The Kiss that Sparked it All

Mara pursed her lips, utterly baffled by her father’s presence there. Far from being of any help, he had even shed tears during the negotiations. She had little respect for a man who

cries.

“Let’s not rush to hand over the cash just yet. Let’s get in touch with the police and see what they suggest,” Dean said, trying to inject some sense into the situation.

Elton panicked at the suggestion. “How can we do that? The kidnappers have already warned us-no police! If they find out we’ve involved the police, won’t the kids be in even greater danger?”

Alyssa waved a dismissive hand. “You don’t know their type, nor do you understand them. Even if we don’t go to the police, they have ways to threaten the kids. We need to act fast to find their hideout- that’s the real solution. Don’t just think about paying them off. Have you considered their greed? Can you truly satisfy them?”

Elton fell silent; after all, the ransom money was coming from their pockets. He had no ground to stand on.

Dean patted him on the shoulder. “Look, we are just as eager to rescue the children. But we need you to work with us on this.”

“Alright!” Elton nodded vigorously, while Mara watched with a calculating gaze. She suspected the situation would be resolved quickly, but she didn’t want it to be-not just

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She hoped Victoria would get her comeuppance. As long as Balfour returned safely, that was all that mattered.

The police arrived quickly, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

“Captain Aidan, I can’t believe that two children were snatched in broad daylight right at the school gates. What’s happening with our public safety? Is it so poor that soon people will be kidnapped just standing by the roadside?” Alyssa accosted the officer on arrival, her voice heavy with concern and anger.

The thought of Balfour, not yet an adult, enduring such an ordeal gave her a headache. His childhood had been hard enough without this. Once Balfour was back, she vowed to take him to church to light a candle and wash away the bad luck.

Captain Aidan, looking apologetic, reassured Alyssa, “We’ve been negligent, and I assure you, Mrs. Howard, this will not happen again on our watch. Don’t worry; we’ve begun tracking the number that called you. If they weren’t careful enough, I believe we’ll soon pinpoint their location.”

They couldn’t be certain of the outcome, but Balfour was smart. With just a slight hint from her, he’d understand what she meant.

“If possible, I’d like to have another conversation with Balfour,” Captain Aidan suggested after listening to the initial recording. It was easier said than done.

“How about this? I’ll go ahead with the money to lure them into a false sense of security, and then we can make our move. How does that sound?”

The others nodded in agreement. There seemed no better plan; they had to wait and hope for the best.