Chapter 28: Anxious Hearts
Far away in an opulent house Andrew’s father sat in his study. The room was lined with books and awards a testament to his high rank in the police department. He was completely absorbed in the contents of a thick case file spread across his large mahogany desk. The world outside his study ceased to exist. He only saw the words on the page.
The heavy door to his study burst open without warning. His wife stormed in. Her face was a mask of panic. She was frantic. "Andrew isn’t home yet," she yelled. Her voice was sharp. It cut through the room’s quiet atmosphere.
Andrew’s father slowly lifted his gaze from the file. He looked at his wife her chest heaving with distress. "He’ll come home," he said his voice calm and detached. "He’s not a child anymore."
His wife was not satisfied with his answer. Her frustration boiled over. "Do you even care about him?" she shouted back tears welling in her eyes. "He is usually home by now. Look at the time. It’s nine o’clock. School ended hours ago. Even when he hangs out with his friends he’s always back by this time."
Her worried tone and the genuine sorrow on her face finally broke through his professional detachment. He sighed. He stood up from his chair and placed the file neatly back on his desk. He picked up his mobile phone from its charging cradle. He dialed a number from memory.
The phone rang for a few moments. Then a crisp professional voice answered on the other end. "Yes sir. How can I be of service?"
"I need you to track my son’s mobile phone location," Andrew’s father said his voice returning to its usual authoritative tone. "His name is Andrew."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Andrew’s father waited patiently. He knew the process took a few minutes. After what felt like an eternity his wife his phone buzzed. A text message with the location appeared. He read it his brow furrowing. "Sir Andrew’s phone is currently located on the hill behind the high school."
The information was unsettling. Andrew’s father couldn’t understand what his son would be doing on a deserted hill so late at night. The place was known for teenage delinquency. A feeling of unease settled in his stomach. He spoke into the phone again his voice firm. "Send a team there immediately. I want them to check if everything is alright. And keep me updated on every single development. I want to know everything."
"Yes sir," the man on the other end replied. The line went dead.
Andrew’s father turned to his wife. He forced a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. He’s just with his friends. He’ll be home soon." He knew the words were a lie. He didn’t know what was happening. He just needed to calm her down. His wife hadn’t heard the phone conversation. His calm demeanor eased her anxiety. She let out a long breath a wave of relief washing over her.
The scene shifted. Sophia sat at her desk in her small bedroom trying to study. The words in her textbook were a meaningless jumble. Her mind was not on her schoolwork. It was consumed by thoughts of Adam. She couldn’t concentrate. She kept replaying their conversation in the park. She thought about the strange intensity in his eyes. She remembered his promise to handle things. A deep worry for him had taken root in her heart. She couldn’t shake it.