Chapter 286
her statement.
Charlotte followed Sean in a daze to the local police station to give h
Once they arrived, the officers” attitude shifted noticeably after learning who Sean was. With more respect in their tone, they quickly moved things along
From the officers, Sea learned that the person who had called the police was a man and through technical means, they had already identified him.
It was
One officer explained, “The caller sand his girlfriend had been kidnapped and taken to Cloud City. The also claimed the suspect might be armed. After receiving the report, we launched a search and tracked the location, and by the time we arrived…”
This conversation happened privately between Sean and the officer Charlotte wasn’t aware of any of it
Soon, both of their statements were completed.
Charlotte stepped out of the interview room.
“You’re free to go,” said one of the officers.
But Charlotte stepped forward, her voice shalding. “Officer, my sister has been kidnapped. Please. you have to help her. The man who took her he’s a monster. She’s only eight years old. If she stays in his hands…”
Her voice broke. She couldn’t finish. Her emotions overwhelmed her, and she could barely get the words out.
Jodie might have been her stepmother’s daughter, but after all these years together, Charlotte truly loved her. She had never said it out loud, but deep down, she had already accepted Jodie and Xena as family.
II Jodie didn’t make it back, she didn’t even want to imagine it.
“The suspect crossed the national border by helicopter,” said the officer. “We’re currently trying to contact authorities in Atlantis to request their cooperation. We’ll update you as soon as we receive any news.”
Cloud City was already close to the border. The abandoned building Joseph had chosen was only a short flight away. The moment that helicopter lifted off, it didn’t take long before it passed into foreign territory. Once they were over the line, the local police lost jurisdiction.
All they could do now was reach out to Atlantis for help in capturing Joseph Ford.
Joseph and John had escaped in the helicopter. The rest of his men had been arrested.
As Charlotte stood there sobbing, Sean knew that no words could comfort her now. Instead, he stayed silently by her side, gently holding her hand.
At that moment, Sean’s phone rang-
He glanced down. The caller ID showed; Desmond Riley
Sean instinctively looked at Charlotte
She was still talking to an officer about Jodie, too
too distressed to no
notice his phone ringing.
“I’ll take das outside,” he said softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze,
He stepped a few feet away and answered
Sean ——Jodie’s missing too! Where are you? Are you in Cloud City? Did you find Joseph Ford? Are both Charlotte and Jodie with him? What’s happening? Can you get them out — do you lume a plan — ?”
second the call connected, Desmond fired off a barrage of panicked questions.
a pave him a full rundown of the situation.
ment Denton heard that Jodie had been taken across the border into Atlantis, his hand trembled, and the phone clattering to the floor.
There was static for a few second
Then, Xena’s voice came through the line–hysterical, breaking down in the background.
e shipped from his grasp,
After leaving the police station, Charlotte Blew back to Jersey City with Sean on a private jet
On the flight, Sean explained everything–Joseph’s terms,
rescue plan he had originally put in place
led the police,” Charlotte asked her voice husking with anger, “even if Joseph had taken Tode, you could’ve saved her too, right?”
in her eyes
