The Abducted Book 0 Read Online Free

head and slender build, had a strict, no-nonsense
demeanor. He hadn’t dealt with an officer killed in the line of
duty in his entire career with the department, which was more than
ten years. Such a crime occurring in Palm Dale was as rare as a
bank robbery or drive-by shooting would be. He was as shocked and
perplexed as everyone else. He placed Miriam’s report down on the
desk and studied them both with his dark, inquisitive
eyes.
    “ I’ll go ahead and state the obvious.
We’re dealing with a very dangerous individual,” the chief began in
his gravelly voice.
    He placed a palm flat over the report and
then gestured at Miriam with his other hand. “Your details account
for most of everything, and it’s nothing short of tragic.” He
tensed up and balled a fist. “A sad day for our department. I spoke
to the mayor earlier, and he’s already ordered the flags at
half-staff for the entire week.”
    Miriam stared back at him, nodding. She was
cleaned up from earlier, and her face was stone-like, emotionless.
Inside, however, she was torn apart.
    “ A search of the area hasn’t yielded a
thing,” the chief said solemnly. “An APB has been issued and proper
channels notified. Mayor’s even talking about a curfew.”
    Captain Porter cut in. “Sir, it’s quite possible our suspect found a home or some
kind of temporary sanctuary to hide in. I still believe it’s only a
matter of time.”
    “ I appreciate your optimism, Captain,
but the media are going to have a field day with this either way.”
He then turned to Miriam. “Sergeant Castillo, your report is vague
on descriptions. You mentioned long blond hair. What can you tell
us?”
    She closed her eyes for a moment. “The
vehicle came up on the report as being registered to Mrs. Betsy
Cole. Assuming that was the driver, Deputy Lang approached the
driver’s-side door”— Miriam stopped and rubbed her eyes—“to let
Mrs. Cole know that she had a taillight out.”
    Chief Walker took a deep
breath. “What we know is that Mrs. Cole’s station
wagon was reported stolen outside the Dollar General parking lot at
approximately 2:05 p.m. as she was leaving her shift from work. An
hour later, that same blue station wagon was seen leaving the
parking lot of Windcrest Elementary School by a janitor. A
nine-year-old girl, Jenny Dawson, was subsequently reported as
missing by her mother after not being there after school. A gift
bag given to her by her teacher was the only thing recovered at the
scene.”
    “ Just terrible,” Captain Porter said,
shaking his head.
    “ As shocking as this is, it gets
worse,” the chief said. He leaned forward and produced a sheet of
paper, handing it to Captain Porter. “This isn’t the first
time.”
    The captain turned his attention to the
paper. It was a copy of a newspaper story from the year before. He
studied the sheet then handed it to Miriam.
    The headline, SNATCHER STRIKES CLEARWATER , grabbed her
immediately. Her eyes moved down the sheet to a second story copied
from another newspaper: CHILD GOES MISSING
OUTSIDE OCOEE MALL.
    “ What is this all about?” she asked
the chief, gripping the paper—though part of her already
knew.
    “ For the past five years, a child has
vanished from surrounding municipalities in similar fashion. In
each case the circumstances have been the same. The victim, usually
six to eight years old, vanishes and the case goes cold. The latest
abduction in Palm Dale leads me to believe that we’re dealing with
a serial predator. And I believe it’s this serial predator who
murdered Deputy Lang in cold blood.”
    Miriam’s sadness subsided with rage and a
sense of vengeance. She didn’t say a word.
    “ Don’t worry,” Chief Walker said to
her, folding his hands. “We’re going to find him.” The assumption
that it was a man just came naturally, despite Miriam’s claim of
long blond hair.
    “ That’s what I keep telling her,”
Captain Porter added.
    “ In the meantime, I need to