r down to the red-light district, and she
restrained in a decrepit buil
sheveled, revealing bruised shoulders and much o
The caller claimed intimate knowledge of her biological parents and ev
ges, she ended up in the
voice steady despite the blood trickling from her mouth's corner. "I
Hewi
prompting bewildered looks among them. "Ala
al could send shockwaves through the city. If they indeed he
adied herself, and said, "I won't claim you kidnapped me. Just
ing on her expensive designer dress and strik
attractive. Someone of Alan's stature taking
e me his phone number, and no tricks. If you try to deceive me, I'll sell you to a
g her mouth, weakly ut
number, but the call wa
it! Are you playing games with
nd he delivered a harsh ki
ce growing fainter. "He won't take a stranger's c
After a moment's hesitation, he handed her the phone, growling, "Tell
ivered as she dialed
an for three years, she fel
finances, which gave her a sliver of
lessly, her knuckles paling
a woman's. The caller was none other than the renown
ey's grave. What do you need?" L
through Kait
and she had been kidnapped. Two days had slipped by, and Alan was none
ged in h
ed for great-grandchildren, and Kaitlin bore an unsettling resemblance to his de
was merely a stand-in t
not the moment
t was evident in her voice. "Miss Willis, it's urgent tha
day marks the anniversary of Ashley's passing. He's really not in the mo
ence, Kaitlin raised her voice and shouted into the phone, "I need to talk t
napping, fearing the kidnappe
She could hear footsteps in the background an
's Kaitlin. She's adamant about speaking with you. I mentioned we're visiting
as that? She's nothing but a stand-in. Just hang up. S
nnection was severed, and Ka