Chapter 12: The Deadline
 
The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow on the breakfast table. Ethan and Zach sat across from each other, their mugs of coffee steaming in the cool morning air. They had spent the previous evening poring over the grainy photographs, trying to piece together any clues that might lead them to the man Zach had hit.
 
"We need a plan," Ethan said, his voice firm. "We can't just sit here and wait for him to walk into our lives."
 
Zach nodded, his mind racing. He had spent the night tossing and turning, his thoughts consumed by guilt and fear. He had to find this man. He had to make things right. He had to protect his family.
 
"We need to start with the location," Zach said, his voice barely a whisper. "The street where I hit him. We need to find out who lives there, who works there, who frequents the area."
 
Ethan nodded, his gaze fixed on Zach. "We can start by checking the local records. Maybe we can find out if there are any businesses or organizations that might have security cameras in the area. We can also check the police reports to see if there were any other accidents or incidents reported around that time."
 
Zach felt a surge of hope. Maybe they could find something, something that could lead them to the man he had hit. Maybe they could make things right.
 
Just as they were about to start their investigation, Zach's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and his heart sank. It was the kidnapper.
 
"Hello?" Zach answered, his voice trembling slightly.
 
"Zach," the kidnapper's voice was a cold, calculating whisper. "Remember our little agreement? Two days left. Two days to find the man you hit. Two days to prove you're not just another empty promise."
 
Zach felt a wave of panic wash over him. Two days. He had to find this man. He had to find him before it was too late.
 
"I'm doing everything I can," Zach said, his voice barely audible. "I'm working with a friend. We're going to find him."
 
"Don't make promises you can't keep," the kidnapper said, his voice laced with a hint of menace. "Your wife is counting on you. And she's not the patient type."
 
Zach felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had to find him. He had to find him before it was too late.
 
"Please, let me talk to her," Zach pleaded. "Just let me hear her voice. I need to know she's okay."
 
The kidnapper chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "You think you can bargain with me? You think you can buy time with empty words?"
 
"No, I just... I need to hear her voice," Zach said, his voice cracking with desperation. "Please."
 
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Then, the kidnapper's voice, cold and emotionless, replied, "Fine. But make it quick."
 
A faint, muffled voice came through the phone. "Zach... I'm scared..."
 
Zach felt a surge of relief. He could hear her voice. She was alive.
 
"Honey, I'm so sorry," Zach said, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm doing everything I can to get you back. I promise I'll find you."
 
"I'm scared, hon," Mekaila whispered while crying. "Please, be careful take good care our kids, I dunno what's the next of this but always remember I love you all. Pls make sure that they are safe." Mekaila said while crying over the phone.
 
"I will honey, pls stop crying be brave I'm going to save you, we'll gonna be together again I swear that, we really miss you." Zach said, his voice firming up while tears dropping to his face. "I promise we gonna be together again".
 
The kidnapper cut the call abruptly.
 
Zach stared at the phone in his hand, his heart pounding in his chest. Two days. He had to find him. He had to find him before it was too late.
 
He looked at Ethan, his eyes filled with desperation. "We have to find him," Zach said, his voice barely a whisper. "We have to find him before it's too late."
 
Ethan nodded, his gaze fixed on Zach. "We will," Ethan said, his voice firm. "We will find him."
 
They both knew that the clock was ticking. They had two days to find the man Zach had hit. Two days to make things right. Two days to save Zach's wife.
 
"We need to focused" Ethan said.
"What should I do I cannot left my kids in here we don't know what's the next." 
"Let them stay at your mom first to make sure that they we'll be safe" Ethan said.
"But how could I explained to mom about Mekaila, I know if she knows she will be worried." 
"We haven't any choices left. Let's just tell her we visit Singapore and it takes 2 days because she's on the trip and the flight was been canceled so she couldn't back as soon as possible that's why we're going to look after her."
"Better idea I call my daughters first and ready there things just wait on the car, were running out of time."
"Alright just hurry up. It takes almost 12h b4 we arrive at your mom's home town right?"
"Yeah so worries I'll be the driver for today so we can arrive right away."
He ready the things of her daughters while trying to explain why they need to stay at their grandma for 2 days, and good thing that they are both understandable kiddos.
"No worries daddy we're both big girl now, will wait you after 2 days, just promise you'll going to get us soon." Mezachela said with a pity look.
"Yes honey of course we will I love you both"
" Let's gooooooooo we love travelllllll" (mechaela shouts while running to the car carrying here wolf teddy bear.