Thankfully the guy lost track of them and was not able to find which way they drove back home. But Keith continued to look for her. He searched the databases. He knew all about technology and could easily break into anyone's security. He started to search records, and birth announcements around the time that his new baby would have arrived. He looked for new social security cards and other forms of birth certificates for all the children. The list was long and he knew it would take months to go through. He narrowed it all down from race to single parent and so on. While he was going through the records something caught his eye. It stood out among all the others, three social security cards were issued on the same day, just a few days after she had left him. The day of birth was off a little though. He looked for an address but none was listed. He typed in the last name, and then another social popped up and a birth certificate. It was issued to a girl, Hope Gabriella. His eyes watered just a little just thinking of the little girl. It had been a girl, his little girl. As he read over the certificate it stated, county of birth: Coffee County. But there was still not an address listed. "Damn it, where the hell are you!" he yelled as he vigorously struck the papers on the table, they flew and scattered over the floor. "That bitch!" For he knew that she was very close but he could not get his hands on her.

He had made some progress though, he now knew the last name that she was using and now he hoped that it would be easier to find her. He knew that she would send them to school, for years that's all she ever talked about, their education. He went to each school in Coffee County but not one was able to give him information due to confidentiality. So he called up the guys and in the middle of the night; they broke into the files and searched, but did not find either one of the kids.

"Nothing here."

"We didn't find anything either."

"What now?"

Keith bit his lip. "Damn it she has too be here somewhere, somewhere close to this county." He started to name the groups in two and ordered them to search the surrounding county schools.

By the end of the week he got a call. "I think we found something."

"It better be good," he hissed.

"I think we found them. All the information is right here in my hands, address, phone number, everything."

"Bring it to me," he demanded.

As he took the files, he could feel his heart pounding. Could it be? Yes it was. It was information on Seth and Bella, but their names were now Austin and Hannah. He glanced at the number and then without waiting dialed from the cell.

The voice was young, a girl, more than likely, Bella's. "Hello." She said softly.

Silence.

"Hello!" she said again elevating her voice. She could hear him breathing on the other end but he refused to answer her back. So she hung up the phone.

He jumped into his dark blue Grand AM, spinning tires along the pavement. Within an hour or so he was across the street looking at their house. The kids had just jumped on the bus and she was pulling out of the drive in her car. He decided to follow her. She pulled into a drive that was way off of the road. He was not able to see what she was doing for the trees and privacy fence but within a few seconds she pulled back out. He followed far behind her. She drove to the campus and he waited patiently outside in the parking lot for about an hour. When she had not returned he thought he would go back to the house.

He picked the lock on the back door. He was somewhat surprised to see that the house was a little messy. Morning dishes were left in the sink. The cereal boxes were left out on the counter. He walked to the next room and the TV was left on, toys scattered on the floor. He could not believe she let the kids make such a mess. The walls were covered in pictures. They were smiling in everyone and seemed so happy without him that it made him irate. As he walked into the hallway he got a glimpse of a picture. The kids were hugging a man and as he got closer the man was her father. "That lying bastard, he knew she was still alive." He would deal with him later for now he was too busy searching the house over. He went room to room just to see the things that they had. He new she would spoil them with posters, games, toys, music, books and anything that that wanted they probably had. When he came to Addie's room he fell on the bed. He wanted to smell where she lay at night. She still smelled like he remembered the aroma so sweet. He squeezed the pillow close and lay there for a few minutes. Walking over to her dresser he rambled through her clothes and found a nice size pistol. "Addie you're a bad little girl," he said aloud. He looked down at his watch and knew they would be arriving home any minute so he left and went back to his car and parked it father on down the street. Walking back up he towards the house he hid behind some bushes across from them.

She pulled up and got out, checked the mail and went inside. The kids got off of the bus about fifteen minutes later and walked inside to greet her. The windows were raised and he could hear them talking.

"How was your day?" she had asked.

Both rambled on and then went to the kitchen for a snack and to start their homework.

He was about to go up to the door when in the corner of his eye saw a car pull up in the drive. The man from the picture on his cell got out and walked to the other side and pulled out a little girl.

She hugged him as he carried her into the house. "Mommy's home."

