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That hit home hard, but it only stoked my anger. “Thanks for saying the quiet part out loud,” I said tightly. “I’m sure if I was rich and famous, you cops would have taken this a lot more seriously.”
He scoffed. “It’s the way of the world, honey, get used to it.”
“Fortunately for me, I now have enough money that I don’t have to,” I snapped before I could stop myself.
That stopped him dead. “What?”
“I’ve come into a windfall.” I went back to my laptop and reopened the donation page so I could look at the number. Not that I planned to give it to him.
My eyes widened. There had been more donations. Nine in all, and every last one was more than I had ever expected. Three thousand dollars here. Fifteen thousand dollars there. The total was rising. It had just passed a total of eighty-five thousand dollars, over six times what I had been asking for.
Alan was saying something, but I didn’t hear it. My heart was pounding too hard in my ears.
I could stop working altogether and do nothing but help in the search for my baby. I could wipe out my student loan debt, cover my rent and still have plenty left for the investigation.
“Are you even listening to me? What fucking windfall?”
“You want to explain how you think my finances are your business?” I snapped back. “The point isn’t how I got it. The point is what I’m doing with it.”
“Okay. So, what are you gonna do with it?”
“I can afford to hire my own investigators now, and that’s what I’m going to do. And when I find my daughter, and I will—”
“Hey, look, I hope you do. And I hope it doesn’t break you too bad when you find her body. I’ll even send flowers to the funeral.” His tone was completely dismissive.
“Well, that’s generous of you,” I replied flatly.
“Look, are we done?” he sounded exaggeratedly bored now.
“You called me, Alan.”Dumbass.“I already said we’re done. Are you done?”
“I’m still deciding.” He sniffed. “Don’t block this number. I’ll just use another one if you do.”
“Oh, that’s not being a goddamn stalker or anything,” I said.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said so hastily that I rolled my eyes. “The case—”
“If you actually have an update on my daughter’s kidnapping case, you can contact me. But we’re done, Alan. And if you try, or even just threaten, any more stalker shit, I go straight to your superiors. Don’t fucking test me. I have nothing left to lose.” And thanks to the complete strangers who were now my heroes, I had the power to push back if he tried anything.
“Don’t threaten me, bitch. I’ve got no reason to follow you around like a lost puppy. I already have another date on tap for tonight.”
“Then why are you still bothering me?” I demanded.
“God, you’re a cunt,” he grumbled,sounding like a twelve-year-old edgelord who just got his butt beaten in Call of Duty.
“So, again, why are you still trying to talk to me? Go live your fucking life. Go date women dumb enough to fall for your crap, wife up the dumbest one, have your eight babies or whatever. Just remember to pick someone who has no family, so you don’t ever have to actually empathize when they lose a loved one.”
“Fuck you!”
“No, thanks.”
He hung up.
I flopped back in my chair, letting out a huge sigh. My gut said this wasn’t quite over, but my heart was soaring. I had finally and fully stood up to that son of a bitch. And now, thanks to those strangers, I had the power to get someone competent on my daughter’s trail.
I’m going to find you, sweetheart. You’re coming home. Soon. And there will be a better life waiting for you when you get here.
Chapter 6
