The looming exchange
The location chosen was not arbitrary; the old oak was a landmark from our past, a silent witness to the innocent days of childhood games. Now, it was to be the backdrop for something far more sinister. Our trust in the law had been absolute, but now, as the threat loomed closer, uncertainty crept in. Could we trust the authorities with this delicate dance, or was the kidnapper’s insight into police movements a chess move we hadn’t anticipated?