Chapter 7

Emma and Aiden were back home with their parents and no one said a word to another. The silence around the house made everywhere tense and Emma couldn't take it anymore. She was gradually drowning in guilt and she had to say something.

"Dad", she called out to Burdett who was sitting with his cheeks placed on his palms. He turned to Emma but didn't say a word. She went on anyway,

"Are you and mom still mad at us? We're really sorry for everything. It was bad enough that Marcus had to get kidnapped, and then we just left without appropriate information on where we were going. Please don't stay angry with us forever. Please", she said, tears rushing down her face. Burdett walked over to Emma and sat right beside her.

"Hey, listen darling, we're not angry with you guys. Anything could've happened to you out there. And I thank God you returned safely. We're just worried about Marcus. We don't know what could be happening with him right now. Okay? Don't be sad", he said and pulled her into his arms.

Carla walked over to Aiden and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Although her heart was heavy, she still had to be grateful that her little angels were back to her.

Friends and family had heard about Emma and Aiden's return and had stopped by the Kinney's house to welcome them and also console the family about Marcus's kidnap.

The cops didn't relent in their search. They had enforced a curfew and extensive search was to be made before any vehicle left the city.

* * *

They had finally gotten to their destination, Arizona. Alejandro drove the van into a metro and there, Marcus was put into another vehicle before he was taken to a food depot.

The depot was being used as a front for the exchange of narcotics in the city of Arizona. The exterior was a mini supermarket but on the interior, it was just a factory for the manufacturing and packaging of drugs. This was where all the drugs smuggled in from Mexico were kept.

Alejandro and Sergio got down from the vehicle and pulled Marcus out of the car. All eyes were on them now. They unzipped the post mortem bag and let Marcus, who was still fast asleep, out. Everyone gasped on seeing Marcus.

"Who the hell is that kid?" Someone called out from within.

"Hey, Sergio what's wrong? What is this kid doing here?" Armando, a tall, muscular young man asked, walking over to Sergio. He appeared way too responsible for what he was doing.

Sergio gestured to him and they both walked over to an end of the room,

"He works for Él Ligeró now", Sergio said in a hushed tone.

"What do you mean, he works for Él Ligeró now? How long have you guys been making these plans? You didn't even say anything to me", Armando paused for a while and continued, "How much?"

Sergio looked away for a second and pretended not to have heard the question, "Hmm?"

"How much is his pay? How much are you trading him for?" Armando repeated with a slight irritation in his voice. He knew exactly what Sergio was trying to do. He felt so betrayed by his closest friend.

"It's a good pay. Uno coma dos millones de dólares…. 1.2 million dollars", Sergio replied, still looking away.

"1.2 million dollars?" Armando had lost it. He tried his best to calm down but he just couldn't stop laughing. This is crazy, he thought.

"What's my cut?" he went on.

"Don't worry Armando, four hundred thousand dollars has been kept aside for you", Sergio replied, shoving him in the shoulder and smiling, "I'm sorry I didn't inform you about the plan earlier".

Armando had finally heard what he wanted. His share of the money was safe and this made him grin loudly,

"So when am I getting my cut? And how is the kid crossing the borders? What's the plan? Just give me detailed information about everything", Armando said with so much relief.

"I'll tell you about everything later, okay?" Sergio replied, patting Armando on his chest lightly and walking back to where Marcus lay.

* * *

Saturday morning, everyone was up early but no one seemed to have anything to do.

Just another day to mourn Marcus's abduction. Emma remained in bed, staring at nothing. She was that way for over an hour until Burdett came knocking at her door. It was time for breakfast. She got out of bed and made her way into the bathroom to freshen up then sluggishly pulled herself down, all the way to the dining room where everyone was already seated except her. And maybe, Marcus as well. She took her seat next to Aiden but didn't utter a word. Everything around her felt so different. She just couldn't explain the way she felt. Maybe everyone else felt the same way or maybe they didn't.

Carla had every reason to believe that Marcus was no longer within the city but she wasn't able to voice her fears. She just let it remain the way it was and kept hoping that the cops would bring him home one day, soon.

All they could do was pray.

