Anna Marie Peterson lived with her parents, Paul and Marie Peterson. They lived in a wonderful crime free neighborhood. They were friends with everyone who lived there. Both Paul and Marie worked, so they had to hire a housekeeper. They interviewed several prospects for the job.Only one of the prospects did Anna take a liking to instantly. Her name was Cynthia Barber.
Cynthia was 18 and fresh out of school and very eager to start her job. Cynthia and Anna became very close in a short period of time. They did almost everything together. Anna's mom was very happy that Anna had found a great friend in Cynthia. She just knew that she and her husband had made a good decision about hiring Cynthia.
Not long after Cynthia turned 19, she started making advances toward Mr. Peterson. Marie did not like this at all. She and Paul have been married for nearly 10 yrs. She wasn't about to let Cynthia ruin her family. She wanted to handle the issue as discreetly as possible. She didn't want Anna to find out what was going on.
Before Marie had a chance to talk to Cynthia, Anna had already witnessed the advances from Cynthia to her father. Watching Cynthia attempt to hug and kiss her father made Anna angry. She went to her mother immediately with what she had seen happen. Mrs. Peterson got really angry about the situation.
Mrs. Peterson confronted Cynthia about the situation. They argued for awhile. In her defense, she stated that Anna was lying about what she saw. Mrs. Peterson finally told Cynthia to stay away from her husband. She also threatened that if anything like this happened again, she would lose her job and her reputation would be ruined. Cynthia agreed to stay away from Paul.
A week later, only Paul and Cynthia were home. So she decided to try her luck once more. She walked into his study wearing nothing but a bathrobe. As soon as Paul turned to look at her, she let the robe slip to the floor. He immediately turned away from her and told her to leave and get dressed. He was very stunned and angry by her actions.
Paul told his wife what happened as soon as she came home. They both agreed that she had to leave. Marie immediately went to Cynthia's room and made her start packing her things. They argued once again. This time she claimed that Paul was lying in her defense. Marie didn't want to hear anymore. She just shouted at Cynthia to pack and get out. Cynthia left that night.
The Peterson's didn't tell their daughter about Cynthia's departure. Anna didn't really notice. A day later, Cynthia went to pick Anna up from school. Anna was happy to see her until she figured out they weren't going home. She started to cry. Cynthia yelled at her to hush or else. They went far away from North Carolina. Anna became very scared. She didn't know what was happening or why. She didn't understand, as she was only 7 yr.s old.
Cynthia finally told her why they left town. Anna got upset and started crying again. She told Anna it was for revenge against her parents for firing her. She didn't care who she hurt by doing this. She wanted revenge and that is what she got.
Cynthia always yelled at Anna. She never had anything nice to say to Anna since they left. Anna started hating Cynthia for what she had done to her and her family. She always beat Anna for no reason. This made Anna's hatred for her grow even stronger. Cynthia no longer cared about anyone, but herself. She kept Anna locked up all day and night. Anna's hatred grew stronger and stronger.
Mr.and Mrs. Peterson started to worry when Anna didn't return home from school. They went to look for her. They found nothing. They called all her friends and found nothing. They called the police and told them their 7-yr. old daughter was missing. The police started a search immediately. Paul and Marie kept looking as well. By this time they had everyone in the neighborhood looking for her. The search turned up nothing.
They put her picture on the news. Anna's teacher called as soon as she saw the picture and told them that Cynthia had picked Anna up. Mr. Peterson immediately called the police and gave them this new information. They came back out to the house to talk with Paul and Marie again. Mrs. Peterson told them about Cynthia and why she was fired. The police immediately started a search for Cynthia. They posted her picture everywhere. In the papers, on bulletin boards and on the television with Anna's picture once again. They now know who had Anna and why. They didn't know where they were, but one way or another, they were going to find them, no matter what.
Cynthia called Paul and Marie about a week later. She told them she had Anna and if they wanted her back alive, they would give her anything she wanted. The Peterson's immediately demanded to speak to Anna. Cynthia put the phone up to Anna for a minute and then took it back from her. They agreed to meet her demands. She wanted 3 million dollars in cash, a car, and a plane ticket to Africa. The Peterson's called the police and told them of the call and there was no way they could meet the demands in such a short time. They told them not to worry about the demands. They would handle it and they did.
The next day, they had everything arranged and ready for the switch. Only Cynthia didn't show. They went back to the house in hopes that she would call again. She did call again and told them she didn't show because of car trouble. She told them to meet her in an hour at the park. They went back to the park and waited. Again she was a no show.
The police suddenly received a radio call.The Peterson's home was on fire. They left the park immediately. When they arrived at the house, it was totally engulfed in flames. The fire department was already on scene trying to get it under control. They were doing everything they could, but could not save the house. Paul and Marie were very upset at this tragedy. They had now lost everything. First their daughter and now their home and everything in it. Cynthia never showed to collect her demands. They never heard from her again.
For several years, they kept looking for them. Even with no leads, they kept searching. They never found them. The police finally convinced Paul and Marie that the search was hopeless. After 3 yr.s of searching for them and turning up nothing, they finally gave up. They thought Anna was no longer alive.
2yr.s after they stopped looking for them, Anna returned to her home town in North Carolina. She went back to where she used to live only to find an empty lot. Her parents didn't rebuild their home after the fire. She went to the police station and told them who she was and what had happened to her. They were relieved that she was still alive and felt foolish for giving up on her so soon. They asked about Cynthia. They also asked how she managed to make it back. She told them, she had managed to catch Cynthia off guard and killed her. She also told them that she made it to the local police department and told them her story. They gave her a bus ticket home.
Anna asked where her parents had moved. They immediately offered to take her home. They arrived at the new house of her parents. Paul and Marie instantly ran outside to see what was happening. Anna,now age 12, stepped from the car and stared at her parents. They stared back at her in amazement. They didn't recognize her. Everything about her was different. The police walked Anna up the steps and announced that Anna was home to her parents. Paul and Marie were now in a state of shock. After being missing for 5 yr.s, their daughter was finally home and safe. Everyone was happy again.
They talked of the past 5-yr.s with out each other. Everything was returning back to normal. Everyone in the neighborhood was relieved to hear of Anna's safe return. They had asked about Cynthia. Anna had told her story of how she managed to finally get the best of Cynthia. She also told of how she was able to make it back home.
Anna went back to school a week later. Everyone was so excited to have her back. Everyone had missed her terribly. She told them,she was glad to be back. She had also missed them. These were the happiest 2 weeks of her life. No one gave her a hard time like before ever again. She was the most popular girl in school now. She had allot of work to make up and she had plenty of time to do it in. She swore to everyone that she would never leave this town again until she was out of school and married. Everyone laughed at her statement.
It was in the paper, that she had returned home after being held against her will for 5 yr.s. She was very popular around town and all across the state. She was on television numerous times. She had great times on television. She was always being asked for autographs. She was always glad to give them.
Her popularity never calmed down for quite some time. Everyone was always interested in her story. She was always glad to share it. She never thought it would go this far. She never dreamed of being on television. It was great to have everyone support her. She didn't once think that it mattered to the whole town that she was missing. She was thrown many big welcome home parties. Anna's great return brought everyone closer together. They all stuck together when things were rough and tough.
Anna never once let her popularity go to her head. Everyday her life would come together and she was able to act like a child again. She always did new and different things with her parents every weekend. They were all so glad to be together. They were whole once again. Nothing could or would separate them ever again.