Chapter 6 - The Missing Persons Match
The cold metal bench in the precinct holding cell offered absolutely no comfort.
I sat in the dim light, my mind consumed by the horrifying reality of the DNA report.
Christopher and Sabrina had not just purchased infants from a corrupt doctor.
They had actively participated in the kidnapping of two innocent children from another state.
The heavy steel door of the holding area clanged open, and Jacqueline walked in, looking furious.
"I just posted your bail," Jacqueline said, motioning for the guard to unlock my cell.
"The judge granted immediate release because Penelope’s self-inflicted scratches didn't match defensive wounds."
I stood up, rubbing my bruised wrists as the cuffs were finally removed.
"Jacqueline, the babies are kidnapped," I whispered urgently once we were in the secure hallway.
"The DNA lab ran a standard federal database check and flagged a match for twins abducted from a maternity ward in Ohio."
Jacqueline stopped dead in her tracks, all the color draining from her face.
"If the FBI finds those babies in Christopher's possession, he will spend the rest of his life in federal prison," she said.
"And he will drag Sabrina down with him," I added.
We hurried out of the police station and climbed into Jacqueline's waiting sedan.
"We have to go to Sabrina's apartment right now," I instructed.
"If Christopher realizes the police might be tracking the babies, he will try to dispose of the evidence."
Jacqueline slammed her foot on the gas, running two red lights to reach the upscale apartment complex I had paid for.
We rushed into the lobby and took the elevator up to the penthouse suite.
The front door to Sabrina's apartment was wide open, the lock completely shattered.
I stepped inside, my shoes crunching on broken glass scattered across the expensive hardwood floor.
The place had been completely ransacked.
Drawers were pulled out, furniture was overturned, and a large safe in the wall had been blown open.
There was no sign of Christopher, Sabrina, or the twin babies anywhere.
I walked into the nursery Sabrina had decorated using my stolen trust funds.
The two matching blue-and-white blankets were discarded on the floor, stained with dark drops of fresh blood.
My phone suddenly rang in the terrifying silence of the empty apartment.
I answered it, putting it on speaker so Jacqueline could hear.
"Hello, Stephanie," a deep, chilling voice echoed through the line.
"Dr. Thorne?" I asked, my blood running cold.
May you like
"Your husband failed to pay the second installment for his customized family," the disgraced doctor sneered.
"If you want to see your sister and those babies alive, you will wire the remaining two million dollars to my account by midnight."
