AN: Thank you everyone!

It was now the early hours of the morning, and despite the fatigue pulling at everyone, no one had left. They couldn't—not with Bella missing. Edward sat hunched over at a desk, his knee bouncing restlessly, his eyes darting to Solomon, who was speaking in low, clipped tones to Sheriff Molina.

Then Solomon's phone dinged, cutting through the hushed conversation. He frowned, unlocking it with a swipe, and his expression darkened immediately. Without a word, he handed it to Alice, his jaw tightening.

"What is it?" Edward asked sharply, standing.

Alice connected the phone to her laptop, and the video feed flickered onto the large monitor in the corner. Everyone froze.

The video image of Bella filled the screen. She was slumped in a wooden chair, her wrists bound tightly behind her. Her face was battered, a swollen left eye barely open and blood streaking from a cut above her brow. The faint rise and fall of her chest was the only indication she was still alive.

"Jesus," Rosalie whispered, her hand flying to her mouth.

Edward stepped closer, his face ashen, his breath caught somewhere between his lungs and his throat. His hands balled into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms so hard they threatened to break the skin.

Then, a figure stepped into the frame. Dressed in all black, his face obscured by a smooth, featureless mask, the man loomed behind Bella. When he spoke, his voice was distorted, robotic.

"To the brave men and women of law enforcement," he began, "Your persistence in meddling in Caius's affairs has not gone unnoticed. But now, you have a choice."

Edward's jaw tightened at the mention of Caius, and his hands flexed, itching to do something—anything.

The figure placed a gloved hand on Bella's shoulder. She flinched but didn't cry out, her visible eye staring directly into the camera, defiant despite her injuries. She was shaking her head, mumbling something beneath her breath.

"Return Demetri Valente to us, unharmed, and you'll have your detective back. You have twenty-four hours to make the trade. If you refuse…" The man's hand moved to Bella's hair, gripping it tightly as he leaned into the camera. "You'll receive her head in a box."

The screen went black.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint thrum of the equipment as everyone tried to grapple with this new threat. Edward's breath hitched, his composure cracking as he staggered back into a chair and let his head fall into his hands. His shoulders shook, breaths shallow and uneven.

Rosalie's usually steely demeanor faltered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Boss, what… what do we do?"

Emmett, pacing furiously, slammed his fist onto the desk. "They're bluffing, right? They wouldn't—"

"They would," Solomon cut in, his voice low and steady, though the tension in his jaw was unmistakable. "We know who we're dealing with."

Another ding from Solomon's phone broke through the moment, and Alice immediately opened it The screen lit up again, this time with a live feed. Bella, still bound and battered, sat motionless. The masked figure loomed in the corner, silent and foreboding.

"Can you trace it?" Jacob asked urgently, stepping closer to Alice.

"I'm trying," Alice muttered, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "They're using multiple layers of encryption and rerouting through servers I've never seen. Whoever set this up isn't an amateur."

"Damn it!" Edward hissed, standing abruptly and pacing. He turned to Solomon, his voice raw. "We can't just sit here. We need to move."

Solomon stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing. "We will," he said, his voice firm. He turned to Emmett and Rosalie. "Find Embry Call. If there's even a chance he knows anything, I want him in here. Now."

Rosalie nodded, her composure returning. "On it."

"And you," Solomon said, pointing at Edward. "You're coming with me to talk to Demetri."

Edward's brows furrowed. "He won't talk. You know he's loyal to Caius."

"Loyalty has limits," Solomon said grimly. "Especially when life without parole is staring you in the face. We'll see where his limits are."

Turning to the rest of the team, Solomon continued. "Jacob, Emmett—work your informants. I don't care how small the lead is. Someone knows something, and I want to hear it."

Jacob gave a sharp nod. "I've got a couple of guys who might talk."

Emmett cracked his knuckles. "I'll make sure they do."

Solomon's gaze shifted back to Alice. "Keep working on that feed. I don't care how long it takes—break it."

