Chapter 28

                                        

                                              
***Trigger warning
This chapter contains depictions of parental kidnapping, child endangerment, and substance abuse. It includes scenes of a child in distress trying to contact help. Readers who may be sensitive to themes involving missing children, family trauma, or addiction may wish to proceed with caution.
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Detective Morrison was hanging up from another call, and his expression had shifted to something I couldn't quite read.
"What is it?" I asked immediately.
"Good news and less good news. The good news is that we have another confirmed sighting—a McDonald's about thirty minutes from the gas station—they went in and got what I'm assuming is dinner. One of the staff noticed them when they came in. Says he'd seen the  Amber Alert we sent out in the area."
"That's good, right? Did he do anything?"
"It is good. But he said Jessica seemed 'agitated'—she was shaky and... I don't want you to worry, but he said she was yelling at Macy. Apparently, he tried to make small talk with Macy, Jessica cut him off abruptly and hurried Macy back to the car."
Felicity whispered, "could she know we're looking for her?" My stomach plummeted.
"Honestly, I don't think so. If she did, she wouldn't be using her credit cards. You mentioned your lawyer said she agreed for you to see her tomorrow. She may think she is in the clear for the night."
I stood up abruptly, pacing to the window. How can this be happening? I need to do something! "We have to find them—find Macy—now."
"We're doing everything we can. We have units moving into the area. I truly believe it won't be long."
He paused, looked me in the eyes and continued, "Amber Alerts are very effective. Between the alert, the checkpoints, and the teams we have moving to get to her, we will find her—and I don't use those words lightly. She's driving a specific car with a specific license plate, and she has an eleven-year-old with her. She is not invisible."
The Detective's phone buzzed again. "Morrison—What? Can you patch it through? I'm with her dad now." Morrison walked over to the desk phone in the room and started rattling off information. I was freaking out—I didn't know what was happening!
The phone rang and he answered on speaker. "Morrison"
"Detective Morrison, as I said, I have a 911 call from Macy Barrett who is asking for her father." 
I ran to the phone, "I'm here!"
"Put her through," Morrison responded.
"Patching her through now. Our calls are recorded, per protocol I will remain on the line with you. Macy, can you still hear me?"
"Yes," my little girl's voice whispered. 
I fell to the floor on my knees, my face as close to the phone as I could get it. Felicity dropped to the floor beside me, wrapping her arms around me. "Baby, I'm here. Daddy's here." I was trying to remain calm and keep her from hearing me cry. She needed me to be strong for her right now, she didn't need me to fall apart.
"Daddy!" I could hear her excitement even through her whisper. Felicity's hand flew to her mouth, tears streaming down her face as she heard Macy's voice. 
"Baby, where are you? Are you okay?" I croaked out, my hands clenched into fists against the floor.
"I'm okay, daddy. Mom's acting weird. We're at the Sleepy Inn but I don't know where. It was dark and there's lots of trucks around us."