Waverly's POV

The crunch of rubber against gravel is the first thing I hear when I wake up. My head feels heavy as I attempt to refocus my blurry vision. I give it a slight shake, helping my brain to restart. My wits now about me again, I realize I am in the back of a very fast-moving van.

Rachel lies across from me, clearly still out from whatever drug those assholes inserted into our veins. Her hands are tied in front of her, just like my own.

I look towards the front of the van, trying to discern who our captors were, but a curtain between the back and front of the van obscures my vision. I hear the faint sound of People Disappear Here by Halsey coming from the van's radio, dampened by the sound of rough voices in conversation.

"What's the plan with these two, Boss?" One voice says in a heavy New York accent.

His boss sighs heavily. "How many times do we have to go over this, Yorkie? They are ransom, to get Valdez back. That bitch thought she could escape without consequence. Well, she does not realize how much she has complicated things for herself with her little stunt. We'll see how quickly she returns to cook for us once she realizes we have her daughter."

Rachel's mom escaped? My blood runs cold with the shock at this realization. She must have escaped very recently, hence the urgency of the latest message Rachel received for a drug delivery. Only, they did not want the drugs this time, they wanted Rachel herself! And now we were going to be used as bait for her mom…

Yorkie speaks again, pulling me from my troublesome thoughts. "And what do we do with the other one?"

The "Boss" chuckles darkly. "We told Valdez's runt not to involve anyone else. And now we have two problems to deal with. Only one of them is of use to us. The other is just another loose end we are going to have to tie up. That's why we are stopping at the house first, to make sure she makes a quick trip to heaven where she won't be able to cause us any more problems."

Ice fills my veins, my heart feeling like it freezes in place with the fear gripping my chest. They were going to kill me… My mind spirals with terrifying revelations and sudden regrets.

I'd die without having the chance to officially finish high school, without getting to spend time with my sister again, without tasting another of Chrissy's delicious meals, without getting to see Jeremy become the world's greatest scientist, and worst of all… I'd die before I could once again see Nicole Haught smile at me in that way that has me believe in magic, or before I could kiss those generous lips again, before I could finally feel the heat of her body against mine and the touch of her passionate hands as we finally expressed the depth of our love to each other.

The van hits a bump in the road, the impact of it reverberating up my spine. The commotion causes the curtain at the front of the van to move slightly, just enough for me to notice the swan tattoo on the inside of the driver's wrist. I recognize it instantly as the exact same one from the picture we found in our research. Which could mean only one thing.

We have been captured by the drug lord himself, Bobo del fucking Rey. The shock of this epiphany causes my hands to tremble. Nicole was right about everything. Bobo, or Robert Svane, was once again behind the shitstorm plaguing Purgatory. And now she would never know how good of a detective she is, and… and she would lose me along with it.

I suddenly feel sick. No. No! How could this be happening? Hot tears run down my cheeks as the despair suddenly overwhelms me.

The van slows and takes a sharp turn, which causes the curtain to move again. This time it moves enough for me to peak the burnt remains of an old building ahead of us. I recognize it from our research as well and it only serves to further deepen my dread.

I was going to meet my end at Robert Svane's childhood home. I ponder the tragic poetry behind this fact when I feel a vibration against my thigh.

Relief and hope starts to flood my body when I realize my phone was still in my pocket. The idiots must have thought their drugs would be so effective in knocking us out that they did not even bother to search us! A disturbingly happy smile stretches across my face at this sudden stroke of luck.

You don't know who you are messing with. I think, remembering how I once got hit with a tranquilizer dart by my own father.

I was exiting the house, on my way to band practice when it happened. My father, being the piece of shit he was, was trying to knock out the neighbour's cat after it urinated on his truck's tires. He missed and hit me instead. I was out for a full ten minutes, lying on the grass where my father had just left me. I got right back up after and still made it in time for band practice.

I am a force to be reckoned with! I think, suddenly feeling brave.

I position my tied hands over my pocket to maneuver my phone out. Just as I manage to fumble the device out, the van comes to a sudden stop. We must have arrived at the house, I realize with dread.

I push away the panic at realizing I had mere seconds before my captors would open the back of the van and focus instead on unlocking my phone. Having managed to do so, I am met with the still open MatchMe app. Knowing it was my only chance, I rapidly send two emojis to Nicole and then kick the phone away towards the darkest corner of the van.

Mere seconds after closing my eyes again, the van doors open and rough hands drag me into the unknown.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Nicole's POV

"Gloria Valdez?" Joey echoes behind me, his voice laced with confusion and surprise. The woman in question nods agitatedly, giving the two cops holding her a look of great discontent.

When recognition finally sets in, bafflement washes over their faces.

"Let her go, boys." Joey instructs the two young officers, who finally recover enough from their shock to unlock her handcuffs.

"We are so sorry, Mrs. Valdez. We saw someone trying to break into your apartment and it was our first instinct to take them in." One of the cops tells her apologetically.

"Why the hell would I break into my own flat?" Gloria retorts through gritted teeth as she rubs at her freed wrists.

"Mrs. Valdez, I apologize for the mix up. You were missing for so long, people presumed you were dead… hence why they thought it was someone else breaking into your home. But why don't you sit down and tell us what happened to you?" Joey asks politely, indicating towards his office.