Alice didn't look up, her focus unyielding. "I'll get it," she said. "It's just a matter of time."

"We don't have time, Alice," Solomon muttered grimly, his voice dropping. "We need her back."

Alice hesitated for a beat, then nodded, her determination shining through. "I'll make it happen."

The team moved like a well-oiled machine, each member diving into their task with relentless focus. But the weight of the clock ticking down hung over them like a storm cloud.

…

The drive to the prison was silent for the most part. Edward sat rigid in the passenger seat, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, while Solomon kept his eyes on the winding road ahead, his jaw locked.

"You think Demetri will give us anything?" Edward asked finally, breaking the silence, his voice rough with restrained emotion.

Solomon's hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Demetri knows Caius better than anyone. They're blood. If there's even a crack in his loyalty, I'll find it."

Edward exhaled harshly, leaning his head back against the seat. "And if there isn't?"

"Then we move forward without him," Solomon replied evenly. "But we're taking every damn shot we have. We owe her that."

Edward stared out the window, the darkness of the early morning blending with the tangled storm of his thoughts. "She's tough," he said quietly. "Bella. She's tougher than anyone I know. She'll hold on." He meant every word he said, but Edward was also trying desperately to comfort himself. Desperately tried to keep his hope alive.

Solomon's gaze flicked to him briefly before returning to the road. "I know she will. But it's our job to make sure she doesn't have to hold on for long."

The prison was cold and unwelcoming when hey finally arrived. The guards, brief before they arrived, signed them in before leading them down the concrete corridors. Their escort, a burly guard with a no-nonsense demeanor, stopped at a reinforced steel door and punched in a code.

"You've got twenty minutes," the guard said gruffly as he unlocked the door and stepped aside.

Inside the visitation room, Demetri Valente sat shackled to a steel table. His hair was shorter than in his mugshot, but the smirk was the same—arrogant, venomous. He looked up as they entered, his eyes glinting with mock amusement.

He knew they'd come.

"Well, well," he drawled, leaning back as far as his restraints allowed. "Seattle's finest. I thought you'd forgotten about little ol' me."

Solomon wasted no time, pulling out the chair across from Demetri and sitting down, his expression hard. "Where's Bella Swan?"

Demetri's smirk widened, his posture infuriatingly relaxed. "Ah, the detective. Brave, beautiful, a little too good at her job. Quite the catch, isn't she?" He leaned forward slightly, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'd say Caius hit the jackpot with that one."

Edward's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw so tight it ached. He stepped closer, looming behind Solomon, every muscle in his body coiled.

Solomon's tone remained steady, though his eyes flashed with a dangerous intensity. "Your brother's gone too far this time, Demetri. He has her, and we both know what he's capable of. Help us stop this, and maybe we can work out something for you."

Demetri laughed, a low, guttural sound that grated on Edward's already frayed nerves. "You think I'd betray Caius? For what? A couple of extra hours in the yard? Please."

Solomon leaned forward, his voice sharp. "Caius doesn't care about you. You're just another pawn to him. If you think he wouldn't sacrifice you in a heartbeat, you're more deluded than I thought."

Demetri's smirk didn't falter. "Deluded? Maybe. Loyal? Absolutely. You think some prison walls will make me sell out my own blood? You're wasting your time."

Edward's restraint snapped. In a flash, he crossed the room, grabbing Demetri by the front of his jumpsuit and hauling him out of his chair. The table screeched against the floor as Demetri's back slammed against the wall. His chains clattered loudly, echoing in the small room.

"You think this is a game?" Edward growled. His face was inches from Demetri's, his eyes blazing with fury. "Where is she? Tell me, or I swear—"

"Edward." Solomon said firmly. "Stand down."

Edward's grip tightened for a moment, his chest heaving, before he let Demetri drop back into the chair with a thud. Demetri coughed, shaking his head, a twisted grin spreading across his face.

"Touchy," Demetri wheezed, his tone mocking. "Bella must mean a lot to you. How sweet."

