Merrville County

  Fell's Springs

  Patterson Residence

  Russo, Dave's ever faithful German shepherd, trots into the kitchen and flops under the table. Madison enters a few seconds behind Russo, Titus in tow. The corgi mutt yips at Russo the entire time. Russo mostly ignores his tiny companion, resting his giant head on his paws and watching Octavia's activities from underneath the table.

  Madison pulls out one of the fancy wooden chairs and slowly sits down. She smiles wistfully, angling her body and running a hand over the chair's soft back. There is an identical set of chairs in James' second home. Detective Patterson had insisted she must have her own set, after viewing James' chairs at a Halloween party. James had promptly seen to it. Oh, that James; her tenderhearted, goofy husband.

  Octavia turns to observe her unhappy friend. The woman detective picks up the two mugs of hot coffee, she has just finished preparing, and walks over to the table. Adjusting the front of her pink silk robe, to prevent it from opening up, Octavia calmly sits down across from Madison.

  "How are you doing, Madison? Talk to me? What's going on in your head?" Octavia says, sliding one of the full mugs of coffee to Madison.

  "Jamie...Oh goodness. My Jamie! Somebody has my Jamie," Madison says, before beginning to sob.

  Octavia climbs to her feet. She goes to stand behind Madison, hugging the younger woman's shoulders over the back of the chair.

  "Ssh, Madison. It's okay," Octavia whispers, pressing her cheek into Madison's hair. "I'm here for you, Madison. Just cry. I'm here."

  "Oh, Octavia. I can't stand this. That bastard has my son. And James...The way that evil man was talking about James. Oh my goodness. No, I won't believe it."

  "Madison, listen," Octavia says, rocking her friend back and forth in her arms. "I'm gonna tell you a story. A story...I've never told anyone else. But I want you to listen to me. It's important. Okay?"

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  "Okay," Madison manages between a jerky sob.

  Octavia releases Madison long enough to grab a chair and place it beside Madison's. She puts both hands over Madison's hands on the tabletop.

  "When I was just starting out in undercover work...We made contact with a young mother. She gave us a solid tip about some trafficking activities going down, and a few guys she knew were involved. Now, this woman had a son too. A little boy named Ryan. Ryan's father was one of the key guys in charge of the trafficking ring. She'd come to us anonymously because...She was worried about her safety. And that of her son."

  Octavia takes a moment to collect her thoughts, peering up at the clock on the opposite wall. When she meets Madison's gaze again, her eyes are filled with tears.

  "Well, one of our agents decided to get clever. He started doing some digging. He was certain that our tipster knew more than she was letting on. The way our agent saw it, this tipster was just a dog upset with her masters. That's literally what he said later on. After a week or two of asking around, he eventually figured out who she was....Our tipster. And, he confronted her. Two days later, she and her son were found dead in an icy river. Their car had gone over a ravine. Her name was Bianca Belford. I'll never forget that name."

  Octavia takes a deep breath, and a small sip of her coffee. She offers Madison a sad smile before continuing with her narrative.

  "Bianca's death was ruled a murder-suicide. But, I never bought it. Yes, the young woman was scared. But, Bianca loved her son. She would never have killed him. The night Bianca was confronted by our agent, she called down to the station. She asked the Chief why it'd been necessary to seek her out. She argued...She'd given us every bit of information she had. Of course, he had no idea what she was talking about. Bianca begged the Chief to protect her son. She wasn't even concerned about her own safety. Only that of her son. Again, there was nothing he could do. Not without blowing the whole case. I don't believe that Bianca killed that little boy. I'll never believe it. Some people are too full of love. That's the energy I always got from Bianca."

  Octavia's smile grows wider and she squeezes Madison's hands with her own. Madison returns the woman detective's smile, a single tear running down her left cheek.

  "It's the same energy I get from you and James," Octavia continues in a soft voice. "I know James is innocent. And I know you're a wonderful mother, Madison. I have to believe...In this universe...That counts for something. Everything will be fine. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, Madison. And...We're gonna find Little Jamie. Come hell or high water. I promise. It'll take time, but everything will work out okay. You've got me, Dave, and Detective Samuels backing you up. Those kidnappers really fugged up when they messed with the Mackey's. Rest assured. They are gonna pay."

  Madison smiles back at her friend. The strength and sincerity in Octavia's voice gives her hope.

  "Thanks, Octavia," Madison says.

  "You're welcome," Octavia replies, hugging her heartbroken friend tight.