Girl in Trouble (An Alex Mercer Thriller Book 1)

by Stacy Claflin

  "The best." Kellen stepped back. "Need any help with anything else? I can take out the garbage."

  Kenji glanced at Zoey. "This one's definitely a keeper."

  Zoey gave him a tired smile. "He sure is."

  Kellen grabbed a trash bag and headed out the back door.

  Kenji opened the cabinet. "We're out of plastic bags. Must've used them all for the party. I'll head out to the store." He grabbed his coat.

  Kellen came in. "Where are you going?"

  "We're out of trash bags. I'm running to the store."

  "Nonsense." Kellen shook his head. "You guys have been working tirelessly on this party. I'll just run down to the gas station. It'll only take a minute." He ran out the door before anyone could respond.

  "Have you two set a date yet?" Kenji asked Zoey.

  "No, we still need to reserve the venue. Once that's set, we can plan everything else."

  Zoey's mom came in and gave Kenji a kiss. "Thanks for all your help."

  "My pleasure. Koishiteru."

  "I love you, too." Mom beamed and then turned to Zoey. "You don't have to stay and clean everything up. We'll get the rest tomorrow."

  Zoey shrugged. "I was hoping to stay until Ari got back. I want to say goodnight to her."

  "Don't trust Alex, do you?" Kenji asked.

  Zoey didn't reply.

  "He's always been a good kid."

  "Alex isn't a kid," Zoey snapped. "He's twenty-five and lives like a college frat boy. It's ridiculous. His life is going nowhere and yet Ariana thinks he's some kind of superhero."

  Mom and Kenji exchanged a knowing look.

  Zoey shook her head. "I don't want to hear it."

  "There was a time you looked at him like that, too." Kenji arched a brow.

  "And there's a reason I don't anymore."

  Zoey excused herself and went to the bathroom to get a moment alone.

  When she returned to the kitchen, Kellen had already returned and replaced the garbage bag.

  "Thanks so much for all your help, you two," Mom said. "It's late. You guys should get going."

  Zoey checked her phone. "Has anyone heard from Alex or Ari?"

  "They're fine," Kenji said.

  "Since we're all here without Ari, there's something I want to talk about." Zoey sat at the table and pushed aside some Halloween plates.

  "Now?" Mom yawned.

  Zoey's heart picked up speed. This wasn't a conversation she was looking forward to, but it was best to get it out of the way. "Yes."

  Everyone took a seat. Kellen took Zoey's hand. "What's going on, Zo?"

  She took a deep breath and then made eye contact with everyone around the table. "Now that I have a solid career and am getting married…" Her voice trailed as she considered her words. She'd already practiced the speech in front of her mirror several dozen times, but that hadn't been the same. Suddenly, she sat upright. "I want split custody of Ariana."

  "What?" Her mom gasped.

  "Are you serious?" Kenji asked.

  Kellen stared at her, his shock equal to her parents'.

  "She is my daughter, and I want her to be an active part in my family."

  Mom and Kenji exchanged a worried expression.

  "What exactly do you have in mind?" Kenji asked.

  "I think fifty-fifty is fair."

  "Fair?" Mom exclaimed. "For whom?"

  "Everyone." Zoey cleared her throat. "Ari's used to living here, but at the same time, I'm her mom and she needs me. So, fifty-fifty is a good split."

  "It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this," Kenji said.

  "Yeah, it does," Kellen muttered.

  Mom slammed her hand on the table. "This isn't what we agreed to."

  "When I was sixteen? Things have changed, Mom."

  "You said you wanted us to raise her. That we would give her the best chance at a good life. To give your dad a chance to raise a child."

  Resentment bubbled over the surface. "It's not my fault he chose not to raise me." She glared at Kenji.

  "We adopted her," Mom said. "You signed over your rights."

  "I gave birth to her. No court would deny me custody—especially with the home I could provide her."

  Tears filled her mom's eyes. "Court? You want to sue us?"

  "No. It's not like that. I was just making a point. I'd rather us come to a verbal agreement and carry on."

