Chapter 78 Would They Kill Toby?
Merni
“Don’t panic. I think Brandon took Toby somewhere else by boat,” Ryan said, rubbing his forehead thoughtfully, “Planes, trains, and cars are easy to track, but a boat from the coast? That’s much harder to trace.”
“His plan was to move Toby without leaving trail–making him impossible to find.”
“Why would he do that? Was he some kind of human trafficker kidnapping kids?” My anxiety spiked, and I wanted to dash to Starlight Bay immediately.
“That would’ve been my guess–if the shooting hadn’t happened,” Ryan continued, his tone grimly,” Remember, Brandon also tried to kill you at your wedding. These two incidents are too close together to be a coincidence. Whoever hired him must be the same person.”
Ryan continued, “So he didn’t kidnap Toby to sell him. The person behind Brandon was after you all along.” Ryan’s voice was calm but chilling, “My guess? Whoever this is hates you deeply, Kidnapping Toby wa’s meant to make you suffer–and that wasn’t enough. They wanted you dead too.”
His words sent a cold shiver down my spine.
Who could hate me so much that taking my child wasn’t enough–they wanted me dead too!
“Who could it be? Do you think it’s Claire?” My voice trembled as my heart turned to ice.
Owning. “There’s no hard proof, but she’s definitely
“I’ve been looking into Claire,” Ryan said, suspicious. I’ve also got people pull surveillance
footage from Starlight Bay. Once we’ve gone through
everything from the day Toby disappeared, we should have a clearer picture.”
“The problem is, the resort area at Starlight Bay is still under construction, so there’s not much camera coverage. But at least we’ve got leads now–that’s progress, right?”
“This is incredible progress!” I said, my gratitude clear. “Without you, I’d still be stumbling around in the dark.”
Toby’s disappearance was so strange. Vincent and the police were investigating too, but Ryan found leads so much faster.
“No need to be so formal,” Ryan said with a small smile. “We’re friends, and you’re about to be my employee. It’s my job to help my people out, isn’t it?”
“There probably aren’t many bosses like you out there,” I teased. “Working at your law firm must be like heaven!”
“Sounds like you’re excited to start,” Ryan said as the server arrived with our food.
After the plates were set, Ryan stood up and poured me some orange juice.
“Your boss personally serving you–how’s that for service?” he asked, his eyes sparkled with humor.
“I’m honored!” I replied, taking the glass with a grin. The juice was sweet and refreshing.
Bit by bit, my mood lightened.
We hadn’t found Toby yet, but with these new leads, I felt like we were finally closing in on the truth.
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< Chapter 78 Would They Kill Toby?
As I glanced at Ryan, his handsome face so close to mine, it almost felt like a dream.
Since Toby’s disappearance, Ryan had been my anchor, giving me strength when I needed it most.
For the first time in forever, the dinner was peaceful and comforting.
Manu
I found myself imagining life after we found Toby–after I divorced Vincent. A fresh start. A brand–new beginning.
Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long.
While we were eating dessert, a terrifying thought gripped me.
I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth, then looked at Ryan, panic rising, “You said they took Toby to the coast–what if they just-”
The word “killed” lodged in my throat. I couldn’t utter it.
