by JL Davis
“Thanks, Jessa. I’ll call you right back.”
I hang up and google the hospital’s number. I get directed to the emergency room and Kayson hasn’t come in. My heart sinks. I try Nathan once more and no answer again. What is going on?”
I call Jessa back. “He isn’t at the hospital. What do I do, Jessa?” Where could she be with him? “Did Alex answer?”
“Sorry. No. I tried George, too. Hopefully they’ll be back soon. Do you want me to come over?”
“Please. I’m freaking out.” The tears start falling. I’m so scared.
“Everything’s gonna be okay. I love you. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks, Jessa.”
I walk around the house looking for anything that might stand out. Nothing jumps out at me, giving me any idea to where they are or what could have happened.
Jessa comes rushing in. “Brittany!”
I run to her and start crying. “I don’t know what’s happened and Nathan still hasn’t called me back.
Nathan startles both of us. “What’s wrong?” I rush into his arms.
“Callie and Kayson are gone. Did she call you? Where are they, Nathan?”
“What do you mean they’re gone?”
“They weren’t here when I got home a little while ago. I’ve called her a few times and it goes straight to voicemail. I even called the hospital in case of an accident. They aren’t there, Nathan.”
“I think you need to call the police, Nathan,” Jessa says, concerned.
“Why would she leave with him and not call us? It makes no sense, she’s not answering the fucking phone,” I say, walking to Kayson’s room. I open his closet and my heart sinks. “Nathan!” I scream.
Nathan comes running. “What is… oh my God. That fucking little bitch. She’s taken him.” All of Kayson’s clothes are gone. I open the drawers in his dresser. They’re all empty.
Nathan’s on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator. “My son’s been kidnapped. Please hurry.”
“Alex is on his way,” Jessa says, walking back into the room. “Do you know where she lives?”
Nathan’s pacing the floor. “I believe in Brentwood. I’m not sure where, though. Fuck! I’d just gotten him and now he’s gone. What if I don’t see him again? What if she’s hurt him?” he says, his chin quivering then he collapses onto the floor and begins to cry.
I drop down beside him in tears. It breaks my heart to see him like this. It breaks my heart not knowing where Kayson is and what could possibly be happening. Is he hurt? Is he hungry? Is he scared?
“Why would she do this?” Nathan weeps.
I can hear sirens in the distance. A few minutes later Jessa opens the door for the officers. They ask several questions. Most we don’t know the answer to. They’re questions we’ve already asked ourselves.
The officers get in touch with the daycare owner and get an address for Callie and the make, model and color of her car.
“Mr. Beckam, we’re going to check Ms. Hart’s apartment and we will call you as soon as we know anything. We will also have a search party organized and an Amber alert, as well, to find your son. We will do everything we can. Please, as hard as it will be, stay here in case she happens to come back.”
“She’s not coming back. She’s taken all his clothes. You expect me to sit here and do nothing while my son is missing. I can’t fucking do that. I won’t!” Nathan yells.
“I’m sorry. Nathan is just extremely worried about his baby boy. Please understand. I want to add that before we left this evening, Callie was a bit different. She seemed like something was bothering her. She insisted she was fine, so I thought nothing of it. If I wouldn’t have left, Kayson would still be here with us. I’m so sorry, Nathan.” My voice cracks and tears begin falling again.
“Ms. Campbell, you can’t blame yourself. You had no idea what was going through her mind or that she was going to take him. We’ve gotten enough information to move forward. I’ll be in touch,” the officer says sympathetically before he leaves.
It feels as if time is standing still. It’s been two hours since I’ve come home and found them gone. Everything was perfect a few short hours ago and now our world is crumbling around us.
Alex comes in. “Any word?”
“Nothing yet,” I sigh.
Nathan has shut down. He hasn’t said anything in the last hour or so. I’ve tried everything to help him, to bring him back to me. Nothing is working. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling, what he’s thinking.
Nathan’s phone rings. “Hello,” he says quickly.
“She’s what! No, I didn’t know. If I had, I would never have let her near my son. Where is she?”
