ANDY'S POV

Ashley, CC, a detective, several police officers, and my lawyer all sit before me. We're gathered in my office, meeting for the first time since Emberly was taken.

"I tried to access Emberly's legal documents. Her mother's lawyer is blocking me at every turn, and a warrant is going to take time." Thomas, my lawyer, explains. I sigh, rubbing my temples.

"What about the handwriting? On the contract? That wasn't her handwriting." I say. The detective nods.

"That could be something, but I'm going to need a sample signature that you know for a fact is hers." He explains.

"Where can I get that?" I want to know.

"The bank would be your best bet." He suggests. I nod, standing.

"Speaking of," CC says, "I found something you might find interesting." He hands me a receipt form from the bank. It's for a safety deposit box. I look at him.

"She has a safe deposit box?" He nods.

"She got it when you were separated." He explains. I nod.

"Do you know what she put in it?" I ask, hopeful he can provide an answer.

"I think she put legal documents in it. I know at the very least that's where her birth certificate is." He responds.

"If we could certify that it is the real birth certificate, that would go a long way to getting her back and proving her mother guilty." The detective interjects. I nod, standing up. I won't waste anymore time. I gather the necessary documents to have access to Emberly's bank account. I leave my crowded office and head down to the garage. I get in my Range Rover and crank the engine.

The bank is only a couple of blocks away, so my drive is short. I realize I'm shaking as I park. Heading into the bank, I grip the papers tighter than necessary. The last two weeks have been hell. I can't get in touch with Emberly or her mother, her phone is turned off, and no one has been able to make any headway. All I know is that Emberly's mother is once again trying to hurt her and this time, I wasn't able to protect her.

I walk up to the teller, papers in hand.

"I need access to Emberly Vace's account and safety deposit box. I have her card and my ID. I'm her husband." I say. I hand over the necessary documents and wait. The teller gets up and disappears, returning moments later with the manager.

"Mr. Biersack, will you please come with me?" He inquires. I nod, my stomach in knots. I need this to pan out. I need Emberly back. I take everything back from the teller and walk with him past the offices into a room with a keypad lock on the outside of the door. The walls are lined with safety deposit boxes. Using a key off his keyring, he unlocks on and slides it out of its spot. He sets it on the metal table in the middle of the room. "I'll be right outside if you need anything." He tells me as he exits the room, shutting the door behind him.

My hands are shaking as I open the lid of the metal box. The first thing I see is a note, written in Emberly's clean handwriting. I pick it up, my stomach churning. As I read, I hear her voice in my mind, articulating every word.

Andy,

If you're reading this, then that means my suspicions were correct and my mother or someone just as evil has taken me. In this box is everything you may need. I told the manager that if you ever came asking about my accounts without me, he needed to show you this. My birth certificate, early medical records, addresses, and anything else I could think of are in this box.

My mother has always hated me for leaving. I have no doubt she'd be psychotic enough to do something like forge documents to keep me under her control.

Check Mercy's Grasp. It's the facility my sister was taken to that resulted in her suicide. Please, come find me. Before it's too late.

I love you.

Em

My heart is racing as I finish her letter. I remove all the documents from the box, exiting the room. I thank the manager and leave the bank. Once I'm back in my car, I whip out my cell phone and dial the detective. He answers on the second ring.

"I have her birth certificate and her signature. I also have the name of a facility she might be at." I'm speaking extremely fast. He agrees to meet me back at my office. I pull into the road and head back to the hospital, a new hope taking root in my mind.