by Tee Smith
“Maybe you should try to get some sleep,” Drew suggested.
Davina shook her head. “How can I sleep? I have no idea where my son is. How can he sleep? He hasn’t got his teddy.” The tears welled up again at the thought. He always slept with his special teddy; her mum had brought it for him while he was in the hospital. It was brown and fluffy with a little purple jacket.
“There’s not much we can do, baby,” he went on, his hand gently stroking her back.
His touch that had once comforted her now burned her skin, and she pulled away. Anger washed over her as she turned to face him. He had lied to her. He might not have taken Logan, but he had not been honest with her. He had not looked after them as he should. How could he sit here, trying to soothe her?
“This is your fault,” she spat. “You let him out of your sight. You should never have left him alone to play with those kids. It’s all your fault.”
“Davina,” her mum tried.
“No, Mum. Who does that?” she asked, before turning back to a shocked Drew. “If you hadn’t left him to play with those kids this never would have happened. Logan would be here all tucked up in his little bed with his teddy.”
“Davina, I… I’m so sorry.” Drew’s voice was soft and laden with tears, but she had no sympathy for him.
“How can you tell me sorry? How?” she demanded.
“Nobody is perfect, Davina,” her mum tried again. “Drew hasn’t done anything wrong. The person who took Logan has done the wrong thing.”
Drew reached for her hand, and she pulled it away.
“I want you to leave,” she snapped.
“I will, once I know you’re okay,” Drew said, concern written across his face.
“No, now! I want you gone. I don’t want to see your face. I can’t believe I trusted you. Look what you’ve done.”
She watched as his eyes turned to her mother’s, for confirmation. Why was he still even there? What did he want from her anyway? Had this all been part of his plan? To get rid of her kid?
“I want to look after you, Davina,” he said after several long seconds of silence.
“I don’t fucking need you, Drew. Don’t you understand?”
“Maybe you should go, Drew,” her mother said backing her up. “I will call you as soon as we hear anything.”
Drew wrung his hands together, clearly distressed. Davina didn’t care. It wasn’t his child that had just been abducted.
His hand fell to her shoulder, and she shrugged it away. “I really am sorry this has happened, Davina. It makes me feel sick.”
“Go!” she yelled. Not sure why he was even still there.
With that, he made his way to the door. On hearing the front door open, another male voice filtered into her hearing range, but she couldn’t make out who it was, or what they were saying. After the door closed, she looked up to see Reese standing in her living room.
A million thoughts barrelled her at the same time and threatened to overwhelm her. Was he here to tell her they had found Logan? Was it bad news?
“How are you doing, Davina?” he asked. The worry in his eyes was not offering her any comfort. “I just wanted to drop by and see how you are and give you an update.”
“Have you found him?”
“We have located Trent Davison’s vehicle. There was no evidence of him having Logan, but are yet to speak with him. His house is being kept under surveillance until further notice. His girlfriend’s mother has been brought in for questioning.
I’m sorry, I don’t have anything further for you at this stage. All I can say is, Trent is our number one suspect. We are employing every resource we can to find him and bring your boy home to you. I’m so sorry, Davina.”
The words swirled around in her head. She couldn’t even remember what Trent’s girlfriend looked like. Why would she agree to steal Logan? What could she gain from any of this? What would Trent gain? If he were so desperate to see his child, why couldn’t he apply for custody? She hadn’t even admitted that Logan was his. None of it made sense.
“Mercy? Does Mercy know?” she suddenly thought. She hadn’t told anyone, other than her mum.
“I have informed Mercy. She isn’t expecting you at work tomorrow. You know what Blue’s like? She’s is in the office now running traces. Everyone is doing everything they can to get Logan back to you, Davina.”
“Thank you, Reese,” she managed out again as she fought back tears.
Reese pulled her into his arms and hugged her close. He was a good man. She wasn’t sure what he was doing with August.
Davina must have fallen asleep somewhere around three. The sun peeping through the window alerted her to the fact it was morning. Blinking she opened her eyes, then out of nowhere her reality hit her.
Logan was still gone.
She had sent Drew packing. It was his fault Logan was missing. If he had taken better care of her son, he would be sleeping in the next room right now. A pain spiralled down her chest into her stomach at the mere thought of never holding her child again. His happy little face burned into her memory. Tears sprang to her eyes again.
Slowly, she made her way into the living room where her mum sat on the couch, her eyes glued to the television.
“What is it, Mum?” she asked, training her sore eyes on the TV screen.
“Shh,” her mum hushed her loudly and gestured for her to come sit beside her.
“Channel five will continue to cover this story, bringing you the latest from Burgandy, as the mystery unfolds,” the suited news reporter said into the camera.
“Burgandy? Huh? That’s miles away,” she said confused by the images flashing across the screen.
“The news has been following Logan’s story, and the police are looking there.”
“In Burgandy?” Her sleepy brain could not make the connection. “What? Why hasn’t anyone told me what’s going on?”
“You were asleep. Reese called, and I told him I’d have you call when you woke,” her mum explained calmly.
