Elizabeth watched Lucky walk out of the kitchen and thought about how he changed in the last two years. He went from this insecure young man about his future to being the partner of one of the most effective detective in town. If she wasn't so worried about Manny, Elizabeth would have also see how handsome he had become. His confidence made him even more sexy. He was nearly six feet tall now, his hair was even darker than she remembered, but his eyes were still so blue. He looked even taller in his black trench coat, his shoulders really pronounced under the fabric. His coat was flying around him like a cape, and at this moment he reminded her of Angel, the vampire they saw in the TV show Buffy the Vampire slayer a couple of years ago. Elizabeth's fingers started to itch for her to burry them in his thick, brown hair and she closed her eyes.
Why was it that every time she saw Lucky, he had the power to take her mind off of her problems? Ever since she saw him, Manny's disappearance seemed to hurt less, but she was as worried as ever. Lucky always had the power to calm her down, with his soothing voice, his gentle and yet powerful arms, the beating of his pure heart. There was only one time he couldn't do it, that even his presence couldn't make the pain bearable. The only time she wanted him to go, the only time seeing him made her hurt even more. The time everything started to go downhill, when they started to grow apart, leading her to the biggest mistake of her life, costing her everything. The only thing she ever did he wasn't able to forgive her. She lost everything that night. Her pride, her self-esteem, her heart, her reason to live. She was so driven by pain, hurt and guilt, she did what she thought she would never do, and that cost her what she loved most in this life. It cost her Lucky.
"-Elizabeth, we looked everywhere. He is not inside. Now, I want you to think really hard. Did he seemed different, troubled, preoccupied? Or did you see someone prowling around the house these past few days? Asked Lucky, looking deep into her eyes
-No, answered Elizabeth after she thougght long and hard. He seemed normal and I didn't see anything suspicious around the house. Why? What are you thinking Lucky?
-We think someone might have taken him Ms. Webber, said Marcus. Lucky found something outside, footprints in the garden. They were smudge, like as if someone ran and lost balance from a heavy weight he or she had to carry. The footprints were too big to be a woman's, they looked like they were size 12 or so.
-Oh my God, said Audrey. Lucky, what aare you saying?
-Either one of your neighbors came in yyour backyard and had to leave in a rush, or ...."
None of them wanted to admit what followed after the or... But everyone knew what he meant.
"-This is all my fault! Said Liz. If I paid more attention to what he was doing, if I wasn't so taken by this new painting I'm doing, I could've heard something, anything, and...
-Elizabeth, this was not your fault. SSaid Lucky, slowly. If someone took Manny, he would've done it even if you were there, he just would've waited at another time.
-I should've asked him to stay inside tthe house
-Ms. Webber, you can't ask a healthy, ffive year old boy to stay cooped up inside because the world is full of wackos.
-He's right Elizabeth, said Lucky. We''re gonna find him no matter what
-I guess we should call Sarah said Audrrey
-Why? Asked Elizabeth. She never gavee a damn about him before, why would she do now?
-Elizabeth that was uncalled for. Saraah loves her son, as much as you do. She just doesn't know how to take care of him properly
-Yeah, right, like our parents did Gramm? Sarah put Manny in my arms and she ran, sending him Christmas and birthday presents, coming to see him once a year and you are still trying to make me believe she cares about him?
-She does care Elizabeth! Said Audrey,, mad. And even if she doesn't, Manny is still HER son and she has a right to know he is missing.
-Fine, I give up! Said Elizabeth, befoore walking in the living room"
Elizabeth sat on the couch, putting both hands on her face, letting the tears freely fall on her face. She knew what would happen if Sarah came back. She would take Manny away from Elizabeth, not caring about the fact that Elizabeth was the one who got up in the middle of the night to give him his bottle, she was the one who changed his diapers, heard his first words, saw his first steps. Liz was the one who rocked him back to sleep when he would cry because he was teething, she was the one who slept on the floor by his bed when he was so sick she was afraid he would pass out from couching. She was the one who inspected his room countless times to prove him the monster from his dream didn't hide out in the closet or under the bed. His first drawings were for her, his first smiles were for her, when he reached out it was her arms he was seeking. He may called her Lizzie, but for him, it was mommy. When he started school and didn't want to go in, it was Elizabeth's neck that felt sore for two days after he grabbed it and never wanted to let it go, crying on her shoulder, begging to take him back home. If Sarah came back, she would claim him as her own, without caring about the fact that she would rip Manny and Elizabeth's hearts out.
