Just Before The Dawn

By Joshua Lakhamraju

Renee Ericson arrives home one night to find her husband Andy and infant daughter Fiona missing. Andy soon calls and tells her than Fiona was kidnapped by two men. The police are soon onto the search, but quickly begin to doubt Andy's story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joshua Lakhamraju
• Release date: May 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201108939

Joshua Lakhamraju

Joshua Lakhamraju resides in Gwinnett County, GA

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The car pulled into the driveway. Renee Ericson stepped outside into the quiet darkness of the night and looked around. The car that belonged to Andy was gone. All the lights were turned off, both inside the house and outside. Where has he gone to at this hour? Renee asked herself as she looked at her watch. It was soon after 9pm. And how is Fiona? she gasped as she hurried to the front porch and opened up the door. She was greeted by the darkness and groped around the place with her cell phone light to find a light switch. Andy?! she called out, trying to be too loud. There was no sign of anyone else inside the house. The crib that held Fiona was now empty.

JUST THEN HER PHONE buzzed. She recognized the caller ID. Hey Andy, what’s up? she said cheerfully.

Babe, something terrible has just happened replied Andy in a calm voice.

What is it? Renee asked worriedly. Where are you both? Is Fiona ok?

No, I’m afraid something terrible has happened to her.

What has happened to my baby?

I was driving on the road and stopped to help a car on the Kincaid Bridge with a flat tire. When I got back to the car, Fiona was missing. Those guys whom I helped had stolen her.

Where are you now?

I chased them all the way down Five Forks but lost them. I’m now at the Exxon Mobil right next to the Burger King.

I’ll be there soon she gasped and immediately hung up to call 911 and relay the information. Next she got in her car and drove to the gas station. My baby’s been kidnapped, oh my goodness please help me find baby! she begged.

Renee then drove down on Five Forks Trickum Road towards Lilburn. The road was largely empty on this Sunday night. In no time she arrived the Exxon at Oak Road and found Andy, parked in the lot. He was standing outside and leaning against the side of his car. She ran to him and hugged him tightly.

What’s happened to my baby? she wept.

Andy stared in her eyes, emotionless and calm. Renee darling, it’s just like I told you over the phone. I stopped to help these guys in the Kincaid bridge change their tire. When I got back to the car, Fiona was gone. Those men, I chased them until I reached downtown, then I lost them. So I came here and called you.

Renee could smell beer in his breath. Where were you taking her in the first place?

Just then a county patrolman approached them and introduced himself as Bert Yetts. Are you Renee Ericson? he asked.

Yes she replied tearfully. Have you found my baby?

No ma’am we haven’t. We first need to ask you and your husband some questions. Now can either of you tell me what has happened?

These two guys kidnapped my baby began Andy. "I stopped to help them fix their broken tire. I fixed the tire and went back to my car, only to find Fiona was gone.

Can you give me a description of the child?

Andy hesitated but Renee pulled out her phone and showed a picture of the 8-month old girl. In it, she had blue eyes, blond hair, and was wearing a Sleeping Beauty outfit. "I took that one just tonight before I went to work.

Yetts studied the picture and took down notes. Where did this happen? he asked, turning to Andy.

The Kincaid bridge.

That’s the one over the Yellow River down on Five Forks?

Yes.

Which side of that bridge were you on?

The larger side.

You mean the on the side that has the big shoulder?

Yes.

Ahh yes, I can see know Yetts muttered as he took down notes. What kind of car were they in?

Andy shrugged. I am not entirely sure. I think it was a Ford or something. Couldn’t see too well in the dark to make out its make and model.

What color?

I don’t know. Dark perhaps. No wait, it must have been red, maybe.

What do mean you don’t know? You were working on it, weren’t you? Yetts could also smell beer in Andy’s breath.

I wasn’t looking at the car Andy said as he nervously took out a cigarette and began smoking it. "I was looking at the engine. He lit the cigarette, the flare of his lighter bright in the cold pitch black of night.

But still you had to walk up to the car in order to see what its problem was persisted Yetts. You had to have been on the side of the car that had a flat tire on in order to change the tire. You must have been able to get a good look at its color.

Andy just shrugged and sighed. Like I said, I was only looking at the tire and not the car.

Where were those two men when you were working on the car?

One was beside me, as I was changing the tire. The other one I could not see too well since I was fixing their tire.