Chapter 8: Taking the risk to protect his girlfriend
Priscoll went to the police station to report about my disappearance and was assured they would do their best to find me. That's when he saw Detective Kim, someone hehad previously dated. She seemed to think hewas there to apologize for ending things between them
"Hey, Kim...' he started, but she cut me off.
''Priscoll, I don't want to hear it,'' she said, standing up to leave. But her colleague intervened.
''Kim, it's work-related. Not about your personal history.''
Kim sat back down, looking skeptical. ''What's this about" she asked. he explained the situation, and she asked, ''Have you tried calling your wife?''
''Her phone is off. What will I tell her parents?'' he replied panicking
Kim raised an eyebrow. ''You're married? Can I see a picture of your wife?' He realized he didn't have one on him..
''We can go to my house I have our wedding photo there.'
Kim looked unconvinced. ''Why should I believe you, Priscoll? You're not exactly trustworthy.'' She started to leave again, but he followed her, pleading for her help.
''Kim, are you jealous because I got married?'
She snapped back
''No, I'm not." But her tone suggested otherwise.
''Then please, help me,'' he urged."
Kim sighed and rubbed her temples. "Priscoll, I don't know why I'm even considering this. But fine, let's go to your house and see this wedding photo. If it checks out, I'll take your case."
He nodded eagerly and led her to his car. The drive was tense, with Kim barely speaking a word. When they arrived at his house, he quickly fetched the wedding album and handed it to her.
She flipped through the pages, her expression unreadable. Then, she stopped at a photo of priscoll and I on our wedding day. Her eyes narrowed.
"This looks like you, Priscoll. But who's this woman?"
He pointed to picture. "That's her, my wife, Joanna. Please, Kim, you have to believe me. She's really missing."
Kim looked up at him. her gaze piercing. "I'll take the case, Priscoll. But not because I trust you. Because I want to find out what's really going on here."
priscoll nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Kim. I owe you one."
Kim snorted. "You owe me more than one, Priscoll. Let's get to work"
And with that, she began questioning him about my disappearance, her eyes never leaving his.
Just as Kim was about to leave, his phone rang. Priscoll hesitated, but Kim nodded for him to answer it.
"Hello?" He said, trying to sound calm.
"Priscoll, darling," a familiar voice purred on the other end. "I see you're trying to find me. Or should I say, trying to find your precious Joanna?"
His heart skipped a beat. It was Wendy, But something in her tone sent chills down my spine.
"Wendy, where's Joanna? What have you done with her?" Priscoll demanded, trying to keep his voice cool.
"Oh, Joanna's safe... for now," Wendy replied, her voice dripping with malice. "But if you want to see her again, you'll do exactly as I say. Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."
He glanced at Kim, who was watching him intently.
"Don't even think about bringing the police, Priscoll," Wendy continued. "Or Joanna will suffer the consequences. You know I'm not bluffing."
"Wendy, what have you done?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're mine, Priscoll," Wendy replied, her voice dripping with obsession. "And I won't let anyone else have you. Not even your precious wife."
He glanced at Kim, who was watching him with a mix of concern and determination.
"Let Joanna go, Wendy," Priscoll pleaded. "She has nothing to do with us."
"Oh, but she does," Wendy said, her voice rising. "She's the reason you're not paying attention to me. But now, you will do exactly what I say, just meet me at the old warehouse"
The line went dead. he looked at Kim, who was already on her feet.
"who is that Person?"she asked and he was dead silent
Kim asked him again, her voice firm. "Who was that, Priscoll? Tell me!"
Priscoll hesitated, his eyes darting around the room.
"Kim, I think you should tell your team to back out. Tell them that Joanna wasn't kidnapped."
Kim's eyes narrowed. "And you think they'll believe that story without you explaining why you lied to them from the start? Priscoll, who was that?"
Priscoll's face twisted in frustration. "Kim, listen to me..."
But Kim cut him off, her anger boiling over.
"Are you out of your mind? Give me the phone!" she shouted, trying to grab it from his hand.
Priscoll refused to let go, his grip tightening around the phone. And then, in a shocking move, he grabbed Kim and forcefully kissed her, trying to silence her.
Kim was taken aback by the sudden kiss, her mind racing with confusion and anger. She tried to push him away, but he held her tight, his lips still pressed against hers.
"Let me go!" Kim demanded, trying to break free from his grasp.
But Priscoll held on, his eyes locked on hers, his gaze intense. For a moment, they just stood there, frozen in time.
Then, Priscoll released her, his chest heaving with emotion. "I'm sorry, Kim," he whispered. "I didn't mean to...I just needed to shut you up."
Kim's eyes flashed with anger. "You think kissing me will shut me up? You're crazy!"
Priscoll took a step back, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape.
"Just listen to me, Kim. Please. I'll tell you everything, but you have to promise to keep an open mind."
Kim's anger slowly gave way to curiosity. What could Priscoll possibly say to justify his lies and strange behavior? She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm listening."she sneered
Priscoll took a deep breath before speaking. "Kim, I need to tell you the truth. Joanna's disappearance...it's not a kidnapping by some random person. It's Wendy."
Kim's eyes widened in shock. "Wendy?who is she? Why would she kidnap Joanna?"
Priscoll's expression turned grim. "Because of me, Kim, she's my celebrity girlfriend, the Famous Actress, Wendy's jealous. She thinks I have feelings for Joanna, and she snapped."
Kim's eyes narrowed. "That's ridiculous. You're just going to stand there and tell me that your girlfriend kidnapped some innocent person because of jealousy?"
Priscoll nodded, his eyes pleading for understanding. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. Wendy's not stable, Kim. She's been getting more and more possessive, and I think she saw Joanna as a threat to our relationship."
Kim's anger flared up. "And you didn't think to stop her? You didn't think to protect Joanna?"
Priscoll shook his head, looking defeated. "I didn't know, Kim. I swear, I didn't know until it was too late. And now...now I don't know what to do, and we can't let the police know"
Kim's eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious, Priscoll. You want to hide the truth from the police? After what Wendy's done?"
Priscoll nodded, his expression grim. "I know it sounds crazy, but I need to protect Wendy, Kim. She's not stable, and if this gets out...it'll ruin her career, her life..."
Kim's voice rose in disbelief. "And what about Joanna? Don't you care about what's happened to her?"
Priscoll's eyes flashed with anger. "Of course I care, Kim. But I need to handle this my way. I need to protect Wendy, and I need your help to do it."
Kim shook her head, incredulous. "You're asking me to cover up a crime, Priscoll. I won't do it."
Priscoll's face twisted in desperation. "Please, Kim. Just listen to me. We can't let the police get involved. We have to handle this ourselves."
Kim's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications. She couldn't believe what Priscoll was asking her to do. But a part of her was curious...what was he hiding? And why was he so desperate to protect Wendy?