Truth Out Of Darkness
Chapter 50
They touched down on a private runway at the Chicago airport. {Finally.} Brady thought. Even though they'd been cruising in one of the fastest private jets available to a civilian, it had seemed to Brady like they were crawling. Every minute that passed was one more minute that Chloe was in that bastard's clutches. He tried not to think about what might be happening to her, what might have already happened.
Several Chicago police officers were waiting as the group from Salem departed the plane. An African-American woman stepped forward, an aura of authority radiating from her.
"I'm Detective Tepil Shone and these are my men. Officers Haley, Harris and Ramsey."
They all shook hands as the other introductions were made. Det. Shone spoke up, getting down to the business at hand. "Now what can we do for you?" she asked in a straightforward, no-nonsense tone.
Abe spoke up. "Well Det. Shone, as I mentioned on the phone, we have reason to believe that a man who was recently released from prison abducted a teenage girl from our town and brought her here. The girl's name is Chloe Lane, and these are her parents Craig and Nancy Wesley."
At the mention of Chloe's name, Det. Shone frowned slightly. {Damn, that name sounded familiar.}
Abe continued speaking. "The man who abducted her is a convicted sex offender from Chicago. His name is Aaron Moore."
Det. Shone sighed deeply as the puzzle pieces fell into place. One of her men swore softly.
Bo observed their reactions to the name. "I take it you've heard of him?"
Her charcoal brown eyes hardened. "There isn't a soul in this city who doesn't know of Dr. Moore." She paused. "And this Chloe Lane, she's the same brave girl who testified against him and put him away."
"For all the good it did her." Brady muttered bitterly.
Det. Shone understood Brady's anger and frustration. "I know what you're feeling. I've walked this beat a long time. I long ago stopped being surprised by the cruelty of man. But what that sick bastard did to that little girl, it rocked this city to the core. We all put in a lot of long hours, worked unpaid overtime to make sure that he was arrested and found guilty. And now he's free after serving only three years of a fifteen-year sentence? F*CK!" she swore loudly.
Abe, Bo and Roman empathized with her. They too knew what it was like to work long and hard to get a dangerous criminal off the street, only for him to be released because of a technicality, or serve a ridiculously short prison term.
Det. Shone shook off her anger and sprang into action. "Okay, we need to scour the streets. This man has no money, so he's squatting somewhere. Check empty businesses, abandoned warehouses, condemned buildings. Call the local hospitals; he may have tried to use his old position as a doctor to obtain drugs, supplies, etc. Update me every thirty minutes. Move out." She turned to the Salem crowd. "Our base of operations will be our police headquarters. If you'll follow me."
An hour and a half later, Brady was restlessly pacing the detective's small office. Abe, Bo, Roman and John had gone on patrol with members of Chicago PD, leaving Marlena, Nancy, Craig and Brady behind at headquarters. The detective was on the phone, using all her resources, official or otherwise, to get any kind of information on Dr. Moore.
They still had no clue as to his whereabouts. Chicago was just too large a city, not counting the many suburbs. He could be anywhere.
A feeling of dread settled over Brady, growing heavier and heavier. He could feel that Chloe was in grave danger. And he was utterly helpless. He struggled to breathe in the oppressively heavy air of the cramped office. He shook off Marlena's attempt to comfort him. He did not need sympathy right now. "I'm going out for some air."
Det. Shone watched him leave. "He really loves her, doesn't he?"
Brady stood outside, a short distance from the police station and looked up into the sky. Although it had been overcast in Salem, the sky was clear in Chicago. The sun had set during their flight.
As Brady looked up into the clear, night sky, at all the twinkling stars, he was hit suddenly with a sense of déjà vu. He stared deeply at the stars, once again feeling that someone was trying to send him a message. He stared intently at the sky, focused deeply on the stars. Maybe they were trying to tell him something. He stared and stared but all he saw were those same #@$* blinking lights. Brady swore under her breath. Somewhere his missing self, his soul mate was in danger, and he was star gazing.
"You're trying too hard." A soft, lilting voice laughed in his head. "Listen to the language of your soul." She said.
