Husband With Benefits

"Sir, we’ve combed the entire premises—from the officers’ quarters to the administrative offices. We even went through every container, both the ones prepped for shipment and those marked for return. We’ve even checked the ships that arrived today and were meant to leave. The same process was completed for the other dock too," the officer reported, his tone careful, yet edged with uncertainty. He hesitated, glancing at Kael before adding, "Could it be that the Princess was mistaken? After all, she had been unconscious when she was brought here. Or perhaps... there was some misunderstanding in the way the details were conveyed. Maybe she was not really trying to pass on a message and only been threatening the kidnappers?

Kael shook his head firmly, "No. She specifically mentioned the ships—she was clear about that. And of course she was making threats to him but she wouldn’t have specifically used that way." He turned to face the man, and edged out, "You were there when she said it. Call the patrollers and supervisors. I need to question them myself. Have everyone look all over again, if need be."

Within minutes, the dock supervisors and patrolling officers had assembled. Kael wasted no time. "You oversee these docks every day. You know every corner, every dark spot. Could there be any area we haven’t checked thoroughly yet? Any place we’ve overlooked? I need you to think, and I need you to be thorough."

"Sir, Your men have already searched every visible part of the docks. But..."

Kael’s patience was wearing thin. "But what?"

The man cleared his throat nervously. "There’s... well, there’s the old part of the docks, sir. Undergoing reconstruction for months now. Everything’s broken down there. It’s practically a wasteland of debris and half-built structures. I doubt anyone would use it for anything right now. It’s a mess."

Kael’s eyes sharpened. "Why wasn’t that mentioned earlier?" he asked, barely containing his frustration.

The supervisor seemed to falter, stumbling over his words. "Well, with the construction going on, we didn’t think—"

"You didn’t think," Kael repeated coldly. "That area could be exactly where they’re keeping her. It’s isolated, it’s broken down, and it’s the last place anyone would think to search thoroughly. If they’ve hidden her anywhere, it’s there."

"Get your men ready," Kael ordered, his tone sharp and urgent. "We’re heading to the old docks. Now."

Without waiting for a reply, Kael had already started to walk towards the old docks, knowing in his heart that he was probably closer to her than he could have imagined. She’d been missing too long, almost ten hours now and each second felt like an eternity to him. The group of officers and dock supervisors followed close behind, their flashlights cutting through the shadows as they neared the old section of the docks.

Kael scanned the area as they reached the construction zone, his senses heightened. Debris littered the ground—shattered concrete, twisted metal beams, and piles of unused materials. The place looked like a forgotten wasteland, as the supervisor had said, but Kael knew better than to trust appearances. This was exactly the kind of place kidnappers would use. Hidden, isolated, and out of the way.