the millionaire was startled by a call from his daughter while on a business trip the little girl tearfully choked Dad

Mommy’s been arrested and taken to jail which sent him into a panic but when he rushed to the location

the sight before him caused him to collapse because the person behind bars was

the 60 ton behemoth reared up crushing the intricate chassis of the supercar beneath it

twisting and shattering the expensive metal fragments Ryan Davis clearly felt the violent vibration

transfer through the control stick spreading down his arm and stimulating every taut nerve

he had just signed a 3 billion dollar merger deal and the act of turning luxury toys into scrap metal

was his way of asserting his position a game changer through the thick bulletproof glass

Ryan saw the crowd of partners and stunning models cheering and raising their glasses in congratulations

they looked at him like a king but Ryan didn’t care in the slightest he shifted the lever

about to continue crushing the next obstacle when a bright red dot on the control panel on the right

flashed repeatedly the emergency satellite phone the hotline was reserved only for Charlotte

the exhilaration of the conqueror vanished replaced by the instinct of a father Ryan turned off the engine

the roaring machine gradually subsided into a stifling silence he removed his leather gloves

reached for the phone and a slight curve touched his lips by now in Chicago

Charlotte was probably eager to show off a new doll or was whining for her father to buy her a pony

what gift do you want Princess Ryan put the phone to his ear expecting the familiar ringing laughter

but the response was a chaotic void echoing sirens the heavy thump of footsteps on hard tile

and the dry metallic clang of objects hitting each other slammed against his eardrum

Daddy Charlotte’s voice was fractured small and drowned out by the noisy background

there was no coaxing only raw fear Charlotte where are you why is it so loud

please come home Dad Mommy’s locked up the child’s choked sobs broke up her sentence

someone put handcuffs on Mommy onto an iron chair she’s crying a lot the smile on Ryan’s face froze

he gripped the phone trying to process the absurd words he just heard Karen was in the safest penthouse in Chicago

protected by a state of the art security system and a professional household staff handcuffs iron chair

those things did not belong in his wife’s world calm down and tell daddy

is Mommy Karen playing a game with you no not Mommy Karen

Charlotte wailed her cries heartbreaking it’s Mommy Mary Mommy Mary was taken by the police officer

I’m so scared Daddy the unfamiliar name Mary struck Ryan’s mind like a punch

Karen was gone a strange woman named Mary was arrested and his daughter was in some police station

instead of at home a chilling sensation ran down Ryan’s spine sweeping away the scorching heat of the desert

I’m coming home to you right now wait for me a little bit Ryan didn’t wait for an answer

he violently tossed his helmet onto the floor of the vehicle kicking open the cockpit door

he jumped down from the massive machine ignoring the astonished looks of the crowd approaching to congratulate him

get out of the way Ryan brushed aside a congratulatory glass of champagne

offered by a partner and sprinted toward the helipad the arrogant look of the millionaire vanished

replaced by the utter panic of a father who had lost his child he leaped into the cabin

signaling to the resting pilot start the engine fly back to Chicago right now

but sir we haven’t checked the mechanics or filed for a flight plan I said fly now or you’ll be fired

before the rotor even turns the helicopter engine roared

the blades began to slice into the air creating swirling gusts of wind that obscured visibility with thick dust

Ryan sat in the cabin hands tightly clasped together to stop the trembling staring intently at the distant horizon

the phone in his hand had lost signal but Charlotte’s cries about the locked up mother still echoed in his ears

signaling a terrible storm waiting for him on the other side of the sky

the desert dust had receded replaced by grey clouds indicating they were nearing the north

the monotonous ringing tone continued ending with the automated voice announcing a full voicemail box

Ryan bit his lip patiently calling a second then a third time still only absolute silence from his wife’s side

Karen never turned off her phone especially knowing he was on a business trip and might call at any moment to check in

this silence was not like her at all it carried a bad omen Ryan redirected the call home

after three rings the shaky voice of the housekeeper answered Mr Davis you’re back

where is Karen why can’t I reach her where is Charlotte

the line went silent for a long moment only the sound of hurried breathing sir the mistress

the mistress took Miss Charlotte out a long time ago out where to the weather in Chicago is below freezing

and Charlotte has a slight fever who gave her permission to take the child out I tried to stop her sir

I told her the little girl needed medicine and rest but the mistress she said the child needed some fresh air

she drove out herself not letting me or the chauffeur follow she said she wanted some private time with her daughter

Ryan hung up his hand clenched into a fist private time with his daughter

a clumsy lie the image of Karen reappeared in his mind clearer and more stark than ever

two years ago he married her for her glamorous appearance and social Grace qualities perfect for the position of a large corporation’s wife

but behind that facade was a carefully nurtured narcissistic soul he recalled the times Charlotte ran to her

wanting her mother to read a story and Karen would just frown at her freshly painted nails

then call the nanny to take the child away afraid of staining her expensive silk dress

the idea of Karen personally taking care of her sick child was unthinkable

her taking the child out on a severe winter afternoon was even more irrational

Ryan dialed the personal line of the Chicago police chief reserved for VIP donors

Chief Miller speaking this is Ryan Davis my daughter Charlotte