Chapter 3

She isn't home!

Edmund gets home at about 2 00 am, he habitually checks up on everyone when he comes back from work late.

“Oh she's deep in sleep, let me not disturb her,” In a soliloquy, Edmund mumbles, looking at the pillows Jane had perfectly arranged to appear like she's covered her head.

A few hours after arriving in the office the next day, Edmund receives a call from Anna complaining that Jane is nowhere to be found. “What are you talking about Anna? I saw her in her room last night sleeping soundly!” Edmund sputters.

Edmund cannot believe Jane has made a fool of him again.

“It appears she made a fool of us sir, she carefully arranged pillows, so it seems she's there,” Anna shutters. Edmund drops the call and goes for a moment of silence, pondering on where he went wrong raising Jane.

He calls his friend, John Wright (Chief Of Police), to inform him about his daughter's disappearance.

“Ed, you know it's not been up to 24 hours since she left the house, so we can't declare her missing yet, but don't worry, I'll get to the bottom of this old friend."

John and Edmund have been friends since childhood. Edmund has assisted John a lot in his moments of great need, ad now seems like the time to return the favour.

“Thank you so much, John, this means a lot. Please do everything in your power to find her,” Edmund utters.

“Don't worry, old friend, we'll do our best to find her,” John replies.

Jane and her friends have just arrived in Brazil. Preparations for the carnival are ongoing. There's music and parades, everyone looks joyful and merry. The town looks beautiful and green. The palm trees and beach umbrellas on the sandy beaches make it even more beautiful.

Approaching the hotel, Greg notices a black Honda Accord, that seems to have been tailing them for a while.

“Could this car be following us?” Greg speaks to himself, looking at the car behind him from his side mirror.

“Is everything ok, babe? You've been staring at your side mirror for a while,” Vanessa asks Greg curiously, noticing he is a little distracted.

“No, it's nothing babe,” Greg replies. He's not quite certain the Honda is following them, so can't make a fuss.

Arriving at the hotel, they get two rooms, one for the boys and the other for the girls. They don't want Jane to feel lonelier than she probably already feels.

“Let's freshen up, eat and go get our costumes for the carnival,” Jane utters excitedly pulling her valise upstairs.

Thirty-three-year-old Steve Archer, AKA Striker, Edmund's former employee, and present stunt enemy have been tailing Jane and her friends since they left New Shire. Steve and two of his boys get a few beautiful costumes for the carnival, they plan to use those to lure Jane and his friends to their car. He instructs his boys on what to do, should the plan be successful.

A few hours later, Jane and her friends go to the boy's room to invite them to shop.

“Sorry I'm so exhausted from the long drive, I need a nap before the party starts," Greg utters covering his sheets.

“Same here” Tyler adds, joining Greg.

The girls are a little disappointed, but they understand that they require rest, especially Greg, who's been driving for hours. As they step out, they're confronted by Steve, who's disguised as a gentleman selling costumes. “Hey, girls, a couple of carnival costumes here for you,” Steve sputters, getting closer to the girls.

Jane and her friends seem excited to have seen costumes, without having to go far. But Jane seems a little more excited. She can't help but notice how dashing and attractive Steve is.

It's 4 00 pm, and they've been worried they might not be back in time to rest and prepare for the carnival that starts at 9 00 pm.

Whilst Vanessa and Olivia are busy scrutinizing the costumes Steve had, Jane is busy admiring Steve. Steve happens to have all the qualities Jane wants in a man. Tall, muscular, and very handsome. He has silver eyes curly hair and a deep but gentle voice.

Jane has been visualizing getting deflowered by a strong-looking man that has the same qualities as Steve and with six solid packs just like Steve's.

“I have more hot costumes at the shop, not far from here, you might want to come to see them,” Steve sputters.

“Oh ok, no problem,” Jane replies, giving Steve a seductive smile while biting her finger and acting diffident. Steve smiles back at Jane charmingly and goes ahead, hoping they follow.

“We can't, we don't even know this man,” Olivia mutters, reprimanding Jane. “

Oh come on, Liv, you're always so paranoid, he's harmless,” Jane replies, smiling and pulling Olivia's hand.

“What was that, Jenny?” Vanessa asks Jane with an all-judgy face and a faint smile.

“What was what?” Jane replies.

“Well I think you have a massive crush on the costume seller over there," Vanessa replies, pausing for a while.

“Come on hotty, don't be ridiculous, we just met this man, and you're already assuming things, please let's go," Jane answers, looking at Vanessa, but moving forward, making sure they don't lose track of Steve.

“Well, you're acting all weird,” Vanessa mutters, following Jane and Olivia. Jane ignores Vanessa's Insinuations and keeps following Steve with a shallow smile.

As they get to the car, Steve's boys step out of the car, coming close to Jane.

“Aren't we close? The shop seems farther than you described,” utters Vanessa, looking at Steve,

“Yeah,” Olivia adds.

Before Jane and her friends can figure out they're with kidnappers, one of Steve's boys grabs Jane, closing her mouth and nose with a kerchief with a chemical sprayed on it that makes her pass out.

“Help, help, somebody, help us,” Vanessa and Olivia scream at the top of their voices, rushing back to the hotel in panic.

Steve drives off with Jane and his boys at full speed.