Missing
His daughter had been missing for two weeks now. Distraught, he couldn’t understand how a twelve-year-old could vanish off the face of the earth.
But one night, at 3 am, he heard noises in his kitchen. Hurrying down to check what it was, he found his mother-in-law leaning over the freezer, mumbling things to herself.
What the dad would uncover would break the case open.
A Grieving Heart
Shawn Steen had been a happily married man for three years, and his life was seemingly perfect with a beautiful daughter named Lavender. However, joy turned to sorrow when Lavender’s mother fell victim to a terminal illness.
Despite being confined to a hospital bed, she fought fiercely, displaying a resilience that left Shawn in awe.
Eventually, the inevitable day arrived, and Shawn found himself heartbroken, grappling with the loss of the love of his life.
A Father’s Resolve
In the wake of his wife’s passing, Shawn faced the daunting task of being a single parent. Determined to be a pillar of strength for his daughter, he pulled himself together.
Shawn, a hardworking man, provided Lavender with the best life possible – a sprawling house, a haven for memories, and enrollment in a prestigious private school.
Yet, beneath the facade of success, loneliness crept into Shawn’s life, a constant reminder of the void left by his wife.
Lingering Loneliness
Despite the comforts of his material success, Shawn couldn’t escape the profound loneliness that haunted him. In the quiet moments, he felt the absence of a companion, a partner to share his life with.
His wife’s words echoed in his mind, urging him to move forward and embrace the future ahead.
The question lingered: would he heed her advice and find the courage to open his heart again?
Echoes of the Past
Time marched on, and three years elapsed since his wife’s passing. Lavender, now a growing girl, blossomed into her own person.
Shawn grappled with the realization that his daughter needed more than a grieving father – she needed a female presence, someone to guide her through the upcoming complexities of womanhood.
The specter of his wife’s words haunted him, pushing him to consider the possibility of love beyond grief.
Dancing Shadows of Doubt
Shawn found himself standing at the crossroads of grief and hope, with doubt dancing around him. Could he truly let go of the past and embrace a new chapter in his life?
The fear of dishonoring his late wife’s memory clawed at him, creating a tumultuous inner struggle.
However, a tiny voice whispered that he deserved happiness, that his wife’s final wish was rooted in love, not obligation.
A Chance Encounter
Life, unpredictable and full of surprises, intervened when Shawn least expected it. A chance encounter with a woman named Emily brought a spark into his world.
Emily, with her warm smile and compassionate heart, slowly became a presence in Shawn’s life.
Their conversations were a balm to his wounded soul, and Lavender found in Emily a figure she could turn to for guidance and support.
Love Blooms Anew
A delicate bloom unfurled in their hearts as Shawn and Emily spent more time together.
Love, tentative and hesitant at first, began to take root.
Their connection was not a replacement for the past but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Sensing the positive change, Lavender embraced Emily with open arms, forging a bond that transcended loss and sorrow. If only she knew what she was signing up for.
Forging a New Family
With each passing day, Shawn discovered that love could exist beyond the shadows of grief. Lavender flourished under the influence of both her late mother’s memory and the newfound warmth of Emily’s presence.
The once-lonely house echoed with laughter and shared moments, creating a tapestry of love that bridged the past and the present.
Knowing he wanted to share the rest of his life with Emily, Shawn decided to propose. This is where his problems would start.
A Mother’s Disapproval
Shawn’s proposal to Emily was met with joy and celebration. The couple eagerly began planning their future together, envisioning a life filled with love and laughter. However, amid the happiness, a subtle tension brewed.
Emily’s mother, a woman of refined tastes and traditional values, harbored reservations about Shawn’s suitability because of his daughter, Lavender.
Shawn, blissfully unaware, believed he was about to marry into the perfect family.
Unveiling the Cold Facade
The first signs of discord emerged during family gatherings. Emily’s mother, though polite, maintained a distant demeanor toward Lavender.
Preoccupied with the excitement of impending nuptials, Shawn dismissed the subtle signals.
Lavender, however, keenly sensed the chill in the air and confided in her father about feeling like an outsider in her future grandmother’s eyes.
Unspoken Tensions
As wedding preparations intensified, so did the unspoken tensions within the family. Emily’s mother couldn’t hide her disapproval of Lavender. What was it about the child that gored her in all the wrong places?
The once-bright prospect of a united family began to dim under the weight of unaddressed concerns.
