Chapter 57
CHAPTER 57
ELIJAH
T he police arrive and take my statement. They ask how long she’s been missing.
Fuck!
I admit I haven’t seen her for over twenty-four hours, thinking my fifteen-year-old was staying with her best friend, who I didn’t realise was actually holidaying in Mexico. Talk about a bad father! I didn’t even know where my daughter was. Hadn’t thought to check.
Has she ever done anything like this before?
How was she after your divorce?
Are you in a new relationship?
How does your daughter feel about Ms Dawson?
Do you have any idea where she might be?
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
The secret I’ve held for ten years is about to be exposed. Charlotte Frazer isn’t my daughter, at least not biologically. The great Elijah Frazer was cuckolded by a friend and his wife.
My stomach churns, my muscles ache.
Why the hell didn’t you talk to me, Lottie? Where the hell are you, munchkin?
My apartment becomes a hive of activity. The phones are tapped in case it does turn out to be a kidnapping. Another wave of nausea hits me as the officer in charge explains they can’t take any chances when my bank balance is as high as it is.
I know in my heart, though, this isn’t that. All evidence points to Lottie tracking down her mother’s lover. Her real Dad. My heart fractures all over again, the same way it did when I first found out all those years ago.
Pen comes up and places a hand on my back. I turn my head and look at her.
“How are you holding up?”
Typical Pen, no platitudes of everything will be alright, especially after the way I spoke to her this morning.
“Pen, I?—”
“Don’t,” she says, cupping my cheek. “We’ll find her. She’s going to be okay.”
“That’s not what I meant. This morning?—”
“I get it. I should have said something. I’m sorry. But I’m warning you, I’ll not be your or anyone else’s scapegoat. But know, I love you. We’ll discuss this later after we get her back.”
She presses her lips to my cheek, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and breathing in her scent to ground me. She’s always been so strong. It’s not surprising my daughter turns to her. I couldn’t ask for a better role model.
She pulls my head down to rest on her shoulder.
“Everyone is here for you,” she whispers next to my ear. “Mason called. Darra has landed and is on her way here. You’re not alone, Elijah. You need to remember that. Lean on us.”
I stand up and run a hand down my face.
“I’m going to get showered and freshen up.”
I’m still in the clothes I pulled on after Darra’s initial call.
Pen nods and cradles my cheek. She says nothing, but that one touch conveys her love and support as no words can.
She squeezes my hand before heading back to the living area for now, the new control room.
I stand under the shower and let the jets of water hit me from all angles. I throw back my head to hide my tears of despair and desperation in the fast-flowing water until I’m left gasping for breath. I drop my head and shoulders forward, pressing my hands against the shower wall, gulping down air as I struggle to get my emotions under control. I can’t fall apart. I won’t.
What I would give to hit the pool and swim until my legs and arms don’t function or paint until my hand cramps. Anything I can lose myself in.
I switch off the water and stand, hands against the wall, letting the water run down my body until goosebumps form on my skin. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand before pulling a towel off the rack and rubbing myself down. I avoid looking in the mirror, not wanting to see the broken man before me.
I pull on a set of clean clothes, going through the motions. My chest feels empty.
It’s not like I don’t get why Lottie wanted to know this piece of information. I just wish she’d spoken to me about it. Not to her mum, not to Pen. But maybe she knew I couldn’t help. After all, I would never have married her mother if I’d known the child she was carrying wasn’t mine. Lottie would never have been my daughter.
A sinking feeling hits my stomach.
Caleb has spoken to four of the names on her list. Lottie is not with any of his friends, and I can see the relief on his face. My brother and his friends had reputations as players , but sleeping with older women, his brother’s girlfriend? I think even Caleb was wondering. Not that we were much older. Six years.
But that leaves only two names. Both men I considered my best friends.
The doorbell chimes.
Time for battle.
I make my way into the living area as Darra swans into the room. Her eyes are red and swollen, although her make-up is otherwise perfect. Even her lipstick is intact.
“Where’s my daughter?” she says loudly, her eyes clashing with mine.
“Mrs Frazer,” one of the police officers says, coming up to her. “If you’d like to come with me. I’ll be happy to fill you in on what we know so far.”
“Who?” I say, my voice cracking slightly. I cough, needing to clear the blockage that’s formed. “Who Darra? Who did you sleep with? Who is Lottie’s father?”
Darra’s colour drains visibly, even under all her makeup. She straightens her spine, her shoulders back. A stance I recognise when she’s about to go into battle.
“What? What do you mean?” she says, looking around her, eyes wide.
When her gaze meets mine, she scowls.
“You’re her father,” she lies, dabbing at her eyes, fluttering them at one of the police officers.
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“Everyone here knows, and we don’t have…time for this.”
I thrust my clenched fists deep into my pockets. I’m not and never have been, a violent man, but right now, I want to strangle my ex-wife for all her games.
“I’m talking about Lottie’s biological father. It will save us a lot of time if you just tell us who you slept with. Lottie has run a DNA test on everyone who was there that week. She’s found something out. Our best bet in tracking her down is if we know who to contact.”
She folds in on herself and drops onto the sofa. A nearby police officer guides her, but I’m out of patience.
“Cut the crap, Darra. I know she asked you over the summer, and you stone-walled our daughter. I’ve never wanted to know, but now is the time for you to come clean. Who the hell did you fuck that week?”
“Mr Frazer, please.”
I shoot the officer in question a look that has him stepping back.
My siblings and the police officers in the room all turn and stare at Darra expectantly.
“Mrs Frazer, please. If you have information that can help us find your daughter, I would suggest you share it with us.”
Darra looks at me, the fight gone out of her eyes. Her indiscretion is out of the bag. Her dupe is now known. She can no longer act the victim.
The poor wife of a workaholic, someone who turned their back on her for his career .
I know what’s been said about me, about our relationship. I let it lie to protect our daughter, but I’m tired of taking the blame.
“Mrs Frazer?”
Darra snaps out of her trance and looks at the officer. Her eyes move to my sister. Is that guilt? No.
Oh shit!
I take a step towards Kat, who’s currently in a staring match with my ex.
The doorbell chimes.
Pen makes her way past me to the door.
“Lottie, thank god,” I hear her say.
I’m in motion before I realise it.
Lottie looks at me, her eyes filled with tears as she takes in my appearance.
“I’m so sorry, Dad,” she says, throwing herself against me. “Please forgive me.”
I wrap her in my arms, her tiny body almost disappearing in my size.
I look up to find the last person I expect to see standing behind her.
We stare at each other.
“You better come in,” I say.