This is kind of like Missing redone only a little darker and with a different victim. It will not be the same at all. Please review. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 1
Mike Baker shivered as he stepped out of the athletic center and into the cold winter night. A light snow had started to fall and the wind was starting to pick up. It was going to be a cold night. Recently Mike and his rather large family had moved from Evanston, Illinois to a much smaller town about thirty miles away. Unfortunately it got a lot colder during the winter. The town of Serenity only had a population of about 400 and the Bakers already knew or had met almost everyone. Hockey practice was over for the night and all the boys from all the teams were heading home to eat dinner and finish up their homework. Christmas vacation had ended a week earlier and the teachers were already piling on the homework. Mike knew that most of his older siblings, which was everyone but Kyle and Nigel, were having a hard time. His brother Jake was really having a tough time and was in danger of failing. He was going to intensive one on one tutoring everyday after school. Mike felt sorry for his big brother. Jake had some learning problems, which made school ten times harder for him. At least he tried.
Mike's two new best friends, Nick and Jordan, came bursting out of the center among a mass wave of dozens of other boys. Pretty much every boy in town. Mike waved to his friends as they walked over.
"What took you so long?" asked Mike, his breath billowing out in front of him.
"Nothing. It's just you always have to rush outside," snapped Nick, playfully shoving Mike.
"Yeah, what's the deal with that Mike?" asked Jordan, zipping up his jacket.
"I don't know. I'm just fast I guess," replied Mike. The three friends had to move to the side as a convoy of mini-vans and SUVs started to pull up and the boys from every team made their way to their own respective vehicles. Mike scanned the large parade of cars for the family van. Some boys who sat at Mike's lunch table waved to him. Mike waved back. Jordan's older brother, Bobby, pulled up in his Camaro. He rolled down the window, cursing under his breath as his face was hit by a blast of cold air.
"Let's go, Jordan. Mom will be pissed if we're late," ordered Bobby. Jordan slung his bag over his shoulder and headed towards his brother's car.
"See you guys at school," shouted Jordan over his shoulder. Mike and Nick waved goodbye.
"Is your Dad coming?" asked Mike, turning to his remaining friend. Nick laughed.
"My Dad? No. I won't see him until midnight. He's the chief of police, remember?" asked Nick.
"Oh yeah. That's right. He works late a lot," remembered Mike.
"Every night. Well, almost every night," replied Nick. "So how's your dads team doing?"
"Great. Dad totally changed the way they practiced. They're really improving from when he first started in October," answered Mike. Nick's mom pulled up in her van at that moment. Nick's brothers were with her, goofing off and getting snapped at by Nick's mom, Sidney. The oldest sons, Matt and Cory, were twins. They were thirteen. Mike knew they both had a crush on Sarah. Nick's brother Oliver was twelve and was the quiet, smart in the family. He was good friends with Mark. Nick was the youngest at eleven. Nick said goodbye to Mike and climbed into the back of the van. Sidney rolled down the passenger window.
"Mike, you want a ride home?" asked Sidney. Mike looked at his watch. 7:00. His dad was running late.
"I'll call him and see if he's coming if you don't mind waiting," replied Mike.
"I don't mind," assured Sidney.
"I do," added Matt, jokingly. Sidney elbowed him playfully. Mike took out his cell phone and pressed #1 on speed dial. Tom Baker picked up after one ring.
"Hey, Mike. Sorry. I'm going to be a little late," apologized Tom.
"That's OK. Nick's mom offered to give me a ride," replied Mike.
"That'd be great. Tell her thank you and I'll see you at home," said Tom.
"Ok. Bye Dad," said Mike, hanging up.
"Hop in if you're going," exclaimed Nick, opening the back door. Mike picked up his bag and climbed into the van. As the van pulled away, no one noticed the parked car hidden in the shadows nearby. The driver had been sitting there for two hours. The plan had a slight setback. That was OK. He was prepared for this. He had been planning this for two months. He took a long puff from his cigarette and blew the smoke out slowly. He turned the car and started to follow the van that Mike had driven off in.
………….
"I just don't get it, Mom. I keep telling you that." Jake Baker was getting more and more frustrated. Math had never been his strong suit and his freshman math class was a real monster. He knew that he didn't stand a chance. But what could he do. Kate Baker put a hand on her son's shoulder.
"Don't give up so easily, honey. You don't give yourself enough credit," said Kate. Jake sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"I need a break," he groaned. Kate nodded.
"We'll pick this back up after dinner," explained Kate. A moan of pain came from upstairs. Sarah was getting sick again. She had been bedridden with the flu for the past week.
"Duty calls," sighed Kate. Jake headed into the TV room as Kate went upstairs to deal with her daughter. Sarah's fever had yet to break and her stomach was constantly bothering her. She slept most of the day and had to be forced to eat. Walking to the bathroom was a real chore for her. Kate found Sarah with her head in the toilet, the light dinner she had eaten coming up her throat and out her mouth. Sarah gagged as she finished up. Kate rubbed her back and helped her rinse her mouth at the sink.
"Thanks, Mom," whispered Sarah, clutching her stomach. Lorraine and Charlie came rushing into the bathroom, anxious to help their ill family member. The Bakers took care of each other when someone got sick. Charlie and Lorraine helped Sarah back to her room as Kate went back downstairs to start dinner. Mike was coming into the house as she stepped off the last step.
"Hey, sweetie. Where's Daddy?" asked Kate.
"Running late. Mrs. Addison gave me a ride," answered Mike, taking his jacket off. He hung his jacket up in the closet next to the door and headed upstairs to change out of his hockey clothes. Mike's room was connected to Jake's and had a nice view of a park across the street. The Bakers lived in one of Serenity's nicest neighborhoods. Isolated from the downtown area and main residential sector. Nick lived a few houses down. The door connecting Mike's room to Jake was open. It usually was. Even though Jake was four years older then Mike, the two were still extremely close. Mike looked up to Jake more then anyone else in the family. Jake's room was an absolute mess and some dirty clothes had found their way to Mike's room. Mike threw them back into the pig sty next door. Things started to clutter in a very short time after cleaning in Jake's room.
"Mike, don't forget to walk Gunnar. It's your night," shouted Kate from downstairs.
"Ok, Mom," replied Mike. He pulled on some new clean clothes and headed downstairs. Gunnar was waiting for him.
"Hey, boy," said Mike, pausing to pet the beloved family dog. Mike had a hard time putting his jacket on and putting Gunnar's leash on since the dog was so excited. Mike already had a path chose. Down his street to Nick's house, turn right at Vining, walk down to Maple, turn right, walk down Maple until he got to Frost, make a right on Frost, and his street was next. A good thirty minutes if Mike paced himself. The walk started off as usual. Gunnar peed on every lawn and left a nice big present on Ms. Crandle's yard. She wouldn't notice, she never came outside. All the lights were on at Nick's house and Mike could hear laughter inside. He turned right on Vining as planned. Most of the houses lights were on. Those that had families living in them The old couples all went to Florida for the winter. Maple seemed darker then usual. Probably because mostly older folks lived on Maple. Mike was almost to Frost when the shot went off. Gunnar yelped as a bullet hit his hind leg. Mike had no time to react before he was being picked up and thrown into the trunk of a car. He wet himself in fear as he was bound and gagged. His attacker worked fast. Mike was soon unable to move. His lips were quivering in pain since they were wrapped around the knot on the rope that had been put in his mouth. Mike wet himself again as the trunk door slammed shut and he was plunged into darkness.