget, you just get distracted," she said, taking my hand and leading me to the dining room. An indescribable smell wrapped me in its comfort. Candles were lit and our best dishes and silverware were set. Sara sat me at the head of the table and she settled in across the table from me. I took the cloth napkin and laid it on my lap.

"How was your day?" I asked Sara.

"Good," she said, lifting the silver domed lid that sat in the center of the table. A small pile of thick steaks lay there, steam billowing across the table. My mouth watered and I reached across the table to grab a piece. I piled my plate with the potatoes and salads that were strewn out in front of us.

"I heard you guys arrested that one guy," Sara said.

"We did, we got him."

"And the charges will stick?"

I nodded, mouth full. I swallowed, eyes watering as my throat was seared. "They have to. We have bodycam footage and he all but confessed."

"I'm glad. What else are you working on?"

"Lee is meeting a guy we have been communicating with tonight," I said. I thought I hid my disappointment well enough but Sara saw right through me.

"And you're at a mediocre dinner at home," she said, a sad smile playing her face.

I set my fork down and said, "Sara, I'm here. And I'd rather be here. This criminal isn't any special one. Let's pretend he doesn't exist."

Sara pursed her lips. "Okay. It's just hard to talk to you when you're clearly somewhere. Why don't you join Lee."

"It's at eight, I still have time."

Sara nodded and pushed around her food. "Okay. Ask me about my day."

"I did."

"You asked how it was." She gestured in the air between us. "Conversations are a two-way street."

I gave a wry laugh. "You're right. What did you do today?"

"Well, Sierra was asked to join the competition dance team at the studio today. So I helped her get ready for that mostly."

"She did? Holy cow, that's really good! Would that mean she would go to LA for competitions?"

"If the team makes it."

I scoffed. "If Sierra is on the team, they'll make it."

The conversation went on. I tried to keep my focus on my wife and her words but I couldn't help but keep glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. As eight got closer, I got jumpier. At 7:50, Sara threw down her napkin and said, "Go." She stood and walked into the kitchen. I honestly didn't know what to do. I glanced at the door and to the kitchen.

With a sigh, I walked to the door and went into the garage, pulling out of the driveway in a matter of seconds. Bransom park was 15 minutes away but I knew I could make it in ten if I hurried.

I saw Lee's pickup truck. He opened the driver's door and walked to meet me. "You made it?" he said.

"Yeah, Sara said I should."

"Oh, good." He didn't believe me but he knew it wasn't his place.

"Is he here?" I asked.

"Not yet but I got Detective Philips to come. There she is." Lee pointed out to under a tree where a sun-bleached picnic table sat. A little girl in a dark blue hoodie sat, on her smartphone.

"That's Philips?"

"Yeah, pretty good, right?"

I nodded and watched as shuttering Chevy Impala drove slowly past the park. It slowed to a stop.

"That's him," Lee said. He put a hand on his holster and meandered to the picnic table. I followed him, hand slowly making its way to my gun.

A man walked out of the Impala and walked to Philips. I smiled and waited for his shock.

"Riley?" the man said. Philips shrugged and said, "Who wants to know?"

The man smiled and sat down on the bench. "I didn't think you'd come."

Philips looked up and the man's face melted into horror. "You're gonna wish you didn't come."

The man jumped up and began to back away. He ran into Lee. "You're under arrest," my partner said, taking the man's arms. The man jerked away and caught Lee in the face with the back of his head. Lee hollered and fell back. I grabbed my gun and aimed it at the man. "Freeze!" I yelled.

He didn't listen, big surprise. He turned and ran to his car. I shot at the tires. The man swore and dove through the window, crawling his way to the driver's seat. I shot at the windshield. Another shot went off behind me and I saw Philips running after the man. "Freeze!" she cried.

The car sped away. I looked at the license plate and memorized the number. I pulled out my notepad and wrote it down before I could forget. I ran to my car to radio.