The story of Marcus's disappearance was on the lips of everyone in the city and different versions of the story had started springing up. Some said he had run away from home to go live with thugs while others said he had stolen from the drug dealers and that was why he was held captive. Some, yet found it difficult to believe the story because if it was true as claimed, the cops would have been able to find him, dead or alive. He didn't just disappear into thin air. Maybe his parents were just making up the whole story to gain sympathy and fame. Everyone at Beacon high school was patiently waiting for Emma and Aiden's return to hear the whole story, first-hand from them.

"Emma, Georgia is here to see you", Carla had come to inform her. She stepped aside and let Georgia into Emma's room then she took one last glance at Emma and left, shutting the door behind her. Georgia slowly advanced towards Emma. Seeing her friend in such a condition really made her desolate. She felt so sorry for her friend and was willing to do anything just to see her smile again.

She sat on the edge of the bed, placing the little care package she brought along on the bed. She was contemplating whether to say a word or just let the moment pass. She had to say something, sooner than later otherwise, she would be moved to tears and this was something she didn't want to happen. She couldn't let Emma see her in tears.

"Emma", Georgia called out. She forced a smile on her face and placed her hand on Emma's right foot, "Hey buddy, how're you doing? Everyone misses you around, yunno? Tell me you'll be in school on Monday, won't you?" Georgia went on. Emma wasn't interested in holding a discussion. Not with her, not with anyone else. She remained the same way as she was when Georgia came in and didn't utter a word.

Georgia didn't relent. She kept on with her questions. This was the very reason she and Emma were best friends.

They had gotten to know each other in fifth grade, when Georgia joined Beacon highschool. Georgia and her family had just moved into the city from Colorado as a result of her Dad's work transfer. Her Dad worked as a computer research scientist in one of the biggest firms in Colorado and as a result of his outstanding contributions to the firm, he was transferred to New York to work with the superior team. Her Dad's income had doubled over and this meant that they got to have anything they wished for.

And you see, that was the problem Emma had with her. She never liked Georgia because Georgia was so quick to show off her newest clothes and shoes. She was an egocentric person and everyone else in 5th grade didn't like her as well. She never wasted time to spell it out to all that she was from a wealthy family and this irritated Emma a lot. Emma was always so quick to pick on Georgia and this made them hate each other a lot.

It all happened on a Wednesday morning in 5th grade, a boy named Jake had tricked Georgia into sitting on a chair which had a loose nail on. This got hooked to her skirt. When Georgia tried standing up, her skirt got ripped and she was left in her underpants. Everyone jeered and laughed at her. She sat there, knowing no one was coming to her rescue and sobbed.

Emma, on seeing everything that had happened, took pity on her and walked over. She handed Georgia her sweater. At least she could tie it on, till her parents were able to bring her some clothes, Emma thought.

Then she turned to Jake and threw a punch in his face. This sent blood gushing down his nose.

Emma got sent out of school for a week for punching Jake in the face.

When she returned, Georgia was the first to welcome her with a little gift pack. Since then, they started hanging out more often and spent more time in each other's house.

"Emma", Georgia called in a teary voice. Emma finally turned to her. She didn't want to make her friend cry and she couldn't keep ignoring her. She reached for Georgia's hand and held on to it, then gave a wry smile.

"I don't want you to be mad at me for the attitude I've been putting up lately. But it's been really difficult for us since Marcus was taken. And to think that we were close to finding him", she said and heaved a sigh.

"Listen Emma, I understand how you feel, okay? I have faith that Marcus will be found soon. You just have to take it easy on yourself, please. Everyone at school misses you. They'd love to see you back. Will you make it on Monday?"

"Definitely. I'll try my best to be at school. I just pray Marcus is safe wherever he is right now".

* * *

The articulated truck which was to be used in smuggling Marcus out of the States was ready for the trip. It had been filled up with 25 tonnes of polyvinyl chloride. A space had been reserved amongst the goods. That was where Marcus would be kept. He was wrapped up once more and an oxygen tank was attached to the bag to enable him to breath. If anything was going to be done to rescue Marcus, it was now or never.

The vehicle was ready to take off. The driver got on the wheels and started the engine. It revved for a while and then zoomed off.

It was an estimated journey of five hours. So the vehicle was to arrive in Nogales, Mexico at past eight in the evening.

There, Sergio's cousin, Gustavo would pick Marcus up and take him to his apartment till they were ready for him to meet Él Ligeró.