Chapter 2601
Mara pursed her lips, utterly baffled by her father's presence there. Far from being of any help, he
had even shed tears during the negotiations. She had little respect for a man who
cries.
âLet's not rush to hand over the cash just yet. Let's get in touch with the police and see what they
suggest,â Dean said, trying to inject some sense into the situation.
Elton panicked at the suggestion. âHow can we do that? The kidnappers have already warned us-no
police! If they find out we've involved the police, won't the kids be in even greater danger?â
Alyssa waved a dismissive hand. âYou don't know their type, nor do you understand them. Even if we
don't go to the police, they have ways to threaten the kids. We need to act fast to find their
hideout-that's the real solution. Don't just think about paying them off. Have you considered their
greed? Can you truly satisfy them?â
Elton fell silent; after all, the ransom money was coming from their pockets. He had no ground to
stand on.
Dean patted him on the shoulder. âLook, we are just as eager to rescue the children. But we need
you to work with us on this.â
âAlright!â Elton nodded vigorously, while Mara watched with a calculating gaze. She suspected the
situation would be resolved quickly, but she didn't want it to be-not just
yet.
She hoped Victoria would get her comeuppance. As long as Balfour returned safely, that was all that
mattered.
The police arrived quickly, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
âCaptain Aidan, I can't believe that two children were snatched in broad daylight right at the school
gates. What's happening with our public safety? Is it so poor that soon people will be kidnapped
just standing by the roadside?â Alyssa accosted the officer on arrival, her voice heavy with concern
and anger.
The thought of Balfour, not yet an adult, enduring such an ordeal gave her a headache. His
childhood had been hard enough without this. Once Balfour was back, she vowed to take him to
church to light a candle and wash away the bad luck.
Captain Aidan, looking apologetic, reassured Alyssa, âWe've been negligent, and I assure you, Mrs.
Howard, this will not happen again on our watch. Donât worry; we've begun tracking the number
that called you. If they weren't careful enough, I believe we'll soon pinpoint their location.â
They couldn't be certain of the outcome, but Balfour was smart. With just a slight hint from her, he'd
understand what she meant.
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08:11
"If possible, I'd like to have another conversation with Balfour,â Captain Aidan suggested after
listening to the initial recording. It was easier said than done.
"How about this? I'll go ahead with the money to lure them into a false sense of security, and then
we can make our move. How does that sound?â
The others nodded in agreement. There seemed no better plan; they had to wait and hope for the
best.