"We have a perp on the run," I said. "He's in an old, blue Impala, plate number 680 ZFD, heading north on Bransom Avenue."

I glanced back at Lee, writhing on the ground. "Officer down." I started my car and began to follow the man. I couldn't let him get away. His taillights glowed in the purple light of the evening. He turned out onto the busy street and began to speed away. I went to turn out after him but was nearly hit by another car. Without thinking, I laid on the horn before following after him.

My phone rang and I answered it, setting it to the speaker through the car. "Yeah?"

"Winston, where are you going?"

"Lee. Are you okay?"

"No. But he didn't do anythi-"

"I gotta go." I hung up and pressed the pedal farther down. The man turned yellow as he sped through it. "I can make it," I muttered. The light turned red before I was in the intersection. A car came out of nowhere and collided with mine, causing me to spin out of control. I let off the gas and pressed the brake. There was skidding and the car rolled. I gritted my teeth as everything in my car floated around me. I came to a stop and quickly unbuckled my seat belt, falling onto the roof of my car. The window was broken and I crawled through it. I walked around the car in a daze. "Where is he?" I cried, looking around. People began to surround me. "Are you alright, sir?"

"Where is he?"

"Who? Sir, sit down."

"No!"

The world whirled around me and I fell to my knees.

"Sir!"

There were sirens around me but I think they were the ones I called for.

***

"Lee was wondering if he could come in."

I nodded and Sara walked to the bedroom door. She opened it and Lee walked past her. She closed the door behind her. I sat up more in bed, cringing from the bruised ribs.

"How are you doing?" Lee's voice was nasally, his nose wrapped and his eyes bloodshot and black.

"I'm fine. Sorry about your face. I shouldn't have left."

"No, you shouldn't." Lee sat in the rocking chair by the bed. "Winston, I read your file."

I closed my eyes and nodded. "Now you know."

"Winston, I'm so sorry, that's a really rough deal. At least they were good people."

"You know, nothing uplifting ever comes after 'at least.'" I glared at Lee and he dropped his head. "I know. How's your sister?"

"Jane or Hazel?"

"Jane. And Hazel, I guess."

"I have no idea where Hazel these days. I could probably look her up but I prefer not to know. And Jane," I sighed. "When she was 16 she killed herself."

Lee drew in a quick breath. "I'm so sorry."

"And it was those people's fault. There was nothing wrong with her if that's what you're thinking."

"I wasn't-"

"They ruined her. Who kidnaps kids? I guess you can say at least they didn't... hurt us. But you know what? They did hurt us. Look at us." I fell back in my pillows and grasped my chest. "You see why I do what I do?"

"Yes."

"And he got away."

"He hadn't done anything yet."

"That we know of. At least could have got him off the streets."

My cell phone rang and I grabbed it and answered. "Yeah?"

"Winston, I need to tell you something."

"Chief? What is it?"

"There was an incident at the middle school today."

I furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?" My kids were at the middle school, Sierra in eighth grade, and Jared in sixth. Lance and Mathew were in the elementary school.

"At lunch, a man broke in."

"Okay?"

Lee's phone buzzed and he checked it.

"The man took two kids."

My legs swung off the bed. I ignored any pain this action caused and cried into the phone, "Who did he take?"

"Sierra and Jared."

"Where are they?"

"We don't know. We don't even know who it was who took them. He kept his face covered."

"I know who it is." I hung up and grabbed my jacket off the end of the bed. Lee looked at me, eyes full of pain.

"You know?" I asked him.

"Yes, just got the message." He stood. "Let's go get him."

"Where are you going?" Sara asked, stopping me at the doorway. I shook my head at Lee and said to her, "We need to check on something. We'll be back soon."

She gently put her hands on my shoulders. "No, you need to rest. The doctor-"

"Sara!" I nearly screamed in her face. "You don't understand. Something's happened and I have to fix it."

She backed away in worry and fear. "What? What happened."

