Chapter Thirty
The Ordinary
Three months later
––––––––
“I ’M AFRAID TO SAY THERE’S no sign of him.” Detective Constable Willington threw Hannah a well-practiced and sympathetic expression. “Of course, we’re continuing our inquiries and will do everything we can to locate and arrest Mr. Lawes, but we wanted to give you an update.”
“Thanks.” Hannah offered a similarly well-rehearsed response.
She’d known what Willington was going to say before he’d even opened his mouth.
The authorities hadn’t found Lawes. She’d have known if they had, and anyway, the guy was always one step ahead of everyone else.
He’d been caught once before, but he wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. “I understand.”
“Wait, what?” Piercing Willington with a hard stare, Milly barked from beside her on the sofa.
“What do you mean, there’s no sign of him ?
That bastard snatched Hannah from the street!
Her phone was even found at the spot where he had taken her from.
You must have C.C.T.V. or something else to go on? ”
“We know it was Mark Lawes.” Willington ceded. “Miss Bowman has given a full I.D., and we have footage from the restaurant they both attended on the night of the kidnapping. What I mean to say is, we can’t say where he went after fleeing the property on Ocean Gardens.”
Hannah stared out of the window at his explanation. She’d been staying at Shannon’s apartment for months since Lawes had exploded into her life, but despite all her friends’ tireless efforts, she still didn’t feel like herself. How could she?
Watching the gray clouds roll past in the sky, all she could think about was how Lawes had got away and where he was hiding.
Had he stayed local to keep an eye on her, or was he somewhere thousands of miles away?
Her tummy contracted at the latter idea, hoping beyond hope that he’d stand by his word and come back for her.
It was crazy to want him, but she sensed the pain of his loss with her every breath.
Weeks of nausea and insomnia had taught her she needed him back.
Not that he could be there at present. Hannah never got a moment to herself. She appreciated all of Milly’s and Shannon’s love, but there were times their attention was suffocating, and inevitably, neither would understand her churning emotions for her captor.
That was why she hadn’t dared to divulge her true feelings. It was why her complicated knot of emotions for the man who’d turned her entire life upside down had to remain private.
“So, he just vanished into thin air?” Shannon’s tone was as snarky as Milly’s.
“We haven’t stopped looking for him,” The D.C. reiterated. “I just thought it was important to keep Miss Bowman in the loop.”
“Thanks.” Hannah’s smile was weak. Duplicity was hard work, especially when the people involved were her nearest and dearest. She longed to tell them how she was feeling, but couldn’t bear to see the disgust and disappointment in their eyes when they heard what was on her mind.
No normal person could actually fall for their captor.
Yet, Hannah was no normal person, and neither was Lawes. “I appreciate it.”
“This doesn’t make sense,” Shannon fumed. “Milly’s right. You must be able to track down what happened once he slipped out from under your colleague’s noses. Hannah was being held miles from where she lived. There must be local ways to identify him.”
“There appear to be limited cameras by the coast.” Willington sighed. “We assume Lawes got away on foot and then possibly stole a car.” He cringed at his uncertainty. “I’m sorry I can’t offer better news.”
“That’s no news.” Milly hissed.
“So, he could be anywhere?” Shannon added.
“Theoretically, yes.” Willington’s expression was pained.
“It’s okay.” Hannah blew out a breath. “The police are doing their best.”
“They’re doing nothing,” Shannon grumbled.
“They saved me,” Hannah reminded her friends. “Not once, but twice.”
Although she wasn’t sure she concurred with the notion of what saving her meant.
To Milly and Shannon, it signaled a return to her so-called normal life, but for Hannah, it was different.
So far, since Lawes had slipped out the back door, her days had been filled with police interviews, unwelcome, complicated flashbacks, and the stifling company of her friends.
There hadn’t been time to process what had happened, how she’d ended up in Lawes’ clutches again, and pivotally, whether she truly wanted to be right back there—in the arms of the man who’d imprisoned and subjugated her.
Without space to think and feel, she’d never be able to register what she’d been through and find the answers to the questions that plagued her.
Without space, she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.
Her friends meant well. She knew that. But their inability to leave her alone meant processing both what the hell had happened, and her intensifying craving for Lawes, was impossible. Most of the time, she thought her head might implode with the pressure of her feelings.
By the time she looked up, Shannon was showing the D.C. out of her apartment. He turned, offering Hannah a wave as he walked out the door.
“Useless fuckers!” Shannon scowled as she slammed the door closed behind him.
All at once, the energy in the room amplified as her friends muttered dissatisfaction with the investigation.
