Chapter One

Unlocking the door and yanking it open, Justin entered the house that he shared with his mother and twin sisters, Mel and Sophie.

"Mum? Mel? Sophie?" he shouted up the stairs. Only silence answered him. Satisfied that there was no one at home, Justin motioned Becca inside and shut the door. Checking his watch, he realised that they didn't have much time, the family would be home soon, and he and Becca couldn't be here when they did. As much as he didn't want to leave his family behind, he wanted to be with Becca more. She'd be his family now and maybe when the dust had settled he would phone them, let them know where he was – and who with.

Taking the stairs two at time, he made his way to his bedroom, the place where he and Becca would make love - whenever she could get away of course. All that would change now, she'd be all his, they could be together whenever they wanted and nobody would be there to stop them. Grabbing a black bag out of his wardrobe, he began to pull various bits of clothing out of the wardrobe and drawers before stuffing them into the bag. As he did this, Becca sat on the bed, fidgeting. Ever since she had first suggested it and Justin had agreed, the same thoughts had plagued her, threatening to overwhelm her conscience and her soul. Was she doing the right thing? By choosing to leave with Justin, she would be losing so much. Her job, her career, her marriage, friends, family….the list was endless. Was it really worth it? Was he really worth it?

"Hey Becca, I'm ready now" Justin suddenly spoke, jolting Becca from her thoughts. "I think we better go now, they'll be home soon. You okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine" Becca lied, "Right, let's go then" she continued, getting up and making for the door. Trudging out the door and down the stairs, they both knew they'd be in for a long and tiring night.

The room was small and dingy, and the noise from the neighbouring rooms was deafening at times, but it was the best they could get at such short notice. The bus ride had been a nightmare, both of them terrified at seeing anybody they knew and Becca still wondering whether she had made the right decision. The place was grim, there was no denying it, but in the morning, hopefully after a good nights sleep, they would set about finding a new place, somewhere better and more comfortable. A place they could call home.

"Justin! Get up now, you'll be late for school!" Liz shouted, frustrated at her son's seemingly inability to get up for school on time. "Justin!"

"Mum, stop shouting. Justin's not even there" Mel spoke, wearily as she made her way down the stairs and past her stunned mother.

"What?" Well where is he?" Liz replied, her voice full of panic. However old Justin was, he would always be her little boy and right now, her little boy was missing. "Have you checked his room? Mel? Have you checked his room? Did he say anything to you about being out all night?"

"Mum, just calm down will you. He's 16 not 6! I'm sure he's fine and he'll be home soon" Mel said, reaching for the cornflakes. As she spoke, Sophie joined the two women in the kitchen.

As Mel filled her sister in on the morning's developments, Liz paced up and down, her worry increasing by the minute. It just wasn't like Justin she reasoned to herself. Oh God, what if something had happened? What if he'd been attacked and was lying hurt somewhere or worse……..?

"Mel's right Mum. He's probably just at a friend's house. Why don't you try his mobile?" Sophie said, placing her hand on her Mum's shoulder gently.

Grabbing the phone, Liz quickly dialled the number and held it to her ear.

"Morning" Justin whispered sleepily, stroking Becca's face and tucking her hair behind her ear. The early morning sunlight was creeping into the room, brightening up their otherwise dingy surroundings.

The night's sleep had done nothing to settle Becca's mind. She'd had only a few hours sleep the rest had been spent turning the same old thoughts over in her mind. Thankfully though she had at least settled on one thought, the thought that had been bothering her most of all.

"Mandy! Mandy!" Jake shouted through the keyhole. It was early but he was desperate and knew that Mandy would be an obvious choice in his quest to find his missing wife. Becca had been missing all night and it was only Nancy's reasoned and calmed argument that she had probably had a girly night with Mandy and had fallen asleep that had stopped him from ringing the police to report her missing.

After several minutes of incessant shouting and knocking, the door was opened by a tired looking Mandy, wrapped in her dressing gown and juggling baby Grace in her arms.

"Jake? What do you want? Do you know what time it is?" Mandy said, irritated at this early morning interruption. She and Tony had been up most of the night with Grace and they could have done without the irate husband of her best friend turning up.

"Is Becca here? She never came home last night and I thought she might be here" Jake replied, casting a frantic glance past Mandy into the living room behind her.

"Becca's in the bathroom, Jake. She had a bit too much to drink last night" Mandy lied, smiling slightly as if to try and make light of the situation, "I'll tell her to phone you when she gets out, okay?" she continued, hoping her lie was convincing enough. She could kill Becca right now she knew how much she hated lying to Jake for her. But Becca was her best friend and she didn't want to betray her, even if that put her in a difficult position.

"Okay, well I'm going to be at work. So get her to call my mobile" Jake said, suitably calmed before turning and walking away.