Edward's fist shot out, slamming into the table, the sound reverberating through the room. "Say her name again," he snarled, "and I'll make you regret it."

Demetri chuckled darkly, the sound hollow and cruel. "You're already regretting it, aren't you? Letting them get to her? Caius doesn't leave loose ends. And your precious Bella? She's just another loose end."

Solomon stood, his chair scraping against the floor as he straightened. His expression was cold, his voice measured. "Enjoy your cell, Demetri. Because when we bring Caius down, you'll finally see just how expendable you are."

He nodded to the guard, who opened the door. "We're done here."

As Edward turned to leave, Demetri called after him, his voice mocking. "Better hope she's already dead, Detective. Saves you the pain of finding out what Caius has planned."

Edward froze for a moment, his entire body taut, before following Solomon out the door. The silence between them as they walked back to the SUV was heavy, the weight of Demetri's words lingering like a dark cloud.

...

Edward and Solomon entered back into the precinct, their grim expressions enough to make the room fall silent.

Jacob, who was bent over a pile of papers, spoke up first. "Anything?" he asked, his voice carrying a faint trace of hope.

Solomon shook his head, his face hard. "Demetri's useless. He's playing games."

"Of course he is," Alice muttered, slamming her hands on her desk. Her voice trembled with frustration as she gestured at her monitor. "I've been chasing dead ends all night. Nothing on the traffic cams, nothing from patrol or our CIs. It's like Caius vanished into thin air."

Edward dropped heavily into his chair, dragging his hands over his face.

On the main screen, the live feed of Bella remained up. She was slumped in the chair, fresh bruises darkening her skin. Her head hung low, but the eye not swollen shut still held a faint, fiery defiance that made Edward's stomach churn.

The doors to the precinct suddenly swung open, and Rosalie and Emmett strode in. Between them, dragged roughly by Emmett, was Embry Call.

Embry's face was twisted with anger. "What the hell is this?" he spat, jerking against Emmett's grip. "Dragging me in here this early—this is harassment!"

"Shut the fuck up," Emmett growled lowly. "Be glad you're not in cuffs."

Edward surged to his feet. His nostrils flared, and his fists clenched as he took a step forward, but Solomon's hand shot out, stopping him. The sergeant gave him a hard, warning look, one that said, Stand down.

Edward hesitated, his breathing heavy, before finally stepping back. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burned into Embry as Solomon moved past him.

"Follow me," Solomon ordered, his voice cold and clipped.

Embry hesitated, his defiance faltering under Solomon's glare. He swallowed hard, his shoulders stiff as he reluctantly followed the sergeant into a separate room. The door closed behind them with a quiet but resolute click, sealing them off from the prying eyes of the team.

Inside, Solomon wasted no time. He shoved Embry hard against the door, pinning him with one hand to his chest and Embry's eyes widened in shock and fear.

"What the fuck did you do?" Solomon growled, his voice low and dangerous, vibrating with controlled fury.

"I didn't—" Embry started, but Solomon slammed him back against the door, cutting him off.

"Don't. Lie. To. Me," Solomon hissed, his face inches from Embry's. "You think I don't know? You tipped them off. You helped set up that ambush. Now, you're going to tell me exactly how you did it, or so help me, you'll be lucky to see the inside of a cell."

Embry was visibly shaking now, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "I didn't have a choice!" he blurted. "They—they knew things about me. Threatened my family."

Solomon didn't flinch, his grip unwavering. "Start talking. Now."

Embry swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead. "They contacted me weeks ago, okay? Told me to keep them updated on your plans. I didn't think it would go this far! I—I just passed along patrol schedules, precinct movements. They said no one would get hurt, that they just wanted to avoid us."

"And the ambush?" Solomon pressed, his tone ice-cold.

Embry's voice dropped to a whisper. "They forced me to text the decoy drop location to one of their burners. I didn't know they'd plant explosives—swear to God. They said they just wanted to send a message, to scare you off."

Solomon's jaw clenched so hard it looked like it might snap. "And Bella? Was she part of the plan?"

