The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 248

"Mr. Joplin, I heard that your son is a computer prodigy. We're just borrowing him for a bit," the voice on the other end said.

I replied, "This is the first time I've heard of someone 'borrowing' someone else's child."

Murphy immediately called the police, but there was no one at the scene by the time they arrived. The hotel room was a complete mess. It was as though a fight had broken out there.

"Where are they?" I asked.

Both Lorraine and Xavier were missing. If this was a kidnapping, they would have at least left one of them behind.

"We're still investigating it," the officers said. But there was no way they would be as fast as Yvonne could be.

I ignored them and immediately called Fabian.

I told him, "If you can find them, I'll sign the contract right away."

There was a brief pause on Fabian's end before I heard him stifling his laughter. "Do you love your wife more or your son?"

His words seemed to carry an underlying meaning to them. I started to feel something was suspicious.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Fabian replied, "What else could I mean? Mr. Joplin, you're overreacting. I just invited your wife and son over for some tea. Why are you panicking so much?"

"Those people were your subordinates?" I shot back.

I suddenly realized that the kidnapper's voice sounded a bit familiar.

My fists were clenched tightly as I snapped, "You're crossing the line! It's just a contract."

Only Fabian would be willing to do anything for the sake of his goals.

I could hear Fabian's laughter from the other end. "Mr. Joplin, why don't you join us for some tea? Your wife isn't the only one here. Your ex-wife is here too."

Before I could respond, I heard Yvonne's voice. "Cole, how could you be so shameless as to use my son as a bargaining chip? I'll never forgive you."

Yvonne had already boarded the flight when Fabian called her and told her that Xavier was with him. Otherwise, Yvonne would not have returned.