Torn between love for Emily and loyalty to his daughter, Shawn faced a dilemma that threatened the foundation of his newfound happiness.
The Trip that Changed Everything
In an attempt to bridge the widening gap, Shawn orchestrated a family trip. The destination, a picturesque town nestled in the heart of the Rockies, held the promise of healing.
Lavender, Emily, Emily’s mom, and Shawn embarked on an adventure, hoping that shared experiences would mend the fractures in their relationships.
Little did they know, this journey would lead to the darkest days of their lives.
A Thawing Heart
The scenic beauty and serenity of the town worked its magic on Lavender. The walls around her heart slowly crumbled, revealing a vulnerable girl yearning for acceptance. Or at least, that’s what Shawn believed he saw.
On the part of Emily’s mother, he witnessed as she began to reassess her own biases.
The healing power of the mountains mirrored the thawing of a grandmother’s icy demeanor, sparking a glimmer of hope for the worried dad.
The Proposal’s Echo
Amidst the tranquil landscapes, Shawn found the perfect moment to propose to Emily. Underneath the stars, surrounded by the echoes of nature, he declared his love and commitment.
Emily, overwhelmed with emotion, accepted with tears of joy. Three months later, the two were already married.
However, their celebration was interrupted by something that would riven the very bond they’d worked so hard to nurture.
It Begins
It had been a few weeks since the marriage when it happened. One day, Lavender didn’t come home from school. Usually, she usually took a cab home, riding with one of Shawn’s most trusted drivers.
But that day, the driver called to inform Shawn that the girl didn’t show up at the usual place she did after school.
Panic set in as the family frantically searched for her. The nightmare had officially begun.
The Vanishing Act
Lavender’s disappearance echoed the haunting nightmare Shawn experienced years ago.
The picturesque town he’d grown to love quickly transformed into a labyrinth of uncertainty.
Authorities were called, investigations ensued, and the once-joyful atmosphere became clouded with fear and despair. If only the search parties knew they were searching in the wrong places.
The Elusive Trail
As hours turned into days, the town became a stage for the authorities’ desperate search. Lavender’s face adorned missing posters on every street corner, a haunting reminder of a parent’s worst fear.
Shawn and Emily, gripped by anxiety, couldn’t fathom how their daughter could vanish without a trace.
The search parties scoured every nook and cranny, leaving no stone unturned, but Lavender seemed to have evaporated into thin air.
A Desperate Father
Days shifted into a week, and Shawn’s desperation reached its peak. He couldn’t comprehend the cruel twist of fate that had torn his daughter away. Sleepless nights blurred into endless days, and the once-cohesive family teetered on the brink of collapse.
Tormented by the unknown, Shawn’s mind couldn’t reconcile with the possibility of losing Lavender forever.
The weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on his shoulders, threatening to shatter his resolve. Would he be able to hold it together?
A Disturbing Revelation
In the midst of the desperate search, a chilling revelation emerged.
As Shawn reviewed old security footage from the camera outside his house, he stumbled upon footage that sent shivers down his spine.
The video showed his mother-in-law lingering near Lavender’s school, watching her from a distance. What was this woman up to? Shawn knew that he had a weird feeling about her.
Something Was Wrong
She wasn’t particularly warm when they first met her, and Shawn sensed that something was wrong. But why was she following Lavender and keeping a close eye on her?
It was very strange behavior. Something that Shawn had not seen before.
It made him very worried, and he wondered if this woman was somehow involved in Lavender’s disappearance.
Could It Be?
Shock and disbelief gripped Shawn as he confronted the unsettling truth. Could the person he once trusted to be part of his family be involved in Lavender’s disappearance?
The shadows of doubt deepened, and the once-thriving hope for a united family now felt like a distant mirage.
His heart was caught in his throat, and he didn’t know what to do next.
No Proof
However, he didn’t have proof. He needed concrete evidence that his mother-in-law was involved.
How was he going to get that without letting the woman be suspicious of him?
Could it really be that she was capable of something like this? And what would the reason be? Did she hate Shawn, or did she hate Lavender?
On Edge
Shawn didn’t know, but all he knew was that he needed to keep a close eye on her so that he could figure out if she was somehow involved in Lavender’s disappearance.
Shawn continued his search while also watching his mother-in-law.
She did seem on edge at times, and Shawn wondered if she was nervous about something.
One Night
One evening, as Shawn lay in bed, he could hear his wife in the bathroom, getting ready for bed.