Embry shook his head frantically. "No! At least… not that I knew of. I swear, I didn't think it would come to this."

Solomon leaned in closer, his voice a razor-edged whisper. "You didn't think. That's the problem. Because of you, they have one of ours, and if she dies, it's on your hands."

Embry's breath hitched, his panic palpable. "I'll help you, okay? I'll give you whatever you need. Just… please, don't let them kill me."

Solomon released him with a shove, stepping back and glaring at him like he was dirt under his boot. "You don't get to plead for your life when you just sold out someone else's. Sit down. We're not done."

Embry sank into the nearest chair, his head in his hands, as Solomon opened the door and signaled for Edward. His eyes met Edward's briefly, and without a word, Edward stepped in. Solomon didn't need to say it—Edward would ensure Embry didn't hold anything back.

Solomon stood in the corner, his arms crossed. "I've gotten what I can out of him," Solomon said quietly, his voice low and measured. "But I think he needs to hear it from you."

Edward dragged a chair across the floor, the screech of metal against tile setting Embry's teeth on edge. He sat across from him, leaning forward, his green eyes locked onto Embry's with an intensity that made the man squirm.

"You know why I'm here," Edward said, his voice deceptively calm. "So let's skip the part where you pretend you don't."

Embry swallowed hard, his gaze darting toward the door. "I already told Solomon everything I know."

"Maybe you did," Edward said, his tone sharp enough to cut. "But here's the thing—Bella's still out there. Every second we waste is another second Caius has to… well, you know exactly what he's capable of, don't you?"

Embry's eyes widened slightly, his throat bobbing as he swallowed again. Edward leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "What I want to know is why you didn't come forward sooner. Why you kept quiet while Caius set this whole thing in motion."

"I didn't—" Embry started, but Edward's fist slammed onto the table, the sound reverberating through the room.

"Don't lie to me!" Edward snapped, his voice echoing. "You think this is about saving your own ass? This is about her life, Call. A woman's life. Someone I—" His voice broke for a fraction of a second, but he swallowed hard, regaining control. "Someone who trusted people like you to have her back."

Embry's hands shook where they were cuffed. "I didn't know they'd take her. I thought… I thought it was just scare tactics. I didn't think—"

"You didn't think?" Edward hissed, his voice venomous. "You've been feeding Caius intel for weeks. You don't just stumble into something like that. You made a choice, Call. And now you're going to live with it."

Embry's face crumpled, and for the first time, real fear seeped into his voice. "I didn't have a choice! He knew about my family. My kids. He said he'd—"

Edward stood abruptly, the chair scraping back violently. "You had a choice," he growled, pacing the room now. "You could've come to us. We would've protected you. Instead, you played along, and now Bella's paying the price."

"I swear, I didn't know they'd take her!" Embry pleaded, his voice cracking. "I didn't know it would go this far."

Edward stopped pacing and turned to face him, his green eyes cold. "You're going to help us fix this."

Embry blinked, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "What… what do you mean?"

"Embry," Solomon said. "You've already admitted to working as a go-between. That's step one. What I need now are names, locations, anything Caius has given you to work with. You're not walking out of here until we have it."

Embry swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I don't know anything else," he muttered, shaking his head. "Caius doesn't trust me. He never told me what the burners were for, just that I needed to keep them charged and answer when they rang."

Edward stepped forward, his boots echoing against the concrete floor. He leaned down, placing his hands flat on the table. His voice was low, sharp. "You expect us to believe you didn't ask questions? That you're just a puppet who followed orders blindly?"

Embry's eyes darted to Solomon, then back to Edward. "I didn't ask because I didn't want to know," he snapped, his voice cracking. "You think I didn't realize what Caius would do if I screwed up? He doesn't share shit with anyone. I just did what I was told."

Edward's eyes narrowed, his temper barely held in check. He straightened, running a hand through his hair. "You're pathetic. Caius used you, and now you're sitting here, useless to us."

Embry bristled at the jab, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. "I swear, I don't know anything. The calls came from blocked numbers. I just passed messages and did pickups. That's it."

