Married On Paper To The Billionaire
Chapter 28: Wild Goose Chase

"We have a solid lead," said Detective Riley confidently. "We got a hit on Joyce Banks' debit card yesterday. She used it to purchase a bus ticket in Florida." "Thank God!" Kane sighed with relief.

"She took my baby to Florida?" Emilia wailed.

"Please, calm down, Mrs Beaumont. We haven't yet established that she is your daughter's kidnapper."

"I don't care what you've established. Everything points to her as the culprit!" Emilia snapped.

"Sweetheart, please," Kane implored her. "So, detective, have you sent a team down to Florida to track her down?"

"Yes, we deployed a search party immediately. They'll report back to me later today with their findings."

"So, what now? Are we supposed to just sit around and wait for a report?" Emilia asked. "Why don't we go there ourselves and bring our child home?" "Mrs Beaumont - "

"Don't patronize me, Detective Riley. I'm not going to sit here and count sheep until you and your team finally get around to locating my daughter's kidnapper. I'm boarding the next flight to Florida to find her." "I'll do it," Kane offered immediately. "You should stay here with Travis while I join the police to search for Tiara. Don't worry, we'll bring her back home to you."

"Er, let's not make promises we can't - "

Kane silenced Detective Riley with a look. He didn't care if he was making a promise he couldn't fulfil, all he wanted was to put Emilia's mind at ease for now.

He insisted on flying to Florida later that day even though the detective wasn't pleased about it.

"The police is perfectly capable of handling this, Mr Beaumont. We don't need you to join us."

"Don't worry, I won't get in your way."

"That's not how we work."

"I don't care about that, Riley. I'm going with you and that's final."

They arrived in Key West just before 9 p.m. Kane was tired but eager to find the next piece in the ongoing puzzle. Especially after that stupid untraceable letter that had upset everybody greatly.

Their first stop was at the local precinct where Riley's colleagues informed them that they got another hit on the debit card from a convenience store.

"We're going to check it out," Riley told Kane. "You can wait here until we return."

Kane glared at him. "I didn't fly down here to sit around in a police station. Coming with you and I don't want to hear any arguments from you."

Riley shrugged. "If you say so. I'm just looking out for you. This isn't a task for rich folks, that's all I'm saying."

"Keep your concerns to yourself. Let's go."

They went to the bus station but were disappointed to find that Joyce Banks wasn't the one who purchased the bus ticket with her debit card. From the security camera footage, she never showed up at the bus station at all. "And the convenience store?" Kane asked.

"Let's go and check it out," said Riley.

When they got there, it was the same issue. Joyce Banks was never at the store.

"Then who used her card?" Kane asked in frustration.

"I think I may know who you're looking for," said the store owner tentatively. "I noticed that the name on the card was a woman's name when that guy used it to pay for stuff yesterday." "Why didn't you confront him about it?" Kane asked.

"I wasn't about to get into a fight with a druggie," the man retorted. "I didn't know if he was armed or not and I wasn't going to take any chances. I like minding my business."

"Do you know the fellow?" Riley asked the man.

"I don't know him that much..."

"Please, tell us the truth," said Kane when he noticed the man's hesitation. "I promise you, you won't get into any trouble, Mr..."

"Fletcher. James Fletcher."

"Ok, Mr Fletcher. Please, what can you tell us about the guy we're looking for?"

"Well, everyone calls him Coke. He's a junkie and a pickpocket. He probably stole that debit card from the owner."

"Do you know where we can find him?" Detective Riley asked.

"Honestly, I don't. He's a homeless guy who roams the street and stops by here to shop when he has money or a stolen card to pay with. He could be anywhere at this time of the night." "Can you describe him?"

"Yeah. He's tall, middle-aged, dirty brown hair, watery grey eyes, unkempt beards and stinky rags for clothes."

"Charming."

"Thank you, Mr Fletcher. Here, have this," said Kane, giving the man a hundred-dollar note.

"What for?" Riley complained.

"Allow the man to express his gratitude as he wants," Fletcher chided the detective. "Thank you, sir," he said to Kane with a wide smile.

Once they stepped out of the store, Riley zeroed his attention on Kane. "Listen, Mr Beaumont, you do know that you can't go about handing out money to everyone with a slice of information to share." "Why not?"

"Because that will encourage more weirdos to come out of the woodwork with false tips just to get their hands on your money. There's always that possibility that every piece of information could be a lie until it is proven otherwise." "Are all policemen this pessimistic or is it just you?"

"I'm being honest with you. We need to tread carefully. Whoever has your daughter hasn't asked for ransom so that makes this case a little dicey because we don't even know who to trace."

"That's why we're here. To trace Joyce Banks because she's the one who has a bone to pick with me and my wife. She's the kidnapper."

