His fists clenched deep in his trouser pockets, Mark stood at the door watching Melissa feeling helpless. Seeing her in so much pain hurt him in a way he never expected. At some point he wished he never brought her to the city.
Bringing her to live with him had exposed her putting their son in danger and he would never forgive himself if something ever happened to him. Despite being very powerful in the business world and having lots of money, he could do nothing to get his son back. The son he had not met yet and he might never see.
Morosely contemplating of never meeting his son, his heart broke more. If he never finds his son he didn't know if he would ever look Melissa in the eyes.
He had promised her they would find him but now all hope was lost.
"Sir! Sir!" His assistant called waking him from his deep thoughts.
"Sir, our men are looking at all the exit points. We won't stop until we find him." Noting how crushed he was, James informed him keeping a safe distance. They had flown as soon as Mark called them but they didn't have much to work with.
"You people are incompetent." Mark turned to James giving him a cold look.
"Sir!" James took a step back with his head bowed. He felt guilty for not providing security as ordered and he knew Mark would have his head if the child was not found.
"How come you never found out about the boy? Why didn't anyone tell me about my son until now when it's already too late."
"Sorry, sir. We only found out when you asked us to watch Melissa's aunt. They don't let the child out of the compound and it was not easy to find anything about them. Today I found out the organization also had their men here but we didn't think they would strike so soon."
"Damn it, James." Out of frustration, Mark hit the wall startling everyone.
"That's no excuse for not informing me. You should have called me when you learned they were here. Now my son is missing because of your negligence."
"Mark, I'm sorry. I promise we will find him."
"James, sorry can't help me now." He knew James was not to blame but he needed someone to vent his anger on. "I want everyone involved in this fired immediately."
"But Mark we.."
"That's an order." Clenching his fist so hard his knuckles hurt, he felt like giving up. He was a leader but what kind of a leader would he be if he couldn't protect his own family?
Deep in his heart, he knew if they lost Tommy he would never have Melissa.
"Damn it. How do I let you go now that I've found you?" He thought running his fingers through his hair.
"Bro, bro calm down." Mark's hand was held as he turned to hit the wall again.
"You are here." He voiced staring at the person holding his hand.
"I came as soon as I got the news." Robert his best friend and brother placed his hand on his shoulder looking into his eyes. "Bro, our contacts are doing everything to find the boy, you have to be strong for Melissa. If she sees you like this it will break her and she will feel more guilty for what's happening." James had told him everything that happened when he called for his help.
"Thanks for coming Robert." Mark was strong never giving up easily but at that moment he felt all hope was gone. "I'm lost, I really don't know what to do. I just found out I have a son and now I might lose him. I may never see him ever." He spoke letting Robert hug him.
"Be positive, we will find him." Since their fathers were best of friends from high school and brothers when Johnson's family adopted Robert's father, he and Mark grew together.
Though they had moved abroad when Robert and his father got into a bad accident, they still lived together. Now he had just moved back to the country to help Mark take down the organization.
"You think we will find my son?" He questioned as Robert nodded. "How will we when we have exhausted every lead? I honestly don't know anymore."
"We have the best investigative team, you know it. Whatever they left behind we will find it and it will take us to them."
"Robert, I can't lose my son."
"You won't lose him." Being in the military, they had gone through difficult missions. At times cornered but they always got away out and Robert knew they would get something to track the kidnappers with.
"We are clearing out sir." The chief of police joined them looking more haggard than he was.
"Did you find anything?"
"Nothing yet but we have set up roadblocks, they won't get past us. I will leave a few men with sniffer dogs combing the forest but the others will go back to the station. We will inform you as soon as we get any information." The chief of police left the cabin with his team but had some officers stay back at Melissa's house in case the kidnapper's called for ransom. With no lead on their whereabouts, they had to sit and wait.
"Thank you for your assistance." Mark shook hands with the chief grateful for his help.
"We are missing something." He addressed Robert watching the chief walk to his car.
"What?" Robert asked turning his attention from his phone.
"Since those kidnapers ditched the van, they must have found other means to get out of the forest." Now that he was calm, he was able to think clearly of all possible routes they would take.
"Maybe they had a car waiting."
"If they did, then the villagers who graze in these forests might have seen it." Mark stated noticing the cow dung.
"There are no cameras near this place, but I'll have our men review the ones along the way to see what comes up." Robert responded texting on his phone.
"Let's use the facial recognition tools also."
"I don't think it will be helpful. We don't have much of an image to work with." Robert refuted showing Mark the images they had retrieved from the surveillance camera.
"Ah! What now?" He asked pacing around trying hard to keep a clear head.
"We will keep searching, maybe they didn't leave the forest." Robert spoke trying to give him hope.
"There is a river in the forest." He spoke remembering the map he had looked at. "They may have used it to leave the forest since they knew they were being hunted. We have to check it out and ask anyone who lives around this place if they saw any vehicle parked here."
"Wait."
"What?" He turned to Robert as he stopped him.
"Robert, we don't have much time and you know it. When the sun rises it will be too late."
"I know and we are on it. We will leave no stone unturned but there is someone here who needs you." He spoke turning his gaze to the cabin reminding him of Melissa. "Take her home and we will call whenever news arises."
Looking at Melissa lying down with her back turned to them, he sighed and then nodded to Robert.
"Find my son. Roundup those villagers if you have to."
Hugging Robert, he walked to the cabin to get Melissa.
She had fallen asleep holding the handkerchief looking so peaceful he wished he would take her pain and worries away.
Running his thumb along her cheek, he stopped and then stared at her lips remembering the kiss he gave her.
Placing a light kiss on her forehead, he scooped her in his arms and carried her to the car.
"Don't leave me." Wrapping her hand around his neck, she murmured forcing him to hold her on his lap as his assistant drove them home.
With Robert and the team searching around the area for Tommy, Mark felt at ease though still there was no clue to lead them to the kidnapper's whereabouts.