When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 139

Sheila’s phone was impossible to track, but the police could still look into everyone she’d been in touch with lately. There just wasn’t any time. Nelly couldn’t sit around making lists and waiting for investigations. She had no choice except to follow the kidnapper’s instructions and head to the preschool.

She grabbed Brody’s phone and let the team fit her with a hidden earpiece and tracker. Brody watched, clearly uneasy. Just as Nelly was about to get out of the car, he reached for her arm.

“If things go south, walk away. Don’t do anything stupid. And whatever happens, keep in touch.”

Brody didn’t even know why those words came out of his mouth. Carrie was his priority, always. Nelly, as her mother, would never give up on their daughter. Sheila’s life was at stake too.

Nelly stared at him, surprised for a split second, then let out a dry, sarcastic laugh.

“That doesn’t sound like you at all.”

Brody caring about her? Unlikely. There was a flicker of worry in his eyes, maybe a hint of hesitation about letting her go, but it couldn’t be real.

“I’ll save my daughter. No matter what it takes.”

Nelly said it quietly, and then she stepped out of the car. There was still a bit of a walk to the preschool. She slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way there alone.

The preschool entrance was quiet, barely a car in sight under the streetlights. Nelly stood out, waiting by the gate, and before long, her phone rang. The kidnapper told her to find a big backpack in a trash can nearby. Following his directions, she found the bag tucked into a shadowy corner and poured all the money inside.

He called again, told her to take off her jacket, get rid of every device, even Brody’s phone. Only then did he say there was a note in the new backpack. She found it, unfolded the scrap of paper, and saw an address. That was the drop location. She had a time limit. If she wanted to see her daughter again, she had to hurry.

The kidnapper made Carrie speak on the phone, and hearing her daughter’s voice nearly broke Nelly’s heart. She didn’t even hesitate. She did exactly as she was told.

Back in the surveillance van, Nelly’s connection suddenly went dead. Brody tensed.

“What’s going on?”

“It looks like the kidnapper knows every move we make. He’s good at covering his tracks.”

Everyone was stunned. They’d hidden the trackers better than ever, and still, he’d found them. Whoever this was, he had eyes on Nelly, watching her every step.

Brody tried to get out of the car, but the officers stopped him.

“We have people tailing her. Don’t worry, we’ll have a location soon.”

“She’s my wife. I need to see for myself,” Brody insisted, his voice hard as steel.

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