After Nathan hangs up, his fist goes through the wall. “Fuuuuuuck!” He screams. His hand now bleeding. I run to the kitchen and grab him a towel.
“What did they say?”
“Callie is Jeff’s daughter. They went to her address and she wasn’t there. They have an officer watching her house.”
“What! Oh my God! Do you think he’s behind this?”
“He has to be. Now when she’s caught, she will be going to prison, all because of that piece of shit. He not only ruined his own life, he’s now ruined his daughter’s life. If he wasn’t already in jail, I’d fucking kill him!” Nathan yells. “They have officers on the way to the jail to question Jeff now.” He sits on the couch, his head dropping into his hands. “I feel so helpless. I can’t just sit here.” He stands, pacing the floor again.
“Nathan, they’re gonna find him.” I grab his face, making him look at me, trying to bring him back. I know he’s scared, but he needs to focus and be strong for Kayson.
A couple of hours later, Nathan’s phone rings. “Yes. I will. I’ll be right there.” He hangs up. “We have to go,” he says, grabbing his keys and Kayson’s favorite toy truck.
“Where are we going?” I run after him.
“To the police station. They wouldn’t tell me why or what, just to get there.”
“We’re coming with you,” Alex says, following behind us.
Nathan flies down the highway to get there. “Nathan, slow down. You won’t be much help if you wreck the fucking truck!” I yell.
“I’m so scared. Why wouldn’t they tell me what’s happening? What if Kayson’s hurt? I need to get there. He needs me.” His voice cracks.
We pull into the station parking lot. Nathan slams on the breaks and rushes inside. I turn off the truck and we all hurry inside behind him.
I walk in and see Nathan on the floor crying. “What’s happened?”
“Ms. Campbell, we got a search warrant and checked Ms. Harts apartment. We found some blood spatter on the floor.” I drop to the floor with Nathan and pull him to me, rubbing his back. We’re both crying. Alex and Jessa are right beside us, trying to console us. “We are not sure the blood is Kayson’s. It’s gone to the lab to be tested. Did you bring something with Kayson’s DNA?”
“Yes.” Nathan reaches into his pocket and hands the officer the toy truck. It’s placed into a bag.
“We are sending this now and will have a rush on the results. We should know in just a few hours. Please think positive. It may not be your son’s.” The officer walks away.
The longer we wait the harder this becomes. Nathan’s sobbing. “My boy, my little buddy. What if I never see him again? I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t live without him. Please God. Bring him back to me.” He looks up, pleading for help. Seeing him like this, it’s killing me. There’s nothing I can do to make it better, to help with his pain.
I touch his face. He leans into my hand. “Baby. What can I do? Tell me. I’ll do anything. Do you want some coffee or maybe some water?”
Nathan sniffles. “Yes. Coffee would be good.” “Okay. I’ll be right back.” I look at Jessa and Alex. “I’ll stay with him.” Alex nods. I mouth a thank you. Jessa stands. “I’ll come with you,” she says, putting her
arm around my shoulders, pulling me close
. “Brittany, this is so crazy. I can’t believe that bitch took him.” “I can’t either. She seemed so nice. She was so good with Kayson. I thought she seemed familiar. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before how much she resembles Jeff. It’s sad he has her doing his dirty work for him. It’s gonna ruin her life. I can’t believe he’d do that to his family, and for what? Nathan did nothing to him. He only got what he deserved for touching me. Jeff must still believe that Nathan caused the fire. He didn’t, and even if he did, what would it matter? Jeff’s gonna be in prison for a long ass time. It doesn’t add up.”
On our way back, I see the officers speaking to Nathan. “Whose blood is it then?” Nathan asks.
“We’re not sure. It didn’t match anyone in the system. The blood belongs to someone who has never been in police custody or convicted of anything. It’s hard to say. It could be anyone’s. I’m sorry we don’t have any new information at this time. Please, go home. As soon as we learn anything, I’ll call you. There isn’t anything you can do here.”
“You’ve said that before. It’s pissing me off. Nothing is getting done. I’m going on my own search,” Nathan says, walking away. We all follow behind him to the truck.
