Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
“I’m not lying!” Ginger protested, feeling increasingly aggrieved. “Please, mister, you have to believe me.”
Timothy gazed at her. “I do believe you.”
Just then, a striking woman named Lena Kimmel approached. “What’s happening? I heard a child went missing.”
Matthew replied respectfully, “Yes, Ms. Kimmel, a child did go missing. However, she claimed that someone from our hotel was trying to abduct her. How could that be possible?”
Lena nodded, casting a glance at Ginger nestled in Timothy’s arms. She smiled and stated, “Mr. Barrett, as Matthew mentioned, there’s no motive for our staff to kidnap a young girl.
Timothy realized he wouldn’t get any answers at the moment. He simply walked away, carrying Ginger in his arms.
Once they were gone. Lena’s demeanor shifted.
“What a bunch of dingbats! You can’t even kidnap a little child. What good are you all?” she berated.
“Ms. Kimmel, none of us anticipated this little girl would be so cunning. She seemed compliant at first. but in the blink of an eye, she disappeared and even managed to hide in a coffin. Who could have predicted that?”
“How incompetent! Besides, what’s the connection between this girl and Timothy?”
“I’m not entirely sure, perhaps they arrived together,”
“Where’s Caleb?”
With that, Lena turned and headed toward the basement.
Matthew wiped the sweat from his forehead, surprised they’d been outsmarted by a little girl. Despite their tireless search, they couldn’t apprehend her.
Nonetheless, he couldn’t understand why they needed to catch that little girl.
Meanwhile, Timothy escorted Ginger back to his room.
He settled her on the sofa and gazed down at her. “Were you scared?”
Ginger shook her head adamantly. “I wasn’t!”
Despite her confident assertion, her voice trembled with emotion, and tears shimmered on her eyelashes.
She was quite the tough little crybaby.
Timothy felt somewhat helpless. “How did you get my phone number?”
“Mister, I found your business card in the car.”
Ginger looked up at him, her smile radiant. “Mister, you’re such a kind person.”
“Why did they kidnap you? What does your mother do?” Timothy inquired, his eyes narrowing.
He was aware that the staff at the Xanier Island Grand Hotel wouldn’t simply abduct a child without reason; there must have been something suspicious going on.
Ginger nervously glanced down, swaying her bare feet. “I don’t know why they took me.”
“Be honest with me!”
Timothy sensed immediately that she was trying to divert the conversation. He calmly stated, “I don’t like it when people lie.”
Ginger sulked as she replied, “I asked the hotel staff about my dad’s room. They said they’d take me to him, but instead, they tried to lock me up secretly.”
Timothy furrowed his brows. “Weren’t you looking for your mom?”
Ginger looked at him with teary eyes, wearing a guilty expression. “I’m sorry, mister. I lied.”
Timothy sighed softly, unable to forget Ginger’s earlier comment in the car about having only a mother and no father.
Considering this, his heart softened further. “Give me your mom’s phone number.”
With that, Timothy reached for his phone, realizing Ginger must have given him a fake number earlier.
Approaching timidly, Ginger sat near him, nervously clasping her hands together. “Mister, I want to find my dad!”
“You don’t need to worry about these adult matters,” Timothy reassured her.
He found it puzzling why Ginger’s parents, despite their strained relationship, hadn’t bothered to communicate their differences to her.
If Timothy hadn’t met her today, who knows what danger she might have faced.
Feeling anxious, Ginger grasped his hand and pleaded in a sweet voice. “Mister, if my mommy finds out,
I’ll definitely get into trouble. She looks very scary when she’s angry.”
“Why did you decide to sneak out then?”
“I just want to see my dad once, then I’ll sneak back so Mommy won’t find out.”
Looking into her large, watery eyes, Timothy eventually relented. “Are you sure your dad is in this hotel?”
“I’m positive. Mommy said it hersell!”
Timothy reclined on the sofa. “Then why would the hotel staff kidnap you when you asked about your dad?”
I’m hot sure either. I’m a very well¨Cmannered and polite girl.”
Timothy couldn’t help but frown. It seemed the issue might involve Ginger’s father. Could he be involved in gambling, or perhaps engaged in illegal activities?
Timothy glanced at Ginger, “Do you know what your father does?”
“He’s a businessman!”
It seemed likely that his business dealings were shady!
Becoming impatient, Timothy asked straightaway, “What’s your father’s name?”
He planned to have someone find him.
Ginger quickly replied, “His name is Caleb!”
Upon hearing that name, Timothy’s usually composed demeanor turned uneasy.
In disbelief, he asked again, “What did you say his name was?”
Perhaps their names sounded similar.
“It’s Caleb! With a C. Ginger confirmed.
Timothy nearly crushed the cup in his hand. Caleb with a C?
Could it be that Ginger was Caleb’s daughter?
Suddenly, a hint of jealousy flared in Timothy’s heart. Why did Caleb have such an adorable daughter?
And she bore such a striking resemblance to Mia!
Timothy wasted no time dialing Caleb’s number. “Come to my room immediately!”
With that. Timothy promptly ended the call, leaving Caleb with no chance to inquire further.
Setting his phone down, Timothy turned to Ginger, unable to resist lightly poking her round face. “What’s your mommy’s name?”
“Mister, my mom says I can’t just tell anyone her name or her phone number.”
Timothy raised an eyebrow. “And why’s that?”
“Because she has too many admirers: Mommy doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
Upon hearing this, Timothy’s impression of Ginger’s mother shifted negatively. She seemed to be a woman who enjoyed dating around.
He cleared his throat and asked, “And what’s your name?”
“I’m Ginger, four years old, and I’m a Taurus. My favorite foods include ice cream, fruit candies. marshmallows, fudge, chocolate, and tiramisu!” Ginger replied, barely pausing for breath.
Timothy arched an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you keep that to yourself?”
“But Mister, you’re a nice person.”
Timothy couldn’t shake the suspicion that Ginger was deliberately bringing up her love for sweets.
Her Taurus nature explained why she had handed him a hundred dollars for the ride earlier.
As Timothy looked down at the affectionate Ginger beside him, he couldn’t help but notice her chubby face with dimples reminiscent of Mia’s.
He pursed his lips and asked, “Do you look like your mommy?”
Ginger shook her head. “I take after my daddy.”
Timothy couldn’t resist pinching her cheek. “Who taught you to talk so much nonsense?”