Ch 30

Vince was up early like he was every morning. He grabbed a cup of coffee and scanned the headlines of the newspaper before changing into his running clothes and heading out for his morning jog. He put his headphones on and stretched before leisurely jogging down his driveway. He hummed along with the music as he hit the bike path running along the road. He didn't hear another jogger not far behind him quicken his pace to catch up. Vince went pass Stacy's house seeing through the trees her house was still dark. He wondered if her and Mark spent the night there or went elsewhere. He decided he would give her call later in the morning to check on her. He didn't even bother to glance at Stephanie's house still feeling irritated at the trouble she had caused. He picked up his pace as the trail started to cut into the woods. Suddenly he felt someone grab him from behind and drag him off the path. He tried to yell for help as a cloth came over his mouth silencing him and making everything go black.

Stacy lay in bed listening to Mark peacefully sleeping next to her. She ran her fingers over his arm absentmindedly as she thought about everything that was going on. She knew her father had things under control but she was still worried that Stephanie would not let things alone and keep stirring up trouble. Her cell phone started to ring on the night stand taking her from her thoughts. She quickly grabbed it seeing it was her Mom calling.

"Hi mom," she answered quietly hoping not to wake Mark.

"Good morning Stacy, have you seen or heard from your father?" Linda's voice was filled with worry and concern.

"No, I haven't. Why is something wrong?" she sat up making Mark open his eyes.

"He went out jogging around 5:30, he is normally always back no later then 7," Linda said as Stacy glanced at the clock seeing it's was near 8. "I went looking for him but he changes his route sometimes so maybe I missed him."

"Mom, I'll go look for him. I know all the paths he takes," Stacy had jogged with her father a few times and seen him often in the morning when she walked her dog. "I'll call the moment I find him."

"Thank you Stacy, I'll call you if he comes home. I just feel like something is wrong," Linda softly said.

"Mom, relax I'm sure he is fine maybe he stopped to talk with one of the neighbors. I'll be in touch soon," Stacy hung up turning to look at Mark.

"What's up?" Mark asked wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"My Dad hasn't come home yet. from his jog. Mom is worried so I'm going to go look for him," she hoped her Dad was alright.

"Stacy, he will be fine," Mark gathered her in his arms kissing her softly. "Come on let's go look for him," Mark stood up pulling her with him. It didn't take them long to get dressed and start searching. Stacy's worries were growing after searching for an hour and not finding any sign of him. She checked with her mom twice and he still was not home.

"Where could he be?" Stacy asked looking around for any sign of him as they checked one of the trails that were not used very much.

"Darling, I hate to say this but there isn't anywhere else to check," he wrapped his arm around her.

"Do you think something happened to him?" she asked starting to shake slightly.

"Let's go to your Mom's and give the police a call. We can get more help to search for him hopefully," Mark kept a tight on hold on her as she went very silent. They walked towards her Mom's and Stacy kept looking frantically all over hoping to spot her father. Linda was waiting on the front porch with tears streaming down her face seeing they had returned without Vince.

"Mom, I'm sorry I can't find him," Stacy hugged her Mom. Linda cried more as her bad feeling got worse.

"I'm going to call the police," Mark took out his cell as Stacy nodded in agreement. Stacy led her Mom into the house getting her to sit down in the living room while Mark talked to the police.

"Mom, I'm going to call Stephanie and Shane," Stacy said as Linda stared into space. Stacy dialed Shane first getting him on the second ring.

"Hey Sis, what's up?"

"Shane, I need you to come to Mom's now. Dad is missing. He went jogging this morning and never came back. We are calling the police now," Stacy tried to keep calm.

"Oh God, I'll be there in twenty minutes. Tell Mom I'm coming," Shane hung up as Stacy hesitated for a moment then called Stephanie.

"What the hell do you want?" Stephanie's voice was filled with bitterness.

"Stephanie, Dad is missing you need to come to Mom's," Stacy got right to the point.

"Are you serious?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, he went jogging and didn't come back home."

"Maybe he stopped to chat with the women up the street he is always flirting with," Stephanie said showing no concern for her father.

"I checked with the neighbors, just get over here Mom needs us," Stacy hung up in no mood to argue with Stephanie.

"Darling, the police are on their way," Mark came up behind her wrapping her tightly in his arms. She didn't say a word just turned burying her face in his chest hoping her father was alright.

Stephanie arrived after the police had already been there for an hour taking information from everyone and searching the area where Vince jogged. Shane just shook his head in disgust when she walked in without a care in the world. Stacy went into the other room with Mark right behind her.

"Hi Mom, did they find him yet?" Stephanie asked sitting down across from her Mom.

"No, where have you been?" Linda's voice was going hoarse from her crying.

"I was still in bed when she called. I figured there was no rush you would call if they found him," Stephanie said making Shane curse under his breathe and leave the room.

"It wouldn't hurt to show a little concern," Linda whispered.

"Mom, he will show up. He probably got distracted by something or someone," Stephanie didn't even notice her mother tense up at her comment.

"Just go home, I don't need your brat attitude right now," Linda pointed towards the door.

"Whatever, tell me to come then go," Stephanie stood up stomping out of the room. She paused in the hall looking to where Stacy was cuddled up against Mark while he talked to Shane. The rage built inside of her at the sight of them so cozy.

"Mrs. McMahon, can you look at this?" an office brushed past Stephanie going to Linda with something in a bag. "Is this your husband's?"

"Yes, it is," Linda touched his favorite watch through the plastic.

"Do you recognize this?" the officer showed her another item contained in plastic. Linda's knees gave out as she saw Vince's grey work out jacket with a blood stain. She couldn't speak she just nodded when the officer asked her again if it was her husband's.

Shane, Stacy, and Mark heard the commotion and came into the room. When they saw the blood stained jacket, Stacy held onto to Mark tightly. Shane kept staring at it in disbelief.

"We are going to have the lab make sure this is Mr. McMahon's blood. We are calling in another search party to help look for him," the officer told them.

"Where did you find it?" Mark asked.

"In the woods behind the house two doors down," the officer pointed in the direction of Stephanie's house.

"Stephanie, did you see or hear Dad this morning?" Shane asked staring at his sister.

"No, I was out cold," Stephanie shrugged her shoulders.

"Could you come with me? We would like to ask you a few questions," another officer asked Stephanie.

"Why me?" her eyes filled with worry.

"Its just normal procedure, we already questioned the others here," the officer informed her. Stephanie nodded ok following the officer.

"Mrs. McMahon, I'll be back shortly with Detective Reynolds," the officer left leaving the room in silence as everyone couldn't help something very bad had happened to Vince.