“What are we gonna do, Nathan?”
“I don’t know. I can’t just sit and do nothing like they suggest I do. Each second Kayson could be getting further away. I have to look for him.”
“Let’s go home and think of any possible places she’s mentioned. We can think of others that could possibly be helping her. Do you really think an eighteen-year-old could be doing this alone? I don’t.”
Nathan sighs. “Okay.”
“We will help, too,” Alex says.
“Thanks man. I’m sorry I’ve been a little crazy. This is getting to me. I know I need to stay calm so I can think clearly and find him.”
“Nathan, I can’t imagine how you’re feeling. Don’t apologize. Jessa and I are here to help.”
Walking back into the house and knowing Kayson isn’t here, not hearing his little laugh or even his cry almost brings me to tears. I can’t cry. I need to be strong for Nathan.
We all gather around the kitchen table. Nathan and I try our hardest to think of anything Callie may have said to help us find Kayson.
“Friends. Does she have any friends?” Jessa asks.
“I’m sure she does, but she’s never mentioned any,” I sigh. “We didn’t talk too much outside of Kayson.”
“What about her mother? Her and Jeff are still married. Have they contacted her?” Alex asks.
“I’ll call the station and see,” Nathan says.
“Ask if they checked the warehouse, too. I’m sure they have, but just in case,” I add.
Nathan sighs, hanging up. “They can’t find the mother, either. They checked her house and no one is there. They learned Jeff has a vacation home about two hours away. There are officers on the way now.”
“Do you think the mother could be involved?” Jessa asks.
“The way she was acting on the news, she’s behind him one hundred percent. There’s a good possibility she is. It would make sense. I’m sure Callie couldn’t do this on her own. They wouldn’t tell me where the house is. They must know I’d go there,” Nathan says, rubbing his hands over his face.
“They’ll find him. They have too. I love you.” I pull him close and kiss him.
“I love you too,” he says, caressing my face. “I’m so glad you’re here, all of you.” He looks at each of us. “Thanks, y’all.”
Nathans phone rings. “Yeah. Is he hurt? Yes. Okay. Thank you.”
“They found him. They’ll be back in about two hours and want us to meet them at the station. I’m so relieved. He’s fine.” Nathan breaks down again, only this time they’re happy tears.
“They took him to the vacation house? Was Callie’s mom there with them?” I ask. I have so many questions.
Nathan nods. “She was. They’ve arrested Callie and her mother and bringing them in for questioning.”
It feels as if I’d lost a few years of my life in the hours waiting, not knowing where Kayson was, if he was okay and seeing Nathan fall apart before my eyes. The pain I felt inside for him, and there was nothing I could do to take it away.
Those two hours felt like days, but finally passed. They felt like a lifetime. I can only imagine just how long it felt for Nathan. We are sitting in the police station. Well, Alex, Jessa and I are sitting. Nathan’s pacing again. He can’t be still. He’s so excited to reunited with his son.
The officers come through the door carrying Kayson. As soon as Kayson sees Nathan he screams. “Daddy! Daddy!” He has the biggest smile on his little face. He’s squirming in the officer’s arms to get to Nathan. As soon as his little feet hit the floor he runs to his daddy. Nathan drops to his knees and wraps Kayson into his arms. He begins crying with happiness. Seeing them together again gives me goosebumps and tears begin to fall. I rush to them and when Kayson sees me he grins. “Brit-ey! Brit-ey!” He lunges for me, wrapping his little arms around my neck. We fall backwards on the floor and he’s giggling. I’ve missed that little laugh so much.
I look at Nathan and the happiness turns to fury. The fire in his eyes, he looks like he could kill. He stands and walks towards the officer’s walking Callie and her mother through the doors. He rushes toward them.
“Mr. Beckam, please do not speak to them. I know you have many questions, as do we,” the officer says.
The look on Callie’s face is fear, sympathy and sorrow. She begins crying. “I’m so sorry. They made me do it. Please. Please. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I had no choice,” she pleas.
