Laura awakens from a business trip to discover her kid is missing. She begins hunting for her daughter. Ten years later, the daughter arrives on their doorstep and tells them the whole truth.Laura awoke, still weary. Richard, her husband and Emily’s stepfather, lay beside her, soundly asleep. Laura pushed back the sheets and proceeded to the kitchen, just like every other morning. The work travel had been taxing. After preparing breakfast, she went to Emily’s room.

“Time to wake up, sweetie!” Laura began, but her voice died off as she observed Emily’s bed was immaculately arranged. Laura checked Emily’s restroom, but she wasn’t there. Oddly enough, Emily’s belongings were nicely ordered. Laura investigated the rooms, backyard, and garden, but Emily was nowhere to be seen

Laura could feel it in her stomach.”Rick, wake up!” Laura returned to their bedroom and attempted to wake her husband. “Emily’s missing!” “Let me sleep, Laura,” Richard said, his voice sluggish. “She’s a teenager. She must have sneaked away to meet with her friends. Relax.” “It’s serious, Rick. Her room is sparkling clean! “This is not like Emily!” But Richard rejected her fears and returned to sleep. Laura was apprehensive.

She headed downstairs to the living room, expecting Emily would enter safely through the door at any minute. Suddenly, her phone vibrated with a message. “If you want your daughter alive, bring $100,000 to the address below…” Laura’s head spun. She wanted to reassure herself that it was a horrible dream. But it wasn’t. Laura contacted the cops immediately, her hands quivering.

They arrived quickly. She had just welcomed them in when Richard’s voice rang out from upstairs. “Laura? What’s happening? “What are the cops doing here?” “Someone kidnapped Emily!” she said, frightened. “The kidnapper is demanding ransom.””Are you sure it isn’t one of Emily’s games?” he inquired as he joined her in the living room.

“Of course it’s not, Rick!” she exclaimed. “We have to find her!” The officers, Laura, and Richard went into Emily’s room. “Anything missing from here?” Detective Harris questioned Laura and Richard. “The carpet!” Laura has noticed. “It’s not here.” “You got any idea about it?” Detective Harris gazed at Richard. “Uh, yeah, I took it to the dry cleaner,” Richard said.Detective Harris made a note. “I’ll need the dry cleaner’s address, please.”

“Yes, I will get it. Richard said, “One second,” and exited the room. Laura’s phone rang again as the detectives searched the area for more evidence. She read the message that had appeared on her screen, and blood drained from her face “What is it?” Detective Harris observed her shocked reaction. She handed the cop her phone, and he read the message aloud.

“If you involve the cops, you’ll never see your daughter again.””Let’s drop the ransom, Mrs. Dennings,” Detective Harris urged. “We can put up near the drop-off spot. It’s your best chance of getting your daughter back and apprehending the kidnapper.” “No way!” Richard complained when he returned with the address. “That is too hazardous. We should just pay the ransom, and perhaps the evil guys will let her free.”

“But Richard, what if they take the money and run away?” Laura shakes her head. “No. “I think the detectives are correct.” Richard couldn’t argue any longer. It was determined that undercover officers would be stationed near the ransom drop-off spot. Laura couldn’t stop thinking about Emily as she drove to the ransom payment drop-off place. She only wanted her back. She wanted to bring her baby girl home.

Laura parked near the park that the kidnapper had mentioned. Then, following his instructions, she walked over to the oak tree in the park’s center and placed the money. Laura returned to her car and positioned her rearview mirror to keep a close eye on the drop location. Detective Harris, dressed in a plain jacket and pants, signaled to her from across the street that the cops were positioned.

Laura’s heart hammered each time she looked in the rearview mirror. She could not wait for the kidnapper to arrive. But the day went to night, and no one ever arrived. The youngsters who had been playing there had left, and the park was soon abandoned. Detective Harris approached her window and slid it down. “I suppose it’s time you went home, Mrs. Dennings. Perhaps the kidnapper has changed his mind.

Laura was crushed. How could the kidnapper not turn up? Did he receive a hint about the undercover cops? Laura remembers the drive home as a blur. When she returned to Emily’s room, she noticed the carpet was back. Richard stood there, his eyes filled with weird relief. “Doesn’t the carpet look like it’s new?” the man questioned. Laura kneeled to run her fingertips across the carpet. Emily had picked it herself several months earlier.

She was ecstatic when they brought it home. “How could it be so new?” Laura blurted. “A good cleaner can do wonders, honey,” Richard said swiftly, almost too soon. Laura’s thoughts was then filled with doubt. But her sadness for her lost daughter was too intense to focus on anything else.Ten years have gone. The police closed the case since there were no leads. Everyone appeared to have moved on from Emily’s absence, but Laura had not.

She entered an advertising office, clutching images of her daughter. They’d become a pale yellow, and some of the edges were worn. Laura approached a woman at the front desk. “I’d like to rent some banners,” Laura explained. “Sure,” said Jenna, smiling. “How many would you want?” “As many as I can afford.” Jenna listened intently as Laura described Emily’s disappearance.

