Page 9 of Kidnapping of a Myth

“What are you thinking?” Eamon asked. “Victim or suspect?”

“Desmee assumes victim,” she answered.

“But he isn’t you. He doesn’t have your talent,” Eamon said.

“Honestly?” Bel shifted to look at him as she readied to scan the weekend’s footage. “Disregarding motive, Peter Pann fits the timeline too conveniently to be ignored. Think about it. Staff and security always surround Wendy, and the boys are either at school or with her. Then they suddenly go on a weekend tripwithout a single employee present. It’s the perfect opportunity. Both boys are in the same place without protection. Wendy was distracted, and understandably so. She and Henry married on Saturday, but John and Michael were still here. Makes for a tame wedding night. Last night, the couple had the entire house to themselves, though, which gave the kidnapper hours before Wendy noticed they were missing. She was finally alone with her new husband, and if it were me, I probably would’ve silenced my phone to enjoy the evening. Their school didn’t notice their absence until Monday morning classes, so Sunday night was the ideal moment to kidnap them, but the only person who knew that was the driver.”

“So, this was a crime of opportunity,” Eamon said.

“No, I don’t think so.” Bel pressed play on the security footage, watching the Darlings arrive at the front door Friday evening. “He planned this.”

“I’m confused. How could he plan this if the trip was a surprise?”

“The video implies this was premeditated,” she explained. “It was clean and void of any distinguishing markers, and that outfit was custom. He didn’t make it last night, which suggests an organized kidnapping. I believe the boys were always in danger, and I doubt The Tinker is the lunatic he’s pretending to be. We’re dealing with someone incredibly smart and prepared. The kidnapper was just biding his time, looking for a perfect opening to enact his plan, and it happened to present itself this weekend.”

“Was he planning this for two years?”

“Maybe?” Bel shrugged. “Without evidence, I can’t be positive, but the driver was the only one with the means. If he didn’t do it, how did the Tinker snatch the boys in those few hours between this front door and their school?”

“So, we assume Peter is involved until proven otherwise.”

“We assume everyone is involved until proven otherwise,” Bel said.

“As long as I’m not a person of interest again because the Bajka Police Department certainly likes to suspect I’m always the guilty party,” Eamon smirked as Saturday morning played out on the screens before them, and Bel swatted him in the arm. “But in all seriousness, is Peter The Tinker, or was he merely the delivery method?”

“I have no idea,” she said, studying the wedding officiant’s arrival, but nothing on the footage triggered her suspicion. “I’m honestly not sure what we’re dealing with. There’s usually a ransom after kidnappings this prolific. And if money isn’t an issue, there are always demands. If The Tinker wanted to expose Wendy, or the Darlings in general, the email would’ve listed orders or threats, but all it contained was a bunch of…” she trailed off.

“What?” Eamon shifted so he could still scan the monitors out of the corner of his eye as he focused on her.

“What if he is threatening Wendy, and the video means something only she would understand? What was it he kept saying?”

“He was taking the boys to Neverland?” Eamon offered.

“No, the line about the second star,” Bel said. “What if that riddle is a threat Wendy’s hiding from us?”

“What doesthe second star on the right mean?” Bel asked as she strode into the kitchen, Eamon hard on her heels. Wendy and Henry looked up from where they sat at the expensive kitchen island, their hands frozen over the bowl of fresh berries between them.

“Excuse me?” Wendy shifted uncomfortably as Bel settled before her.

“The second star on the right and straight toward morning,” she repeated. “What does it mean?”

“I don’t know.” Wendy’s gaze flicked to Eamon as if pleading for help, but Bel stepped into her line of sight, consuming her personal space. The heiress squirmed at her proximity, but when Henry moved to defend his wife, Bel threw him a warning glare.Someone in this house was hiding something, and God as her witness, she was going to push their buttons until someone grew uncomfortable enough to talk.

“What does it mean, Wendy?” She leaned forward, forcing the younger woman to meet her gaze. “Because this isn’t about money. There’s no ransom, no demands, no threats. Just that one little riddle, and you don’t kidnap children as prolific as your brothers without cause. A random child off the street? Maybe, but not the Darling sons. This kidnapping means something. This wasn’t an accident, nor was it a spur-of-the-moment decision. The Tinker is making a point, and that video wasn’t the ravings of a madman. He chose those words carefully to convey a message. One that I suspect you understand, so tell me, Wendy. What does the second star on the right mean?”

“I don’t know.”

“What does it mean?”

“I don’t know!” Wendy launched to her feet, her anger forcing her into Bel’s face, but when the detective didn’t so much as flinch, she burst into tears, taking everyone by surprise as she collapsed against Bel’s chest. “I don’t! Please believe me.”

Bel stared at the younger woman in confusion before glancing at Eamon with raised eyebrows, but his expression was as bewildered as hers. Tears dampened her sweatshirt as Wendy lost control of her emotions, and with hesitant movements, Bel wrapped her arms around the blonde’s shoulders.

“I don’t know what any of it means, I swear,” Wendy said. “This was supposed to be my wedding, the happiest moment of my life, and now I’m losing my brothers. My parents are dead, and I can’t do this. I can’t!”

She dissolved into ugly sobs, and Bel stroked her hair soothingly, letting a woman she’d met only hours ago cling to her as if she were her older sister.

“You think this kidnapping is to expose me or to make a statement, and maybe you’re right,” Wendy mumbled into Bel’s chest, her words muffled by the sweatshirt, and Bel tightened her embrace. It was hard to feel like strangers when the woman’s nose was digging into her collarbone. “I just can’t imagine what it is. All company proceedings are legal and above board. My father didn’t have enemies. I don’t have enemies or jilted exes. I stopped dating after my parents died until I met Henry, so I haven’t had time to wrong lovers or harm friends. If I had sins to confess, I would gladly spill them to save John and Michael, but I’m as lost as you are.”

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