Richard’s POV I walked into the city traffic department, feeling like I was on a mission. My mind kept going back to that little girl lying on the hospital bed, her mother’s tear-filled eyes, and the asshole who drove off like he hadn’t just destroyed two lives. “Can I help you, sir?” a woman at the front desk asked, looking up from her computer. “Yeah, I need to speak with the traffic commissioner. It’s important.” She eyed me up and down, probably trying to figure out if I was serious or just another guy making trouble. Finally, she gave a nod and told me to take a seat. I settled into one of the plastic chairs that looked like they’d seen better days. Time crawled, and after about twenty minutes of waiting, I started to lose my patience. When the receptionist finally called my name, I followed her into the commissioner’s office. The room was small but tidy, with papers neatly stacked and a couple of plaques on the wall. Behind the desk sat a woman in her late forties, mayb
RICHARD’S POV I was halfway home when my phone buzzed on the passenger seat. It was the mother of the girl from the accident. I pressed the Bluetooth button and answered, “Hey, how’s she doing?” “Mr. Richard... I just wanted to thank you,” she said, her voice trembling. “My baby girl is out of surgery. The doctors say she’s going to be okay. I don’t know how to thank you.” I smiled, feeling a weight lift off my chest. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. I’m glad she’s pulling through.” “God bless you, sir. You’ve done more for us than anyone else ever would. And you even helped catch the man who did it. I... I don’t know what to say.” I leaned back in my seat, adjusting my grip on the steering wheel. “You don’t need to say anything. I’m just happy I could help. Your daughter’s going to be fine, and that’s what matters.” She paused for a moment, and I could hear her trying to hold back tears. “I have two other kids, you know. They’re with a friend of mine... also homeless.”
RICHARD’S POV Amelia sat across from me, talking excitedly about the plans for the party. She had everything organized, down to the last detail. It was impressive, honestly. She was in full control. “So, we’ve got the caterers booked, the venue’s set, and I’m thinking of adding a photo booth. What do you think?” she asked, her eyes twinkling. “I think you’re a damn genius,” I replied, smiling. “You’ve got this all handled.” She beamed, leaning back in her chair. “Thanks. But enough about the party. How was your day?” I shrugged, thinking back to the homeless woman and her daughter. “I helped out a homeless family today. Bought them a flat. Well, twenty flats, actually.” Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Twenty?” I chuckled. “Yeah, I had to spend $10 million, so I figured I’d put it to good use. Gave her a key and told her to fill the other flats with people in need.” She stared at me for a moment, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re something else, you know that?” “What can I say?
Richard's POV I told Amelia to take it easy, especially with the pregnancy news still fresh. But of course, she insisted on finalizing the wedding plans. So, I let her go—against my better judgment—and promised to pick her up by 11 for the doctor's appointment. I could tell she was excited, but still, I didn’t want her overdoing things. Stress isn’t exactly the best thing right now. After a few hours at the office, I wrapped up some meetings and decided it was time to pick her up. I called her phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Odd, I thought. She usually answers right away. No big deal. She’s probably still wandering around the mall, buying more wedding stuff or, hell, maybe baby stuff. It’s Amelia, after all. I shrugged it off and headed inside, figuring I’d find her easily. The mall was packed, though. Too many damn people. I called again, but no response. Now I was starting to get a little annoyed. Where could she be? I walked around the stores, peeking in windows, hopin
RICHARD’S POV I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. “Look, I’m just trying to find my wife. The CCTV footage might help me figure out where she went.” The manager raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting to one of feigned surprise. “Wow, I’m honestly surprised someone married you. No offense, but I didn’t think you had it in you.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Can we get back to the point? I need to see that footage.” She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly like she was about to enjoy a show. “What’s in it for me, Richard? You know how these things work. You can’t just waltz in here and expect to see whatever you want.” Impatience surged through me. “What do I need to do to see the CCTV footage?” “Well,” she said slowly, drawing it out for dramatic effect, “it’s going to cost you. I’m thinking… $1 million.” My jaw dropped. “A million? Are you kidding me?” “Nope,” she replied, a smirk playing at her lips. “That’s the price for a peek at my precious footage.
RICHARD’S POV Cathy didn’t even bother acknowledging me directly. Not that I minded. I could see her gears turning from across the room, her cold gaze fixed on the woman beside me. Without even glancing at me, she interrupted the manager. “If what you’re saying is true, it’ll be on the CCTV footage, right?” The manager blinked, her face paling slightly. “Well... yes, but—” Cathy raised her hand, silencing her. “Good. So you’ll have evidence to back up everything, won’t you?” There was a brief, awkward silence. The manager’s confidence seemed to deflate like a balloon. “I—uh—well, of course,” she stammered, now visibly sweating. “If what you’re saying is true,” Cathy cut in, arms crossed and eyes narrowing, “then it’ll be in the CCTV footage.” She waved a dismissive hand, like the matter was already beneath her attention. “We’ll have evidence to back it up.” The woman who’d been making a scene earlier shifted nervously. Her confidence faltered, and I could almost taste her fear.
RICHARD’S POV The detective, a tall, no-nonsense type, had been assigned to my case within an hour of my arrival at the station. His name was Detective Harris, and from the look on his face, I could tell he wasn’t new to these kinds of situations. I didn’t have the energy to care about his experience, though. All that mattered to me was finding Amelia. As we drove back to my house, the weight in my chest grew heavier. The policemen in the backseat exchanged brief looks, and I could sense they thought this might be one of those "runaway wife" situations. But I knew better. Amelia didn’t just vanish. She was taken. I could feel it. When we arrived, Harris wasted no time. “We’ll search the house,” he said, stepping out of the car. “Maybe something here will give us a clue about where she went.” I scoffed, following him inside. “She didn’t ‘go’ anywhere, Detective. She was taken. You’re wasting time.” Harris gave me a flat look. “We need to cover all our bases. If she left on her own
RICHARD’S POV Morning came quicker than I wanted. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection, trying to calm my nerves. My heart was pounding in my chest, but I had to keep it together. Today was the day. The bag of fake cash sat on the bed, looking too light for the weight of what was at stake. I picked it up, slinging it over my shoulder like I was just going to the gym. If only it were that simple. The police were already outside, setting up, tapping into my phone like we’d planned. I headed out, feeling the cold air hit me as I got into my car. The drive to the location was tense, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I knew they were following me. Harris was in an unmarked car a few blocks back, probably sipping coffee like this was just another day for him. The location was a grimy parking lot, empty except for a few abandoned cars. The place looked like the kind of spot you’d find in a crime movie, the kind where not