Later that afternoon, Savannah found herself at a cozy little café not too far from the prison, her fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee that had long lost its warmth. The once-inviting aroma that had filled her senses was now just a faint memory, overshadowed by the storm brewing in her mind.
Her gaze was glued to the tabletop, though she wasn't really seeing it. Her thoughts were still trapped within the prison's walls, replaying the receptionist's words over and over. He wasn't there. No record of him. No explanation. Nothing.
She had pressed for more details, but all the receptionist offered was a firm shake of her head and an apology that felt hollow. It was as if he had never set foot in that place at all. But she knew better. He had been there. She was certain of it.
With her phone clutched tightly in her hands, she tried to calm her racing heart. It felt like every step she took toward the truth only led her to another dead end. Her grip tightened, her nails digging into her palms as frustration bubbled up inside her.
She fought against the sting in her eyes, but a single tear broke free, trailing down her cheek before she could catch it. "He must be so lonely," she whispered to herself, her heart twisting painfully in her chest.
Determination surged within her, pushing aside the momentary weakness as she wiped away a tear and pushed back her chair. Giving up was simply not an option—not when it came to her child. There was still so much to uncover, so many leads to follow.
With her posture straightened, Savannah grabbed her purse and left the café, her mind set on the next destination. She was resolute—she wouldn't stop until she uncovered the truth.
Sometimes Later
As she stood outside the police station, Savannah took a deep breath, her heart racing in her chest. This was the same station she had visited years ago, desperate for answers and ready to confront the man who had turned her life upside down. The man Blaze had told her was responsible for her child's death. And now, after all this time, she was back, determined to find the truth.
Wearing a cap and a mask to hide her identity, she approached the entrance with careful steps. Elijah's warning rang in her ears: "Be careful with everyone inside the mansion. You can't get caught digging." She knew she had to tread lightly.
Once inside, the air was thick with the scent of paper, sweat, and aged wood. Officers bustled about, some buried in paperwork while others engaged in hushed conversations. Savannah made her way to the duty officer at the front desk, her heart racing.
"Good evening, miss. How can I help you?" the officer greeted her with a polite smile.
She took a moment to steady her voice. "I need information on someone. His full name is—" She stated the name clearly, ensuring there was no room for error.
The moment her words slipped out, an eerie silence fell over the station. Conversations came to a halt, heads turned, and it felt like every officer in the room was fixated on her. A chill ran down her spine. Their faces were hard to read—was it shock, curiosity, suspicion? She couldn't quite tell.
The officer she had addressed cleared his throat and redirected his gaze to her. "Can I ask who you are, miss?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing in on the only part of her face he could see—her eyes.
Savannah paused for just a heartbeat before answering. "He took money from me years ago and never thought of returning it. I was given information that he's in prison now, so I came to confirm." Her voice was firm, leaving little room for doubt.
The officer raised an eyebrow, skepticism written all over his face. "You're coming after so many years to get your money back? Why not earlier?"
Savannah was quick to reply. "He was always on the run, moving from place to place. It was impossible to find him. But I just found out he got caught and is in prison, so I came to confirm."
The officer nodded, appearing to accept her explanation. "I'm sorry, miss, but he's not here."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Where the hell is he, then?" she snapped, unable to mask her irritation.
The officer looked a bit taken aback by her tone but quickly regained his composure. "He went missing from the prison about a two and a half ago."
Savannah's brow knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean? How is that even possible?"
The officer let out a deep breath, his face a mask of neutrality. "The prison he was in caught fire suddenly one day. It was sudden, and the floor he was on was one of the worst affected. Many prisoners were evacuated, but some..." he hesitated before continuing. "Some were never found. No bodies. No remains. Nothing. It was like they vanished."
Savannah felt her heart sink. She locked eyes with him, struggling to digest what he had just revealed. "Didn't you even try to find him?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency.
The officer narrowed his gaze. "You're asking a lot of questions for someone who's just here to collect money."
Savannah clenched her fists. "Of course, I should! It was my money! It was everything to me! I have every right to ask questions about it!" she snapped.
The officer sighed, a hint of weariness in his tone. "The authorities did look for him. We reviewed the CCTV footage, interviewed everyone nearby, followed every lead, but as I said, nothing. It was like he never existed."
A lump formed in Savannah's throat. Every time she thought she was getting closer to the truth, another door slammed shut. It felt like every avenue leading to her child had been permanently sealed off.
The officer straightened up. "If that's all, miss, we have work to do."
Savannah realized she had hit a wall here. Without saying another word, she turned and left the station. The cold night air hit her like a wave, but it did nothing to extinguish the frustration and despair raging inside her.
Once again, she was left with more questions than answers. And, the man who had killed her child had vanished without a trace.
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Have a good day/night <3<3