"I know, let's go give her your picture that you made today." He held her tightly and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

This man he envied, this man stole his place, took his family. He became ferrous as he watched how they acted like a family. He helped fix dinner and set the table while the kids finished up their homework. They sat around the table and laughed and told about what happened at school during the day.

Derrick cell started to ring. "Hello, what's going on?" He shook his head and then stated, "I'll be there in a few." He shut the phone and sat it back on the table. "Sorry, guys I gotta go, I'll see you tomorrow." He stood to take his plate back to the sink.

"Can you tuck me in before you go," pleaded Gabby.

He reached down and scooped her up. "Sure thing, let's go." He carried her to her bed and pulled the cover up around her. He kneeled down to give her a little kiss.

"I love you, Derrick."

"I love you too, kido."

As he stood to leave she blurted out, "Can you be my daddy?"

"I don't know Gabby it's a little complicated, let's talk about it later all right."

"OK, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

About eight o'clock Derrick left and a dark Sedan pulled up on the other side of the street. Two men sat inside and watched the house. The kids were already in bed and he waited for the last light to go out, the light to her room.

Around three in the morning he walked over to the car across the road. The two men were talking and didn't even noticed as he walked behind the car. He reached in the driver side window and sliced open the driver's neck with a hunting knife. He held a gun in the other hand and shot the passenger right between the eyes, blood spattered on the passenger window. He knew no one would hear for the silencer that was attached to it. He smiled, pleased with his job well done.

He swiftly ran back across the street and broke the window to the front door and unlocked every lock. Jada jumped up out of her skin, her heart pounded and the glass shattering sound alone told her that he was there. She could smell his presence. Her hands became clammy and sweat rolled down her face as chills ran down her spine.

Austin heard the glass shatter to the floor as well; he jumped and tried to reach for the phone in the dark. But it was too late, his door flung open and there he was, his dark shadow covered the entryway to his room. As the figure walked closer to him his eyes adjusted and he could see all of him. His father.

Keith jerked him up by the arm and dragged him into the living room, shoving him onto the couch. "Don't you move." He ordered. Then he turned and walked down the hall. He was shocked to see her standing in the hallway. She was white as a ghost, but she stood up to him.

"Please leave. I am asking you to please just go." Her tone had been icy cold, towards him. He walked closer to her. "If you want to hurt anyone, you take it out on me. ME, DAMN YOU!" she yelled. "You want me, not them. I am the one who betrayed you. I left you, I took them away." Her voice became harsh; she wanted to cry and even the lump raised into the back of her throat as her eyes watered up. "You will deal with me, leave them out of this." She blocked the girl's room with her body but when he went towards her both hands grabbed her shoulders and he shoved her to the side, slamming her into the wall.

Hannah jumped up from her bed and reached for Gabby. By the time he got in there she was already holding her close. He grabbed her by the arm, digging his fingers into her skin. He shoved her next to Austin.

"Did you guys miss me?" he asked.

Each one of them just looked at each other without saying a word. "Sit here, don't the three of you dare move or I will kill her and I will make damn sure I do it right this time." He turned to go back into the hallway but she was not there. He walked into her bedroom and caught her searching through the drawers. "Is this what you are looking for?" He held up the gun. "Please, like you know how to use this." Backhanding her with the gun in his hand, the butt of it slashed into her skin. She toppled over the bed. He jumped on top of her. "Don't scream," he whispered, "they can hear you."

His voice was pernicious and as he pinned her down, she smelled the alcohol on him. "I should fuck'n kill you but I wont. I want you to feel the hell that I've been going through for the past few years. Without you." He punched her in the stomach. He grabbed her cheeks and tightened his grip, squeezing her lips together. "You little bitch how could you take my children? It was my family, mine." She started to fight back, digging her nails into his face. She got a few punches in and he managed to hold her down. He swung at her a few more times, hitting her so hard that now blood was on his knuckles. He licked his knuckles and smirked, "You still taste so damn good." He raised his hand and with full force came down on her slamming into her jaw and she was out like a light.

Grinning he stood and walked into the living room. All three of them sat silently on the couch. While he was in the other room Austin had managed to call for Derrick for help, but when his father came into the room he hid the phone behind the pillow on the couch. He had hoped that Derrick was able to hear the whole conversation.

Their daddy opened up his arms for a hug. "Well, stand up and give your daddy a hug."

