My knees hit the ground. Voices blurred. My vision dimmed. I felt light-headed, empty, like my soul had left me behind.
Sam appeared in front of me, shaking me. "Tony? Are you okay? Tony?? TONY!"
His voice cut through the fog. I looked at him, tears in my eyes, and gripped his collar.
"They took Twen, Sam. My Twen… why would they take him? He's done nothing. What if they hurt him? What if they ki—"
"TONY!" Sam yelled, grabbing my shoulders. "You can't break down now. If you lose it, who will fight for Twen? Pull yourself together!"
His voice snapped something back into place. I clutched his arms, stood up on trembling legs.
"You're right," I whispered. "I can't fall apart."
"Good," Sam nodded, "I'll call the cops—"
The moment he said that, the teachers erupted:
"Mister, you can't call cops on school grou—"
"The school's reputation will—"
"The parents will panic—"
Sam turned slowly toward them. His eyes were cold, his presence terrifying.
"If your fucked-up security and useless staff hadn't dropped the ball, a child wouldn't be missing right now," he said, voice like a blade. "You should be glad I'm not suing your sorry institution. So shut the fuck up."
The silence that followed was deafening.
The teachers cowered. The Executive Chef, Samuel Dumas, had taken over.
He turned back to me, voice softer. "Tony, call Mr. Walker, right now."
Right, Robbie. I fumbled with my phone. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely type. I remembered his meeting and opted to message him instead.
It took me eight tries to type one text.
I saw Sam still talking with the teachers. I couldn't take it anymore. I stepped outside to the porch.
The thought of Twen, scared and alone, consumed me. It had already more than an hour since he was taken. No ransom call. Was this even a kidnapping? I pushed my hair back and slammed my hands into a pillar. The sting barely registered.
Where the fuck is he?
RINGGGGG.
My phone.
Robbie.
I picked up immediately.
"Tony," he said urgently. "What the hell do you mean Twen's been abducted?"
"Ro-Robbie… he wasn't there. When Sam came to pick him up… he was gone. We checked the cameras. A teacher, Miranda, someone posing as her… took him."
"WHAT? Are the cops there?"
"Sam called them. They're on their way," I said, voice hoarse.
As if on cue, I heard sirens approaching.
"Was he taken in a car?" Robbie asked. I could hear people talking around him, music in the background.
"Yes," I whispered.
"Send me the teacher's details, the car, everything. Get her records and send them to me. And if there's a ransom call, inform me immediately."
"Y-yeah," I nodded, swallowing down panic.
I watched the cop cars roll into the school.
"Also—" Robbie paused, and I heard him grit his teeth. "Call Fred."
"What?"
"Fred's from the D'Souza family. He's got the network to track people fast. I'm getting on the next flight, but I won't reach till night. Fred can help now. Call him. Understood?"
"I… I will," I murmured.
A tall, square-faced cop approached me.
"Sir, can you direct us—"
"This way," I cut him off, "Robbie, I'll send the details. And Robbie…"
The cop led me to the faculty room. Just before I entered, I whispered,
"I'll be waiting."