“The missing child,” I say. “The one that should have been all over the news, but was only brought up the one time by, now here’s the kicker, Detective Alexandra Harris.”
“Wait? Alex?” Hazel looks up sharply. “And—and wait was this the one that you said didn’t make sense.”
“Because it didn’t,” I reply. “Age range was wrong. Digital footprint too clean. No family follow-up that added up. No one searched any further into this disappearance for this infant.”
I take a breath. “I cross-referenced that case with Leyla’s early records. Like after the time of her parents’ deaths? It was all just too fucking confusing and you know me, I fucking hate unanswered questions.”
Zack’s eyes darken. “Lincoln.”
“I’m almost certain,” I say quietly, “that the missing child was Leyla.”
The table goes silent.
Hazel’s hand stills on Nora’s back. “You’re saying…That Leyla’s parents weren’t actually her parents, and that she was kidnapped this whole time?”
“Or being hidden,” I say. “Or being moved. That child vanished from official systems years ago. No death record. No recovery. Just…erased. And Leyla’s birth certificate just doesn’t make sense, and to this day just felt wrong to me. It came withso many gaps that don’t line up unless you assume she learned survival the hard way.”
Zack leans back slowly, processing. “Which means whoever took them now didn’t just stumble onto her.”
“No,” I agree. “They already knew who she was. That she was taken and used as collateral for something even bigger than what we know about her.”
As if she can feel the tension building around us, Nora suddenly looks up, holding Zack’s arm proudly. “I made him safe,” she announces again, like it bears repeating.
Hazel smiles at her, soft and sincere despite the weight in her eyes. “You absolutely did.”
Zack lifts his arm, examining the riot of color layered over his tattoos. “I feel very safe, sweetie pie.”
Nora grins, satisfied, then curls back into Hazel’s side like she belongs there. I’m suddenly glad my Nora doesn’t quite understand what’s happening.
I watch the scene; Hazel rocking her gently, Zack’s attention split between the table and the child, the way something unspoken passes between them. I feel it settle in my gut.
This isn’t just about information anymore.
“Whoever is holding them,” I say finally, lowering my voice, “has been planning this longer than we thought. Cameron and Leyla weren’t unlucky. They were targeted. And Hazel surviving?” I glance at her. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Hazel meets my gaze, unflinching, her arms tightening around my Nora. “They’re going to regret that.”
Zack nods once. “So what’s next?”
I straighten, resolve locking into place. “Next, we confirm the location. Quietly. Then we get them out.”
Nora yawns, finally slowing, and Hazel instinctively adjusts to keep her comfortable. Zack watches them for a moment,something almost like wonder crossing his face before he looks back at me.
“Good work,” he says simply.
It’s the highest praise he gives. And for the first time since this all started, I know exactly where to aim. I let him down once before, and I know that I won’t ever let anyone down like that again.
Nora is now dead asleep, her little auburn curls blending into Hazel’s hair. Zack catches onto the feeling that this night is over, and he nods.
“I should get her home.” I nod toward Nora. “I’ll be in touch though, and Hazel—Zack? Be safe tomorrow, yeah? I’ll be your eyes and ears in the sky, and whatever you need, but please, be careful.”
Hazel hands Nora back to me, a sad smile sitting on her face. All this information probably isn’t what she’s wanted to hear, but I feel better having all of it out in the open. She forces her smile to seem brighter, but I see the sadness in her eyes. “She’s really lucky she has you, Lincoln. And needless to say, I think I’m in love with your daughter.”
I can’t help but pull her into a side hug, as to not jostle Nora, but I pull her close, leaning down to whisper, “Be gentle with Zack’s, yeah? I know you will, but I wouldn’t be his best friend if I didn’t at least say something.”
Her face softens, and a true smile forms on her face. “I promise. He’s always the one looking out for everyone else, I think it’s my turns to take care of him for once.”
We say our goodbyes, and Hazel and Zack head off. While I head home with Nora, there’s this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I shake it off and know that they are more than capable of handling this on their own.