Solomon let out a frustrated sigh and looked to Edward. "We're not getting anything more today."

Edward stepped back, his expression dark. "No," he agreed, "We're not." He shot Embry a glare. "But you better hope you remember something real soon, or you'll wish you had."

Solomon turned to leave, signaling for Edward to follow. As the door closed behind them, the weight of disappointment hung heavy in the air. Edward turned to Solomon, his voice low but laced with anger. "He's lying. He has to know more."

Solomon nodded, his own frustration evident. "He's scared, but he's not our key. Caius doesn't let anyone get close enough to be dangerous—not even moles." He paused, meeting Edward's gaze. "We'll be back, but for now, we focus on Bella."

Edward nodded tightly, the helplessness clawing at his chest. They were running out of time, and every second felt like another inch slipping through their fingers.

…

Hour 3 of 24

The first streaks of dawn began breaking through the dense Cascade forest. Exhaustion hung heavily over everyone—eyes bloodshot, steps sluggish. Edward's hands trembled faintly as he scrubbed a palm over his face, his body screaming for rest he knew he wouldn't take.

Alice sat at her station, her chair creaking as she leaned forward, her eyes glued to the screen. The live feed hadn't changed since they left, showing Bella still bound to the chair.

Solomon glanced at the clock on the wall: 8:07 AM.

"Anything?" Solomon asked quietly, his voice gravelly from hours of tension.

"Nothing yet," Alice muttered, not looking away. Her fingers tapped against the keyboard, the repetitive sound the only thing filling the silence.

And then the feed shifted.

The camera angle moved slightly as figures entered the frame. Two men—both masked and wearing black—strode purposefully toward Bella. The team froze as the men reached her, one of them roughly pulling her upright and cutting the ropes binding her wrists. Bella's body sagged forward, too weak to resist as they shoved her to the ground. Her cry of pain was muffled, but the sound still reached them, sharp and gut-wrenching.

"What the fuck?" Edward breathed, stepping closer to the screen.

The first man kicked Bella hard in the stomach, her body folding in on itself as she gasped for air. The other delivered a brutal blow to her side. Bella's face twisted in agony as the assault continued, her body rolling with each hit. The team watched in stunned silence, the violence on the screen rendering them momentarily paralyzed.

"Stop it," Alice whispered, her voice trembling. Her hands flew over the keyboard, her focus frantic. "I need to find them. I need to find them now."

Rosalie turned her head, unable to watch. "Goddamn it," she muttered, her voice thick.

Edward bolted from the room, his breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. He stumbled into the morning air, his vision blurred with fury and anguish. His fist slammed into the brick wall outside, the pain barely registering as the skin split, leaving his knuckles raw and bloody.

He punched again.

And again.

Finally, he collapsed against the wall, sinking to the ground. His fingers curled into his hair as a guttural scream tore from his throat, raw and broken. The tears came fast and relentless, and he didn't bother to stop them.

A hand landed on his shoulder, and Edward jerked sharply, his red-rimmed eyes meeting Jacob's. Jacob's face was drawn, his jaw clenched tightly, but his own eyes were glassy.

"I can't…" Edward choked, his voice barely audible. "I can't watch that. I can't… do nothing."

Jacob nodded, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. Then, without a word, he pulled Edward into a firm hug. Edward gripped him tightly, his body shaking as he let out a sob. Jacob's voice was rough, barely above a whisper. "We're getting her back. Whatever it takes."

Edward pulled back slightly, his chest heaving. "What if we don't find her in time?"

"We will," Jacob said, his voice steady despite the tears brimming in his eyes. "We will."

The two men stood there for a moment longer, before Edward straightened, wiping at his face with his sleeve. "Let's go back in."

When they re-entered the room, the screen showed Bella lying on the ground, gasping for air. Her arms were twisted unnaturally, and she barely moved. Edward's stomach turned, the rage bubbling up again, but he forced himself to focus. He looked at Alice, who was frantically typing, tears streaming down her face.