"We don't know that for sure. Besides, you seem to be forgetting one thing."

"What?"

"Your daughter was kidnapped from inside your house. Joyce Banks doesn't have access to your home, does she?"

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "No."

"So, that means that whoever took your child works or lives in your house and has the freedom to come and go as they like. It may not be a stranger after all."

"Meaning?"

"Joyce Banks is a longshot and we're only considering her because of her past issues with your family. However, don't be too disappointed if she turns out to be innocent." "Then why did you come here if you think she's innocent?"

"Because that's what I'm supposed to do. It's my job to cover all the bases and rule out every suspect until we find the real criminal."

Kane sighed. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. His phone rang and when he checked the caller ID, his low mood sank even lower. "Damn it. It's my wife," he informed Riley. "What am I going to tell her?"

"The truth."

"Which is?"

"That we're trying to track down the person who has been using Joyce Banks' debit card. Be as vague as possible and end the call before she asks more questions." "Right. Are you married?"

"Nope. I like my freedom and sanity way too much to do myself like that."

Kane chuckled. "It's not that bad, but I kinda envy you right now. Just a little."

Riley grinned. "A little is enough. Are you going to answer that call or what?"

****

Emilia felt like breaking something. Her phone call with Kane hadn't gone as she'd expected. He barely let her talk and that nosey detective kept yapping in the background like a parrot. "Dear, Lord... where on earth is my daughter?" She murmured while wringing her fingers nervously.

"There you are! Why are you sitting in the dining room alone, Emily?"

"For the billionth time, Jack, my name is Emilia. Eh-mi-lia!"

He grinned wider and shrugged. "Same difference. What's good?"

"Leave me alone, Jack. I'm not in the mood for your drama."

"Whoa, chill out. I was just trying to be friendly. You don't have to bite my head off."

"How old are you?"

"What?"

"I was told that you and I are the same age but I doubt it strongly. You have zero emotional intelligence and talk like a toddler. What is wrong with you?"

Jack glared at her. "Don't you dare speak to me in that manner! My family can talk down to me but you don't get to do that. Do you hear me?"

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! He turned to leave but her next statement stopped him in his tracks.

"I find it rather funny that you left this house on the same night that my daughter went missing... Not once have you asked if we've found her or not."

He turned around slowly to face her. His face was burning with rage.

"Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean? What are you insinuating?"

"People who are heavily invested in consuming illicit drugs have been known to do the unthinkable in their moments of highness. I wonder if my daughter is a victim of your bad habit." "That's enough, Emilia!"

"Oh, so you do know my name."

"I will not tolerate any more insults from you. I may be a lot of things but a heartless criminal isn't one of them. How dare you accuse me of kidnapping my own niece? What do you take me for?"

Emilia swallowed the sharp response that came to her mind. She didn't want to cut his tirade short. She wanted him to keep talking because maybe he might implicate himself with the next words that come out of his mouth. "Wasn't Crystabel born before your children?" He continued. "Haven't I been using drugs since she was born? Why haven't I kidnapped her yet? Do you think I love your children lesser than I love her?" Those weren't the words that she was expecting to hear. Guilt and shame clawed at her heart and she became remorseful.

"I'm sorry, Jack," she said softly. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"Well, you did!"

"I am very sorry about that. I shouldn't have accused you of kidnapping Tiara. I was in a bad state when you came in and I just felt like venting and getting my frustration out. I'm sorry I took it out on you." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair in the same manner as his brother does.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have come out to you like that with the jokes. It's just that, I tend to say stupid stuff when I'm nervous or scared. I don't handle those emotions well."

"That's understandable," Emilia said with a smile. "What has got you nervous and scared?"

"What else? Tiara's abduction, of course. I may not show up when I'm needed or act like a part of this family but I do love my people, you know. The things that happen here affect me too. I just have a different way of coping with them." "There are better ways to cope, Jack. We all go through things too but we don't destroy ourselves to deal with our problems."

"Here comes the lecture..." he groaned and rolled his eyes.

"No, I won't lecture you. I know you know the right thing to do and I hope you'll do it soon. I'll keep rooting for you until you do and even after."

He smiled sadly. "Nobody in this household has ever spoken to me like this. I'm used to being shouted at and insulted."

"I'm sorry about that. I'm not trying to make excuses for the others, but I think they do it out of fear and concern for your well-being. Everyone loves you, Jack."

"They have a funny way of showing it."

"It's true. If you can just give up the drugs, you'll see..."

His expression changed and it seemed as if a curtain had dropped over his emotions. The sober look on his face was replaced with the usual happy-go-lucky expression he wears all the time.

"Good talk, Emily. I hope we find little Ti-Ti soon," he said and walked away.

"It's Emilia," she replied softly but he was already gone.