Brady was caressed then by a gentle breeze. He closed his eyes. That voice. He'd heard that voice before, once upon a time. That voice used to sing him to sleep at night and coo to him during the day. He felt her presence so strongly, he was sure he could physically touch her.
"Mom?" he called out, his voice soft and thick with emotion.
The musical voice laughed with joy and pride. "Hi, sweetie."
Brady struggled to control his emotions. "M-Mom," he choked out. "You've been helping me, haven't you? Helping me find Chloe."
"I've been helping you find Chloe your entire life." She replied, her voice singing out to him. "When you were born, when you were conceived even, I knew you were special. You were destined to live a special life and love a special woman. And the love you and Chloe share IS special. It happens only once in a lifetime, so grab onto it and don't let go." Her voice began to fade.
"Wait! I have to find her first." He cried.
"Listen to the language of your soul. I love you Brady. I will always love you." She said. There was one last rustling breeze, and then she was gone.
"I love you, Mom." {the language of my soul, huh.} He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to calm his erratic heartbeat, trying to control his chaotic thoughts. He continued a steady breathing pattern and looked back up at the sky. {The language of my soul.}
{Our connection. It has to be. I've been able to feel her before, even hear her thoughts. Maybe it will work again.} He inhaled deeply and then reached out for her with his soul. He concentrated solely on Chloe. He thought about her shining sapphire eyes and her brilliant smile. He kept reaching out for her with his mind. Minutes passed….
Suddenly a piercing scream rang through his head.
Brady! Save me! Brady's heart raced, hearing the absolute terror in her thoughts.
Chloe? Where are you?
He saw the address in her mind. Hang on, Chloe. I'll be right there! I'm coming Chloe. As their connection ended he saw her terror, a large man looming over her, ripping her clothes off.
He saw a pay phone in the parking lot and ran to it. He grabbed the phone book and got directions using the maps. He jumped in the car they had rented from the airport and sped off toward Chloe's location. He was there in twenty minutes, praying he was not too late.
He saw an old, decrepit house that had been boarded up. He sneaked around to one of the windows and pried loose one of the boards. He peered inside.
What he saw made his heart stop.
Chapter 50
They touched down on a private runway at the Chicago airport. {Finally.} Brady thought. Even though they'd been cruising in one of the fastest private jets available to a civilian, it had seemed to Brady like they were crawling. Every minute that passed was one more minute that Chloe was in that bastard's clutches. He tried not to think about what might be happening to her, what might have already happened.
Several Chicago police officers were waiting as the group from Salem departed the plane. An African-American woman stepped forward, an aura of authority radiating from her.
"I'm Detective Tepil Shone and these are my men. Officers Haley, Harris and Ramsey."
They all shook hands as the other introductions were made. Det. Shone spoke up, getting down to the business at hand. "Now what can we do for you?" she asked in a straightforward, no-nonsense tone.
Abe spoke up. "Well Det. Shone, as I mentioned on the phone, we have reason to believe that a man who was recently released from prison abducted a teenage girl from our town and brought her here. The girl's name is Chloe Lane, and these are her parents Craig and Nancy Wesley."
At the mention of Chloe's name, Det. Shone frowned slightly. {Damn, that name sounded familiar.}
Abe continued speaking. "The man who abducted her is a convicted sex offender from Chicago. His name is Aaron Moore."
Det. Shone sighed deeply as the puzzle pieces fell into place. One of her men swore softly.
Bo observed their reactions to the name. "I take it you've heard of him?"
Her charcoal brown eyes hardened. "There isn't a soul in this city who doesn't know of Dr. Moore." She paused. "And this Chloe Lane, she's the same brave girl who testified against him and put him away."
"For all the good it did her." Brady muttered bitterly.
Det. Shone understood Brady's anger and frustration. "I know what you're feeling. I've walked this beat a long time. I long ago stopped being surprised by the cruelty of man. But what that sick bastard did to that little girl, it rocked this city to the core. We all put in a lot of long hours, worked unpaid overtime to make sure that he was arrested and found guilty. And now he's free after serving only three years of a fifteen-year sentence? F*CK!" she swore loudly.
