Chapter 111
She looked out of place in our house as if someone had badly photoshopped her into the wrong frame. She didn’t bother to hide her disdain as she followed Liam into the living room and perched herself on the edge of the armchair. Liam seemed unfazed by doctor Winter’s judging eyes, his own eyes dull from exhaustion and worry. He took a seat on the couch, his huge frame nearly taking up the whole space as one muscled arm stretched out across the back of the couch. I chose to remain standing and instead stood near the window overlooking the garden.
“I’m aware that the police believe they have evidence implicating Noah in your sister’s disappearance.” The doctor began. “It’s circumstantial of course but even if it wasn’t, this would never see the inside of a courtroom and we all know that.”
“If you’re just going to gloat, then you should just leave.” Liam spoke up. “Where is my sister?”
“I don’t know.” She replied, her eyes hardening, lips pinching. “However I am willing to find out where she is and hand those details over on the agreement that you won’t pursue charges.”
“You’re fucking kidding, right?” I snapped incredulously.
“I don’t joke about such matters, Mr Green.” Doctor Winter’s glared at me. “I am aware that my son is difficult but he is my son and I will do what I must to protect him. So I’m offering to help find Ellie and in return, you leave it to us to deal with Noah.”
“Even if we don’t press charges, the police will pursue it based on kidnapping alone.” Liam pointed
out.
“Perhaps but that’s easily dealt with.” She replied. “So, do we have a deal?”
I wanted to tell her to fuck off. I wanted to tell her we didn’t need her help. But it wasn’t my call to make and I knew that like me, Liam was desperate to get Ellie back. The place was just too dull and empty without her. Her soft, kind light no longer filled the rooms and her presence was fading. Even her scent on my pillows was gone.
“Alright.” Liam replied after what felt like forever. “But if your way fails, I will do everything in my power to send your son to jail for a very long time.”
“Trust me, my way won’t fail.” Doctor Winters replied, rising from her perch. “I will contact you once I have something to share and a moment before. Don’t worry about showing me out.”
And just like that, the devil’s mother was gone leaving only a hint of her designer perfume in the air as proof of the deal that had just been made.
Neither of us believed Doctor Winters or her claims that she could help us. However one thing had been believable and that was the Winters would do everything in their power to protect Noah from
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Chapter 111
ever seeing the inside of a jail cell. It wasn’t a surprising revelation. In fact it wasn’t really a revelation at all because it was a tale as old as time that people with money and influence could get
out of most things.
Kidnapping could easily be twisted into something much more innocent especially if teenagers were involved. All the Winters had to do was paint Ellie and Noah as smitten for each other and Liam being an overprotective brother and suddenly it’s all just a huge misunderstanding.
Liam had no interest in this going to trial anyway. It had been obvious the moment he had entertained Doctor Winters‘ offer. He just wanted his sister back and put all of this behind us.
I hadn’t been on the same page initially. I wanted people to pay for what had happened to Ellie but eventually I admitted to myself that I was being selfish. Ellie wouldn’t be able to cope with the trauma of the whole circus–like affair it would become. I couldn’t protect her if she was on the stand but I could protect her here.
The next twenty–four hours were agony. I was convinced the Winters would fuck us over somehow and that we’d never see Ellie again and Noah would disappear probably to some country without an extradition treaty with us. The idea that he would get to start fresh and potentially target some other girl was sickening but it was more likely to happen than any other outcome.
Then, to our surprise, the Winters reached out.
3
“Aiden Green and Liam Ramirez?” The man on our doorstep asked when I opened the door.
“Yes?” I frowned.
A manila envelope was suddenly thrust at me.
“The Winters wish you a Merry Christmas.” The man announced before walking off with further parting words.
“Who was that?” Liam asked as I shut the door and held up the envelope. His face dropped into one of realisation. “Open it then.”
I showed no grace in ripping open the envelope, my hands were shaking too much for that. Inside was a Christmas card with a dated photo of a hotel and a greeting scrawled over the top.
Christmas greetings from the Grand Rose Hotel!
And on the inside:
Room 374
