Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Lindsey's parents, John and Mary Gill, walked into the office, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. Sheriff Jensen met them at the entrance.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gill, please, come this way," Dare said, guiding them to a small conference room where Cam and Sawyer were waiting.

Mary's eyes were red from crying, and John's movements were rigid with anxiety. They took their seats, looking expectantly at the three law enforcement officers.

"Is there any update yet?" John asked, his voice cracking slightly. "Have you found anything?"

Cam exchanged a glance with Sawyer before speaking. "We're following several leads, Mr. Gill. We're doing everything we can to bring Lindsey home safely."

Mary's hands trembled as she clasped them together. "Have you found any clues? Anything that might tell us where she is?"

Sawyer leaned forward, his tone gentle but firm. "We're examining every piece of evidence. A neighbor stated that she saw a dark-colored sedan parked near Lindsey's home a few days before she was abducted. Does anyone close to you drive a car like that?"

The Gills shared confused looks, then shook their heads. "No, not that we can think of. Her boyfriend, Andrew, drives a small SUV, but it's silver."

Cam knew that, of course. They'd checked extensively into Andrew before questioning him. He nodded. "If you can think of anything else, please let us know."

"We'll do whatever it takes," John said, his voice filled with determination. "We just want our daughter back."

Mary's voice was barely a whisper. "We're so worried. Especially after what happened to Jayla. Do you think it's connected?"

Dare's expression softened. He didn't sugarcoat the truth. "It's a possibility, Mrs. Gill. We're considering every option and following every lead. We can't give you all the details, but I promise you, we're doing everything in our power to find Lindsey."

Tears welled up in Mary's eyes. "Thank you," she said, her voice trembling. "We just need to know she's okay."

Cam offered a comforting smile. "We're not giving up, Mrs. Gill. We'll find her."

As they discussed the details of the press conference, the weight of the situation pressed heavily on everyone's shoulders. John and Mary's pain was a stark reminder of the urgency of their mission. They couldn't afford to miss a single thing.

* * *

Several miles away, the TV was tuned to local news channel in the small break room, and the room's occupants watched, enraptured.

On the screen, the sympathetic face of a reporter dominated the frame, her voice serious as she spoke. "The search for Lindsey Gill, a local woman who went missing four days ago, continues. Authorities have yet to release any significant leads. Lindsey's family is desperate for her safe return."

In the corner of the screen, a photograph of Lindsey appeared: a bright, smiling blonde woman whose eyes sparkled with life. The break room fell silent as the reporter continued, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

"Anyone with information is urged to contact the authorities immediately," the reporter said, her tone somber. The screen transitioned to a live feed from the press conference.

Mary Gill stood at the podium, her face pale and drawn. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Please, if anyone knows anything about where our daughter is, please come forward. We just want her home. Lindsey, if you can hear this, we love you, and we won't stop until we find you."

Sympathetic murmurs spread through the break room. "Poor family," one woman said, shaking her head. "I can't imagine what they're going through."

Another coworker nodded. "I hope they find her soon."

In the corner of the break room, a man sat alone, his eyes fixed intently on the screen. He appeared calm, almost detached, but his heart pounded with anticipation. He watched as the camera zoomed in on Mary Gill's tear-streaked face, the raw pain evident in her eyes. A fleeting pang of guilt twisted in his chest, but he quickly pushed it aside.

As the news segment continued, the man leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly. He had taken great care to ensure Lindsey's disappearance would be a mystery, an enigma that would baffle the authorities and her loved ones alike. The thought of her family's anguish, while momentarily disconcerting, was a necessary consequence of his actions.

The press conference ended, and the news anchor resumed her coverage, but the man in the break room paid no attention. His mind was elsewhere, already planning his next move. He had to be careful, meticulous, and above all, patient.

The man stood up, straightening his tie as he prepared to leave the break room. As he walked past his coworkers, he offered a polite nod and a faint smile, blending seamlessly into the everyday hum of office life. No one would suspect that beneath his composed exterior lay a dark obsession, a twisted desire that had driven him to take Lindsey.

Exiting the break room, he felt a surge of satisfaction. The world outside remained oblivious to the truth, and he intended to keep it that way. Lindsey was his now, and nothing would change that.

The investigation would continue, the news would cover every development, but as long as he remained careful, Lindsey would stay hidden from those who sought to find her. And in the quiet, secluded place where he kept her, she would learn to accept her new reality.

After all, he thought, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for the ground floor, some secrets are meant to be kept.

Lindsey belonged to him now.