Chapter 7
For a moment, he felt his world had crumbled, having no idea where his daughter was. It got him sick at heart with regrets. If only he paid more attention to her, perhaps, this wouldn't have happened.
Sadly, he couldn't even wish her a happy birthday before her disappearance. Regrets were eating him up and he could help but fall sick to an extent that one would think he would give up the ghost.
Now, he was willing to drop the lawsuit. It has been two days since Julie was missing and declaration had been made that indeed she was missing. All he hoped for was that no harm had come to his daughter.
He was restricted from getting access to the villa or else would have desired an audience with anyone close to the ruler house that he would back out in return for his daughter.
Alfred had been with detective Leo and his research team. Restless and clueless. They were at the police station gathering reports. Detective Leo didn't stop but trouble Derek but as usual, Alfred claims the young man was innocent and also a victim.
It was already evening and the next day would be the lawsuit. While they were on the case of finding Julie, Alfred received a phone call from an unknown number.
Swiftly, he picked it and the voice he heard was that of Julie, crying and calling for help.
"Daddy! Please I'm scared!"
"Arghh"
"Save me!"
"Julie sweetie!" He cried as he couldn't control his tears of agony. Alfred could feel she was in pains and he needed to act fast.
"Don't you dare touch my daughter!" He rants on the phone, folding his fist wanting so much to punch the man behind his daughter kidnapping. Meanwhile, the detective and his team had began to track the GPS of the caller as soon as they could on their gadget.
The detective gestured to Alfred to engage whosoever was calling in talks which of Alfred did. That was because they needed to get a vivid description of his location by tapping the caller's voice.
"Shut up man!" A deep voice sounded in the background chuckling hard. Alfred suspected that was the culprit sent.
"Poor you...guess what... tomorrow, your foes would be given commensurate awards while you watch your family die" it mock chuckling deep troubling Alfred. Alfred covered his face with his palm, tried to grasp some air as he was restless.
"Listen... I know this is because of the lawsuits...I will drop the case...I promise...just let my daughter go" Alfred negotiated and the voice laugh hysterically. The fact that he couldn't see the called made him wroth.
He could hear Julie's voice crying and it aches him badly that he feared that they might hurt her.
"Nope... it's because of your ambition... remember the powerful men you got arrested and disgraced...oh they are after you... you're screwed!" The caller made jest and Alfred cuss at him in silence.
"Found the location" detective Leo declares with a gesture at Alfred who nodded.
"Hey man... don't think you're smart...I got you watched where you're...consider your daughter before letting the cops on me"
Alfred shoved his face at detective Leo who could clearly hear their conversations. The caller was giving Alfred instructions and he was to do it alone to save the life of Julie.
The detective understood those eyes of Alfred. His hands were tied and saving the little girl was all that matters.
"Alright" Alfred mutters walking away from detective Leo. He could do anything for his daughter and seeing her again was what matters.
"This is a mess" detective Leo commented still bent on the decision that they should track whosoever was threatening Alfred in secret.
Here he was at a press conference suddenly declaring that he was dropping the case because he had wrongfully blamed the government.
Those who had their hopes high on him felt disappointed as their hero was retreating and breaking their promise. Most people had it in their heart that they never should have trust a man with no plans. It was all big mouth. The case shouldn't have been brought forth in the first place. If only they knew the situation Alfred was place under.
Now he has accepted by defeat to save lives and his daughter. It pained him that he had to say goodbye to the case. However, he had other plans once he gets hold of Julie.
Questions were thrown at him at the press conference. The headlines had him all over the country for turning down the case. Rumors suddenly began that he had been embezzling money, deals in drug trafficking along side humans.
Everything was happening quick that it took him by surprise how his enemies plotted his life a day to the hearing in the court. They certainly knew they would lose against him due to his determination and brought up a strategy to pin him down.
At lost of masses were suddenly having doubts in him as all the accusations could possibly be true. An unexpected search was carried out in his house and the public was yet to know if he was part of the corrupt or not.
Rather than questions revolving around the reason why he was dropping the case, it revolved around his embezzlement and grievous crimes. He had no response for them and sought out a way to leave the conference.
He had done as instructed; which was to inform the public that he wasn't fighting the case anymore. It was time for the culprit to keep to his words by releasing Julie. Alfred headed straight to where the kidnapper ordered him to go if he wants to get Julie back which of course he did.
Though he was coming alone as he had detective Leo disguise with him. Also a whole squad was positioned. They arrived at the location described by the kidnappers.
Alfred was placed at the front while everyone took to their hiding position ready for a signal from their superior, detective Leo.
Detective Leo was in a hideout waiting for the culprit to show up when a call came in for him. Sadly, he abandoned Alfred at the spot without his notice. To worsen it, he suddenly dissolve the disguised cops to leave Alfred.
Meanwhile, Alfred had assurance that detective Leo and the cops were on standby to punish the offenders once they arrived with Julie.
In a short while after his arrival, a car drove across him, opened the back wheel and threw Julie to the ground. He couldn't see who was in the car due to the tint glasses. Though, he believes detective Leo and the cops would chase after them.
Alfred race to get his daughter who had managed to get to her feet and was wincing. He was just two inches close to her when a bullet pass through her right before his eyes.
The little girl was frozen as she lowers her eyes at her shoulder that was bleeding. Her lips shook while her eyes lock with her stun father. If this was a dream, she wished to wake up.
They had shot her in his presence and drove off with grave speed. For a moment, time stopped and everything ceased except for Julie who fell tremendously to the ground and gurgling for air.
He staggered closer to her, supporting her in his arms. Her clouded eyes let out tears and her last words were;
"Dad... I'm scared"
"No! Julie! Please! Stay with me! Daddy is here now!" He begged curdling her in his arms.
"Derek! Someone, somebody! Please help! My baby!" He cried burying her head on his chest as he weep bitterly for his lifeless daughter.
"No!!!!" He roar shaking her to wake up.