"I can't…" Alice's voice cracked. "I'm trying, but I can't get through their firewall."

Solomon stepped forward, his expression grim but resolute. "Everyone, stop. Take a breath."

The team looked at him, disbelief written across their faces.

"We've been at this for over twelve hours," Solomon said firmly, "I need you sharp. You're no use to her if you're falling apart. Go rest. That's an order."

"No way," Edward snapped. "I'm not—"

"That's an order," Solomon repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're no good to her like this. Rest for an hour. Two, max. Then we regroup."

Alice hesitated, her hands trembling on the keyboard. "But what if—"

"They're giving us time," Solomon interrupted, his eyes flicking to the screen. "It's calculated. If something changes, Sheriff Molina will contact me and I'll wake you myself."

Reluctantly, the team dispersed. Edward lingered for a moment, staring at Bella's image on the screen, before finally dragging himself toward the break room.

He plopped down hard on the couch and heard the shuffle of feet following after him, but didn't look up.

Sheriff Molina leaned against the counter, his sharp eyes softening slightly as he observed Edward sitting on the couch, staring blankly at his hands.

"You eaten?" Molina asked, his tone casual yet concerned.

Edward glanced up, startled out of his thoughts. "I'm fine."

Molina shook his head and opened a small cooler. "That's not what I asked." He pulled out a sandwich wrapped in wax paper and walked over, holding it out. "Turkey and cheddar. Nothing fancy, but it'll do the job."

Edward hesitated for a moment before taking it. "Thanks," he muttered, his voice low. He unwrapped the sandwich and took a small bite, more out of obligation than hunger.

Molina settled into a chair across from him, studying the younger man. After a long pause, he spoke. "She's important to you, isn't she?"

Edward stilled, the sandwich halfway to his mouth. He set it down slowly, leaning back into the couch with a heavy sigh. "Yeah," he admitted. "She is."

Molina nodded, his expression understanding. "You don't need to explain. I've seen the way you look when her name comes up. It's not just about duty."

Edward's jaw tightened, and he exhaled sharply through his nose. "I feel like I failed her. We were right there, and I couldn't do anything."

"You didn't fail her," Molina said firmly. "You're here, doing everything in your power to bring her back. That's what matters."

Edward's throat worked as he swallowed the knot forming there. "Doesn't feel like enough."

"It rarely does in situations like this," Molina said, leaning forward. "But you've got a team that's moving heaven and earth for her. You're not alone in this."

Edward nodded faintly, not trusting his voice to respond.

Molina glanced at the clock. "You should listen to Solomon and get an hour or two of sleep."

"I'm not leaving this station," Edward said immediately, shaking his head.

Molina held up a hand. "I didn't say leave. I said rest. There's some bunkbeds upstairs. You'll be the first to know if anything happens—I promise. But you need to keep your head clear. Bella's counting on you."

Edward hesitated, his exhaustion warring with his stubbornness. Finally, he relented, standing with a resigned sigh. "Alright. But only for a bit."

Molina clapped him on the shoulder as he led him upstairs. "That's all I'm asking."

At the top of the stairs, Edward spotted Jacob sprawled on one of the bunks, his arms crossed over his chest, staring at the ceiling. Molina gave Edward a small nod before leaving them alone.

Jacob glanced over as Edward sat heavily on the lower bunk opposite him. "Where's the rest of the team?" Edward asked quietly.

"They're heading to a motel nearby," Jacob replied. "Solomon's orders. Figured it'd be easier for shifts if some of us stayed close."

Edward nodded, rubbing his temples. The room fell into silence, the weight of their situation pressing down on both of them.

"We're getting her back," Jacob murmured, his voice rough but resolute.

Edward closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Yeah," he said softly, the single word carrying a world of determination.

The quiet stretched between them, a fragile but shared understanding binding them together.

…

Hour 6 of 24

A little after 11:00 AM, the team had all regrouped, having showered and rested for just a short while—for just enough time to keep them functioning. The live feed had been playing in the background, and Edward couldn't help hut stare at times.