That night, his mind was clouded by a thousand thoughts a second. Over a few days, his suspicions toward his mother-in-law had grown.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the strange circumstances surrounding the girl’s disappearance. But little did he know that he was about to make a sinister discovery.
He Hadn’t Noticed
Shawn couldn’t stop thinking about the night they had dinner at his mother-in-law’s place.
He was so distracted by Emily that he’d hardly noticed the way the older woman had been treating his daughter.
“Dad, I don’t feel safe around her. I think she hates me,” Lavender had told him later that evening, but he never thought much of it, until now. What had the old woman done that made Lavender so afraid of her?
She Recognized It
Shawn was in a world of his own when he heard the bathroom door click open.
A second later, Emily stepped into the room, her hair wrapped in a towel. She instantly recognized the look on Shawn’s face. It was once she had seen a lot of lately.
Shawn was lost in his own, horrific thoughts. She slowly approached the bed and sat beside him. “What are you thinking about?” She asked. But could he tell her?
He Couldn’t Talk About It
Shawn didn’t want to keep anything from the woman he loved, but he knew she wouldn’t take it well if he accused her mother of having something to do with Lavender’s disappearance.
He decided to lie instead.
“I’m just thinking about Lavender, wondering where she might be,” He said sadly as she grasped his hand comfortingly. Neither of them knew what he would stumble across that night.
He Failed
As Shawn sat beside his new wife, he couldn’t help but think about Lavender’s mother. He’d promised to always keep their daughter safe, but now, he could not help but feel like he had failed as a father.
Part of him wondered if everything would’ve been okay if he’d never even met Emily.
But he pushed that thought away the second it popped into his mind. He reminded himself that this wasn’t Emily’s fault. Or was it?
Holding Him
Emily settled in beside her husband, holding him close until she drifted off to sleep. But he couldn’t seem to fall asleep that night. The hours ticked by as Shawn lay in his bed, his eyes wide open and his mind racing.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the older woman and the way she had been watching his daughter.
Did Lavender know that she was being watched? But just as that thought went through his mind, Shawn heard something.
The Sound
He sat up slowly in his bed, a concerned frown on his face. But what was he hearing? It sounded like the lightest, most careful footsteps were trailing down the stairs. Was it Emily’s mother?
Shawn slipped out from under his wife’s arms and slowly got up from their bed.
Someone was walking around inside of their home, but who could it be? He carefully made his way toward their bedroom door.
He Couldn’t See Anything
He reached for the door handle and quietly clicked it open. But when Shawn peeked through a tiny sliver of the door, he couldn’t see anything or anyone. He took a deep breath before pushing the door open further.
He could still hear the footsteps on the stairs. Someone was creeping around inside their home, and he had to see who it was right away.
He slowly approached the stairs, and just then, his eyes landed on the culprit.
Emily’s Mother
The second Shawn’s eyes landed on the person, he knew exactly who he was looking at. It was Emily’s mother. She had left her bedroom at three in the morning and was sneaking down the stairs.
This made Shanw even more suspicious. He knew he had to follow her.
The man quickly followed after her, carefully trailing in her footsteps as she reached the bottom of the stairs. It was completely dark around them, and she had no idea that she was being followed.
His Thoughts
Shawn remained a few feet behind her as she made her way to the kitchen. At first, Shawn thought that the old woman was getting a drink of water, but he soon realized that his theory didn’t make any sense.
Why would she have to sneak down the stairs for a glass of water? Something didn’t feel right.
In his gut, he could tell that his mother-in-law was up to something.
Watching
He remained in the doorway as he watched. At first, nothing seemed too strange. The old woman poured herself a glass of water and leaned against the counter, drinking it.
He felt weird about spying on the woman, but he was only doing what he felt he had to.
But as soon as her glass of water was empty, she placed it on the counter and glanced around herself. Somehow, she didn’t notice Shawn as she approached the freezer.
Suspicious Behavior
He watched quietly as his mother-in-law stepped up to the freezer and opened it.
But what on earth could she want from the freezer? Something just didn’t seem right. He wanted to say something, but he wanted to see what would happen first.
But she just stood there forever, staring and digging around inside the freezer. What on earth was she searching for? Shawn was prepared to wait a lifetime to find out, but then, something unfortunate happened.