"Sara?" Lee said, voice soft, "We have to go now. We'll explain later." He grabbed my elbow and pulled me out the front door. "I'm driving," he said.

"I-"

"You are on so many painkillers right now. I don't even know how you can stand. Get in."

I clambered into the passenger seat of the pickup. Lee got in and turned his lights and sirens on. The hidden light burst into color and we rushed out of the driveway.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To the station."

"No, we need to get him."

"We don't even know who he is."

"I do." I grabbed my phone and called Philips. She answered on the second ring. "Winston, I heard, wha-"

"That plate number I told everyone, who's is it?"

Some hushed voices were talking and finally Philips said, "We never looked it up. As we were, we heard you were in an accident and-"

"Look it up!"

Philips fell quiet for several seconds. "Okay, just a minute."

Lee glanced at me and said, "Be calm."

"I am calm! What if they got your kid?"

"Winston?"

I pressed the phone close to my ear, "Yes?"

"It belongs to a Gregory Jenkins."

"Where does he live?"

"Fallengate, Utah."

"What did you just say?"

"Fallengate, Utah?"

"Are you sure?"

"Y-yes. That's what it says."

"Okay. When did this guy take my kids?"

"We're not 100% sure. He got them during lunch recess, that's all we know. A couple of other students said they saw him but he had his hoodie up."

I checked the clock. 2:08. "It's been almost two and a half hours since lunch! How did we not realize they were missing in those two hours?"

"There are a lot of students! And Winston, you are not to go after him. Chief said."

"He can't tell me what to do."

"He's literally your boss."

"Don't care. Send me everything you have of this Gregory Jenkins." I hung up and looked at Lee. "We're going to Utah."

The vehicle slowed. "What? They're in Utah?"

"Yes."

Lee sighed and pressed the gas. "Put the directions in the GPS." I smiled and did so. The cool voice told us we would arrive in three hours. I hoped and prayed that we would make it in time.

***

Fallengate had closed down about ten years ago. I remember reading about it. For no reason at all, I was incredibly relieved. I hated the place and hoped it could just melt off the face of the earth. It was now just an empty ghost town. No one had bought it because it was so far off the beaten path. It just wasn't a good investment.

I looked at the address Philips had sent me and my stomach dropped when I realized it was the hotel.

"Are you okay?" Lee asked.

I nodded. "Let's go."

Lee locked the doors and said, "We have to wait for backup."

"Where are they?"

"Probably lost. The only reason we got here so easily was that you've been here before. The nearest town is an hour away."

"Why aren't they here?"

Lee shook his head and looked up at the hotel. "Is this weird for you?"

"What do you think?" I unlocked my door and climbed out of the truck. I wheezed in pain; the meds had long ago worn off.

"Winston, we can't. I know this is hard for you- where are you going?!"

Lee jumped out of the truck and followed me to the door of the hotel. I tried to open but I saw it padlocked with chains. "No matter," I said. "Follow me."

I went around the building where the backdoor that I had come out of as a kid was. Dirt was piled up against it. The only way we could get in is if we dug for a quarter of an hour. I growled and ran back around the building. I picked up a fist-sized rock and hurled it through the large window. The 150-year-old glass shattered instantly and rained down.

"We can't do that!" Lee cried. I walked through the open window as he said in an exhausted voice, "We need a... warrant."

The smell was the same, just a little mustier. I half expected the bellboy to ask where we were visiting from. The room was dark, the lamps not lit. I began to go up the stairs, Lee behind me. "Room 206?" he asked.

"Yes."

I pushed open the old door and looked around the room. It was the exact same, room neat aside from the thousands of missing person clippings. My heart dropped when I saw a piece of paper sitting on the bed. It was a copy of the Amber Alert that had gone out. My kids' names were on it.

I threw the paper off and pushed on the bed. Nothing happened.

"What do we do?"

"We need to get down there. I'm not sure how..." I glanced at Lee.

"What?"