  Kenji leaned over the table. "Going from living here full-time to half-time will be a big adjustment for Ariana. Think about her."

  "We can start small," Zoey agreed. "Start with every other weekend and add time until it's every other week by the wedding. That should give us at least a year."

  Tears ran down her mom's face. "I can't believe you're doing this." She shook her head. "I never thought I'd see the day. Don't you and Kellen want to start your own family?"

  Zoey squeezed her fiancé's hand. "Of course, but we can't deny that Ariana's part of that. Right?"

  Kellen nodded, but didn't say anything.

  Zoey's phone rang. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen. "Oh, thank God. It's Alex. Hopefully they're on their way home. I can't wait to tell Ariana the good news."

  Desperate

  Zoey pressed the paper bag to her mouth, but it didn't help her breathing. She couldn't get it under control. Not that it mattered. The only thing that mattered was that someone had stolen Ariana—that Alex had let it happen.

  She would kill him. Kill him. How dare he be so irresponsible?

  Kellen rubbed Zoey's shoulders. "Try to relax. Ariana needs you calm."

  Zoey pulled the bag away. "Nobody knows where she is! It doesn't matter to her how upset I am. Actually, I think she'd be glad to know I'm freaking out. How do you think she'd feel if I acted like I didn't care that some man threw her into a van?"

  He pulled his hands away. "If you say so."

  "I do." She glanced up at Kenji. "Can't you drive any faster?"

  "Not unless you want me to get pulled over."

  "All the cops are at that ball place, looking for Ari."

  "I'm sure not all of them."

  "They should be! Look, if someone pulls you over, we can chew him out about not doing his job. What could be more important than looking for a lost child?"

  "We're almost there," Mom said.

  "I don't know how you can all be so chill."

  "Chill?" Valerie exclaimed. "I've never been more upset in my life. I'm just trying to hold myself together. Now isn't the time to fall apart."

  "Seems like a good time to me," Zoey snapped. "I can't think of a better time, actually."

  "The police are going to question us."

  "Us?" Zoey shook her head. "We weren't even there. I just want to get out there and look for Ari."

  "Don't you remember when Macy was kidnapped? They questioned everyone she knew, even you."

  "Especially me." Zoey didn't want to think about her best friend's abduction. Not now. The whole thing was too painful, and it looked like she might have to relive it through Ari, thanks to Alex—the selfish, irresponsible loser.

  "We knew her best. She was like a second daughter to me because of how much time you two spent together."

  Zoey didn't respond.

  Finally, Kenji pulled into the parking lot. Lights flashed all around and people milled everywhere. Yellow police tape blocked off part of the warehouse.

  Terror shot through Zoey. What was the tape for? Had they found something to indicate foul play? She took the seat belt off and ran outside without a word. She saw Alex's parents huddled together and headed for them.

  As she neared the building, an officer put his arm out and stopped her. "You need to stay back."

  "I'm her mother! The missing girl! Let me get by."

  The officer's brows came together. "What's your name?"

  "Zoey Carter."

  He slid his finger around the screen of a tablet. "Can you tell me the girl's full name?"

  "Ariana Zoey Nakano."
/>   "Why the different last name?"

  "That's not relevant! Let me by."

  Alex ran over. "She's the mom."

  Zoey almost thanked him, but then remembered the whole thing was his fault.

  Kellen, her mom, and Kenji caught up.

  "Those are my parents and fiancé," Zoey told the cop. The last thing she felt like doing right then was explaining that Ariana had two sets of parents.

  He looked at them. "You'll need to stay back. Immediate family only."

  "We're Ariana's legal parents. We adopted her the day she was born."

  The cop turned to Zoey. "Is this true?"

  She threw her head back. "Does any of this really matter? We're all her parents, okay? Now help us get her back!"

  The officer turned back to Alex like he was the authority on the matter. "Is all this true?"

  "Yes." He turned to Zoey. "Come over here."

  She followed him. "What the hell happened?"

