Missing - Part Five

Chapter Five - Hope

"Hi, you have reached the Lockhart-Kovac residence. Please leave a message after the tone and we'll get back to you"

"Luka…..it's Abby. Please pick up"

Luka shot off the couch and ran to the phone.

"Abby"

"Luka, I'm so glad you're there, Luka I need help, please, you've got to help me" Abby cried down the phone to Luka

"Abby, have they hurt you? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, for now, I need you to find Eric"

Luka was just about to reply when he heard a scream.

"Abby! Abby!" Luka shouted

"You better do as the lady tells you" A mans voice came on the phone

"Let her go, you don't need her" Luka pleaded.

"We need her if we don't get her brother"

"Find him Luka! Please! Find him and keep him safe!" Luka could hear Abby screaming from a distance.

"Shut her up will you" The man shouted

"No! Leave her alone" Luka shouted back, but the phone went dead.

An hour later and Luka had finished talking to the police. Abby had sounded petrified on the phone, but had made it clear that he was to find Eric and protect him. Luka knew that Abby loved her brother, but to keep Eric safe would mean to put Abby in harms way. The police had tried to get a trace on the phone, but nothing had registered. They were back at square one. At least Luka knew that Abby was alive. For now.

Abby trembled as she thought about Luka. She hoped she wouldn't bring him into danger, but she knew he would follow her wishes and keep Eric safe. That's if he could find him. She had paid for shouting down the phone. She had once again been tied up and gagged. And her ribs felt sore where they had kicked her. At one stage through all this, Abby thought she might get out alive, now she wasn't so sure. She knew that these men were not afraid to hurt her, or anyone. They had killed Maggie, she was next in line.

Minnesota 12.00pm

Eric hovered around the bushes outside his mum's house. There had been a white tent in the garden for days, but Eric did not know what was going on. He heard a commotion, and then saw a stretcher being carried out of the tent. On top lay a body bag.

"Oh God NO!" Eric screamed. The policemen surrounding the house looked over and stated to run at him.

Eric stood still, feet planted into the ground.

"Sir, we need you to come with us"

"Is that my mum in there?" Eric pointed to the stretcher, which was now being loaded into an ambulance.

"Sir, are you Eric Wyzinski?"

"Yes"

"We need to talk" The officer said.

"What do you mean they've got Abby?" Eric shouted. He had been told about his mother's death, and the fact that Abby had disappeared.

"Sir, I know this is a difficult time for you, but we need you to stay calm, for Abby's sake. Do you know who may have taken her?"

Eric looked down at his feet.

"I think so. Three months ago, I was involved with a gang, delivering drugs to people. I made a few mistakes, and kept some drugs for myself to sell on privately. I needed money. They found out, and I've been on the run ever since"

"So this is about money?" One of the policemen asked.

"Yeah, about $30,000"

"You owed a lot of money Mr Wyzinski"

"Look, I have problems. I'm bi-polar, and I sometimes get a little out of control"

"Alright. Now we know we have a motive, do we know where we can find these people?"

"No, I never went to their houses. I know they are in Chicago, somewhere in the town, that's all. We have to find Abby. These people are dangerous"

"We may need your help with that. If you can supply us with names, we can try and track them down that way. If not, we may have to use you as bait, to lure them out"

"I'll do anything, just find my sister"

"Ok, names"

"Harry. Harry Mathers. He's the leader. He has two helpers, Bob Randall, and Kris Chiswick. There are a lot of them out there, but if anyone has Abby, that's who"

"Ok Sir, we are going to need to transfer you to Chicago. They are investigating your sister's disappearance there. Her boyfriend spoke to her yesterday and she says she is alright for now. But we need to move quickly. And Sir, I am very sorry about your mother"

"Can I see her?"

"We'll take you to the morgue, but then we'd like you to go to Chicago. Abby's boyfriend will put you up I'm sure"

"Ok, let's go"

Chicago – 18.00

Luka lay once again on the couch. When the phone started to ring he immediately jumped up to answer it, hoping that it would be Abby.

"Mr Kovac, Its Detective Grabble"

"Have you found her?"

"No, but we have found Eric. He's at the station, needs a place to stay"

"For sure. I'll come and get him"

Luka hung up the phone, and let himself smile. For the first time in days they had hope.