Chapter 49 Why Are There So Many Cops
Caught between his integrity as a veteran and his devotion to his mother, William was stuck in a tough spot.
“Mom, what were you thinking? Take me to the accident site, now,” he urged, his tone sharp.
Esme and Sylvia exchanged worried looks, the unspoken tension hanging thick in the air.
William, sensing something was off, narrowed his eyes. “What? Is there more to this that you’re not telling me?”
Sylvia waved her hands dismissively, trying to brush off his suspicions. “You’re overthinking it, William.”
But even with his doubts simmering, William knew his priority was the boy’s well- being.
“We need to go. Now,” he said firmly.
As they were about to head out, William’s phone buzzed. It was Denton.
He stepped outside, answering the call, his mind already racing. Esme and Sylvia had no choice but to follow, their steps hurried.
“What’s going on?” William’s voice was tight with urgency,
Whatever Denton said made him freeze in his tracks, his expression hardening. “Which hospital?”
Esme, panic creeping into her voice, asked, “What’s wrong, William?”
But William didn’t respond. His focus remained entirely on the call. “Do you know the accident site? And… how old is the boy? Okay, got it.”
As soon as William hung up, Esme’s voice broke through the silence, her concern
Chapter 49 Why Are There So Many Cops
obvious. “What happened? William, who was that on the phone?”
William stared at his phone with a grim look, his heart sinking as he turned to Esme. “Mom, where exactly is the accident site?”
Esme’s face paled, and her nerves seemed to paralyze her for a moment. Sylvia, however, was quicker on her feet. “Maple Road,” she answered firmly.
The words hit William like a punch to the gut, his world tilting on its axis.
Esme, seeing the shift in his demeanor, knew something serious was afoot. She asked quietly, “The boy… Who…”
Without answering, William got into the car, his mind already focused on the road ahead. “We’re going to the hospital.”
He drove like a man possessed, his foot heavy on the pedal. Esme, still shaken from her own accident, gripped the seat as they sped through the streets. Neither she nor Sylvia dared to speak-William’s tense silence said it all.
At the hospital entrance, the sight of numerous police cars parked out front made the air feel thick with unease. As William entered with Esme and Sylvia in tow, someone stepped forward to question them. But before they could speak, a member of the armed
police unit spotted William and greeted him.
William frowned. “Is there a big operation going on today? Why are there so many cops?”
He knew better than to ask too many questions, but the officer, clearly eager to chat, couldn’t resist spilling the details. “Mr. Mitchell, you know Captain Chadwick from Night Wolves, right?”
“You mean Ryder Chadwick?” William’s brow furrowed further.
He knew the man well. Both he and Ryder had built their reputations in the special
forces, though from different units. Both being legends, the two of them were often compared by other soldiers.
But William had transferred out of the military three years ago and then ventured into
business.
The officer nodded. “Well, his son was kidnapped and we’ve been searching for him all day. We later found him in the bushes, apparently hit by a car.’
William’s expression turned to stone. “How old is the boy?”
“About three, or maybe four, I think. I haven’t seen him myself, but I overheard the guys talking. They’re trying to resuscitate him inside right now,”
Behind William, Esme’s hands were twisted in worry, her voice a whisper to Sylvia, “It can’t be… can it?”
Sylvia gave a small, steadying smile and murmured, “Don’t overthink it.”
It couldn’t be. Sylvia pressed her palms together, trying to steady her racing heart. She silently reassured herself-Renee had already used up all her luck. There was no way this could be happening again. After leaving William, Renee had a child with Ryder? It couldn’t be Renee. No way! It just couldn’t be her.