Liz got up and ran upstairs, in her art room, and started to trash everything. Her paintings, art supplies, drawing boards, everything flew in the air to crash against the walls. She took her most precious possession from the nail on the wall, ready to bash it against the back of a chair, when she felt a hand gently brushing hers. She looked up and saw Lucky, slowly taking the painting out of her hand. Elizabeth was taking all the way back to the day they painted the boxcar, when she wanted to open the can but couldn't because she thought about Murty. He brushed her hand with his, took the can and opened it. Now, he took the painting and put it back on the wall, without showing how blown away he felt to see it was the painting of him she did for the art academy. For the second time since he got here, Liz's legs gave out from under her and she fell on the floor, her shoulders taken my sobs. Lucky walked to where she was leaning against the wall, and got down, before sitting right next to her. He gently put his arm around her shoulders, and she took him in her arms.
"-Marcus is making some calls now. Soon we will have every free agent in the precinct looking for Manny.
-Lucky, tell me the truth. Will we finnd him? Remember, you promised me you would never lie to me
-Elizabeth, I promised I wouldn't and II never have. I will find him. Even if I have to work day and night for the rest of my life, I won't rest until I find him.
-Yeah but will he be alive? She asked,, sucking her breath in
-I hope so sweetie. I'm not gonna lie to you. I don't know. But even if something happened to him, I won't rest until I killed that bastard with my own hands"
Elizabeth started to cry against his shoulder again, and Lucky gently brushed a flock of hair out of her face. Ever since he walked out on her two years ago, he hadn't found someone who fit so perfectly with his own body. Two years since he held her like that, two years since he cried until mental exhaustion. He never thought he would wanna see her face again, and yet, feeling her in his arms like that was so right.
"-Maybe I should go down and see if Marcus needs help with something. Wanna come? Asked Lucky
-Yeah, I'll go see if Gram's ok"
Lucky got up and helped her up, pulling on both her arms at the same time. She was standing in front of him, and she stepped forward before taking him in her arms. Lucky held her close, savoring the moment.
"-Thank you Lucky. After what I have done, I don't know why you help me
-Elizabeth, first of all, I'm a cop. TThat's my job. Second of all, a child is missing. If I can't put my personal feelings aside to find him, then I'm heartless and last, after everything we have been through together, I owe you this much"
Lucky gently kissed her forehead before he exited the room. Elizabeth looked at the painting on the wall, happy that Lucky stopped her from getting rid of it. This was taking during their happiest time as a couple, before pressures of adulthood ruined everything for them. She sighed and slowly got down the stairs, holding her breath. All the way down were pictures on Manny on the wall. She almost thought she would see him, sitting on the couch, playing video games while she would start fighting with him to go to bed. But the living room was silent and the couch was empty. Manny wasn't there, he was gone, taken by some strangers. Probably a lunatic, or a pedophile. An horrible thought entered her head and she ran in the kitchen.
"-Guys, is Tom Baker still in prison? She asked, but she stopped when she saw their faces. What's wrong?
-Elizabeth, maybe you should sit down ffor this. Lucky said, leading her to the nearest chair.
-Lucky please tell me, don't sugar coatt it for me"
Lucky looked at Taggert, who encouraged him with a weak smile. Marcus put his arm around Audrey's shoulders, who by now was silently sobbing.
"-They found a body in the park. Hidden in the bushes. A little boy, around 5 to 7 years old. He is dead honey. He has brown hair and blues eyes, he was wearing a green pair of sweat pants and a white tee-shirt. From what your grandmother told us he was wearing this morning when she left for work and the description they gave us, we think it might be Manny"
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