Ria and jake spent the next few days agonizingly driving all over Seattle. Sig and Juna were also keeping an eye out for Aria. They had flyers posted everywhere, and almost everyone knew what Aria looked like.
Then
There was a break in the case.. Ria and Jake had told police that Aria was very shy sometimes and wouldn't go off with someone she didn't know.
Someone had called in a tip saying they had spotted a little blonde girl with an older white male just outside of Bellvue.
They said the little girl appeared upset, and dirty.
They also said she was wearing blue jeans and a bright blue zip up jacket
which is what Aria was wearing the day she dissapeared.
For the first time in weeks Ria and jake had hope. They loaded the kids up and made the drive to Bellvue.
When they got there they spoke with Police, who told them there had been too more reports of the man and the little girl.
The tip came in when a passerby spotted the man walking with the girl on the side of the road.
THey anxiously waited, Ria holding a sleeping Melody to her chest while jagger sat on Jake's lap, and Josh and Geena waited silently with them.
After about an hour Ria was beginning to lose hope.
Until the chief of police came in.
he had the biggest smile on his face, and his eyes twinkled as he spoke
He told them that they had caught the man and Aria was safe.
And then she appeared in the doorway.
Ria let out a cry as she set Melody down and opened her arms, and Aria lept into them. She cried and Ria cried, and Josh cried, and Geena bawled like a baby and even Jake let a tear fall.
Ria hugged her and jake kissed her forehead. She cried telling them she was sorry for going into the woods, even though none of this was her fault.
But Ria wanted to see the man. See the sick man who kidnapped her baby girl, and kept her away from home. Who could be so sick.
She got her answer when she came face to face with the man.
He was slightly scruffy with narrow features, and shockingly blue eyes. He bore a distinct resemblence to Phil, which made sense.
Aria had seen many pictures of Phil and would have gone with the man if he appeared to her in the woods. Ria felt sick to her stomach to think a person like this was impersonating a the greatest man in the world. Jake tried to jump on him, but was restrained.
But the nightmare wasn't over. No one really knew what happened to Aria.
And she wouldnt talk about what "The Bad Man" did to her.
She sat tearful and bruised in a plastic chair.
Alone in the world.
Ria and Jake took the kids home and bolted all the doors and windows. They fell into an uneasy sleep knowing that Aria would carry this with her forever.