The jet shuddered through the storm as the four of them sat in complete silence. Jake and Lea sat on the far ends of the cabin. Both staring out through the window on either end.
Mercy was seated towards the front but she excused herself to take the call as her phone rang aloud.
"Yeah, Phill, we're just trying to make it through this storm. What's the update?" Mercy's eyes flicked towards Lea.
" It's not good. We found a bloodied rod. It was probably used to strike the child. Don't tell Lea right away. They have sent it for investigation. I will give you an update as soon as I have one. " Mercy shook her head accompanied with a subtle " Hhmmm! "
" Oh, there is one more thing that you must know. " Phill continued. Mercy glanced nervously at Lea, trying to shield her from hearing the conversation. "Go on," she whispered moving further away. "We can be somewhat sure that the boy was kidnapped. And from what the detectives have gathered, someone inside Lea's household had to be involved. "
Despite Mercy's best efforts, Lea overheard their conversation. "What did you say?" she demanded, reaching over and yanking the phone from Mercy's hand. "Phill, tell me everything! Now!"
" Lea, calm down. Nothing has been confirmed but... I think even you might have guessed by now that Kai has been abducted. And evidence points towards your in-house staff. There is no other way. No sign of any break in. Anyways. You will be here in no time. By then , I am sure we will have more leads. Keep your phone switched on at all times. The police will be monitoring your calls. The kidnappers might call you. You might get a ransom call. "
The phone slipped from Lea's hand and before she hit the floor, Percy caught her. " My baby... " Lea clasped her heart as Mercy and Percy put her back on her seat. " My little baby... " Jake finally looked away from the window. He mechanically walked towards Lea and she immediately jumped towards him and dug her face on his chest. " Jake, my baby... Do something... Please... " His hands went around her wrapping her in a cocoon as he held her tight, trying to steady her and stop her from shaking. " He must be so scared. Oh my God! What am I supposed to do! " Lea suddenly shoved Jake away and fell on her seat. He stumbled to keep his balance.
Lea's entire body trembled uncontrollably as she buried her face in her hands.Her eyes darted around the cabin, wild and unfocused, as if searching for an escape from the nightmare unfolding around her.
Jake reached out to her but she suddenly lunged forward, clutching at his shirt." Who could have taken him, Jake? I will give them all my money. I don't want anything. I just want my baby back. " Her nails dug into his chest. Before he could comfort her or say anything, she flung herself back on the seat.
Her hands flew to her hair, pulling at the strands as if trying to tear away the pain. "No, no, no!" she cried, her voice hoarse and frantic.
"Lea! Please don't do this to me! I won't be able to hold on seeing you loosing like this! We will get our baby back. We have to. " He walked back to his seat near the window murmuring, " We have to get him back, Lea! There are way too many things that I need to do with him. I need to hold him. I need to sniff his scent. We will find him, Lea! "
Mercy helplessly looked at Percy for help. The two of them looked miserable. Given the gravity of the situation, they couldn't blame them. They could only wish that Lea got that ransome call. If money was what they were after, it would make things actually easier. There was no dearth of money as long as they kept Kai safe. But given the discovery of the bloodied rod, things weren't as simple as a mere kidnapping case for ransome.
There seemed to be darker things at play and Lea and Jake's palpitations couldn't be disregarded.
Jake's heart ached with every sob that escaped Lea's lips.He felt utterly helpless, knowing that there was nothing he could do to instantly alleviate Lea's suffering or bring Kai back. He reached out once more, his hands trembling as he gently placed them on her shoulders, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.
" Lea, get a grip on yourself. We have to be strong! "
"How, Jake? How can we be strong when our baby is out there, scared and hurt?" Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried the weight of her entire being.
" I don't even know if he had any food or drink. If he is thirsty or hungry! " She chocked on her own words, gulping down her tears. " He looked so sad when I left him for Paris. I shouldn't have come. I should have stayed with him. " She wacked the empty seat beside her. Her hand flew up and down. She looked absolutely miserable.
Jake pulled her into his arms once more. This time his embrace was fierce and protective. "We have to believe, Lea. We have to believe that we'll get him back.He has to be fine. He will be fine. "It was like a mantra that Jake murmured more to himself than to Lea.
The jet's engines roared as it fought against the storm, the turbulence jolting everyone inside.Lea's cries had subsided into soft, heart-wrenching whimpers as she clung to Jake, her body still trembling.