Gloria was having none of it though. "You want to know what happened to me? You failed as a law enforcement institution, that's what!" Her voice is fueled with heavy disappointment and anger.

"You just gave up searching for me and allowed Bobo del Rey to once again get away with poisoning this town!"

"Bobo? What are you—" Joey tries, but Gloria is not quite done.

"Yes, Bobo del Rey is back and he has been running his drug operation right under your donut fattened fucking noses. He needed someone to cook his drugs, so he kidnapped the only pharmacist in town. Me. That's why I have been missing."

Joey looks as surprised as I feel at the sudden, unexpected confirmation of my theory.

Wynonna steps forward and places her hand firmly onto his shoulder. She takes out her badge and shows it to Gloria. "Wynonna Earp, BBD." She announces before turning back to Joey.

"Sergeant, I think you have more than enough reason to follow up on Haught's lead. I'd start by checking out the floral traces your team found in the drugs. Match it with the flower shop, get a search warrant and blow that joint up. I'll talk to Mrs. Valdez and see what we can find from my side." She says and then starts leading Gloria towards the front door.

My head feels like it suddenly wants to explode from the rapid change of pace this day has subjected me to. But I allow myself another deep breath and look back at Joey.

He fixes me with a look of determination. "I promise to get my best team on this right now, kid. Your dad did not take that bullet for me to let Bobo Del Rey walk around here freely, spreading his disease. I am not failing your old man or this town again."

I respond with a soft smile. "Thank you, Joey. I have no doubt you will do the very best. Meanwhile, Wynonna and I will speak to Mrs. Valdez to see if we can find any more leads."

With that, I take my leave and exit the police station. On my way out, my phone vibrates. Seeing the MatchMe notification indicator flash across my screen causes a frown to imbed itself on my features.

I pause to open it, finding a message from Angelgirl08 waiting for me. The message only aids in deepening my frown.

Waverly had sent me two emojis. One a goose? and the other a house. What the hell did that mean? And why did Waverly use MatchMe? We have been using the normal messaging app for weeks now.

It could just have been sent by accident. But something felt off. So to be sure, I dial the number I had tattooed on my heart.

I try calling three times without success, the phone just rings until the line goes dead.

The worry that had been gnawing at my insides ever since I found out Rachel's mom was alive now finally explodes, gripping my heart with tendrils of icy fear.

As soon as my eyes find Mrs. Valdez and Wynonna where they stand outside the police station, I practically run in their direction.

"Mrs. Valdez, I know we have a lot to talk about, but I think Rachel and my girlfriend Waverly may be in grave danger at the hands of Bobo."

"Do you know where my daughter is? Please tell me everything you know." Her voice bleeds with desperation as her eyes flash in fear for her daughter's wellbeing.

My own heart feels like it wants to cave in with the unbearable worry holding it hostage.

Knowing that if I allowed myself to entertain the devastating thoughts that my mind was currently hurtling towards, I would die from a heart attack and be of no use in ensuring Waverly and Rachel's safety.

So instead I grip my fists tightly to distract myself and focus on the task at hand. I release a slow breath and address Gloria in a calm voice.

"Rachel has been staying with us at Joy farm while you were gone. She has been manipulated by Bobo to deliver chemicals needed for drug manufacturing. They made her aware they had you and threatened to kill you. She got another message today to make a drop at the old mill. But if you are here, then that means…"

"Oh no no no… I am too late." Gloria mumbles quietly as she paces up and down. Finally she pauses to fix me and Wynonna with a seriousness that could turn the most frightening criminals to stone.

"We are going to that mill right now. On the way, I'll tell you how I escaped and you can tell me how my daughter ended up at Joy Farm."

"Sounds like a stellar plan. Only problem is we kinda don't have a ride." Wynonna announces grimly.

Gloria seems unfazed by this. "I have a car. But the keys are in my apartment. I don't have my apartment keys either so you two are gonna have to help me break in. Hopefully the cops don't bother me again this time."

Rachel's mom turns to start walking in the direction of their apartment, but I stop her by placing my hand gently on her shoulder.

She looks at me quizzically, which I quickly respond to with a small smile. Then I reach into my pocket and remove a set of keys.

"Rachel handed me these right before they left for the mill. Said it might come in handy." I say, smiling bigger now despite my worry.

At the sight of her apartment keys, Gloria smiles in relief. "That's my girl." She says proudly.

Then she turns on her heel and starts leading us away from the police station. "Come on, our apartment is only two blocks from here."

As I watch her walk away, I feel a hand pat my shoulder gently.

"Nice work, Haught." Wynonna says from behind me. She starts walking ahead of me to follow Gloria, but pauses after only a few steps. She turns and fixes me with a contemplative look.

"You know, Joey was right. You would make a great detective." She says before turning and falling into step with Gloria again.

Something about hearing the confirmation for a second time gives me pause. Could I really be a cop? Did I even want to be a cop? After what happened to Dad? It's dangerous, committing your life to protecting others…

My worry for Waverly and Rachel flares up violently again in that moment, burning away any further thoughts on a career in law enforcement. I clear my mind with a shake of my head, and hurry to catch up with Wynonna and Gloria.

I am coming, Waves. Is all that repeats in my mind with every step forward I take.