Chapter 1: Discovering Mom is Missing.
Under the clear sky-blue heavens, Tracy pedaled my 10-speed bicycle along the sidewalk on a radiant and sunny day. The journey back home from Arcadia High School was a familiar route for me, nestled in the town where Tracy resided with my mother. As her husband and her parted ways, my mom was bestowed with sole custody of me. Despite the challenging circumstances, the bond between Her and Her Mother was strong, and our relationship flourished.
Tracy was completely unaware of the surprise awaiting her as I approached the house. Not a detail escaped her keen eye – except for the absence of Mom's vibrant red Toyota Corolla. Tracy, typically vigilant about security, always kept the car safely tucked away in the garage. Consequently, when Tracy stowed my 10-speed bicycle in the garage and then shut the heavy door behind her, she had no inkling of the imminent events about to unfold.
Tracy strode along the front porch sidewalk, ascended the front porch steps, crossed the welcoming expanse of the porch, and reached the stately front storm door. With a swift motion, she pushed open the storm door, eagerly anticipating the moment when she would grasp the handle of the solid front wooden door.
Tracy felt a rush of surprise as she noticed the door was already open. With a sense of curiosity, Tracy stepped through the doorway and silently closed the door behind her.
"Mom, I'm home," Tracy called out eagerly, but the silence echoed back as her only response.
Tracy anxiously awaited the moment when her mother, Susan Parker, would emerge from the kitchen, greeting her with a warm smile and the familiar words, 'Hi, Honey, I'm so glad you're home.' Eagerly, Tracy began searching for her mom.
Tracy embarked on a thorough search through every nook and cranny of the house. She meticulously checked the kitchen, the utility room, and the downstairs bathroom. Undeterred, Tracy ascended the stairs, persistently scouring her own bedroom, the guest bedroom, the computer room, Mom's sewing room, the bathroom, and finally, Mom's luxurious master bathroom.
Tracy retraced her steps down the stairs, her heart racing as she desperately searched for her mom. She couldn't help but feel a rising sense of concern, pondering her mother's whereabouts. To her alarm, Tracy realized that her mom's purse and billfold wallet were missing from the kitchen's island bar, with only her Smartphone left behind.
Tracy's bewilderment grew as she remarked, "It's peculiar, Mom never ventures out sans her Smartphone, it's her constant companion." A sense of unease crept over her as she pondered, "Why hasn't she left a trace of her whereabouts or intended return?"
Tracy observed that everything was perfectly arranged, as though her mom had been present one moment and vanished the next. Tracy pondered the idea of contacting the authorities, yet she hesitated, knowing that they would likely instruct her to wait a painstaking 24 hours before she could file a report for the disappearance of her loved one. They think that she might've left on her own and would come back,Tracy took matters into her own hands and embarked on her own investigation. She meticulously scrutinized my mom's notepad, searching for any traces of dates with the men she had been seeing, but it yielded no results. Undeterred, Tracy delved into her email on the computer, hoping to uncover any messages that might provide a clue. Unfortunately, there were no emails to be found. Determined to gather more information, Tracy turned to our neighbors, engaging them in conversation to inquire if they had spotted anyone visiting our house. After tirelessly questioning them, Tracy finally obtained her first breakthrough.
Across the street from mom and her, their neighbor was outside wheeling the trash can when his gaze was drawn skyward to a sleek black S10 Chevy Pickup Truck parked in front of the house. The neighbor spotted a man with luscious dark brown hair and captivating emerald green eyes, clad in a stylish ensemble. Alighting from the driver's seat of the black S10 Pickup Truck, the mysterious man ambled towards the house, disappearing inside. The man had been in the house for over an hour, until their neighbor saw the man walk out of the house, he had a scared and frightened Susan Parker, she was holding on to her purse, their neighbor heard the man talking to Susan in a low voice.