Abe, Bo and Roman empathized with her. They too knew what it was like to work long and hard to get a dangerous criminal off the street, only for him to be released because of a technicality, or serve a ridiculously short prison term.
Det. Shone shook off her anger and sprang into action. "Okay, we need to scour the streets. This man has no money, so he's squatting somewhere. Check empty businesses, abandoned warehouses, condemned buildings. Call the local hospitals; he may have tried to use his old position as a doctor to obtain drugs, supplies, etc. Update me every thirty minutes. Move out." She turned to the Salem crowd. "Our base of operations will be our police headquarters. If you'll follow me."
An hour and a half later, Brady was restlessly pacing the detective's small office. Abe, Bo, Roman and John had gone on patrol with members of Chicago PD, leaving Marlena, Nancy, Craig and Brady behind at headquarters. The detective was on the phone, using all her resources, official or otherwise, to get any kind of information on Dr. Moore.
They still had no clue as to his whereabouts. Chicago was just too large a city, not counting the many suburbs. He could be anywhere.
A feeling of dread settled over Brady, growing heavier and heavier. He could feel that Chloe was in grave danger. And he was utterly helpless. He struggled to breathe in the oppressively heavy air of the cramped office. He shook off Marlena's attempt to comfort him. He did not need sympathy right now. "I'm going out for some air."
Det. Shone watched him leave. "He really loves her, doesn't he?"
Brady stood outside, a short distance from the police station and looked up into the sky. Although it had been overcast in Salem, the sky was clear in Chicago. The sun had set during their flight.
As Brady looked up into the clear, night sky, at all the twinkling stars, he was hit suddenly with a sense of déjà vu. He stared deeply at the stars, once again feeling that someone was trying to send him a message. He stared intently at the sky, focused deeply on the stars. Maybe they were trying to tell him something. He stared and stared but all he saw were those same #@$* blinking lights. Brady swore under her breath. Somewhere his missing self, his soul mate was in danger, and he was star gazing.
"You're trying too hard." A soft, lilting voice laughed in his head. "Listen to the language of your soul." She said.
Brady was caressed then by a gentle breeze. He closed his eyes. That voice. He'd heard that voice before, once upon a time. That voice used to sing him to sleep at night and coo to him during the day. He felt her presence so strongly, he was sure he could physically touch her.
"Mom?" he called out, his voice soft and thick with emotion.
The musical voice laughed with joy and pride. "Hi, sweetie."
Brady struggled to control his emotions. "M-Mom," he choked out. "You've been helping me, haven't you? Helping me find Chloe."
"I've been helping you find Chloe your entire life." She replied, her voice singing out to him. "When you were born, when you were conceived even, I knew you were special. You were destined to live a special life and love a special woman. And the love you and Chloe share IS special. It happens only once in a lifetime, so grab onto it and don't let go." Her voice began to fade.
"Wait! I have to find her first." He cried.
"Listen to the language of your soul. I love you Brady. I will always love you." She said. There was one last rustling breeze, and then she was gone.
"I love you, Mom." {the language of my soul, huh.} He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to calm his erratic heartbeat, trying to control his chaotic thoughts. He continued a steady breathing pattern and looked back up at the sky. {The language of my soul.}
{Our connection. It has to be. I've been able to feel her before, even hear her thoughts. Maybe it will work again.} He inhaled deeply and then reached out for her with his soul. He concentrated solely on Chloe. He thought about her shining sapphire eyes and her brilliant smile. He kept reaching out for her with his mind. Minutes passed….
Suddenly a piercing scream rang through his head.
Brady! Save me! Brady's heart raced, hearing the absolute terror in her thoughts.
Chloe? Where are you?
He saw the address in her mind. Hang on, Chloe. I'll be right there! I'm coming Chloe. As their connection ended he saw her terror, a large man looming over her, ripping her clothes off.
He saw a pay phone in the parking lot and ran to it. He grabbed the phone book and got directions using the maps. He jumped in the car they had rented from the airport and sped off toward Chloe's location. He was there in twenty minutes, praying he was not too late.
He saw an old, decrepit house that had been boarded up. He sneaked around to one of the windows and pried loose one of the boards. He peered inside.
What he saw made his heart stop.