A Mistake
Shawn was leaning against the doorway when he accidentally shifted, sending one of the keys flying off the key rack. The second the keys hit the floor, his mother-in-law turned around, surprised by the sudden noise.
As soon as she noticed the man behind her, she took a step away from the freezer, her face twisted in surprise.
He had been caught spying on her, there was no hiding it now.
Confrontation
“What are you doing down here?” He questioned, his eyebrows tucked firmly together.
She seemed nervous as she looked around the kitchen, trying to find an explanation for what he had just witnessed.
“Uh, nothing. I just wanted a midnight snack,” She said, her voice shaky with uncertainty. He could tell that she was lying. Now more than ever, he was extremely suspicious of her.
No Answer
He didn’t believe her, but what could he do? Finding her in the kitchen didn’t mean she was responsible for his daughter’s disappearance, but he was certain that she had something to do with it.
“Well, I’m going to head to bed,” She said and headed back to her room.
That night, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. But little did he know that this would not be the last time he found her in the kitchen.
The Strange Behavior
Emily’s mother, usually composed and stoic, began acting strangely, especially in the dead of night. It was as if she held a secret, a key to the mystery that eluded everyone else.
Driven by a hunch, Shawn decided to keep a closer eye on his mother-in-law.
Little did he know that unraveling this mystery would lead him to a truth more bizarre and heartbreaking than he could have imagined.
Nocturnal Rituals
Shawn’s suspicions intensified as he observed his mother-in-law’s nocturnal habits. Every night at 3 am, she would venture into the kitchen.
The first time he investigated, she claimed a craving for late-night ice cream to cool off. But Shawn sensed there was more to this peculiar routine.
The second night, he caught her again, this time seemingly guarding the freezer. The mysterious connection between Lavender’s disappearance and the freezer sparked an unsettling realization.
Breaking Point
Unable to contain his growing suspicions, Shawn confronted his mother-in-law about her strange behavior.
The tension in the room was palpable as he demanded answers.
However, his mother-in-law was smarter than that. She was way ahead of the game. She was ready for Shawn when he began asking all of his questions. What would the outcome be?
Furious
Once he asked her if she knew anything about Lavender’s disappearance, she let him have it.
“What? How dare you accuse me of something so terrible? Do you have any proof that I’m somehow involved?” she asked him.
She was beyond furious, and Shawn could see that he had hit a nerve. Could this be the reason why she was so angry? Because she was actually guilty?
Still Hiding Something
She was not happy with Shawn’s accusations towards her. However, Shawn could see that she still looked somewhat nervous, like she was indeed keeping something from them.
He decided to continue to watch her.
He believed that there was still something there, and if he left it now, his mother-in-law could clearly still get away with whatever she was hiding.
Tension
The tension in the house reached a breaking point as Shawn refused to back down. He knew he needed more than just suspicions; he needed concrete evidence to unravel the truth.
Determined to uncover the mystery behind Lavender’s disappearance, Shawn decided to enlist the help of a private investigator.
With their expertise, they could delve into Emily’s mother’s activities and hopefully find the missing pieces of the puzzle.
Private Investigator’s Findings
The private investigator worked discreetly, following Emily’s mother’s every move. As the days passed, the private investigator was able to present his findings to Shawn. And it would not sit well with him.
It turned out that the PI found nothing out of the ordinary while trailing Shawn’s mother-in-law. Shawn couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
However, he was about to uncover something beyond anything he could have anticipated.
She Looked So Suspicious
He just couldn’t understand how his mother-in-law looked so suspicious, but the PI had found absolutely nothing to implicate her. Shawn scratched his head in confusion.
He was so sure about her. Nothing made sense anymore. However, he decided to still watch her just in case the PI had missed something crucial.
In his mind, she was bound to slip up somewhere.
Guarding the Secret
As Shawn tried to unravel the mystery, his mother-in-law played her part skillfully. She diverted his attention with a casual offer of breakfast, masking her true intentions.
But the more he probed, the clearer it became that the key to Lavender’s whereabouts lay hidden in that freezer.
Every attempt to inspect it was thwarted by his mother-in-law’s presence. Shawn found himself torn between confronting her and preserving the fragile balance that held his suspicions at bay.
The Freezer’s Secret
Driven by an insatiable need for answers, Shawn decided to confront the freezer head-on. Ignoring his mother-in-law’s watchful eyes, he opened it only to find it filled with tubs of ice cream. Confusion clouded his mind as he looked at her, seeking an explanation.
