35

The next day, Rue found herself seated at an interrogation table, nervously glancing around, wondering who might be watching and if there were a group of people analyzing her.

"Is that all?" Jim asked in the most professional manner he could muster, though he made an effort to conceal his disdain for her.

"Can I file a report?" she asked.

"Related to this case?" he inquired.

"No, regarding domestic abuse and child kidnapping," she replied.

Despite her family's warnings to stay away from the Kings affair, Rue had decided that enough was enough, and she needed to straighten everything out before moving on.

Jim hesitated, glancing over at his partner and then back to Rue. She could tell he either didn't believe her or didn't care, but ethically, he was obligated to listen to her. "If you say so," he shrugged.

"Are you the victim?" Jim's partner asked.

"No, my sister. She is a minor."

"She was kidnapped?" he continued, jotting down notes.

"No, she was abused, and her child was kidnapped by the Kings' Family."

The man stopped writing, closed his small notebook, and gazed at her wordlessly for a moment.

"The King family?" Rue was certain he knew the family she was referring to, as who didn't?

"Their son, Joe, is the child's father... but he has denied the mother access," Rue elaborated.

He scrutinized her for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "We will investigate and keep you updated," he finally said.

It was evident to Rue that nothing substantial would be done. His words were merely a formality to placate her.

"Please do," she feigned politeness.

Rue found Tony waiting for her, along with a group of girls she had seen in the videos, waiting to be interrogated. Xana wasn't around; she had opted to drive the twins to their aunt's before the police arrived to take Mr. Fox into custody.

Rue exhaled, relieved to be done with that part.

She looked around, checking to see if Mr. Fox had been brought in. She badly wanted to confront him, but Tony stayed close to ensure she didn't.

Her phone vibrated, and she checked the message.

Xana: He is missing.

Rue: Who?

She assumed Xana meant her father but needed confirmation.

Xana: My father, he just took off. The police are tearing our house apart.

Rue quickly pocketed her phone.

"Let's go. I'll explain," she said, walking away as Tony followed.

By the time Rue and Tony arrived, the media and public were swarming. The story had leaked, and everyone seemed to know.

Rue had no time to feel shame or fear as she got out of the car. She pushed through the crowd, searching for her friend. People glanced at their phones and pointed at her as she walked.

She removed her phone and unlocked it. She scrolled through her social media until she found her naked form plastered all over it.

Before she could react, Tony grabbed her phone from her hand. "This is unacceptable," he said, snatching another phone from a nearby woman and smashing it on the ground.

"I'll have it removed from the internet," he declared, walking away toward the car. He smashed several more phones and threw a punch at a man who had thrown the first.

He got into his car and drove away.

"Isn't that you?" Rue turned to a reporter thrusting a microphone in her face.

She pushed it aside and continued walking until she spotted Xana outside what used to be her home.

She hurried there, Xana was with Veronica.

"Let's get inside," she said.

Rue and Xana followed her into the old house. Rue was surprised to see that Veronica had already begun renovating. She tore it apart. Her father would have a heart attack if he saw what they did to his family home.

"Did he know the police were coming?" Rue asked Xana.

Xana shook her head, looking away. "No. I came in the morning and told him I wanted to visit our aunt with the twins."

"He's always been a coward. He couldn't face the consequences of his actions," Veronica remarked.

Xana went to the window and peeked at her house, where the raid was ongoing.

"Do you have any idea where he could have gone?" Rue asked.

"I don't know," Xana replied, almost annoyed by the question.

"Okay, we'll wait for the police to finish and tell us what they found or what the next course of action is."

"I'm not going to wait; I'm going there now," Xana announced, heading for the door.

Rue was about to leave too when a landscaper entered. The house was still under construction, as was the outside. He seemed horrified.

"You need to come and see this," he said to Veronica.

"Today is chaotic. Can't it wait for another day?" Veronica brushed him off.

"There won't be another day," the man insisted.

"Fine," she sighed.

Everything was happening so fast, as if they were all waiting for one thing to happen before everything else poured in.

Rue followed Veronica. She wanted to leave but had no means, so she hoped Xana would drive her later.

As she followed them, she was hit with a sense of déjà vu. It was the same path she had taken when she found her father dead.

"Look what we found," the man said as his crew gathered around a hole they had dug. It was the exact place she had found her father. She moved closer to see what they were talking about and froze when she saw what was inside.

"It's human remains," Veronica muttered.