Chapter 35
“Wait, you kidnapped Kate to prove me wrong?” Ronald was puzzled, his hand instinctively resting on the holster at his side. My scream pierced the air. “Run, Richard, they’ll take you back to jail p>
Thinking back on how brutally he had treated Kate, it wasn’t hard to imagine the hardships Richard must have faced in prison. Every time I visited Richard behind Claude’s back, I found new injuries on him. He always said they were from work, but knowing someone like
Claude, he could have arranged for someone inside to hurt Richard.
I felt guilty. “I’m so sorry, Richard. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t returned to the Hart family with him, none of this would’ve happened to you p>
“Yes,” Richard’s cold gaze softened, followed by a surprising smile. “What did throw me off, though, was that Kate knew where Claire was but kept mum about it p>
Ronald and his team were shocked.
Even the sky seemed to sympathize with my plight, suddenly growing dark with clouds and unleashing a thunderous rainstorm.
Seeing the downpour, Ronald reluctantly signaled his detectives to lower their guard and surveyed the surrounding mountains, “So, Kate told you Claire got taken to this mountain? With this rain, we should find shelter and search slowly. It’s too dangerous up here now!” “But I can’t wait. I need to find Claire. And once I do, I’ll tell you where Kate is.” Richard was determined to find me, unconcerned about potentially being taken for kidnapping nor about the rain. He dashed into the downpour.
Ronald and his team had no choice but to follow.
“Everyone, be careful. The path is slippery,” Ronald cautioned.
They trudged halfway up the mountain, the rain blurring their vision and the wind howling stronger the deeper they went, signaling increasing danger.
“Richard, it’s too dark to see anything. Let’s wait out the rain!” Ronald couldn’t help but intervene. Continuing to walk on aimlessly could endanger everyone.
I kept yelling in Richard’s ear, “Stop. Please, Richard, don’t go any farther p>
But no matter how loudly I called, Richard couldn’t hear me.
Richard looked ahead and suddenly stopped, pushing Ronald’s restraining hand away, “A cabin p>
Following his gaze, Ronald and the others noticed the wooden cabin nestled against a mountainside and hidden by thick shrubbery, nearly invisible unless you looked closely.
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Seeing the cabin first, Richard wanted to rush over, but ever cautious, Ronald grabbed him. “A cabin out here in the wilderness. Why would Kate know about this p>
I silently thanked God that Ronald was a professional.
Richard scoffed, “Now you see, Kate is the worst of them all p>
Ronald remained silent, his hand on his gun as he led the way.
Richard grew tense. “Mr. Collins, if
Claire is inside, think about how long she must’ve gone without food in this wilderness. And it’s been over a dozen days since her
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disappearance. Without rescue, how desperate she must feel.” Richard’s Voice trembled with sorrow.
“Check inside first.” Ronald sent two men into the cabin.
They pushed the door open, scanned the room, and informed Ronald, “It seems someone’s been living here. No spider webs. But no sign of Claire p>
Unable to wait any longer, Richard rushed into the cabin ahead of Ronald, quickly realizing it was empty.