Chapter 1: noticing Mom Missing.
I was riding my bicycle home from school on a sunny, cool, and clear day in the quaint town of Salem. I lived with my amazing mother, Suzanne Anderson, who was five feet seven inches tall. She had gorgeous straight blonde hair that reached her shoulders, stunning blue eyes, and an elegant figure. Suzanne was a well-liked member of the community in addition to being a librarian at the cherished Salem Public Library. She went above and beyond for anyone in need and was well-known for her compassion, kindness, and unwavering care. Suzanne's generosity had no limits, whether it was helping someone find a book or consoling a lost child. Since my parents divorced when I was just three years old, Suzanne has been the most amazing mother a child could ask for. And for that reason, I genuinely love her. About an hour later, I arrived at the house, cautiously parked my bike in the garage, and excitedly entered the comfortable interior.
I was taken aback by the absence of my mother in the house. I embarked on a frantic search through the floors, both downstairs and upstairs, but she was nowhere to be found. The eerie stillness of the house hinted at a mysterious disappearance, as if my mother, Suzanne, had effortlessly slipped away. My heart raced as I observed her personal belongings—purse, smartphone, wallet, and car keys—neatly placed on the China cabinet. It struck me as peculiar, for my mother never ventured outside without these essentials unless faced with an urgent situation. An unsettling realization dawned on me. I reached for the phone, dialing each of my mother's friends in a desperate attempt to track her whereabouts, but none had any leads. Anxiety crept in as the possibility of foul play crossed my mind. The chilling thought that my mother might have been abducted against her will loomed large. I could only hope that the person holding her captive would spare her from harm.
As the sun set over the gas station far from Salem, a man stood at a pump, filling his red 4-door Toyota Corolla with fuel. Suddenly, a small black S10 pickup truck rumbled onto the scene, pulling up to the pump next to the man's car. Inside the truck, two men and a woman sat in the front seat. The first man, perched in the driver's seat, emerged from the truck and began refueling while his companions remained seated, gazing ahead. In an instant, the woman glanced over and caught the man’s gaze focused on her; the man suddenly understood that the woman appeared to be under the heavy influence of drugs.
