Page 100 of Stolen Dreams

Do not take action. Call local law enforcement or 911 immediately.

When I tap the notification, a recent image of Tucker fills the screen. My vision blurs as tears stain my cheeks. I bring a hand to my mouth as a sob rips from my chest.

My fault.

Beneath Tucker’s photo is another. A woman with curly dark-brown hair and identical eyes to Tucker.Brianna.Ray has talked about her, but I’ve never seenher. As healthy and vibrant as she appears in this photo, it’s outdated. An image of a woman before she lost her way.

Seeing her makes this more real. It also alleviates some of my guilt.

Leaving the house may have been my idea, but I am not to blame for Tucker’s disappearance. That onus falls on Brianna.

This nightmare… her fault. Tucker’s mental and emotional hardships… a result of her long list of poor life choices. As are Ray’s inherent trust issues and deepest afflictions.

Sheis the reason Tucker is missing.

Brianna. All of this isherfault.

Not mine.

And I won’t rest until Tucker is home and safe. Until she is in cuffs and prosecuted for what she has done.

Whatever it takes.

TWENTY-NINE

TUCKER

My tummy hurtslike it did the time I ate too much ice cream and threw up on myself.

I tuck my legs to my tummy and hug them. Lay my head on my knees and squeeze my eyes shut.

“There’s my boy.” Her voice is scratchy but one I’ve heard before. “Mommy’s so happy to see you.”

Lifting my head a little, I peek between the front seats of the big van. The sunlight hides her face some, but I think the lady is my mom. But she looks… different. Skinnier. Scarier.

“Mom?” I barely hear my voice.

Her cracked lips form a smile. It makes my tummy ache more.

“Yeah, Tuck. It’s Mommy.”

I haven’t called her Mommy in a long time. Not since her second boyfriend after Dad. He was a bad man that made fun of me for calling her Mommy.

“Where am I?” My body shakes as I look around the inside of the van. Food wrappers, empty bottles, and dirty clothes cover the floor. And it smells really bad. “I’m scared.”

“I just wanted to see you. I’ve missed you, Tuck.”

When Mom left me with my dad, she told him I was always in her way. A pest. That she should’ve abandoned me when she did him. She must not remember saying that. Or she thinks I didn’t hear her.

I shiver when I look at the man driving. He’s big. Really big. He makes me want to throw up more. “Wh-who is he?”

Mom turns to look at the man and smiles. “This is Mommy’s friend.”

I don’t know who he is, but I don’t like him. The ring on his finger is the same one I saw before the bathroom went dark.

He’s not a good man. Not at all.

Mom faces forward in her seat and talks quietly with the man. I can’t tell what they are saying.

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