“You what?” Davina asked, her brain suddenly snapping into action mode. “Why didn’t you wake me? Don’t you think I would want to know about my son?”
“There is nothing new to know, Davina, other than the possible leads to Burgandy. They think this Trent character and his girlfriend might be there. That’s all Reese said.”
Without waiting for her mum to finish talking she was already dialling Reese’s number.
“Pick up, damn it,” she huffed out, frustrated at the time it was taking for him to answer.
“He’s probably sleeping, Davina,” her mum tried.
“Davina,” Reese’s tired voice finally came down the line.
“What’s going on? Have you found him?”
“I’m at the station now. I am about to head out to Burgandy. We believe Logan is there with Trent and his girlfriend, Larissa. They’ve located her car, with a child’s car seat, parked behind a motel there. The owner is adamant no one fitting his description has checked in. But we’re investigating further.”
“Where’s my boy? Is he there with them?” she asked frantically. That was all she really wanted to know.
“We can’t be sure, but all evidence points to that being the case. That is where we are focussing our efforts. I’m going to head out there, right now. The Serg insisted I go home for some sleep. Honestly, I’ve taken four hours, Davina, only because I had to. I am determined to bring your boy back to you.”
“Take me with you,” she pleaded.
“Pardon?”
“Take me to Burgandy with you. Please, Reese.”
A silence fell on the other end of the line, and she thought the call had been dropped.
“I can’t, Davina. I’m sorry. It’s against protocol,” he answered eventually, his voice low.
“He’s my kid, Reese. If you find him, if he’s there, he’s going to need me. You can’t stop me.”
“I can’t. That is correct. But I don’t think it’s wise for you to
go alone. Is Drew there with you?”
“No! I sent him on his way. I don’t want him anywhere near me. I hate him,” she ground out. All the anger she had felt toward him last night bubbled back to the surface.
“This is not his fault, Davina. He was distraught when I spoke to him last night. He loves Logan.”
“He was meant to be looking after him, and he wasn’t. Plus, he lied to us. He has no place in our family anymore. He had a chance to come clean and didn’t.”
“Have you talked to him about what happened?” Reese asked.
“I don’t even care anymore. I’m done with Drew.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. All that stuff is between the two of you. Just make sure you’re not travelling alone, yeah? Take your Mum. Or call August.”
As if, she scoffed to herself. “I will,” she agreed, even though she had no intention of taking any of those people. She didn’t need anyone to hold her hand.
“I’ll keep in touch. I’ll let you know everything there is to know.”
“Thank you, Reese,” she sighed as the phone disconnected.
“I’m going to Burgandy, Mum.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” her mum asked, her gaze darting back to the television.
“Yes. Reese said I could. I have to be there. If Logan is there, he’s going to be terrified.” She struggled to hold the tears back as she spoke. “The poor little guy has been through so much already. This is so unfair for him. Particularly when he was just starting to make progress. He was having so much fun with Drew…” Drew’s name caught in her throat as she spoke. How had she let him in? He had let her down. That, she could handle, but he’d also let her son down. She couldn’t forgive him for that.
Chapter Thirteen
The two-hour drive passed in a blur as she scanned the radio stations for news. Anything. Reese had texted her the address of the motel, but that was all she’d heard. Drew had text her as well. She was ignoring those. There were only so many sorrys she could handle. It wasn’t going to fix anything. It certainly wasn’t going to bring her son back.
Checking her map, she realised she was had one more turn to reach the motel, and a sensation of fear and dread hit her. What was she going to find when she got there? What if they had done something to Logan? What if he was hurt? Or worse…dead. She shuddered, she couldn’t even think about that. Why would Trent take him? What could he possibly want with him? None of it made sense.
Glancing at the clock in the console, she thought to pull over and calm herself down before she approached the scene, but she didn’t want to waste even one more second. Up ahead she saw a gathering of vehicles, including several news crews and ahead of them were police cars and an ambulance. The sick feeling she felt in her stomach, escalated to the point that she thought she might throw up. Why would they need an ambulance?
Bringing her car to a stop, as close as she could get, she fled the vehicle without even thinking to remove her keys from the ignition.
“You can’t go through here, Miss,” a uniformed officer informed her as she made her way past the gathered press.
“What’s happened? I need to get through. It’s my son in there.” All the words tumbled from her mouth without her taking a breath.
“Wait a minute,” the officer held up his hand. “What’s your name?”
“Davina,” she stated. “Davina Davenport.”
She watched on nervously as the officer spoke into the radio he wore at his shoulder. She heard her name mentioned and shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another as she tried to see beyond him. When the officer’s face paled, she decided she could wait no longer. She rushed past him, ignoring his pleas to stop. Her son needed her, and no one was going to stop her from getting to him.
A flurry of activity appeared to be developing before her eyes as she approached the scene. No one was rushing toward her, rather they were all running towards the motel complex. There was a lot of noise, lots of yelling and a cluster of voices as the press converged on the scene. Then the sight she had come see, a police officer emerging from the room with her son in his arms.
