Charlie yawned as she drove home. It had been so long since she had last done a night shift that she had forgotten how tiring it could be. She revelled in the thought of getting home and getting into her warm, cozy bed. The roads were pretty quite for seven in the morning. There were a few early morning risers but other tahn that she met no other vehicles. She turned right down her street and slowed as she neared her home, indicating as she turned into the driveway and coming to a hault behind Leah's car.

As she got out of her car, Charlie's attention was momentarily brought towards the skid marks on the ground. She frowned. They weren't there when she left last night. It couldn't have been Leah, she was staying home to keep an eye on Ruby. Maybe it was somebody else? Charlie's cop instincts started to act up. Something felt wrong. She closed her car door and made her way up the yard. When she came close enough to the back door she stopped in her tracks. The door had been kicked in, the lock was broken.

"Oh God" Charlie said under her breath. Panic setting in.

Charlie reached down and removed her gun from its holdster, cocking it and gripping it tightly as she manouvered through the door as quietly as possible. She looked around, the kitchen was a mess. Chairs were knocked over and all the drawers had been emptied and tossed aside. She turned and made her way towards the living room. Side steppin to make sure she could see around the doorway. She stopped. She could hear loud mumbling. Charlie walked into the living and stood back startled.

Charlie rushed over to where Leah lay flat on the floor, still tied to the chair. She placed her gun back in its holdster and began untying Leah. When she was freed Leah removed the gag and sat up looking at Charlie.

"Charlie, he's got Ruby", she siad while catching her breath.

Charlie stood back, feeling breathless. Like somebody had just punched her in the stomach. She looked at Leah.

"Who?", she asked, holding back tears.

"I don't know, some guy, his face, everything was covered. He just pulled me out of the bed, tied me up and gagged me", she said, tears starting to stream down her face. "He went in to Ruby's bedroom and pulled her out and took off. I don't know where they went", she continued.

Charlie looked up. She began to run for Ruby's bedroom. She burst through the open door and looked at the empty bed. Tears finally fell from her eyes. She looked around the room. It was a mess. Charlie started shuffling around looking for clues, hints. She walked around to the far side of the bed and looked at the bedside locker, now in a toppled over mess on the ground. Charlie's footsteps crunched as they stepped on broken glass from the bedside lamp. She crunched down and looked at Ruby's pill bottles. Her pain medication, anxiety pills, all sprawled out across the floor.

That's when Charlie remembered. Ruby's diabetes. She turned the bedside locker upright and pulled the top drawer all the way out and placing it on the bed. Ruby's insulin kit. It was still there. Charlie picked it up, hands shaking. Ruby needed her insulin, how long could she possibly go without it? The last injection she had was last night before she went to bed. Charlie inhaled a deep breath and stood up. She ran out of the room, still gripping Ruby's insulin kit. Leah looked on as Charlie dashed out into the kitchen.

Leah followed her out. She watched as Charlie pulled out her mobile and started to dial a number. Just then Leah noticed an envelope attached to the fridge. Senior Constable was written across the front.

"Charlie", Leah said holding out the envelope.

Charlie looked long enough to see the envelope. She placed the kit on the table and took the envelope from Leah. She ripped it open and removed the letter inside. She opened it up and looked at the horrifying lettering before her. Configured in the same way as in a movie, paper cut out of words from magazines, the message sent waves of anger and fear through Charlie.

IF YOU EVER WANT TO SEE YOUR

PRECIOUS DAUGHTER ALIVE AGAIN

COME TO THE OLD ABANDONED HOUSE

OFF OF SHERIFF ST

COME ALONE OR RISK LOSING EVERYTHING

WE'VE GOT A DEAL TO MAKE!

Charlie gripped the letter tightly. Crumpling it up and tossing it aside. She ran into her room and changed quickly into a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a tank top and trainers. She threw on her brown leather jacket and picked up her gun. Tucking it in down the back of her jeans. She ran back into the kitchen to where Leah was now sitting down with a glass of water.

"Should I call the police?", she asked concerned.

"NO!", Charlie shouted, then she looked at Leah and calmed her tone. "No, I've sent Angelo a text. If anybody asks you know nothing. If they find out this got out they'll....it could put Ruby's life in danger. Unless I tell you to, do not contact the police", she told her.

With that Charlie picked up Ruby's insulin kit and left. Running to her car. She sped out of the drive way and took off towards Sheriff St. She raced down the street, unbearable thoughts running through her mind. She couldn't help Ruby last time. But she was sure that nothing would stop her from protecting her daughter this time......


Ok please review....I need feedback on how this is going.