Page 86 of The Rookie's Second Chance

I wanted to tear the place apart, to scream, to do something, anything, to bring Kayla back. But I knew that wouldn't help. I had to be smart about this. I had to think like a detective, not just a worried boyfriend.

"I'm heading back to the station," I told the officer, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "Keep me updated on anything you find here."

He nodded, and I turned to leave, clutching the bracelet in my hand.

When I arrived, I headed straight for my desk, determined to find some clue to help me locate Kayla. I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment. I had to stay focused and use every resource at my disposal.

I started by pulling up Mandy's profile again, scanning through the information for any hint of where she might have taken Kayla. I checked her known associates, her recent activities, anything that might give me a clue.

But it was like chasing shadows. Mandy was careful, covering her tracks well. It was frustrating, knowing that Kayla was out there somewhere, potentially in danger, and I was here, seemingly hitting dead ends.

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my eyes. I couldn't give up. I wouldn't. Kayla was counting on me, and I wasn't about to let her down.

I picked up the phone, calling anyone who might have seen Mandy or noticed anything unusual. But it was all dead ends, nothing that led me any closer to finding Kayla.

I felt useless, stuck here while Kayla could be facing God knows what. I wanted to be out there, searching for her, but I knew I had to be smart about this. I had to use my head, not just my heart.

I looked down at the bracelet in my hand, the silver heart charm a stark reminder of what was at stake. I couldn't lose her, not now, not when we'd finally found our way back to each other.

With renewed determination, I turned back to my computer, scouring through the data, looking for any small detail that might lead me to Kayla. I wouldn't rest until I found her and brought her back safe. She meant everything to me, and I'd do whatever it took to save her.

Chapter Forty

KAYLA

The throbbing in my head was relentless, a drumbeat that echoed through my skull as I came to. My mouth was dry, my lips sealed by a gag, and a blindfold covered my eyes. I tried to call out, but the sound was muffled, useless. I was tied to a chair, my wrists and ankles aching from the tight restraints.

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm, to think. I had to get out of this and find a way back to Jake, back to safety.

The blindfold was suddenly yanked away, and I blinked against the harsh light of the cabin. I squinted, trying to make out my surroundings. The place was dingy and abandoned, with peeling wallpaper and a musty smell that spoke of years of neglect. I had no idea where I was.

Mandy’s voice cut through the silence, dripping with disdain. "Don't bother, Kayla. No one can hear you scream out here."

I glared at her, trying to convey my defiance despite the gag. "Mmmphh!" I tried to speak, but the words were trapped behind the fabric.

Mandy pulled the gag away, and I took a deep breath, my throat raw. "What do you want, Mandy?"

She laughed. "Isn't it obvious? I want Jake. And I'll never have him as long as you're in the picture."

I shook my head, trying to reason with her. "You're wrong. Jake and I are just partners."

Her expression twisted into a sneer. "Don't play dumb with me, Kayla. I know you two are in love. But if you're out of the way, Jake will come around. He'll see that I'm the one he should be with."

The realization of her delusion was chilling. "Are you going to kill me?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear gripping my heart.

Mandy's face crumpled, her bravado faltering. "I never wanted to kill anyone," she stammered, her eyes darting around the room.

It hit me then – the truth of her words. Mandy had killed her family and maybe others. She was capable of anything, and I was at her mercy.

I had to keep her talking, had to buy time. "Why, Mandy? Why do all this?"

She paced the room, her hands wringing together. "I wanted Jake to see me, to choose me."

Her words were a twisted echo of every person's desire for love but warped by obsession and madness. I watched her, searching for any sign of the girl she might have once been before all this madness took hold.

But as she ranted, her words becoming more frantic and disjointed, I realized the Mandy standing before me was a shell, a broken reflection of unfulfilled desires and twisted fantasies.

I sat there, tied to the chair, my heart pounding. I had to find a way out, had to warn Jake. But as Mandy's shadow loomed over me, I knew escaping wouldn't be easy. I had to be smart, had to be patient.

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