"Where's momma?" Hannah asked. She could not help but look at his hands splattered of blood. She knew it was her mother's blood. She knew her father; he was a wicked man.

"Why she's sleeping for now Bella."

Gabby looked up at her sister. "Whose Bella?"

"I am, but I haven't been called that in a long time."

"What's my name?"

"You know your name, Gabby."

"Oh!"

He kneeled down in front of Gabby opening up his arms for a hug. "Give your daddy a hug now."

She refused. "You're not my daddy and you have blood all over you." She looked up at Austin and Hannah. "Where's Derrick?" She started to cry, "I want Derrick."

He became furious and knocked over the coffee table; "Derrick is not your daddy, I am." He wanted to slap her but stood back and shook his head. As he tried to think of what he wanted to do next. "We are going to play a game."

Without thinking Austin stood up and pushed his father. "You even think about hurting them I will kill you myself."

He eyed the young teen, and roared hysterically, "Please, you aren't going to do shit." He pushed him back down. "But since your such a big boy now...." He unbuckled his belt to threaten him. "Your momma should have let you get that beaten years ago, you smart mouth little bastard." He raised the belt up high but he did not bring it back down to hit him instead he grabbed up Gabby and took her outside.

"Bring her back." Seth demanded.

He took her over to the swing set and stood her up on the wooden swing. He took out the rope and tied her hands to the rope of the swing, roping it around her body several times so that she would not be able to move. She was crying and screaming for her momma. He touched his lips and then hers with his finger telling her to be quite, "Shhhhh, it's just a game." He looked over at the backdoor at Seth. "You see your brother thinks his a man so we are going to play a little game to see how much of a man he really is."

He motioned for Bella to come closer to him. She was so frightened of him but she did as she was told. He forced her to stand in the other swing, tying the rope around her as well.

"What are you doing?"

"It's a game, I'm sure you will find it amusing."

Then he looked over at Seth who was about to hit him with a ball bat. He dodged it and with his right arm punched Seth in the stomach. "So you think you're a man now, uh?" Seth fell to the ground, crouched over grabbing his stomach. Keith picked him up and dragged him over to the swings. "Now I want you to stand here. Go on boy, get up there or else." He knew he would harm him more if he did not follow through with his orders.

Seth stood up in the swing while Keith reached over and grabbed a small box. Wires ran along the outside of it. He taped one end to Gabby swing and the other end to Bella's. The box, he taped to Seth. "You see this boy!"

Seth looked down and shook his head yes.

"You so much move an inch and boom." He slapped his hands together. "Their dead. Do you understand what I'm telling you boy? You move they die."

To make it more jest he stood in front of Bella. "You move, you kill your brother and sister." And then he told Gabby the same thing kissing her on her forehead. He started to walk back into the house.

Seth screamed out, "You can't do this to us."

He turned so that they could see his sinister grin. "Oh, yes I can. I brought you into this world and I can take you out." Slamming the back door shut.

Addie was still out cold, blood trickled out onto the nice white satin sheets from her mouth. Even though he knew she would not be able to feel a thing, he licked the side of her face. He loved the taste of blood, especially her blood. He got on top of her and proceeded to have a little fun with her. Touching her breast, touching her between the legs, how he missed the pure thought of being with her. When he was finished he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. He opened the trunk of the Grand AM and dropped her inside, closing her into pure darkness.

*****

Derrick had missed the call when Austin called. He looked down at the phone and the Caller ID read their number at three-thirty in the morning. It was now going on six o'clock. He knew something was wrong or else they would not have called at such an odd hour. He called the two officers that had been on call for the night but they did not answer. He hung up and then dialed for backup.

"I need backup at 222 Oak Drive, ASAP. Need the chopper out searching for anything out of the ordinary, hurry, all is a go, hurry." As he was talking on his cell he jumped into his car and sped gravel along the driveway. He reached her house within eight minutes. There were already a few cop cars there, two ambulances, a fire truck, and the bomb squad was called. As he stood on both feet out of his car, he felt nauseated. He panicked and started to scream for them. "Jada!" He pushed one of the cops to the side, "Austin! Hannah!" he yelled.

"There all around back, sir." The man in the police uniform went to push him back but Derrick flashed his FBI ID at his face. The officer let him on through.

"Gabby." He yelled as he looked around back, he broke down. "Oh! God! What has he done?"