Julian demanded a 2,000,000 ransom, wired directly to his compensation account. He'd only release her once his debt was cleared. The deadline for repayment was just three days away.
"He's going scorched earth," the company owner looked utterly distressed. When he saw me, it was like I was his last hope. "You're Grace, aren't you? Julian's ex. Please, you have to help me. She's my only girl. You were together eight years. You know him best. Think, where would he hide?"
Given Julian's current state—with cameras everywhere and his movements restricted—hiding options were slim. The only place I could think of was his hometown.
A group of us set off immediately for the village he grew up in.
His old house was long gone. The area was strewn with trash, and the walls were covered in insults.