Her revelation sent shockwaves through him. The woman explained that her daughter, Emily, had battled an addiction to ice cream a while back, and the filled freezer hinted at a resurgence of this struggle.
But the chilling truth went deeper, linking directly to Lavender’s disappearance.
A Mother’s Revelation
Shawn’s mother-in-law disclosed a startling revelation. Unbeknownst to Shawn, Emily usually left the house daily, ostensibly for a mall visit. However, she always returned with bags of ice cream.
This revelation shattered Shawn’s understanding of his wife’s routine and sparked a new wave of concern.
The mother-in-law believed Emily was hiding something significant and urged Shawn to follow her. “It’s either her addiction is back, or she’s using it as a cover-up,” she said worriedly. “Either way, I have been trying to look into it without worrying you.”
Torn
Shawn, torn between disbelief and the need for answers, decided to follow Emily discreetly.
He watched as she left the house with a nonchalant smile, seemingly headed for a casual shopping spree. However, the weight of his mother-in-law’s words lingered in the air.
Now, it was his own wife that he had to watch. How could he not have seen the signs?
Confused
Shawn’s anxiety intensified. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something sinister lurked beneath the surface, and the echoes of Lavender’s disappearance haunted him at every turn.
Was this really the work of his wife? Or was his mother-in-law just saying that to cover her own tracks?
He was so confused. He felt like he couldn’t trust anyone.
A Look Of Concern
However, there was a look in his mother-in-law’s eyes that convinced him otherwise.
She had a look of concern and fear, and for the first time, it made Shawn doubt that she was involved in Lavender’s disappearance.
She looked like she was genuinely sorry for keeping this secret from him and seemed to want to really help him. Something was up with Shawn’s wife, and they needed to get to the bottom of it.
Trailing Her
It was then that his mother-in-law suggested that they trail her. They had to be very careful. He listened to everything that she told him.
It was very important that Emily not see them. His mother-in-law had been doing it for a few days, and she knew what she was doing.
So Shawn decided to tag along on the stakeout mission.
Unraveling Deception
Determined to uncover the truth, Shawn shadowed Emily the next day.
The revelation that his wife, seemingly uninterested in ice cream, secretly brought it home fueled his unease.
He’d used one of his neighbor’s cars so Emily wouldn’t realize it was him. The plot thickened as he, one of his neighbors, and an officer followed her to a secluded cottage just outside town.
Emily And Lavender
Shawn watched as his wife hurried into the cottage. He looked at his associates, and they each nodded, prompting him to hurry after Emily.
But he almost screamed when he barged into the dark cottage. His daughter sat in a dirty bed before him, dirty, scared, and in tears.
And before the girl was Emily, pacing around with a tub of ice cream in hand.
Cuffs
Shawn was speechless for a whole minute. With a tub of ice cream in hand, Emily stood as the culprit behind Lavender’s disappearance.
The first thing Shawn did was rush to his daughter. The officer pounced on Emily before she could bolt away.
She put her in cuffs and marched her to the car. It would be a long day for her.
The Web of Deceit
Cornered and exposed, Emily attempted to play the victim. She spun a tale of discovering Lavender at the cottage, following a trail of clues. But Shawn, distrustful of her narrative, saw through the facade.
Emily’s laughter cut through the tension as she confessed to orchestrating Lavender’s disappearance.
Her motive, fueled by a twisted desire to eliminate the competition for Shawn’s affection, unveiled a depth of darkness Shawn never imagined existed within his wife.
A Father’s Dilemma
Torn between disbelief and anger, Shawn confronted Emily. The revelation of her sinister plan left him grappling with the harsh reality that the woman he loved was capable of such cruelty.
As more of the authorities were summoned to address the unfolding nightmare, Shawn faced a dilemma – the woman he married had become the architect of his daughter’s torment.
The echoes of Lavender’s voice once filled with innocence, now lingered as a haunting reminder of a father’s worst betrayal.
What About Her Mother?
Of course, Shawn filed for a divorce immediately. He’d never been one to think a marriage should end. But this was something he couldn’t overlook.
In the trial that followed, Emily’s mother explained that she’d suspected her daughter would do something like this since the start.
That was why she’d been cold toward Lavender, an attempt at scaring father and daughter away from Emily. She couldn’t apologize enough for how cold she’d been. But Shawn was thankful for all she’d done. If it weren’t for her, Lavender would have been lost forever.