Thomas.

Selene’s POV. I stood by the window of my living room. Gazing out at the dark sky. Amira’s teddy in one hand and a glass of water in the other. The teddy still smelled like her. So soft and fluffy. I lowered my nose to it and took in a whiff. My baby. A chill ran down my body. I haven't really been feeling myself lately. My body just seems weak. I haven't felt this way in like forever. I moved towards the center table and carefully placed the glass cup down. I hadn’t stopped trying Sophie’s line. I was hoping for something. A miracle maybe. I reached for the card the woman from earlier gave me. The boss's name across the card read, "Frank Thomas." I flipped it over; it was so unlike Sophie to keep something like this from me. Why didn’t she tell me about him? I hugged the Teddy closer to my chest. I would call him tonight. My head snapped at the screeching sound from outside. From the little opening in the curtain I could see Rowland’s car. “What is he doing here and why s

Finding answers.

Selene’s POV. I watched Rowland’s car glide out from my patio. I blew him an air kiss just before he wound up fully, and he pretended to catch it and place it over his chest. I giggled. I shut the door behind me and scrambled for the card. I relaxed into the sofa and threw my head back. I'm slightly hopeful that I might learn something tangible and this entire search could be over. I dialed in the number. It rang for a few minutes but no one answered. I dialed again. A voice came through in the fifth ring. Low, masculine, and tired. “Hello.” “Good morning, Mr. Frank Thomas.” “Good morning. Who is this?” “I am Selene. Calling relating to my friend Sophie.” Silence. “What about her?” “I was told you and Sophie were seeing each other.” I breathed, waiting for that to sink in first. “I haven't heard from her in a while now, and I decided to reach out to you. You might know her whereabouts.” “What?” He exclaimed, sounding genuinely surpri

Skeptical.

Rowland’s POV I walked straight to the investigator's office without knocking. She looked up from the file on her desk, a surprised expression on her face before she quickly masked it. “Mr Brooke’s…” “Have you found him?” She blinked. “We are still following several…” “No!” I shook my head. "Don't give me that.” She leaned back. Her expression was stern now. “I saw him yesterday.” Silence. “I saw the man you’ve been telling me you’re trying to find.” I planted both palms on her desk and leaned forward. “He was so close; not even a single thread of fear was in him.” She remained calm. Which pissed me off even more. “And then?” she asked. “And then he disappeared.” I laughed once, a dry chuckle. "He vanished," I said, with the snap of my finger, "into thin air, Inspector." My jaw tightened. “So explain something to me.” She waited. “How does a man who’s supposedly being investigated simply disappear “We’re doing everything within our—” “E

Test result.

Selene’s POV. “Ma’am!”I froze. “Maam?” Closer this time. I spun around. A teenage grocery employee stops a few feet from me. Holding a note, smiling awkwardly. “You forgot your change, ma'am." “Oh?” I laughed. How embarrassing. “My change?” I blinked.The tension left my body all at once.He nodded. “Yes, ma'am." “Oh.”Heat crept up my neck.“Thank you. I’m… sorry.” I took it from him and fumbled for my actual keys. The young boy turned around and half jogged back into the building. I unlocked the car door, stuffed the bags into the back seat, and slid into the driver's seat. I allowed myself to lean into the chair. I rubbed my forehead softly. “Gracious, what am I turning into?" What’s the time?” I reached into my bag for my phone. “The batteries are out." It must have died a long time ago. I shoved it back in and eased out of the parking lot, checking the rearview mirror more times than I cared to admit.*******I pulled into my street. The light illuminated the da

False alarm.

Rowland’s POV. I sat watching the building. My fingers tightened around the wheel. What business could Tom possibly have in a place like this? I wasn’t meant to be doing this. I should tell the police. But they seemed to be taking their time. My secretary had walked in this morning to inform me that a delivery driver had walked into my office that morning insisting he’d seen Tom near this abandoned block.What I came here for, I don’t know. I leaned forward and squinted when a teenager walked out of the building. He glanced around before placing his hoody over his head and walking away. He kept one hand buried in the pocket of his hoodie as if protecting something.I shook my head. “Maybe I should go back. Call the police.” ‘No!’ I glanced at my phone, still no text from Selene. I wasn’t going to text her. I didn’t want to be where I wasn’t needed. My hand hovered over my phone.One call.That’s all it would take.The investigators would tell me to wait.Secure the area.Sta

A revelation.

Selene’s POV. I sat in the waiting room, clutching my bag a little too tightly. I just had to be sure. Waves of emotions surged through me on that seat. To my left, a pregnant woman sat calmly with her husband next to her. Her palm was carefully folded into his. I looked away. To the side a little boy sat moving an action figure in the air. My leg bobbed. I wiped away a drop of sweat from my forehead. "Ma'am," the rose-cheeked nurse said, pointing to me. “You may come in now." I wiped my palm over my gown and walked into the small room. I closed the door quietly behind me. I hadn’t been to one of these rooms in a long time. My nose tingled from the smell. White walls.A desk.An examination bed tucked neatly into one corner.The nurse offered me a reassuring smile.“Have a seat, please.”I did.She asked me a few routine questions. The date of my last period. Whether I had been feeling nauseous. Dizzy. More tired than usual.I answered each one softly, my voice sounding st