Chapter Fifty-Seven

**Aiden**

Another day had passed and still no one knew where Ellie was.

Kyle had told me that Noah had stopped turning up at school and everyone was talking about Ellie’s disappearance. Of course no one had anything useful to say or offer but Noah dropping off the radar only cemented my belief that he was behind Ellie’s disappearance. Just the thought of him touching her let alone hurting her had my blood boiling. My knuckles were already busted up and bloodied from the numerous times I took my rage out on a wall. The truth was that it wasn’t the anger that had me crawling out of my skin but the fear. Every day that passed was another moment, another second, minute, hour without Ellie here, safe in my arms. Each moment let the fear grow. It settled in my stomach like a cold weight only to swell and press down on my chest.

I was petrified that I’d never see Ellie again.

The police were in touch earlier in the evening. They told us (well told Liam because he was family) that the tests on the syringe had come back. It had contained remnants of a tranquilizer but more importantly, it had Noah’s prints on it.

In a way it was a small relief and stoked the fire in Liam and I to find the little fucker. It meant the police now believed us about Noah but finding him was still proving difficult. His parents refused to speak to the police on the advice of a lawyer but that couldn’t prevent the police being all over them and their affairs like a rash.

However, the new evidence had also put dread in me. Noah had made no attempts to hide his involvement in Ellie’s abduction. It would be easy to say they found the evidence because he was reckless and stupid but Noah was neither reckless nor stupid. Everything was planned and he was terrifyingly smart. He didn’t make mistakes, at least, not as stupid as this. I had come across men like him before when in the military. On the surface they were like everyone else but that was only the surface. Underneath, there was a void. They were cold and calculated. They mimicked those around them to fit in but it was all an act. If you knew what to look for, then you knew they were more like predators. I’m not talking about a tiger or shark. These people were worse because they hunted for the thrill of it.

Noah hadn’t tried to hide his involvement because he had no intentions of being found. He wanted to disappear and make Ellie disappear with him.

Liam was still in his room although I wasn’t sure if he was asleep. I hadn’t been able to get any rest and had given up pretending about four am. I was now on my third cup of coffee and probably sixth cigarette when there was a knock on the front door. It was too early for visitors or the police but I figured it was Kyle or Tammy coming to see what they could do to help.

So imagine when I opened the door to find a woman with hard piercing black eyes and black hair swept up into a stylish quiff. She was dressed like someone who lived around this area and I suspected her heels cost more than my truck did.

“What are you doing here, Doctor Winters?” I asked, not bothering to hide the venom in my voice.

“Well, I wanted to find out more about this girl my son is supposed to have kidnapped.” Doctor Winters replied in a haughty tone, her eyes travelling over me and then the front of the house as if just being here offended her.

“Unless you’re going to tell me where you son is keeping Ellie, we have nothing to talk about.” I replied.

“I think I have something you and Mr Ramirez would like to hear.”

I didn't move but instead watched her, looking for any signs that she was wasting our time yet what I found was a woman ready to do anything for her son including negotiate with his victim's family to make sure he stayed out of jail. Perhaps she was willing to go as far as telling us what he has done with Ellie.

"Let her in, A." Liam's deep voice called out from behind me.

I let out a frustrated sigh and stepped back to give the doctor room to step in.

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 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.

"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*