AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before I could voice my fears, Agent Ramirez offered a comforting smile. "Relax, Amy. We have everything you and your baby need here. We'll take care of both of you."
Gently patting Ava's back, concern threaded through my words. "Could I check the formula you have? Ava can only have Nutramigen. Nothing else agrees with her."
A warm smile softened Agent Ramirez's eyes. She gestured towards the fully stocked pantry. "Mr. Detwiler briefed me on your needs, including Ava's Nutramigen."
A sigh of relief escaped my lips. "Oh, thank you. That's perfect."
As we settled into the snug cabin, curiosity gnawed at me, prompting me to voice the question that had been nagging me since our arrival. "Why isn't Mitch with us? Why the separation?"
Agent Ramirez hesitated for a moment, her gaze briefly flitting away before returning to meet mine. "The Rosedale case is complex and widespread, as you're aware. Kidnappings, murders, and extortion are all entwined in it, just like the ransom they paid for your safe return."
I nodded, the chilling memory of being held captive and forced to film a ransom video while holding that repulsive sign still fresh in my mind. But how did that relate to Mitch and me being apart?
"Right now, Mitch and his team are serving as bait to catch those behind the Rosedale case," Agent Ramirez explained further. "We need to guarantee your and Ava's safety in case the criminals seek revenge or try to use you as leverage."
A pang of fear squeezed my heart at the thought of Mitch facing danger, but I was painfully aware that there was nothing I could do to change the circumstances. My only option was to keep myself and Ava safe while having faith that Mitch was making the right moves.
Agent Ramirez flashed a reassuring smile and gestured toward a hallway branching off from the main room. "Don't worry, you won't be alone here. I'll be staying with you both. I'll do my best to stay out of your way. My room is just down that hall."
With a heavy sigh, I slumped onto the couch and placed Ava beside me. Although having Agent Ramirez nearby wasn't ideal, I had to believe she was here to ensure our safety. Out of nowhere, a loud growl from my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast. Just as I was about to head to the kitchen, Ava's cries filled the air. I quickly prepared a bottle and nestled into the rocking chair to feed her.
I discovered a portable crib in the bedroom next to the master suite, and my eyes welled up as I laid Ava down. The crib lacked soft blankets, a mobile to play gentle lullabies, or Mitch to tenderly kiss her goodnight.
As I wandered into the kitchen, I settled on a large bowl of mac and cheese. It might not be gourmet, but it was comfort food, and that was all I had the energy for right now.
While eating, I attempted to lose myself in a TV show, but my mind couldn't escape the lingering shadows of the Rosedale case and the unseen threats still hovering around us.
Finally, exhaustion caught up with me, and I crawled into the huge king-sized bed, praying for sleep to take over. Instead, I tossed and turned as an owl hooted outside my window. Unable to take it any longer, I got up to check on Ava, gently scooping her up and bringing her into my bedroom. Carefully arranging the covers and making sure her binky was within reach, I snuggled next to her, comforted by the presence of a piece of Mitch beside me. Gradually, the hooting retreated into the night, and sleep embraced me at last.
Mitch
As I stood there, watching Amy and Ava being driven away in the FBI sedan, I felt like everything was going wrong. I couldn't forget the tears in Amy's eyes or the scared look on Ava's face. I knew I had to do something to protect my family and figure out what was going on with this crazy situation. The cops seemed like they wanted to help, but nothing was really getting fixed. I was getting more and more stuck in this mess Amy called the Rosedale curse.
Suddenly, I heard sirens in the distance, and they snapped me out of my thoughts. They got louder, and I realized the cop cars were coming to my house, just a block or two away. My heart started racing, and I was totally confused and worried. "What's going on?" I asked the cop, who was still writing down what happened with Amy and the cyclist.
"Looks like your home security company called about someone trespassing on your property," the officer said, glancing at his watch. "It happened just a few minutes after this whole thing went down!"
I hopped in my car and rushed to my house, only to find the security gate wide open and a bunch of cops all over the place. I couldn't believe it – how could things get even worse so fast?
"Agent Carter!" I shouted, surprised to see him. "You must've been nearby to get here so quickly!"
"Actually, I was talking to a witness for another case just a mile or two from here. When I heard your name and address on the radio, I hurried over to see what was happening."
I didn't bother shaking his hand. Agent Carter, also known as Carter Brown, was the detective from the San Diego Police Department who had been working on the Rosedale case from the start. He'd even been attacked himself, but he wasn't really the best detective. So, instead of chatting with him, I went to the officer who was taking pictures of a footprint under Ava's nursery window.
"Hey, officer, can you tell me what happened here?” I asked, trying not to freak out.
"Alright, so it looks like some dude wearing a ball cap just walked into your yard through the open front gate. Your security cameras caught him trying to get into your house.
Lucky for you, he took off on a bike when he heard the sirens coming."
My heart dropped, and my stomach was all twisted up. Great, now my family was on the radar of the Rosedale psycho who tried breaking into our home. I turned back to Carter, getting all worked up.
"Agent Carter, what's up with my security gate being wide open? And why would someone try to break in while everything's going nuts?"
Carter hesitated, "Well, Mitch, the guy probably saw a chance with all the crazy stuff happening. As for the open gate, it could be a glitch, or someone messed up. We gotta look into it more."
I clenched my fists, super angry. "This is so unacceptable, Carter. These weird things are tearing my family apart, and now my home's a target. What's your department doing to stop this madness?"
