Page 20 of Charming But Reckless

“What is it? Do you know something?”

Tank whistled. “Yeah, we know something. The problem is, we don't know everything.”

Takeshi wrote another note and handed it to the man beside him this time. The man set up wide-eyed as he leaned forward to look at the photograph.

"Holy shit," he said. His voice was soft and lyrical. “I can't believe this is happening. Your timing could not be worse.”

I scrubbed my hands over my face as anger swelled. "Could someone please tell me what the hell is going on right now?! You're all acting as if you know who my son is, but he's not here, and you're not telling me anything."

Stabler put his hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off.

"Do not try to calm me down right now. You are my last resort. I have done everything I could within my power to find my boy, and you're all freaking me the fuck out."

Tank took that opportunity to pick up the photo. He went over to Memphis and whispered something in his ear. Memphis went around his desk and clicked some buttons. The annoying bunny in the back changed into what looked like surveillance footage. I watched it with a frown, curious as to what the hell was going on. It was only when I saw my son's face appear on camera that reality slammed into me.

"Oh my god," I cried out. "That's my boy."

The men kept quiet, watching me as I watched the footage. Memphis did something to change the image. They were no longer out somewhere at night with flashlights shining around. Instead, they were in this very room.

And as I caught sight of my boy again amidst all these women and children who were in tatters of clothing and looking filthy, I saw a man standing beside him. My breath caught as he turned enough for me to see his face.

"Orion?"

He looked far too much like the boy I remembered, only more mature. Older and sophisticated in a way, but also rugged and broken.

"You found Orion too?" I asked.

“”It wasn't that we found Orion. He's one of ours. He's been part of the team for years. He's who found your son, who pulled him aside and tried to get him to tell us who he was. How do you know Orion? Maybe that would connect the dots as to why he was so protective of your boy.”

“He protected my son.” Tears streamed down my face. My emotional control was shattered.

I had not seen this man in years. Not since we were around Solomon’s age. I thought he was long-dead.

“I knew Orion as a boy,” I admitted. “I was there the day he…”

I bit my fist as anger and sadness flooded me. Detective Stabler put a hand on my shoulder. This time, I let him keep it there.

“You were there the day he was taken, weren't you?” Ronan said.

It wasn't a question. They could all tell.

I nodded, then moved my fist so I could speak. “I was there that day and there was nothing I could do. I tried so hard to help him, to get to him, but they knocked me out and when I woke up,no one wanted to believe me. My dad just decided that I needed to —”

I couldn't finish what I needed to say. The memories of my father had been long buried. I couldn't go back there.

Hell, just the thought of Orion was enough to send me spiraling. Add in the joy of knowing that Sol was found safe, I didn't know how to feel about anything anymore.

"Where are they?" I said. "Where are Orion and Solomon? Are they here somewhere?"

Cohen answered first. “Orion said that he found Solomon's family and sent him to be with them. He's been gone a few days now. He was kind of emotionally thrown off by everything, so we gave him time off.”

I leaned back in my chair, not quite understanding what was going on.

Tank handed me back the picture. “Don't worry. We will find out where he sent him, and we'll find Orion. I don't —” he paused. “I don't think Orion actually took him to any other family members. I caught him sneaking back in after I told him not to leave, but I didn't say anything because I knew he’d been struggling. I think he took the boy to a safe house.”

"A safe house?" I repeated.

"Yeah. That's what I think. We just have to figure out where that safe house is. Memphis, get Orion on the phone."

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