  "It's like I said on the phone, a guy grabbed her and ran off with her in an SUV. I tried to catch up, but it was too late. The car was already running. He had the whole thing planned."

  "I hate you, you know that? I've never loathed anyone so much in my entire life."

  Alex stopped and spun around, causing Zoey to nearly crash into him. He glared at her. "All I care about is getting Ariana back. Blame me if you want, but that isn't going to help Ari."

  "You sure didn't."

  His face tensed. "I did my best."

  She snorted. "Right."

  "Do you want my help or not? That cop didn't look like he was going to let you in. The main investigators are over here."

  "Just take me to them. What's that yellow tape for? Did they find her blood or did they find something from the kidnapper?"

  "The entire place is a crime scene, Zoey. That's it."

  "Do they know anything? Where he took her? Who he is?"

  "Only what the SUV looks like and what direction it went."

  Alex stopped walking again. "You know what? Go introduce yourself to the investigators." He pointed to a group of cops. "Those are the ones."

  Zoey stood taller. "Fine." She adjusted her shoulder strap and marched over to the group. "I'm Zoey Carter, Ariana's mom."

  One of the officers took her aside and asked a rapid-fire round of questions. All stuff that Alex probably hadn't been able to tell them—where she went to school, who her friends, babysitters, and teachers were, who might have reason to take her.

  Alex may have been the cool dad who took her to the ball pit, there was no way he knew any of that since he wasn't really involved. He showed up just enough to be elusive and mysterious—a real superhero to Ariana, who wasn't old enough to know better yet.

  Then the questions turned personal. "What's your relationship like with your daughter?"

  "What do you mean? We love each other."

  "Would you say you're close?"

  "Of course."

  "Does she confide in you?"

  "Yes. I know all about the boy in her class that she thinks is cute."

  The officer glanced up from taking notes. "Would he have motive?"

  "He's ten, and from the sounds of it, thinks girls have cooties."

  "What's his name?"

  Zoey paused. Had Ari even told her? She couldn't remember. "I don't know. It's hard to think when my daughter is missing."

  "It's okay. I understand. If you do remember, let us know."

  He understood? Right. Doubtful his kid had been abducted. "Yes, of course. Is anyone out there looking for her?"

  "Patrols are on it now. There's also an APB out on the vehicle."

  Zoey sighed in relief. At least someone was doing something.

  "Speaking of that," the officer said. "Did you bring any article of hers?"

  "An article? What do you mean?"

  "K-9 units are en route, and we need to give them something with her scent."

  Zoey's stomach lurched. Did they think she was dead?

  "Do you have anything of hers on you?"

  Her mind raced. "No, I don't think so."

  "In your car?"

  "Maybe. I'm not sure." Everything seemed to spin around.

  "We'll need to send a K-9 over to your home, then. Her bedroom is probably the best place for him to go, anyway. The scent will be strongest there."

  Zoey took a couple steps back and leaned against the nearest car. It was all too much. The only thing she wanted was to wrap her arms around Ariana and never let go.

  Would she ever be able to do that again?

  "Ma'am?"

  She glanced up at the cop. "Yeah, her room. That's a good idea."

  "What's your address?"

  Zoey brought her hands to her face. Ariana didn't have a room at her condo yet. She needed to convert her exercise room into a girl's bedroom, but hadn't started yet. The plan had been to wait until after she spoke with her parents about splitting custody.

  "Ma'am?"

  "You'd better speak with my parents." It felt like admitting defeat. She'd failed as a mom by not raising her daughter.

  Why had she ever agreed to the adoption in the first place? Maybe none of this would have even happened if she hadn't. She'd have had a hard time raising Ariana in high school and college, but at least she'd have her with her now.

  She broke down into a fit of sobs.

  Sleepless

  Alex threw himself into his childhood bed, exhausted, but certain he wouldn't be able to fall asleep. His parents had practically dragged him home—they'd literally followed him in their car, making sure he made it safely.

