Page 89 of The Rookie's Second Chance

I nodded, turning back to my computer. The chief left me alone, understanding the turmoil that gripped me.

I slammed my fist on the desk in frustration, feeling helpless. This wasn’t just a case anymore; it was personal, a race against time to save the woman I loved.

The station was quiet, the late hour leaving only a few night-shift officers and myself. The silence was oppressive, a constant reminder of Kayla's absence.

I rechecked my phone, hoping for a breakthrough, but it was just more of the same. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. Images of Kayla flashed through my mind - her smile, her strength, her unwavering sense of justice. I couldn't lose her, not like this.

Determined, I opened my eyes and focused on the screen again. I started retracing our steps, reviewing every piece of evidence we had on Mandy, trying to find a pattern, a clue, anything.

But as the night wore on, my efforts seemed increasingly futile. The situation bore down on me, a heavy cloak of fear and frustration.

I was at a loss, but I couldn't give up. Not when Kayla's life hung in the balance. So, I continued working through the night, fueled by adrenaline, coffee, and sheer determination. I had to find her. I just had to.

The station was a whirlwind of activity when Lexi and Luke burst through the doors. Lexi's eyes locked onto mine, her voice tinged with panic. "Jake, what the hell is going on?"

I ushered them into a quiet corner, away from the bustling officers and ringing phones. Spreading out the evidence on a nearby table, I showed them the photos Mandy had taken of Lexi, stretching back to their college days. "Mandy was your stalker, Lexi. Jude was her cousin and foster brother. She's been orchestrating this whole thing."

Lexi's face crumpled as she absorbed my words. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she clutched at the photos. "I can't believe this. She was in my room... all those years in college. I never saw it."

Luke wrapped an arm around her, trying to offer comfort, but Lexi seemed lost in her own world of betrayal and guilt. She muttered, more to herself than to us, "She came to Silver Creek when the stalker did. How did I not see it?"

I then showed her the pictures of me, the ones Mandy had secretly taken. Lexi's eyes widened in realization. "She shifted her focus to you, Jake."

"Yeah," I said grimly, "and now she's got Kayla."

"We have to get her back, Jake. Tell me what to do. How can I help?" Lexi’s voice was firm now, her tears giving way to a determined resolve.

I pulled up a chair for her. "Sit down, Lexi. I need you to tell me everything about Mandy. Anything at all that might help us find where she took Kayla."

Lexi sat, wiping her eyes, her mind racing. "There were never any signs, Jake. She was just... Mandy. A bit clingy, maybe, but nothing like this."

"But think about her habits, skills, anything out of the ordinary?" I urged, trying to find a lead in the tiniest of details.

Lexi thought for a moment. "She was always good with computers. A bit too good, maybe. Liked to know things about people, sometimes things she shouldn’t have known."

Luke chimed in, "She always had a thing for secluded places. Liked the woods, said they were peaceful."

My mind latched onto that piece of information. "Secluded places... that could be something."

"And she had this odd thing about personal space," Lexi continued, her brow furrowing in concentration. "She hated being trapped or confined. Always needed an escape route."

"That's useful to know," I acknowledged, scribbling notes.

Luke added, "She was surprisingly good at fixing things, mechanical stuff. Said it was a hobby."

"Mechanical skills, escape routes, secluded places..." I muttered, trying to piece it together. "Anything else? Anything at all?"

Lexi shook her head. "I just can’t believe it. All this time, it was her."

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We're going to find Kayla, Lexi. With this information, we have a better chance. Thank you."

Lexi and Luke decided to stay at the station, ready to help with any further information that might be needed. The clock on the wall read close to midnight when my phone buzzed. The screen displayed Kayla's name, but I knew better. The text read, "I'm fine, Jake. Sorry to worry you. Just took a longer nap than I planned."

My heart raced, but I forced calm into my fingers as I typed a response. "That's a relief. Mind if I come over? Just want to see you're really okay."

The reply was almost immediate, a little too immediate. "No, still feeling tired. Maybe tomorrow."

I knew it was Mandy. Kayla would never turn down help, especially not now. I called over one of the techs. "Can we trace these messages?"

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