The Perfect Solution-A Suspense of Choices by Ey Wade Page A

is the worst publicity a daycare center could get."
    Catrine slapped her opened palm on the desk. The burning sensation that ran through her hand matched the burning anger that she felt deep in her chest. She stood and paced the room.
    "What in God's name is wrong with you? I care only about my child. Do you honestly think I care one iota about your center's reputation? You lost a child, my child. You and your people did not take care of him. All of you let him go with a total stranger and anything could be happening to him at this very moment you idiot. That’s what you should be worried about."
    Slamming the receiver in the woman's ears, Catrine angrily paced the room while punching out the numbers to the home of the pastor of her church. Peace was what she needed more than anything and she knew that just a few words from either Pastor or his wife would be very comforting and empowering.
    "This is Catrine Teddi. How are you?” She asked the Pastor’s wife. “I know it's late to be calling you at home, but something awful has happened and I need to talk to you or Pastor."
    "No problem Catrine. What happened?"
    "Brhin is missing. Someone went to his childcare center and the teacher just handed him over. No one knows where he is."
    “The very first thing we need to do right now is think positive. Speak only what we want to happen. We are going to believe that Brhin will be returned to you and to us in a timely manner and definitely safe. Let me get Pastor and he can get on the other phone so that we can all pray. Micah. Will you get the other phone? Hold on a minute I don't think he heard."
    Catrine brushed stray strands of hair from her forehead and swiped at her nose with a fresh Kleenex from the desk while she waited.
    "Okay, Catrine.” The Pastor’s wife returned to the line. “Pastor will be on the line in a second. I explained to him what has happened."
    Pastor Hickory cleared his throat as he clicked into the line.
    "Catrine, my wife has explained everything to me. First I want to know if you have called the child’s father.”
    “Why are people asking me that? No I haven’t and I’m not going to.”
    “Maybe the question keeps coming up because it’s something you need to face. Let's pray on this matter."
    After praying and absorbing the words of comfort, Catrine felt much calmer as she hung up on the Pastors and dialed the number of the police department. Tapping her acrylic nail on the row of her bottom teeth, she waited for an answer to her ring.
    "Police department," drawled a deep male voice.
    "I want to report a kidnapped child."
    "Okay, Ma'am, and how do you know the child has been kidnapped and is not just a run away?"
    "I know because the child is mine, he is only three years old and someone took him from his daycare center."
    "Hold on a second."
    She listened to the officer's heavy breathing and the noises of shuffling papers in frustration.
    "How long did you say the child was missing?"
    "He's been gone between four and six hours."
    "And how old did you say the child is?"
    "He’s three and a half."
    "Lord, have mercy. You say the child is your own? Why have you waited so long before reporting him missing?"
    "I just found out. I have been ill and had asked my sister to get Brhin from his daycare center. I was under the impression that she was keeping him at her house with her for a while and come…" Taking a deep breath to ease the pressure of the unshed tears gathering behind her eyes and the sob building in her throat, she continued talking. "Come to find out, my baby is not with my sister. Someone had taken him from The P. S. Center and my sister Phalene had not called me because she was angry with me and mistakenly thinking that I had sent her on a wild goose chase."
    No longer able to hold back the tears, Catrine began to cry in earnest.
    "Ma'am calm down. Is there anyone there with you that can talk clearly? Maybe your husband is around?"
    "No one, I'm not married."
    "Hmm, have you and