Relief washed over her as she took in his little face. He was alive. Anything else she could cope with. Her feet felt leaden as she ran to him as if time had slowed down. The voices surrounding her blended into white noise.
Reaching her boy after what seemed like forever, she threw her arms out, and he fell into them. Tears fell from her eyes as she collapsed into a pile on the ground, taking Logan with her until she sat with him in her lap. Clasping his cheeks between her hands she turned his face to hers, scanning every inch for any sign of harm.
Logan brought his fingers to her face and swiped at her wet cheek. His soft, gentle gesture invoked more tears as she pulled him into her chest and hugged him tightly. His arms wrapped around her neck. He was alive. He didn’t appear to be hurt. She had her baby back.
“Davina,” a voice called to her, and she felt a hand drop down onto her shoulder.
Looking up, she found the pale blue eyes of an older gentleman dressed in green overalls. Confusion swamped her until her gaze fell to his name tag, Gary Peterson- Paramedic.
“I know you don’t want to be apart from your son, but I would like to check Logan out. We would like to make sure he’s okay.”
“Can I stay with him?” she asked. It was a rhetoric question, she had no intention of letting Logan out of her sight. Perhaps, ever again.
“Of course. Here, let me help you,” he said placing a hand on her back, as she rose to her feet with Logan clinging to her neck.
A shaking feeling of unrealism swamped her. She felt like everything happening around her was part of something else. It was different to when Logan had been shot. At that time, her concern had been saving her son's life. This time, having gone through the emotions of feeling she might never see him again, all she could do was hold him close. Nothing else mattered.
Someone calling her name alerted her, and she looked up to see Trent. Handcuffs bound his wrists tightly together behind his back, as a policeman led him away from the hotel room.
Their eyes locked, his eyes, exact replicas of Logan’s eyes. She tried to turn away, but he called to her again.
“Come on,” Gary said, placing an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t give him any time.”
“I want to know why he did it,” she stated, flatly.
“I think we all do,” the older man sighed. “Right now, we need to focus on this little guy. We need to make sure he’s okay.”
Davina knew he was right. Whatever the reasons, Logan was back in her arms, and that was all that mattered. In time, she would learn Trent’s reasons for taking him.
Chapter Fourteen
“Take a seat, please,” Reese said his voice stern.
Davina did as she was told, her mother pulled up a chair beside her and Logan sat on her lap.
“I know you both want some answers to the reasons Logan was abducted,” the man who had introduced himself as Sergeant Essex said, dropping a file down on the desk in front of him. “Both parties in question have been charged with abduction, deprivation of liberty, evading police, and resisting arrest. I can’t elaborate too much, but basically, they are saying that Trent is Logan’s father, is that correct?”
“He’s never had anything to do with him. He has no right to my son.”
“Miss Davenport, please answer the question. I’m not asking for your opinion; I’m trying to establish the facts. Is Mr. Davison Logan’s biological father?”
Davina nodded her head slowly.
“Is Mr. Davison listed on Logan’s birth certificate?”
“No,” she answered in the negative.
“Do you have any custody orders in place, giving either of you custody?”
“No,” she shook her head. “You know all this, it’s in your file,” she pointed to the paperwork he had in front of him. “I told the police all of this before.” Her eyes met Reese’s, and he offere
d her a sympathetic look.
“I understand. We need this information to establish our case against the accused persons. Can you tell me the nature of your relationship with Trent Davison?”
Heat flushed her face, and she turned to her mother before returning her gaze back to the sergeant. “Why does it feel like I am under investigation here? I’ve done nothing wrong. Logan is my son. Trent stole him. He should go to jail for the rest of his life.”
“Davina,” Reese spoke up. “We just need to present your case. Trent feels he has a right to see his son and you have taken that right away from him.”
“He never even asked. He never cared. When I had to drop out of uni because I was pregnant, where was he then? What about when I was in labour for ten hours, huh? Was he there caring? What about all the late nights and shitty nappies? Or how about when Logan was shot? Trent is not Logan’s father. Drew has been more of a father to him.” As her words fell from her mouth, she realised they were true. Drew had meant more to Logan than Trent ever could, and she had locked him out of her son’s life. Her hand fell protectively to her son’s head, and she stroked his hair. Logan looked up at her lovingly, the poor little man had so much faith in her, expected her to protect him, and she had let him down. Not Trent. Not Drew. She had.
“I agree with you, Trent should have gone through the appropriate channels, but he didn’t. Now, he and his girlfriend will be prosecuted,” Sergeant Essex shook his head. “I have to say this will impact any chance of him ever gaining any kind of custody orders for Logan. As well as giving him a criminal record.”
“I don’t care about his record,” Davina scoffed, angrily. As if she was going to care about him. “And what’s her story? Why would she want to steal my son?”
“Some women will do anything to keep their men happy,” Sergeant Essex shrugged. “Is there ever any real way to explain some people’s extraordinary behaviour? I hope for your peace of mind that some of these answers will come about during the court hearing. It is our job to bring these people to justice. Not explain their motives or intentions.”