“Shut up, Callie. Don’t say another word,” her mother says. She seems to have no regrets for what she did. She looks like more of a bitch in person than on TV.
“No. This wasn’t my idea. You made me do it!” she cries. “I’m not going to prison for you. I hate you.”
“Shut up, Callie!” the mother screams.
One of the other officers walks up to Nathan. “Mr. Beckam. Please take your son to the hospital to be sure he’s okay and we will be in touch in a few hours.”
Kayson was given the all clear. He wasn’t harmed in any way. He’s so young, he shouldn’t have any emotional damage or remember what happened.
We make it back home and Kayson runs to his room to play. We all sit at the kitchen table and try to regroup. Things could have ended very differently. I’m not sure what that woman wanted in the outcome, but luckily she was caught.
“Thanks, y’all, for being here for us. I’m sorry this is how the night ended. Well, morning I mean.”
“It’s fine, Nathan. We didn’t really do anything to help. We’re so glad you got Kayson back. Take a few days off to spend some time with him. We will be fine,” Alex says, standing and looking to Jessa. “Come on, babe. Let’s get you home.”
Nathan stands. “Thanks man. Just being here for us was a big help. I’m grateful to have y’all. Kayson, too.” He hugs Alex.
Jessa and I smile at each other and stand, hugging before they leave. After they leave we walk into Kayson’s room, watching him play with his trucks.
“So many scenarios went through my mind. I was so worried I’d never see him again. I can’t believe he’s here and safe,” Nathan says, tears forming in his eyes.
I wrap my arms around his waist. “Me, too.” I sigh. “He’s such a wonderful boy, Nathan. I’m so glad to have you both in my life.”
“We’re the lucky ones. Having you here with Kayson and me these last few months are more than I could’ve hoped for. I love you so much,” he says.
“I love you too. More than you’ll ever know.”
“Since I’m off for a few days, do you think Alex would mind if you take off too? We could go away and relax, all of us before the wedding.”
“I’m not sure. Jessa said everything’s ready for the wedding. I don’t see why not. I have a lot of vacation days saved
up. What do you have in mind?”
“I have a cabin in northern Missouri right on the river. It’s peaceful and so beautiful there. Call Alex and see. We can be back the day before the wedding in case they need help with anything.”
“That sounds great. I’ll call him now.” This is exciting and just what we need.
While I’m talking with Alex, Nathan gets a call.
Alex said it would be fine to take some time if we’re back for the wedding. I assured him we’d be back the day before in case they need our help.
“Alex is fine with it. Who was that?”
“The detective that’s on the case. He said Callie has been extremely cooperative and even refused a lawyer. She’s willing to throw her mother under the bus for immunity. They believe that she’s telling the truth. Her mother forced her to kidnap Kayson. Jeff had nothing to do with it. Her mother wanted revenge on me. The detectives found three plane tickets. They were leaving tomorrow. We might have never seen Kayson again.” He sighs.
“The way Calllie acted, I kinda believe she’s telling the truth.”
“Me, too. I just want to let the police handle it. Kayson’s here. He’s safe. I want to forget for a few days and enjoy my time with him. Let’s get packed and sleep for a few hours and then we can head out. I mentioned to the police that we will be out of town for a few days, if they need me to just call me.”
After some much needed sleep, we’re loading the truck and almost ready to get out of here. Some time to relax is just what we need after all the drama we’ve been through together.
The truck is loaded and we’re off. It will take about six hours to get to New Haven. That will put us to the cabin at about eight o’clock. That gives us just enough time to unload before it gets dark.
The drive has been a bit quiet. It’s given us both time to think. It’s given me the time to think about how my life would be without Nathan, if we’d never started dating. I’m positive it would be much simpler, organized, even controlled. I’ve come to realize that everything in my life doesn’t need to be in order or done at certain times or done certain ways. Sometimes the unknown is a good thing. If I hadn’t given him a chance that day I wouldn’t be here right now. I wouldn’t be in love with Nathan. I wouldn’t love the amazing little boy in the backseat. I’d be alone. I had gotten used to that and thought I was okay with that most of the time. I wasn’t.