  He couldn't think straight. The cops had assured him they were doing everything they could, but Alex wasn't convinced that it was enough. The same police department had been next to useless when his sister had been taken. At least that was how he remembered it. He'd only been thirteen at the time, and those twelve years may as well have been a hundred because it felt like a lifetime ago.

  Alex had done everything he could to not think about his sister during that time. He'd been a social smoker before that, but it had quickly turned into a habit—one that had taken him years to be able to drop. He'd even gotten Zoey hooked before knocking her up.

  Now the cycle had completed itself. Their daughter, conceived during an abduction, had now been kidnapped herself.

  Both were Alex's fault, at least in part. Nobody else ever blamed him for any part in Macy's disappearance, but that didn't stop him from thinking he could have done something to prevent it.

  He sighed and rolled over, pulling the pillow over his face. Wallowing in guilt wasn't going to get him anywhere. Focusing on finding Ariana would. Macy had made it back home, and Ariana had the same Mercer blood flowing through her veins. She would be a survivor, too.

  Alex tried to shut off his brain, but he couldn't. It raced, running off in every direction imaginable. He blamed himself—if he hadn't been so distracted by his greedy boss, he could have prevented the whole thing. He blamed his boss for being the greedy jerk that he was. He even blamed Zoey and her parents—why hadn't they taught Ariana about stranger danger?

  The blankets twisted all around him as he tossed and turned. It was pointless.

  It was also getting light outside.

  Swearing, he sat up and untangled himself from the covers. He went over to the window and glanced outside. A police cruiser drove by, slowing in front of his house and then the Nakano's. Were they protecting them or considering them as suspects?

  Alex tugged on his hair.

  Would they get Ari back? Could he forgive himself, whichever way the outcome went?

  He moved from the window and paced. The room didn't feel quite right so neat and tidy. Whenever he paced in the past, there had always been an obstacle course of things to step over and around.

  A sharp pain stabbed him in the right temple. It radiated out, moving around his skull.

  Alex went into the bathroom and found some painkillers. He took twice the rec
ommended amount and then went back to bed. Clementine followed him and snuggled against his chest, purring. Alex stroked the cat, finally starting to relax a little. Eventually, his head started to feel better, but he still couldn't sleep.

  Would he ever?

  How had his parents lived through their ordeal? The pain in his chest felt like it would rip him apart.

  Maybe what he needed to do was to get outside and start looking for that SUV. He could probably think of places the cops hadn't. All he'd need was some coffee, and plenty of stands would be open at this hour.

  He picked up his phone from the dresser and pushed the button to turn on the screen. It was almost six o'clock and he had over a dozen new texts. He rarely had more than a few a day.

  Alex tapped his code to unlock the phone and read through the messages. They were all from people asking about Ariana. Apparently the news was all over social media.

  Dread washed through him. What were people saying? He knew firsthand how cruel people could be online.

  Did he dare look?

  He had no other choice. He needed to be prepared for when he ran into people at the store or wherever he went.

  Alex's finger hovered over the app to his favorite social media site. He took a deep breath and then pushed it. He had a flood of notifications. Over a dozen new messages, a bunch of friend requests, and almost a hundred general notifications.

  His head ached, despite all the painkillers.

  He checked the messages first. They were no different from his texts—friends and coworkers demanding to know what the hell had happened. The friend requests were all strangers—jerks who just wanted to find out more about him because his family was a trending topic.

  He braced himself and click on the trending topic, Macy Mercer's Niece Kidnapped.

  His stomach twisted in knots as the flood of posts loaded.

  The titles of the links to news stories and blog posts were enough to feel like a solid punch in the gut.

  Oh, The Irony

  Don't the Mercers ever Learn?

  Another Mercer Kidnapping

  It's a Decade After Being Abducted, and You'll Never Believe what Happened Now

  Deadbeat Dad lets Daughter Get Kidnapped

  Alex threw the phone onto his pillow. Clementine jumped from the bed and scurried out of the room. It was already too much, and Alex hadn't even read any of the comments yet. They were bound to be much worse.