Chapter 11 - THE NIGHT OLIVER DISAPPEARED
The nightmare began at a children's birthday party.
Oliver had been invited by a classmate.
I stayed nearby.
Alexander's security team monitored the venue from a distance.
For an hour, everything was normal.
Cake.
Balloons.
Children laughing.
Then the fire alarm sounded.
People began moving toward the exits.
I reached for Oliver.
But he wasn't beside me.
My heart stopped.
“Oliver?”
I looked around.
“Oliver!”
The room was chaos.
Parents gathering children.
Staff directing people outside.
I ran toward the hallway.
Then I saw Captain Pickles.
Lying on the floor.
My knees weakened.
I grabbed the stuffed dinosaur.
“Oliver!”
I called Alexander.
My voice broke.
“He's gone.”
Silence.
Then Alexander said:
“I'm coming.”
Police arrived quickly.
Security footage showed a man leading Oliver toward a service corridor.
Graham Voss.
My world collapsed.
Alexander arrived.
He looked at the footage.
His face went white.
For the first time, I saw him lose control.
He slammed his fist against the wall.
Then stopped.
He looked at me.
“We're getting him back.”
I clutched Captain Pickles.
“You'd better.”
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Because this time, I wasn't losing my son.
Not to anyone.