They only moved her to hurt her—they didn't feed her. Didn't let her use the bathroom.

Didn't treat her like a human.

He's always followed the system—always delivered justice the way he was supposed to. Everyone innocent until proven guilty, no one brutalized no matter how much they deserved it.

But these men more than deserved it, and when they found Bella he was going to personally make sure they knew it.

Edward stood at the large map table, his eyes bloodshot and hollow. A mug of untouched coffee sat beside him, steam long gone. His gaze darted over marked locations—possible routes, safe houses, and sites connected to Caius. Each red circle was another failure, another place they had come up as an empty lead. His voice, when he spoke, was low and strained. "We're wasting time."

Sheriff Molina, standing nearby, exchanged a glance with Solomon. "I understand your frustration," Molina said evenly. "But every search operation takes coordination. If we rush this, we could miss something important."

Edward shot him a look that was almost a snarl. "She doesn't have time for coordination. She's out there, being…" He trailed off, his throat tightening. The thought of what Bella was enduring twisted his stomach into knots.

"Masen," Solomon said, his voice steady but authoritative. "You need to channel that energy. Focus. Molina's team is covering ground we can't. Alice is working the tech. Rosalie and Emmett are running CI leads. You need to trust the process."

Edward's jaw clenched, his anger simmering just below the surface. He opened his mouth to argue but was interrupted by Alice.

"I've got something," Alice announced, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "The signal… It's pinging off repeater towers in a specific pattern. They're trying to mask their location by bouncing the feed, but…" She paused, zooming in on a digital map. "Here. This triangle. It's all within this radius."

Molina stepped forward, peering at the screen. "That narrows it down to about twenty square miles of dense forest. Abandoned cabins, old mill sites… It's remote, but we can work with it."

Solomon straightened, his focus sharpening. "Good. Mobilize the drones in that area. Coordinate with ground teams to start sweeping those sites."

Edward's voice was sharp. "I'm going."

Solomon turned to him, his expression unreadable. "Not yet. We need to pinpoint the exact location before we send anyone in. Charging in blind could get her killed."

Edward's fists balled at his sides. "You think I don't know that? But sitting here isn't—"

"Masen!" Solomon barked, his voice cutting through the rising tension. "You will wait, or I will send your ass back to Seattle. That's an order."

Edward's chest heaved, his breaths coming fast and shallow, but he held his tongue. He turned back to the map, his mind racing. He wouldn't sit idly by—not when Bella's life hung in the balance.

"Keep at it, Alice," Solomon said, his tone quieter now. "The second we have a location, we move."

Alice nodded, her fingers moving in a blur as she fine-tuned the search parameters. Molina began coordinating with his deputies, dispatching teams to the narrowed area.

Edward stared at the map, his gaze fixed on the flashing triangle that represented their best lead. He swore to himself, silently and fiercely:We're coming, Bella. Just hold on.

…

Hour 15 of 24

The team continued to work tirelessly, their faces lined with exhaustion, but every lead they followed spiraled into nothing. Every roadblock, every dead end, chipped away at the hope they clung to.

Eventually, as everyone went to try and get some more sleep, Edward and Solomon were the only two of the Intelligence team in the squad room. Edward sat at his desk, staring at the grainy live feed on his monitor. Bella hadn't moved in hours. She looked impossibly small in that chair, her breathing shallow, her body slumped as if the fight had drained out of her.

"Edward," Solomon's voice was quiet but firm, breaking through the haze of his thoughts. Edward turned, his expression blank.

"We're running on fumes here," Solomon said. "Go upstairs. Get some rest."

"I'm fine," Edward said flatly.

"No, you're not." Solomon's jaw tightened, but there was no anger in his voice, just an edge of understanding. "If you keep going like this, you'll burn out before we find her. And we will find her."

Edward didn't respond, his gaze drifting back to the screen. The sight of Bella made his chest tighten painfully. But the truth was, he was barely holding on.

