Page 66 of Chasing Football Dreams

"But you had your suspicion,"

He nodded. "His place was the first they looked for you but there was no sign of you,"

"But I was. I heard your voice but you couldn't hear me,"

Images started puzzling together when I was locked in that room. Clear flashbacks of how I woke up in the room.

I raised my head at the sound of footsteps. Men in uniform joined us outside. "You need to come and see this," The man who looked to be in charge said to Shane.

I didn't even realize that somebody called them.

Shane got to his feet and shook hands with the man. He then turned to me. "Zoey, this is Detective Patrick. He has been working around the clock on your case,"

I got to my feet to shake his hand. "Shane told me all about you and your strong sense of snooping around,"

"Did you know I was alive?" I asked.

"I've found evidence that pointed me to you. The falsified coroner report and accident report. I also dug up your forged birth certificate,"

"Did you also find out how the orphanage is involved?"

He looked at Shane who nodded at the Detective. "They aren't involved, Zoey. The man is a retired cop whom Benjamin called. His name is Ivan. He helped Benjamin to hide your abduction. Paid off people to forge your death,"

"And the woman?"

"She only started working at the orphanage when you were placed there. She was ordered to keep an eye on you,"

I looked at Shane. "You knew before me and had me believe that I was going crazy,"

"I called Detective Patrick from the first file you took and the information helped to unravel this case,"

"You also knew when you met me at the Diner that Benjamin was the abductor. You just wanted my confirmation and that's why you asked me what he said,"

He nodded again. "I made a promise to keep you safe, Zoey. I couldn't ignore my gut for a second time and put your life in danger again,"

"I convinced Benjamin to hold the celebration. It was the only way we could confirm our suspicion,"

"I was bait," I noted, dropping my gaze.

"He didn't want to but I convinced him to as it was the only way we could catch Benjamin," Detective Patrick came over to me.

"Benjamin learned of his son's crush on you and had him spy on you,"

I met Duncan's confusion. "The jerk guy from the diner who cheats on his girlfriends,"

"How did you figure that?" Duncan asked.

I pointed upstairs. "He, uh, unlocked the door and helped me out,"

They were as surprised as I was. "Did you know?" Duncan asked.

"That his father kidnapped me? I don't know. We didn't talk because I ran out to get to you,"

"Mention of that. You need to come and see this,"

Shane motioned for us to follow. I was hesitant to follow because of the thought of people in the house and the suffocation of the truth.

But I wanted to see what they found. So, I followed them inside and up the staircase where more cops stood. Benjamin was in the room, seated at his desk with a cop on either side of him.

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