Last chapter. Thank you all for reading. Please review one last time. I should have stuck this with chapter 11 but I thought the finale shouldn't be one long chapter.

Chapter 12

Kate jumped as the phone rang. She handed the photo album to Mike.

"Hello," said Kate answering.

"Mom." The voice was weak and full of pain.

"Jake," said Kate softly.

"I'm done fucking around. Your husband was too fucking stupid to even begin to suspect his brother. Now you're going to take charge. Bring 6,000 dollars to the old mill on Thurman Road. Come alone. I even smell a cop I'm going to gut your son like a fucking fish. I know you have 6,000 dollars. Bring a fucking checkbook." The line went dead. Kate hung up the phone. The kids were looking at her.

"Dad got tricked. Harry doesn't have Jake. The other kidnaper does. I have to go pay this man and get Jake back."

"Mom, you should called Chief Foster," said Charlie.

"No. The man said he would kill Jake."

"What's to stop him from killing both of you?" asked Henry.

"I have no choice."

"Mom, call the Chief. Tell him to keep this private and come by himself," said Jessica.

"I can't. I won't risk Jake's life."

"You're risking his life by not calling the police," said Mark. Kate put a hand over her mouth.

"He said he'd cut Jake open if I called anyone." The kids let out gasps of disgust and grief.

"I just have to pray this man shows some mercy." Kate got dressed in her coat and put her checkbook in the pocket. She kissed each of her kids goodbye. Then she left to go meet with the man who had torn her family apart.

…….

Alan was smarter then Red. Mainly cause Red wasn't thinking clearly. The two were driving towards the old mill. Jake was in the trunk, horribly wounded from Red's beating. Alan dialed Mitch Foster's cell phone. He slipped the phone back in his pocket.

"Foster," said Mitch answering.

"So Red, why the old mill?"

"Thurman Road has been abandoned for years. No one uses it anymore. No cops drive by." Alan hoped Mitch was hearing this.

"So why only 6,000?"

"It's just enough to disappear. I'm sorry you won't get your money but you fucked this up pretty bad. Not as bad as Parke though. And the son of a bitch might cut a deal by rolling over on me. Well, I'll be long gone. And Mitch will have the dead bodies of Harry, Kate and Jake Baker." Alan didn't say anything. He prayed Mitch Foster would get to the mill in time.

…….

Mitch said a silent prayer. One of the kidnappers had a change of heart. From what Mitch had heard, the guy had been promised money. Probably for something he needed. If he made it through the night, Mitch would do everything he could to make sure he got that money. Mitch sent Tom to the station with Dale and Marty. He, Mac, Jim, and Megan headed towards the old mill. Red would be on his guard. But Mitch had used to be special forces a long time ago. He knew how to sneak up. Mac had FBI training. If they played their cards right, they would succeed in taking Red down.

By the time they reached Thurman Road Red had already arrived. Mitch parked in some trees by the road. He and his small team slowly approached the warehouse. Two minutes later Kate showed up. Mitch held his hand up.

"Not yet. We don't know if Jake is in there."

"I need a gun," said Mac.

"There's three of us with guns. Why the fuck do you need one?" Mac pointed towards the mill. Red had been joined by two other goons. One was a convicted child predator who had escaped from prison a few eyars back. His name was Olie Fulton. He was known to torture his victims. The other one was Garret Morris.

"What the fuck?" asked Jim.

"Son of a bitch. Bastard faked his own death," said Megan. Mitch gritted his teeth. Garret had pulled a hell of a fast one. He faked his death and even sold his son to a child predator. For what? That remained to be discovered. The two men led Kate into the warehouse. Mitch motioned for everyone to move forward.

……..

Alan had wondered what happened to the other two. Red no doubt was going to take them out. Alan would gladly let him. Sick bastards. Garret was the worst. He had been willing to let Parke rape his son. He called Mitch just to set Parke up. Guess he thought he was pulling one over on Red. Jake was lying in the middle of the room. His wounds had stopped bleeding but he kept coughing. Red had kicked him in the stomach a few times. Jake no doubt had internal injuries. Kate Baker let out a gasp when she saw Jake.

"Mommy," said Jake.

"I'm right here, baby," said Jake. Red approached her.

"I've changed my mind. I want the 50,000 your husband was going to give to Harry. I'll wait a few days before cashing it. I have to get out of the country first before cashing the check. That gives you a few days to deposit the money." Kate nodded.

"You should be ashamed, Deputy Redding," said Kate.

"Shut the fuck up and write the check." Jake was dragged away, softly crying for his mother the whole time.

"You'll see after I have my check. And don't try to pull any shit. I can always come back and kill the little bastard." Kate was led over to a table that had been set up. She took the checkbook out.

"Who do I make it out to? Your names Bill right?"