Finally, he nodded, his movements stiff. "Five hours," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

…

Hour 20 of 24

Edward woke with a start, his heart racing. The room was dim, the bunk above him casting shadows across the small space. For a moment, he didn't remember where he was. Then it hit him like a sledgehammer. Bella.

He swung his legs off the bunk, rubbing at his face as exhaustion clung to him like a second skin. The ache in his chest was unbearable, a gnawing guilt that he hadn't done enough, hadn't found her yet.

Downstairs, the bullpen buzzed with quiet activity. Molina's department worked alongside Solomon's team, their collaboration seamless despite the mounting tension. Edward made his way back to his desk, where Alice was already hunched over her laptop, her fingers flying across the keys.

"Sleep well?" she asked without looking up, her voice subdued.

"No," Edward replied curtly, grabbing a cup of cold coffee from the desk and taking a sip. It tasted awful, but he didn't care.

Alice gave him a sidelong glance, her lips pressing into a thin line. "We're going to get her back," she said, her tone resolute.

Before Edward could respond, a commotion erupted from the live feed. Every head in the room snapped toward Alice's monitor.

Bella's captors had moved her. She was sitting upright now, her arms still bound, her face pale and streaked with blood. A masked man entered the frame, his movements deliberate and menacing. He grabbed a fistful of Bella's hair, yanking her head back.

"No," Edward whispered, his hands clenching into fists as he stepped closer to the screen.

The man's other hand held a knife. He pressed the blade against Bella's throat, his distorted voice a low warble as he spoke, "You're running out of time."

Bella whimpered, her teeth gritted in pain as the knife sliced shallowly into her skin. Her cry was raw and guttural, echoing in Edward's mind like a thunderclap. Blood trickled down her neck, and she gasped, trembling violently.

Alice clapped a hand over her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut. The room was deathly silent except for Bella's ragged breathing on the feed.

Edward's vision blurred with rage. "I'm going to kill him," he hissed, his voice shaking. His entire body felt like it was vibrating, his anger a tidal wave that threatened to drown him.

The masked man leaned closer to the camera, his voice cold and deliberate. "This is your final warning. Deliver Valente, or she dies." He straightened, tossing Bella's head forward before leaving the frame.

Bella gasped, her body shuddering with pain, her blood staining the already filthy shirt she wore.

Alice exhaled sharply and opened her eyes. She pushed back from the screen, her fingers flying over her keyboard with renewed urgency.

"I can't watch this anymore," Jacob muttered, pacing like a caged animal. Rosalie was pale, her hand gripping the edge of the desk so tightly her knuckles turned white.

The bullpen door opened, and Solomon strode in, his eyes immediately zeroing in on the feed. He froze, his expression darkening as he took in Bella's condition. "Son of a—" he bit out angrily.

Alice gasped suddenly, and all heads turned towards her. She gulped loudly, then stated pounding her keys again. Edward frowned, taking a cautious step forward. "Alice?"

"Hold—hold on. I'm check—yes. Yes. Those fuckers messed up. They messed up!" Her voice was a mix of shock and relief as she explained, "They masked their signal well, bouncing it through multiple relays, but they slipped up just now with the live feed. The software they used to scramble the IP didn't account for all the signal jumps."

She pointed to the screen, showing a series of intersecting lines on a map. "I tracked residual metadata from the stream—small bursts of information that leaked through when they initiated the feed. It's like breadcrumbs. They didn't completely mask their origin."

Alice zoomed in on the map, her cursor hovering over a point in the Cascade Mountains. "The breadcrumbs led here. An abandoned sawmill factory, about one-hundred miles outside of Darrington. Remote as hell, no utilities for years, but the signal footprint matches."

She turned, meeting Solomon's intense gaze. "I triple-checked. It's them."

Solomon nodded sharply, his jaw set. "Gear up," he commanded, his voice like steel. "We're going now."

Edward didn't wait for further instructions. He was already moving, his mind focused on one thing: getting Bella back. And when he did, he'd make sure every one of them paid.