I grabbed him and pushed him on the bed. The mattress swung out and he fell, hollering. I glanced down into the hole. "Are you okay?"

"Winston, have you gone insane?!" His phone's flashlight turned on, illuminating the familiar space.

I sat on edge of the pit and let myself fall. The pain I felt when I hit the boxes was indescribable. I lay there for just a second, trying to catch my breath. Lee helped me up. "You good?"

"Yeah."

Lee smacked me across the head. I swatted him away. "Why?!"

"I hate you. How do we get out of here?" He looked around the room. There was hissing around us.

"It's the gas," I said. "Hold your breath while I get this door open." Before I could even work on the door, it opened, revealing a man wearing the same old fashioned mask as 25 years ago. I lunged at him, aiming to peel the rubber mask off his head. Lee joined in, grabbing the man's arms.

The unmasking revealed the same man from the park. "Gregory Jenkins," I said, panting, "Where-"

He wriggled out of Lee's grip and pushed me down. He ran into the next room.

"Don't let him get away!" I cried. Lee nodded and ran. I got to my feet and followed after them. I saw Gregory's feet disappear into a small tunnel I had no idea even existed. Lee fell to the floor and went after him. I groaned in pain and followed after the two of them. The tunnel was so small, my shoulders repeatedly got stuck.

"Close your eyes!" Lee cried. I did so and asked, "Why?"

A bright flash answered my question. Smoke filled the tunnel. Lee continued to army crawl forward, coughing in the smoke. "Flash bomb," he said.

"I kinda got that, thanks."

Lee hit the ladder at the end and began to crawl up. His feet disappeared and I began to climb up. My head popped up and my heart stopped. Lee stood to the side, hands up. Sierra and Jared were tied up and staring at me, mouths full of gags. Gregory aimed a gun at Jared's head.

"One wrong move and his brains will be this room's next coat of paint."

The room. It was the saloon's back room.

I nodded. "Let me just get out of this pit, okay?" I put both my hands on the worn wood floors and slowly brought my whole body to the surface. I held my hands up and backed to stand by Lee.

"Welcome back to Fallengate," Gregory said, smirking. "Where're your sisters?"

My jaw clenched and Lee whispered, "No."

"Who are you?" I asked.

Gregory laughed. "They never remember me. I'm just the faceless bellboy."

My mouth dropped and Gregory giggled again. "There we are. It's so sad. Your kids will never get to experience the true beauty of Fallengate. So, I figured I would let them get the experience. Oh! I should probably mention, I knew it was you texting me. How stupid do you think I am? I needed a way to get as close to you as possible."

"What's your problem with me?" I asked.

"You had my uncle arrested."

I ran the name Jenkins through my head but nothing stuck. "I don't think I've ever arrested-"

"Not you. When you were a kid. Amy and Peter? Your parents?"

My eye twitched.

"I was the accomplice no one expected," Gregory said. "It was perfect. But I really didn't appreciate you putting away my family." He put the gun closer to Jared's head and I snapped.

My hand swung down to grab my gun. My arm was up but Gregory fired at the same time. My bullet blew Gregory's jaw off. Lee ran for Gregory and I ran to my kids. Jared's cheek was bleeding, but Gregory's bullet had only grazed it. I ripped the duct tape off of their mouths. "Sorry," I said in response to their grimaces. "It hurts less like that."

Their mouths were stuffed with socks and I pulled them out. I cut off the tape on their wrists and hugged them. Sierra's eyes were wide, staring at Gregory. I blocked her view with my body. "It's okay," I said. "Don't look."

Sirens whined from outside. "We're in here!" Lee cried. A SWAT team burst through the front door and into the back room. They lowered their guns when they saw what was left of Gregory's face.

I led my kids out of the saloon and we stood in the middle of the main street.

"This is Fallengate?" Sierra asked, voice cracking.

I nodded. "Where my life changed."

"And that's why you do what you do?" Jared asked. "So it doesn't happen again."

"Yep."

Their grips on my hands tightened.