Chapter 106: Detecting The Trail

Back at the hospital, Peter was now awake and was being helped to eat by Chris.

The doctor had told him that he was responding well to all the treatments and that in a week or two, he should be able to go home until he was completely restored.

Whenever someone knocked on the door of Peter's hospital room, he always hoped the knocker brought news about Sharon, but it was always a doctor or a nurse or someone else who wanted to see or check up on him.

Today though, the people at the door were the worst set he could have wanted to see him.

"Mr Cooper, there are some policemen here and they wish to speak to you." A nurse said to Peter after she came in.

"Sure, send them in," Peter said to her.

The two policemen entered the room and took a seat beside Peter's bed.

"Good morning, Mr Cooper! I'm detective Ken and this is my partner Levine."

"Do you have any information about my wife's whereabouts?" Peter sat up and asked, hoping that they did.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but we haven't found anything that could lead us to her." The policeman said regrettably.

"Then, why are you both here?" Peter asked in frustration.

We have some questions for you about what happened the night of your accident." Detective Ken started.

"Ok then, ask away!" Peter said while sighing in anger.

Detective Ken took out a pen and a notebook.

"Mr Cooper, how exactly did your car swerve off the road and into the river?" Detective Ken asked.

"I was driving to the airport so my wife and I could begin our honeymoon trip. There was a car behind us and it was speeding so I changed lanes so he could overtake me, but just as he was about to, he bashed into the backside of my car which made me lose control. The car rolled over and fell into the river," Peter explained.

"So, what you're saying is that someone attacked you and your wife and caused the accident?" Detective Ken asked with a raised brow.

"That's exactly what I'm saying!" Peter clarified.

"And what happened next after you went into the river?" The detective asked.

"I hit my head pretty hard and I didn't have my seatbelt on so I got hurt and I was knocked out. The only thing I remember is that I didn't swim out of that car by myself. Someone got me out and it was most likely Sharon which is why I don't understand how or why she disappeared," Peter said angrily and Chris made him relax.

"You said you changed lanes while driving?" The other cop, Levine suddenly asked.

"Yes, I did, so the other car could pass us."

"Is it possible that when you changed lanes, another car coming from the other direction almost bumped into you? You saw it late because it was dark and in a last-minute attempt to avoid being hit, you turned the steering wheel hard, causing your car to go off balance and into the river?" Levine insinuated.

"Are you saying that I'm lying about being hit on purpose by another car?" Peter asked, taking offence.

"That's not what I'm saying, Mr Cooper. What I'm saying is that it all just doesn't add up. Why would anyone attack newlyweds on their way to their honeymoon?"

"Well, someone did!" Peter shouted.

"And do you have any idea who would want to hurt you or your wife?" Detective Ken asked.

Peter stared at Chris and then back at the policemen. There was someone on his mind who must have caused this, it had to be him! Peter didn't know if telling the police was a good idea.

"No, I don't," he finally said.

"Is there any other thing that we should know about?" The Detective asked.

"No, there isn't," Peter replied.

"Ok then, we'll be on our way. Please let us know if you remember anything else and have a speedy recovery."

The policemen left and closed the door behind them.

"Why didn't you tell them about Addicus?" Chris asked his friend.

"What can they do about it? He'll just deny it and then they'll let him go. We have to find her and help her Chris. We're the only ones who can!" Peter said.

"But you're hurt right now which means there's nothing you can do at the moment!"

"That's true but you aren't hurt," Peter said.

"What can I do, buddy? Tell me and I'll do it!" Chris said.

"I need you to find out the exact home address of Addicus and keep an eye on everything that goes on there. Also, I need you to go back to the site of the crash and look for anything, anything at all that could help find Sharon. The police are incompetent and must have missed something but I know you will be more thorough," Peter instructed.

"Ok, Peter, I will. But... have you considered that maybe, she didn't make it out and is...?" Chris tried to say.

"She's not dead, Chris, she isn't! I can feel it in my broken bones. She's alive but she needs our help because wherever she is, I'm almost certain that she's in trouble."

*****

Sharon lay on the bed, still tied up to the posts. She was battered and bruised, her clothes and hair were ripped and messy and she was quietly sobbing.

Addicus put on his trousers and smiled at her as she lay there, helpless and vulnerable.

"I always told you that one day, you would be mine. This is only the beginning, my dear. I'll take from you and I'll keep taking until there's nothing left," Addicus said to Sharon.

He walked over to the door and raised his right hand, quickly remembering that he didn't have a right hand anymore. He turned around and looked at Sharon and then, at his wrist.

"I'll take everything away from you, just like you tried to do to me!"

He left after that, and Sharon remained mute, just staring into the abyss, her mind was a cluster of damaging thoughts.

Some minutes later, Will entered the room and freed Sharon from the ropes that tied her to the post. She wrapped her arms and legs around her almost naked body and continued sobbing. Will also brought a blanket and he covered her with it.

He brought a new dress for her to wear as well as a bucket of warm water, and some ointments for her bruises.

"Miss Sharon? Please, get up so I can tend to your wounds," Will asked her nicely.

Sharon didn't flinch a muscle. She wrapped her arms around herself even tighter.

"I need to treat your wounds or they'll just get worse," Will explained.

She didn't listen and he decided to leave her, hoping she'd do it by herself.

He walked over to another door in the room that had been locked since Sharon first got here and he opened it with his key.

"There's a bathroom in there and other facilities. You can take your bath when you're ready. I'll be back in an hour with a hot meal,"

As soon as she heard the click of the door following his exit, she burst into a loud wail. She held her body, crying out in pain. Addicus had defiled her... **he would do it again!**

She knew that Peter wasn't coming for her this time, and she would have to depend on herself if she was to get out of there but, she had lost all hope. ***There was no fight left in her.***