“I need some air.” Unable to hear anymore, Hannah rose from her seat, grabbing her jacket and the new phone she’d bought.
Her friends had insisted she install a tracking app on the device, which essentially meant the two of them knew where she was at any given moment. It was like being captured all over again, but instead of paddles and chains, she was being killed by their kind intentions.
“I’ll come with you.” Milly shot Shannon a warning look. “We can talk about what all this means.”
“Let’s all go,” Shannon suggested. “I could do with stretching my legs.”
“No!” She blurted the word a little too aggressively. “Please,” she added, catching sight of her friend’s shocked expressions. “I just need some time on my own to think things through.”
Milly and Shannon exchanged worried looks.
“But wh-what if he’s out there?” Milly stammered.
“You heard the police.” Hannah pulled on her jacket. “He’s not.”
She wished he was. At least she could see him, could talk to him about what her crazy emotions meant. Much more waiting and wondering if she’d conjured the entire fucked-up scenario in her head and she might truly need that psychiatrist.
“That’s not what they said,” Milly countered. “Willington just said they couldn’t find him.
“And the police have been wrong before,” Shannon reminded her. “He could be lurking anywhere.”
“Listen, I won’t go far, and you can track me all the way.” Hannah waved her phone at them. “Please, girls. I love you, but I need some time to myself.”
“Okay.” It was Milly’s turn to sigh. “But please don’t be long. We worry about you, Han.”
“I know.” Hannah forced a smile. “But I’m a big girl. I’ll be okay.”
She’d survived a lot worse than one solitary walk, and they knew it.
They all knew it.
“Fine.” Shannon gestured to the door. “Just... take care.”
“I will.” Hannah embraced her friends one at a time. “Thank you.”
Pulling in a steadying breath, she reached for the door handle and dashed for freedom.
***
S HE’D BEEN ON AN EXTENDED loop of Shannon’s apartment block for about ten minutes when she noticed the car crawling by the edge of the sidewalk.
At first, she ignored the vehicle, assuming it was only another inept motorist, but when the driver continued to follow her along the street, she finally glanced in their direction.
At first, nothing was amiss. The car was old and crappy.
Nothing new there. The roads were crammed with them, and tucked on the opposite side from her, the driver’s identity wasn’t obvious from the path.
It was only when the vehicle slowed to a virtual halt and insisted other cars maneuver around it that Hannah’s curiosity was piqued.
Sliding her headphones around her neck, she took a step toward the curb and peered at the person behind the wheel. Discernibly male, with large hands and a well-built-looking body, the driver wore a baseball cap and sunglasses, but something about his profile inspired her heart to skip a beat.
Lawes!
Instinctively, she knew it was him. Even though he hadn’t got out of the car or even looked her way, she recognized the resonance of his energy.
As though he’d read her mind, the glass of the window nearest her abruptly rolled down, inviting her closer.
“Do you need directions?” She bit her lip at her mischievous inquiry. She knew who he was, but after being taken unawares twice by Lawes, she wasn’t going to make it too easy for him to have her a third time.
“Actually, yes.” His dulcet tone confirmed everything she already knew. “Do you know how to get my little girl into this car? We need to talk.”
He turned then, his lips curling as he removed the sunglasses obscuring his handsome face.
A thousand unspoken words passed between them when their gazes locked—excitement, fear, and shock swirling around her—but all she could really feel in the intensity of that moment was relief.
He was back. He wanted to talk. Maybe finally, she could have peace.
“I can’t be found idling here. I’m a wanted man.”
“Yes, you are.” Her breathy reply conveyed her double meaning. “But I can’t get in the car with you, sir. My phone is being tracked, and a spontaneous drive will rouse suspicion I could do without.”
The honorific came to her effortlessly. Having mastered her in so many depraved and delicious ways, calling him ‘sir’ was easy.
“The police are monitoring your phone?” His tone was incredulous.
“Not the police, my friends.” She peered around as though she expected to see Milly and Shannon behind her. “They’re worrying more since our last little... rendezvous.”
“Right.” His grin grew.
“There’s a parking lot just past the next block, sir.” She motioned across the road with her hand. “If you park there, we can talk.”
“Are you setting the tone now, Hannah?” His dark, delectable eyebrow rose.
“Maybe.” She ran her tongue along her teeth. “I deserve that much, Mr. Lawes.”
“That, you do.” His expression softened. “I’ll go there now. Don’t keep me waiting.”
She watched his car pull away, her heart galloping as her gaze followed the vehicle’s progress into the parking lot.
Whatever he was going to say and however she was going to react all started when she walked over there and got into the car. Blowing out a breath, her head rose.
It was time to talk to Lawes.