"Make it out to William Redding." Kate quickly wrote the check. She handed it to Kate.

"Thank you."

"No we had a deal. Please show some mercy and let me and my boy go." Tears fell down Kate's face. Red sighed. Then he smiled evilly.

"Fuck you. You're both dead." That's when the first shot came. Olie's head exploded in a geyser of blood and gore. Kate ducked under the table. Jim was standing in the doorway, his gun smoking. Megan came bursting through a side door, guns blazing. Alan saved Kate by firing a shot into Red's neck. Red fired back at Alan as he fell to the ground. Alan got hit in the shoulder. He fell to the ground, wounded but alive. Garret came out of the backroom. He aimed for Kate. Mitch came crashing through a window. He and Megan fired four shots in Garret's chest. It all happened in only fifteen seconds. Red and his crew had been set up by Alan. Red underestimated Alan's desire to protect the boy he had grown to love. Mac came out of the backroom, carrying Jake. He had snuck around the mill to stop Garret from killing Jake. Garret had instead run out to help his comrades. Jake held his arms out to his mother as Kate approached. Kate took her frightened and injured son in her arms. She held him with all her might and told him over and over again that she loved him. Megan helped her sit down. Mac was the only one who saw Red point his gun at the mother and son. Mac drew the gun he had found in the back. He prayed it worked. He quickly fired three shots into Bill Redding. Red gagged as blood sprayed everywhere. He gave Mac a look of shock before his eyes closed. The sadistic deputy who had orchestrated the strange kidnapping was dead.

…….

The mill soon became a circus as cops and reporters descended on the quiet little location. Jim and Megan played defense as Mitch and Mac snuck Kate and Jake out the back. Jake slept in his mother's arms in the backseat. Mitch was driving with Mac resting in the passenger seat. The kidnapping had not lasted long. Just a little bit more then 24 hours. But it had lasted long enough to tear the Bakers apart. Tom was meeting Kate at the hospital. The kids would have to wait until morning. To Kate it felt like Jake had been missing for years. She could tell he was hurt. But she took comfort in the fact that he was there with her now.

…….

Jake was given a thorough examination at the hospital. He was given a rape kit and a doctor examined him from head to toe. His only serious injury was some bleeding in his stomach. He would need to be operated on. Tom met up with his son outside the operating room doors. He held his son for what seemed like hours.

"Oh my God, Jake," cried Tom. Kate walked up and joined the hug. Jake had already fallen asleep. Kate and Tom kissed him goodbye and then let the nurses take him. Mitch and Mac were leaning against the wall nearby. Kate and Tom walked up to them.

"Mr. Parrish, I can't thank you enough for finding out who did this. And Mitch, thank you so much for bringing him back to us," said Tom in a choked up voice. Mitch and Mac nodded.

"How's the man who came to Jake's aid?" asked Kate.

"He'll be OK. People are calling him a hero. Seems the only reason he did it was to get money to pay for a major operation for his son. He will face charges but the state is willing to pay for the son's operation," explained Mitch.

"What about that awful man Parke?" asked Tom.

"He's trying to cut a deal with the DA. I doubt he'll be able to. Most of his buddies are dead," replied Mitch.

"So why Jake?" asked Tom.

"I think your brother thought this was a good way to scare you. I'm guessing Red did it more for the chance to be evil and in control. As did Parke and the other two. Alan was on Harry's side. Red and Harry didn't agree on how the kidnapping should be handled. The fight to take control of the kidnapping led to their downfalls. We found Harry's body at their hideout, which was Red's parents old house." Kate listened intently to Mac. Jake had been the victim of his uncle's desire for revenge and money. Harry had put Jake right in the clutches of that horrible monster Red. Kate and Tom said their final thank yous' and then went to rest in the waiting room. Mitch turned to Mac.

"Thanks, Mac. For everything."

"No sweat." Mitch smiled.

"I have a question. Is Mac your real name?"

"No. My dad has called me that since I was three. It stuck. My real name is David."

"Thank you, David." He shook Mac's hand.

"If you don't mine, I'd like to get home to my family. I think I need to hug my boys." Mitch laughed.

"Of course. Rest for awhile. You earned it." He shook Mac's hand one last time. Mac nodded and left. Mitch sighed and sat down in a chair. He would try to get some rest before he started the long process of closing the case. But for the time being he took comfort in knowing that Jake Baker had been reunited with his parents and would be reunited with his siblings the following morning. For now, everything was as it should be. For now.

I hope you have all enjoyed Missing. Look for a sequel that shows that the case is far from over. One big question still remains. Were Red and Harry Baker the masterminds? Mitch, Mac, and their pals take on the face of evil in the thrilling sequel to Missing, Sins of the Innocent. Until then, take care.