(Author's Note- Hey guys. I hope you like what you're reading. The frequency in chapter updates might decrease a little as I need to write chapter four, and am not necessarily sure what to do. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Please Review!! Thanks –E.B.F.R.)

Chapter #3 – Continuing Suspicions…

A few minutes after continually watching the girl carefully, but not to arouse suspicion, Lucky had gone over to the hot dog stand to get lunch for he and Emily. Although still hungry, even after eating her popsicle, Emily couldn't help but want to offer her own lunch to the little girl.

Emily was about to go over and ask the teacher if she could offer her lunch to the girl. 'Damn, I wish I knew her name.' Emily thought. But before she could stand, the teacher had called all the children to line up because she could see the school bus approaching.

"Everyone in one straight line…Maddie? Maddie? Has anyone seen Maddie?"

"Who's Maddie?" One of the kids asked, while the others snickered and giggled. Emily and Lucky who had still been watching the girl (who was now looking up) saw the girl squint her eyes shut, trying desperately to hold her tears in. "That has to be Maddie." Lucky whispered.

"Maddie? Maddie? Wherever you are come out please. We're not playing hide and seek. It's time to come out and get on the bus now." The teacher called. There was still no answer. "Maddie? Maddie! Come out right now! This isn't funny!" The teacher yelled, her voice now raised in alarm.

"Excuse me. I think the young girl you're looking for is under the slide." Emily offered softly.

"There you are. Come on, let's go. Thank you very much for your help Miss."

"You're welcome." Emily replied softly, as the little girl walked by her.

The little girl walked right past them, not making eye contact with anyone but what was ahead of her.

Emily shook her head and wondered if she'd ever see Maddie again.

After Emily had said she had some errand to do, she and Lucky bid each other farewell. Lucky went to pay his brother Nikolas Cassadine a visit.

Coming home from some food shopping Emily put all the food away and laid down on the couch. Putting on the radio, the song "Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride began to play.

Emily pays intense attention to the introduction of piano that filters through the speakers. As the first and second verse resonate into her brain, her eyes begin to tear. Suddenly, the phone rings ripping Emily out of her concentrated state.

Emily sighs before picking up the phone. "Hello? Hey Liz, how are you?...Yeah, sure. Are the guys going to be there? Great, I'll be there about 5p. Okay, bye."

Emily frowned. By the time she got off the phone, the song was over. After cleaning her apartment a bit, she decided it would be a good idea to take a nap. Dreams of Maddie floated through her head throughout the time she was asleep.

The Next Day –

Emily once again met Lucky at the park. It hadn't dawned on her, but they've been meeting up there for the past month and Emily and Lucky could sort of consider it a tradition. 11am, they always met by the playground. She also paid Lucky back for lunch the other day, and unbeknownst to either of them, something dropped out of Emily's wallet.

Today, as the schoolchildren got off the bus, Emily immediately noticed Maddie was missing. She gave Lucky a worried look, who just squeezed her shoulder in assurance that she was probably okay.

"But…you saw her fear yesterday…Lucky she was here yesterday, and as soon as the teacher said she'd call Maddie's parents…and today she's absent? It doesn't make sense."

"Emily…we have no proof whatsoever. We can't go accusing this child's family of mistreating her. We don't even know her or them. Who knows, maybe she was in the beginning stages of a cold and was good at hiding being sick." Lucky suggested.

"A 'cold.' Sure Lucky." Emily scoffed. "And I'm betting my entire trust fund that I know you don't believe that for a second."

Lucky sighed. "Well, like I said, we really can't do much without some type of proof."

"Her eyes are all the proof I need."

"Emily, that'll never hold up anywhere and you know it. Maybe her parents are very strict and that's why she's, well scared. All we saw was sadness and loneliness…"

"And maybe you really don't want to find out the truth…" Emily dared him, staring him down. Narrowing his eyes, Lucky didn't even blink. "You know damn well not to even think of saying something like that to me Em." Lucky warned. "You know I'm just as protective of children as you are. It's not about not wanting to find out the 'truth' as you so put it, but Emily we don't even know if there's a 'truth' to be found out." Lucky reasons.

Both taking deep breaths, Lucky continues. "Look Em, I have to get back to work but do me a favor okay?"

"What?" She asked simply, an apology held within her eyes.

"Please, please don't do anything irrational or too quick." Lucky asked, nodding his head in response to her silent apology.

"I won't….not until I get more information. Could you help me?"

Sighing once more, Lucky briefly looked at where Maddie sat yesterday. "I'll think about it, okay?"

"Okay…Lucky? Thank you."

Lucky just nodded and gave a soft smile as he departed.

Across Town –

Maddie sat once again huddled in a dark corner. She really wished her daddy were home. He always made everything better. But ever since that big fight he had with her mother, Maddie, (according to her mother) wasn't allowed to see him anymore. Maddie knows her mother keeps her daddy away…She just wished she could sneak out and live with her dad instead.

(Author's Note- Please Review!! Thanks –E.B.F.R.)