A letter to the post man

Back at the house, Alex and Nath were deeply engrossed in their research about my disappearance. Papers, maps, and a laptop were sprawled across the table as they worked tirelessly, their determination unshaken. The tension was palpable, but they refused to give in to despair.

It wasn't long before Nath's phone buzzed. Seeing the name on the screen, he sighed and answered.

"Hello?"

From the other end, Catharine's voice came through, calm and reassuring.

"Honey, how's it going?" she asked gently.

Nath's tone remained as steady and neutral as ever. "Everything is fine," he replied curtly.

"When will you be coming back? I've missed you so much," Catharine added, her voice filled with longing.

Nath's expression was unreadable as he hesitated before replying. "I have to deal with something. I'll be back as soon as I'm done. Take care of yourself," he said, his voice firm as he attempted to end the call.

Before he could hang up, Catharine's voice rose, desperate and filled with emotion. "I love you!" she yelled, her words echoing in the silence.

Nath paused for a moment, his jaw tightening. "Okay," he said briefly. "Let's talk later." Clearing his throat, he turned back to Alex, ready to refocus on their task. "Let's continue," he said briskly.

The two of them delved into their investigation, searching for any leads that could point them toward Reina's location. They looked into Carl's rivals, sifting through names and histories, but no one seemed suspicious enough to fit the profile. Frustration mounted as dead ends piled up.

Then, something clicked in Nath's mind. He recalled the angle at which their tire had been shot and where Reina's earring had fallen. His mind raced, piecing together the clues like fragments of a puzzle.

"We need to revisit the area," he declared, standing abruptly. Alex nodded in agreement, and the two of them grabbed their jackets before heading out.

Returning to the scene of the incident, they examined the surroundings with fresh eyes. The tire tracks from their car were still faintly visible, etched into the dirt road. Following the tracks, they ventured further into the area, their eyes scanning every detail. Suddenly, the tracks disappeared, leaving them at a loss.

Nath stood still, his shoulders slumping in disappointment. "We're so close," he muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his tone. He felt the weight of failure pressing down on him, but he refused to give up.

Determined to search every inch of the area, Nath began walking in circles, his gaze sharp and focused. Then, something caught his eye—a glint of metal mounted high on a pole. His heart leaped with renewed hope.

"Alex! Look!" he shouted, pointing excitedly. "A camera!"

Alex's face lit up as he followed Nath's gaze. The camera was perched atop a store, positioned to overlook the street. The two exchanged a look of triumph, their spirits lifting.

"We need to see that footage," Nath said urgently. Without wasting a moment, they rushed into the store.

Inside, they approached the store owner, a middle-aged man who looked up from his newspaper with mild curiosity. Nath explained the situation, his tone firm but respectful. When the owner hesitated, Nath pulled out his wallet and handed him a wad of cash.

"This is important," Nath said earnestly. The man sighed but eventually nodded, leading them to the security room.

Sitting before the monitor, Nath and Alex quickly began scanning through the footage. They set the date and time to when Reina had sent them her desperate message for help. Minutes felt like hours as they watched the screen, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

Then, they saw it—a car pulling up near Reina's location. It matched the description of the vehicle Nath had in mind. Zooming in, they managed to capture the number plate: 4561.

"Got it," Nath said, grabbing a notepad and scribbling the number down.

Alex leaned back, exhaling sharply. "We're one step closer," he said, his voice filled with hope.

Nath nodded, his mind already racing with their next move. "We need to take this to the police. They'll help us track down the owner of this vehicle."

It didn't take long for the police to process their request. Within hours, Nath and Alex had a name and address for the owner of the car. The realization that they were closing in on Reina filled them with a renewed sense of purpose.

As the day came to an end, Nath made a decision. "I'm staying over at your house tonight," he told Alex. "We're getting closer, but I need to focus without any hindrance for us to move forward."

Back at Reina's house, Nath sat in the dimly lit living room, the silence surrounding him like a heavy blanket. Despite the progress they had made, his thoughts were restless. His mind replayed the events of the day, and he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.

Somewhere out there, Reina was waiting for them. And Nath vowed silently to himself that he wouldn't stop until she was safe.