Page 10 of Kidnapping of a Myth

“Okay.” Bel pulled Wendy off her stained sweatshirt and brushed the woman’s tears away with gentle fingers. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to harass you, but if those words mean nothing to you, then why did he repeat them?”

“Because they’re the rantings of a confused mind,” Henry said, opening his arms to his wife, and Wendy finally released Bel to collapse against him.

“I think that’s what he wants us to assume, but this kidnapping was too clean, too efficient,” Bel said. “We’re missing something. What about you? Does‘second star’mean anything?”

“Nothing,” Henry confirmed. “And not to state the obvious, but they aren’t my brothers. No one knew we were eloping, so why take John and Michael if this is about me?”

“They wouldn’t,” Bel agreed. “What about Neverland? Any idea what it’s referring to?”

“No,” the couple said in unison.

“None of his words made sense,” Wendy said. “Except for don’t call the police.”

“What about the security footage?” Henry asked. “Did you find anything?”

“Not yet,” Bel confirmed. “We’ve made it through Saturday’s logs. We still need to review Sunday’s though, so we might spot something. It’s just that The Tinker kept repeating the phrase‘second star on the right’. It feels important, but without understanding its significance, I don’t know what to search for. Could it be something in this house or something the boys interacted with?”

“Doesn’t sound familiar, but you can look around,” Wendy said, and Bel didn’t miss the way Henry stiffened at his wife’s permission. Wendy’s callousness had melted after her confession in the security room, but it seemed Henry still didn’t like the idea of a scarred stranger peering into their private lives. Not that Bel blamed him. His wedding and honeymoon had been turned into a nightmare, and Bel, with her bargain store outfit and marred skin, was obviously not someone he cared to have snooping through the family valuables.

“Thanks.” Bel nodded for Eamon to follow her. “Do you believe her?” she asked when they were safely out of earshot. “Or is she lying to hide her family’s corruption?”

“I dealt with her father mostly,” Eamon answered. “And this is the first time I’ve met Henry, but the Darlings have never been involved in a scandal. Being proud and elitist? Sure. Evil? I doubt they have it in them.”

“So, you trust her when she said she has no clue what the second star means?”

“Her heart rate sounded normal. I didn’t smell any stress sweat on her either. Her body language confirms she’s telling the truth.”

Bel cursed as she collapsed into the chair before the security monitors. “I don’t like this. The games. The theatrics. The riddles. Asking the Darlings not to call the police. It’s looking less like The Tinker is punishing Wendy and more like this is a game. I don’t want to believe it, but the dread insideme multiplies with every new revelation. I’m afraid he already murdered the boys, and this performance is to keep us occupied while he escapes.”

“Do you really think they’re dead?” Eamon asked as they resumed searching the footage.

“I hope not. I can’t stomach children dying on my watch, but what other explanation is there?”

Eamon reached out and captured her hand, gripping her fingers tight as she fought back her panic.

“We need the police,” Bel whispered.

“You are the police.”

“But I’m just one person, and I don’t have a forensics team.”

“You have me. My money is at your disposal, as are my heightened senses. Whatever you need, I’ll get it for you.”

“I appreciate that, but I need people trained to handle this type of situation. Your sense of smell can’t trace IP addresses.”

“But if those boys are alive, and we call the police, The Tinker could kill them,” Eamon said. “I’m hesitant to disregard Wendy’s wishes because if it kills her brothers, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“That’s why I haven’t called Griffin,” Bel agreed. “I’m not here in an official capacity, so if my mistakes result in death, not only will I have destroyed this family, but also my career. I don’t know what the right choice is.”

“How about this?” Eamon said as Sunday’s footage played uneventfully before them. “Wendy called me. She placed her brother’s safety in my hands, so use me. Use my money, my skills, my senses. We’re alone here, so I don’t have to hide my power. Put my monster to the test. If we don’t make headway in a few hours, I’ll personally call Griffin and face Wendy’s wrath. Lord knows centuries of bloodshed already stain my hands. I’ll accept the consequences of our actions if it spares them from falling on you.”

Bel studied his handsome features, choosing to ignore the centuries’ comment. “All right. But the second I say we need Griffin?—”

“I’ll dial 911.” Eamon lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles, the simple gesture grounding her emotions. “But for now, put me to work. What do you need?”

“Let’s finish examining the footage,” Bel said. “This is when Pann picked them up Sunday night. Maybe we’ll spot something useful.”

Despite her hope, nothing of significance happened. Just as Wendy said, she and Henry escorted her brothers to the car, where Peter Pann loaded their bags into the trunk and drove off down the lane. The newlyweds waved until the vehicle disappeared, and then Henry threw his bride over his shoulder and raced inside. Bel watched night fall on the recording, the darkness hiding most of the expansive property from view, so she fast-forwarded the logs, watching the images race by until she and Eamon arrived that morning. The footage didn’t capture anyone suspicious creeping around the house. No other cars entered the estate. Not so much as a shadow moved out of place, and Bel reached for the controls, readying to quit, when a nagging realization electrocuted her.

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