Chapter 8: The Search Begins

The evening sun cast long shadows across the quiet streets as Mrs. Aldric hurriedly locked the restaurant door, her hands trembling. Isabelle should have arrived hours ago. Something was wrong. Her gut churned with unease as she practically jogged home, her thoughts racing.

“Please let her be home,” she muttered under her breath, her shoes clicking against the cobblestones.

When she reached the house, she threw the door open, calling out, “Isabelle? Isabelle, are you here?”

The silence that greeted her sent a chill down her spine. She checked the kitchen, the small sitting room, and even upstairs, her worry growing with every empty room. Isabelle’s bag and the ledger were gone, but the house was eerily quiet.

Mrs. Aldric sank onto the sofa, her head in her hands. “Where could she have gone?” she whispered, fear tightening around her chest.

She didn’t sit for long. With a resolve born from years of running her business and protecting the people she cared about, she bolted out the door and ran to the town hall. She quickly rang the town bell hanging near the square—a call that meant urgency to the townsfolk.

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Within minutes, people began to gather. Farmers, shopkeepers, and even tourists moved toward the sound, murmuring with curiosity.

“What’s happened, Mrs. Aldric?” an elderly man asked, leaning on his cane.

“It’s Isabelle,” Mrs. Aldric said, her voice loud and urgent. “She’s missing. She didn't go to restuarant with me and I asked her to bring me my ledger from the house in the afternoon, but she never arrived.”

The crowd buzzed with concern. Clara pushed her way to the front, her expression grave. “Missing? Are you sure she didn’t just stop somewhere?”

Mrs. Aldric shook her head. “She wouldn’t. Isabelle’s not the type to wander off, not with everything she’s been through. She definitely said she was coming immediately during the call. She wouldn't have gone somewhere else first.”

A younger man in the crowd spoke up. “Do you think Dan has anything to do with this? He was sniffing around her and being weird yesterday at the restaurant.”

Mrs. Aldric’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Dan.... I can’t say for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he has anything to do with her disappearance.”

The murmurs grew louder, several people nodding in agreement.

Clara raised her hand, silencing the group of people there. “Everyone, wait a minute! We can’t jump to conclusions like that.” Her tone was firm but measured. “We don’t know for certain that Dan has anything to do with this. Can we also admit that Isabelle is no teenager, she'll probably come back soon. This whole crowd rushing to Dan's place just to accuse him doesn't sit right with me and nobody would accept that.”

A tall woman crossed her arms. “Who else would it be? Dan’s been causing trouble for years.”

Clara’s jaw tightened. “I know his reputation, but we can’t go around accusing people without evidence. Isabelle’s new here—maybe she lost her way or had an accident. She came into this town by herself, who knows? Maybe she already left. Anyway,we should search the town before assuming the worst.”

Mrs. Aldric hesitated, glancing around the group. “Clara’s right. Let’s search first. If we don’t find her, then we’ll go to Dan.”

The townspeople exchanged uneasy glances but eventually nodded in agreement.

“Alright,” said a shopkeeper, adjusting his cap. “Let’s split up. We’ll cover more ground that way.”

Mrs. Aldric sighed in relief. “Thank you. Let’s not waste any time.”

The crowd began to disperse, splitting into groups to comb the town and the surrounding area. Mrs. Aldric joined one group, calling Isabelle’s name as they searched the quieter streets and fields.

But Clara stayed back near the edge of the square as she watched everyone walk away, she pulled her phone out from her pocket. She scrolled through her contacts and tapped a name. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

“Clara?” Dan’s voice was calm, almost amused. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Cut the act,” Clara hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby. “Isabelle’s missing, and everyone’s already suspicious of you.”

There was a long pause on the other end before Dan chuckled softly. “Suspicious, huh? What a shame. I’ve barely done anything. I feel wronged.”

“Dan, I’m warning you,” Clara said through gritted teeth. “They’re planning to come to your place if they don’t find her.”

“Let them come,” Dan said, his tone dripping with confidence. “I’m not afraid of a few nosy villagers.”

“Dammit, Dan, this isn’t one of your stupid games!” Clara snapped. “If you’re involved in this, you better adjust your plans so you don't get caught. I know you're stupid enough to keep her in your house”

Dan’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Careful, Clara. Don't talk to me like you ordered me to do anything. For all I know, you could be recording this call, trying to get evidence against me. Also, you’re really starting to sound like you hate this girl. You wouldn’t want me to think you’re taking sides.”

Clara swallowed hard, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her phone. “I'm.... just doing you a favor, Dan, believe it or not. Don’t make things worse for yourself.”

Dan let out a slow, deliberate laugh. “Worse? Oh, Clara, sweetheart, I’m just getting started.”

The line went dead.

Clara lowered her phone, her heart pounding. She knew she had to keep up appearances, but dread twisted in her gut as she turned back to rejoin the search. Deep down she didn't want them to find Isabelle, she wished Dan would take her far away. Clara had been working with Mrs Aldric done she got to the town and Mrs Aldric didn't seem to care about her like she cared about Isabelle who just arrived. To top it all, that were living together. Isabelle just got to the town and she was already famous and loved. Clara got jealous of her. 

The suspense built as the groups combed through the town, calling Isabelle’s name into the fading light. But as the minutes ticked by with no sign of her, unease began to settle over the villagers like a heavy fog.

Mrs. Aldric stood at the edge of the woods, her hands trembling as she called out, “Isabelle! Where are you?”

When no response came, she glanced back at the others, her fear mirrored in their eyes. “We’re running out of time,” she said, her voice cracking.

And right there, Dan drove past the troubled crowd, watching them with a wicked smile on his face. He looked back at Isabelle, lying limp at the backseat of the car.

“This is going to be fun.”