He unlocked the door and the couple entered, laughing.
They had just gotten back from a date; an expensive French restaurant in downtown Orlando called Rivera Café. It had been relaxing to get away from life, even for a moment. The couple had a kid and life could get too crowded and hectic at times.
“That French food was divine!” she exclaimed, kissing him on the cheek. “Thanks for taking me.”
He chuckled. “Seems like you’re widening your vocabulary. But you’re welcome.”
They stopped their excited chattering when they noticed the mess in the large three-story home. The foyer held a deathly silence, like a secret that couldn’t be told.
“Oh my God…what happened?” she murmured, stepping over a chair.
“I don’t know,” he said, following her.
“Where’s the babysitter? Where’s our son? Is anybody home?” She became hysteric.
“I don’t know!” he repeated. He ran into the living room, stopping only once to survey the mess in here too.
After a complete search, he walked slowly back to the foyer, and to his frantic wife. “He’s gone,” he said softly. “Our son is gone. Kidnapped. They-the kidnappers-didn’t leave anything.”
He rushed forward to catch his wife as she fainted.
A few minutes later, the police arrived.