Page 10 of A Love Bite

We continue following the trail, and I focus on using all my senses to pick up any clue that might lead us to Opal. The scent trail is faint but consistent, leading us deeper into the park’s more secluded areas. As we walk, I stay close to Alex, ready to offer support whenever she needs it.

“Thank you, Jake,” she says suddenly, breaking the silence. “I don’t know what I would do without your help. This whole situation is so overwhelming.”

I give her a reassuring smile. “You’re not alone in this, Alex. We’ll get through it together.”

We push farther into the park, and finally, we come across an old, abandoned gazebo tucked away behind some overgrown bushes. The scent is stronger here, and I can tell we’re close.

“Let’s check this out,” I suggest, moving toward the structure.

As we approach, I can see signs that someone has been here recently—more scuffed footprints in the dirt and a discarded water bottle. I motion for Alex to stay close as we step inside the gazebo.

“Opal?” Alex calls out, her voice echoing in the stillness.

For a moment, there’s silence, and then we hear a faint sound—soft, almost like a whimper. My heart leaps as we follow the sound to a corner of the gazebo. There, huddled and clearly frightened, is Opal.

“Opal!” Alex cries out, rushing to her friend.

Opal looks up, relief and fear mingling in her eyes. “Alex,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “Thank God you found me.”

“We’re here,” Alex says, wrapping her arms around Opal. “You’re safe.”

I watch them, feeling a surge of relief. We found her. And despite the fear and worry, there’s a sense of accomplishment that we managed to bring her back to safety.

As Alex helps Opal to her feet, I make a silent promise to myself. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Alex and her friends, no matter the cost. Being there for her feels right, and I know this is where I’m meant to be.

10

Alex

Finding Opal huddledin the corner of the gazebo fills me with an overwhelming sense of relief and joy. She’s unharmed, thank goodness, and as I rush to her side, tears of gratitude spring to my eyes.

“Opal!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. “Thank God you’re okay. We were so worried about you.”

Opal looks up at me, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and relief. “Alex,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I thought no one would find me.”

“You’re safe now,” I assure her, squeezing her hands. “But we need to know what happened. Why did you disappear? What happened to you?”

She takes a deep breath, her gaze darting between me and Jake. “It’s a long story,” she begins, her voice shaky. “I was supposed to meet Mark at the park, but before I got there, someone grabbed me. I didn’t see their face, but they dragged me here and told me to stay put. They said if I tried to leave, I’d be in serious danger.”

My heart pounds as I listen to her recount her ordeal. “Did they say why?” I ask gently. “Did they give any hint about what they wanted?”

Opal shakes her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “No, they didn’t. They just threatened me and left after taking my purse and phone. I’ve been too scared to move or call for help. I didn’t know what to do. They didn’t tie me up or anything, but I got the feeling they were watching me. Why I don’t know, but…”

Jake steps closer, his expression serious but comforting. “You don’t need to be worried anymore, Opal.”

I smile up at him. “This is Jake,” I tell Opal. “He helped me find you. Kathy and I were worried sick about you.”

“Thanks,” Opal murmurs.

“We’ll make sure nothing happens to you,” Jake assures her. “Do you remember anything about your attacker? Anything that might help us identify them?”

She closes her eyes, trying to remember. “I don’t know… I heard them talking on the phone. They mentioned a plan and making a move soon. That’s all I remember.”

I exchange a worried glance with Jake. This sounds serious, but I can’t make sense of it yet.

“Thank you, Opal,” I say, giving her a reassuring smile. “We’ll figure this out. Did this…” I glance at Jake and then shrug. “Was this because of a case you’re working on for The Metro Gazette?”

“No. I’m currently between cases, so…” She shivers.