Chapter 3. The Kidnap

“Thank you for your concern. My flight was fine. How was the Exhibition today?” He inquired.

“It went well, Boss,” Eric answered and gave him the breakdown of all that took place that day and he was pleased.

“Oh! That is good to hear. I'm impressed.”

“We are happy to be of help, Boss.”

“You're such a great team.”

“Thank you, Boss.”

“You are welcome. As you can see. I'm just coming in, and I need to have my late dinner, do you mind joining me?”

“Sure, Boss,” Eric accepted on behalf of the team members.

“It is all right. Let us meet at the Gaming Centre in the next thirty minutes.”

“Wow! That will be great, Boss.”

The team members cheered up before they stood up to leave but Eric stayed back. Louis looked at him after the team left and inquired, “Do you have any message for me, Eric?”

“Yes, Boss. Dr. Quain called to ask after you. It's like he wanted to meet you at the registry but missed you.”

“Oh! Thank you, for informing me. I will get across to him shortly. Anything more?”

“None for now.”

“It is okay. See you later.”

“It is all right.”

Eric took his leave while he switched on his phone and called Dr. Quain who had been glued to his phone all day. He picked up his call the way a dog would rush at a bone.

“Hello, Mr. Bailey. Where are you? Are you all right?” He asked hurriedly.

“Hello, Dr. Quain. It is good to hear from you. I am back in Cairo, and I am all right. I learned that you called my team members to check on me. Thank you for your concern.”

At that point, the doctor, who was not interested in the gestures went straight to the point, “I was at the registry for the marriage ceremony when you called. By the time I came out to call you, your phone was already switched off.”

“Oh, my God! I did not know that you were there. I must have ruined your day.”

“Don't let that bother you. I'm happy to know that you are calm.”

“Yes. I should be. I just feel I should be alone for now.”

“It is good. I can see you are on top of the situation.”

“Yes, Doctor. I will switch off now. Bye,” he said when his voice began to crack.

“Hello,” the doctor said but Louis had switched off.

Nevertheless, he was satisfied that he gave him the honor of confiding in him and putting his fears to rest.

He looked at his phone, took a deep breath, and muttered, “At least I can sleep well this night.”

All the same, he sent a message of advice to his mail to encourage him again.

(Be strong, Mr. Bailey. I love your remarkable resilience. You are a role model to many people. Thank you. Dr. Quain.)

Louis breathed in and out before he walked into the room for a shower. Subsequently, he joined the team at the Gaming Centre. He had his late dinner while they had their popcorn, termes, Dora mashy, stick meat, and ice cream. The team played some games with the new friends they made while Louis watched them but they would not let him be.

“Boss, you had a late dinner; you need to stroll around for proper digestion.”

“It is all right. Let's go,” he said.

They took a tour of the hotel when the ladies were tired, they complained, “Boss, we are going back to our rooms. You can continue.”

Louis laughed softly and asked, “I thought what a man can do …”

“A woman can do better,” the guys completed the sentence for him at once.

They laughed ecstatically, and he advised them, “It is all right. You can return to our rooms.”

“Thank you, Boss,” the ladies thanked him and walked back to their room relieved of the stress of the day.

Louis got to his room by 1 AM and kept tumbling on his bed until 7 AM.

At The Bailey Native Home

The family drove silently while he thought of the next thing to do until they got home. He was confused when Phil headed towards the direction of his apartment instead of Nichole's Apartment. He followed them and parked after them. Now, Nichole was relieved and got out of the car without appreciating him. She walked up to Julie to collect her car keys but noticed her gloomy countenance. Freya and her husband got out of their car, too, with the same countenance. Then, she turned and looked at Arthur, who had just got out of his car, and their eyes met.

He was aware that her look was not a mere one but had to do with the children. He looked at them one after the other. Julie got out of her car and began to unfasten Daniel's seatbelt, while Phil and Freya walked towards the door. Meanwhile, Julie carried Daniel, who was still sleeping, into the house, and their parents followed them silently. Julie took Daniel to her room and returned to the parlor to join others who were already seated.

Now, Phil took the initiative to broach the subject, “Father and Mother, there is a problem.”

“What is the problem? Tell me,” the anxious Arthur asked in a rush.

“Louis is missing, and his phone is switched off,” Phil informed them, and Nichole's eyes were wet instantly.

Then, Arthur looked at them searchingly and demanded, “Was he not the person I saw at the registry today?”

“Yes, Father. He came by and disappeared,” Julie informed him.

“We have called Denise's house, and his security man said he came around, changed his wears, and left.”

“Left for where, please?” Nichole asked amidst tears.

“Mom, calm down, please," Julie, who had just heard that Freya had contacted Denise's staff members, advised her.

Then, Arthur looked at his distressed daughters and lover with empathy, stood up, and advised them, “It had been a hectic day for all of you. I think you all should rest. Phil, kindly come with me.”

“Where are you going?” Nichole anxiously inquired.

“To look for our son,” he said, took a step and Phil followed him.

Eight Months Later

At Denise’s Apartment

She was trying to upload more video clips of her recent concert to keep the Daniel De Pianist page busy, pending when she would be ready for another concert. Then, she began to watch the video all over again searching for a catchy segment. Now, she got to the point where Daniel got out of the stage after his opening remarks and ran towards a man instead of walking to his seat.

She paused and replayed the segment again to see the man. After looking at him critically, she exclaimed, “This is Louis!”

Now, Tim, her young cousin thought that she was talking to him, walked to her and asked, “Big cousin, did you talk to me?”

Olivia, who was not aware that she was audible enough to the point that Tim could hear her, marveled.

“No, Tim. You can go back to your room.”

"I got it, Big cousin,” he said and left.

She dropped her devices on the center table and rested her head on the headrest. Then, she reminisced about the discussions she had with Louis about his identity.

‘When he introduced himself as Louis Bailey, I never associated him with Julie Bailey, my school mother.’

Now, she was hysterical, which was inimical to her health. Many thoughts about Louis's identity flashed through her mind.

“But Louis's said that his mother was late.”

Nevertheless, the couch was becoming in conducive for her, so she got up and walked around the parlor to ease off her irregular contractions, Previously, the doctor told her that she would start to experience it from the seventh month. Then, she thought of her husband and the day she met him appeared to her like a flash.

“Who knows if I would have been dead by now if he had not appeared to save me from danger?” she thought.

Afterward, she attempted to take her seat, but she experienced an increase in pelvic pressure and stopped. Suddenly, in her imagination, she saw her husband in a pull of his blood and some unknown men surrounded him. She shivered and shook her head vigorously, as though she would be able to shake away the ugly thought from her mind. Now, she was sweating profusely as the contraction progressed.

Then, she called out to her cousin, “Tim.”