They decided to post three banners along the area’s major roadways. Jenna provided a compassionate discount, moved by Laura’s narrative, which she had pieced together from her brief but emotional explanations.The design was simple: a blown-up reproduction of Emily’s portrait, her grin frozen in time, and the words “Forever missed, forever loved” in large, impossible-to-miss lettering. Below it is the phrase “If you know something, say something,” followed by a hotline number.

Laura felt a surge of hope each time she saw the billboards. Her friends and relatives believed the advertisements were intended to bring her calm. But Laura didn’t need peace. She wanted her daughter. Laura hoped someone would call to inform her Emily had been located. She received a lot of calls throughout the course of the days. But it was only the well-wishers.

Richard had a complete breakdown one day. “All of our savings are gone, Laura! “Just because you plastered her face across the city!””So?” Laura replied. “What are you expecting me to do, Richard?” Could we just forget about our daughter? I wish to keep her memory alive.” Laura and Richard’s disagreement was interrupted by an unexpected knock on the door. Laura huffed as she approached her front door and answered.  A little girl appeared on the threshold, and Laura recognized her without saying anything.

Laura threw her arms up and hugged the girl. “Emily, oh, you’re back!””Yes, Mom!” “I’m home!” Emily responded as they stood clutching each other. Emily then drew away, raising one arm to expose the carpet she was clutching. “This was all I had, Mom,” she explained. “And I kept it.””Who’s there?” Richard’s harsh voice echoed from the inside. His face turned pale as he neared the front door and stared at Emily.

“What’s wrong, Richard?” Emily sneered. “Do you see a ghost?” He is responsible for my disappearance, Mom!” Emily pointed at Richard. “What? “That is nonsense!” Richard screamed in defense. “Come inside, Emily,” Laura called. Laura closed the front door as Emily entered. Her gaze shifted from her daughter to her husband. What was happening?

“She’s lying, Laura!” Richard yelled. “Do not listen to her!” She’s attempting to tear us apart!” “Tell me everything, Emily!” Laura insisted on ignoring Richard. Ten years ago. Laura was on a week-long work trip. When Emily arrived from school, Richard was splayed out on the living room couch, watching TV. “Hey, kiddo!” he said, sitting up. “How was school?”Emily said, “It was fine,” and was going to leave for her room, but Richard requested she join him for television.

“I could use some company,” he explained. “And it’s your favorite show.” Emily reluctantly sat next to Richard. At first, she had no idea something was wrong. However, she became aware that Richard was caressing the hem of her skirt. “Nice skirt,” he remarked. Emily’s heart pounded in her chest. She managed to say thank you. She tried to concentrate on the television show, but it was too hot.

She started unbuttoning her shirt when her fingertips brushed across Richard. He murmured, “Let me help you,” and stroked his fingers along her neck. “I’ve got it,” Emily responded, pulling away. But Richard didn’t take her hints. He insisted she get closer to him so she could see the TV clearly. “Come on Emily. “You’ve matured, and it’s not like you don’t want me,” he explained.

Emily frightened out. “Get away!” she exclaimed. “I’ve got to do my homework!” Suddenly, their neighbor’s Beagle barked, distracting Richard. Emily seized the opportunity to escape and raced to her bedroom. She was horrified and disgusted, but she felt comfortable here. But it wasn’t long before her calm was broken. Richard entered the room with a big grin on his face. “You don’t need to be scared, Emily!” He smirked.

“What are you doing here?” Get out! “This is my room,” she cried. “Leave, Richard, or I’ll tell Mom everything!” Richard burst with laughter. “Who do you think she will believe? “A grown man or her overly imaginative daughter?” She will trust me! “I know my mother!” Emily confidently yelled. Her gaze then moved to the cell phone on her bedside table.

Richard’s face contorted with wrath. “No calls!” he said. He suddenly rushed out to shove her away from the phone. Emily was about to grasp it but lost her equilibrium.The room swirled and she felt a stinging pain in the back of her skull. Emily’s world turned black once the wooden corner of the table struck her. Richard worried when he saw the puddle of blood under Emily’s head. He had to think quickly. Richard did not even check to see if she was still alive.

He wrapped her body in the carpet, placed it in his trunk, and drove away from town. Richard threw her body into a river, believing it was Emily’s demise. He then came home and tidied Emily’s room, ensuring that no one would dispute him.”A couple of fishermen found me, Mom,” Emily explained. “I was in the nearby town. A loving family took me in. They also tried to locate my family, but I couldn’t recall my background.

When I arrived and saw my face on billboards, I remembered everything—my house, you, and that dreadful night!”Stop it, Emily! “You’re accusing me after everything I’ve done for you?” Richard yelled. Laura had had enough. She would no longer believe Richard’s lies. Laura contacted the police, and Richard was transported to the station. A DNA test was also performed to determine whether the blood blot on the carpet matched Emily’s blood, which it did.

When the DNA findings were released, Richard ultimately surrendered and admitted to wanting his wife’s money, which is why he pretended to be a kidnapper. Months later, the judge condemned Richard to prison. Emily and Laura were finally free, and they had each other.