The online auction was over. Not only the three she hoped for showed up but so did 23 others. All bored at home due to the pandemic or was it a way to mislead the seller? Each name she noted, IP address included. Most address belonged to a private person except one. It turned out to be located in the neighborhood of the police office and belonged to an internet cafe.
She stood up and stretched out. All she needed to do is waiting for the message. The buyer should contact her after the auction and after a place and time were settled up for the exchange.
A payment wasn't what she cared about unless it was the answer to her questions. Some might call her curious but it was no longer about the lost daughter or the disappeared brother. The doll turned out to be a collector's item. It was rare and the collectors fought for it. As far as she knew someone left it behind for Ben. Ben a police officer who turned out to be way more. Mr. Gordon's foster son for example which meant he might have met the other children, saw and heard things, and knew her daughter.
She switched the tv on for some distraction. The latest news didn't make her feel better. Only news about jihadis killing Christians.
"The knife is a popular weapon, " she thought, "I better watch it snow, you never know if there's a tomorrow."
Her computer beeped the message 'you got mail' light up.
"Finally. Let's see what the doll is worth sharing."
The story didn't end yet and I try to finish it but... NaNoWriMo started and I join although I didn't come to writing today (no worries I already wrote three parts and at least I know now how my story started and it will get to me in some way (a tale, a long one). Yesterday was a day without power (means no water and heat either) and a dark, windy, cold day. My internet connection is slow or there's none during the biggest part of the past days which means I have time to write now the Autumn vacation is over.
What happened so far?
Jim reported his daughter was lost and the chief inspector Mr. Gordon didn't take him seriously. It's nearly two decades later if Jim's sister Magda shows up and together with the new chief inspector Fidelo the case of the missing child is opened and closed after she is found. Jim not Magda met the young woman (once the missing girl).
Mrs. Gordon takes care of Jim in a nasty way if he visits her. He feels she was the one who stole his daughter plus... Mrs. Gordon gossips and knows everything.
Jim is found and saved just in time and Fidelo and his young college Ben discover more bodies bricked into the basement's wall of Mrs. Gordon.
Mrs. Gordon confesses and Mr. Gordon gave his word to 'take care of it' to some 'friends'.
Mazda left after Ben visited her. She discovered something and likes to know the story of the owner of the doll and why some show such a high interest in what is left behind for Ben in an abandoned farmhouse.
Nice article