Takes place after Arthur's Secrets, Hostage, and Ariadne's True Love. Please read Arthur's Secrets first! This won't make sense first.
Arthur's Ex shows up to steal his children and kill his wife.
Arthur's Ghosts
1.
New York
~ "Arthur, I've been trying to reach you." Mcline scolded. The overweight lawyer mopped his sweaty brow with a white handkerchief. "Why was your cell phone off?"
"It's called rush hour traffic." Arthur said putting his brief case on the chair opposite his lawyer's desk.
Mcline was more then just the family lawyer. The older gentleman had been a father figure for Arthur, who's own father had not been there for him. The future Point Man had been a somewhat neglected child who grew up mostly on his own. Cared for by teachers and the old lawyer.
Nothing about his traumatic childhood seemed to phase Arthur these days. The Point Man showed up to Mcline's office looking extremely well put together in a well tailored, three piece suit. He looked handsome and prospers as he casually gave Mcline a look.
"Why didn't you just take a cab from the airport?" Mcline breathed helplessly. "Who drives a car in New York?"
"Mcline... what's going on? Did they discontinue the McRib again?" Arthur teased.
"Very funny, Son." The lawyer said. "How are the wife and kids?"
"Fine. Ariadne is doing well." Arthur said with a faraway smile thinking of the pretty wife he left back home in Paris. He already missed her and couldn't wait till he got to his hotel room so he could call her.
"She sends her love." Arthur added to Mcline.
"The kids alright? Darcy... is she doing good?" Mcline asked sitting his ample weight in a leather chair.
"Darcy and the baby are fine. You get the pictures Ariadne sent?" Arthur asked finally turning on his cell phone.
Mcline nodded and pointed distractedly at a handsomely framed photo of Arthur and Ariadne. She was holding little Dominic and Darcy was curled on Arthur's lap. Her toothless smile making the edges of Arthur's lips curl up at seeing it.
"Arthur, I have some bad news. I just found out an hour ago. I... I don't understand how it happened..." Mcline fumbled shamefully.
"What's going on?" Arthur asked catching on at last that something serious had happened.
"I need you to stay calm. Nothing had been confirmed. I... I just can't have you freaking out."
"Mcline!" Arthur barked.
The lawyer took a deep breath.
"Rebecca Lawson was released yesterday. She got out early on good behavior. I engaged a detective to track her movements." Mcline took another deep breath to settle himself. "Arthur, she got on a flight to Paris last night."
Paris
~ Ariadne was trying to draw Dominic's little hands. Her infant son was teething and putting everything in his mouth these days. He didn't seem interested in the fact his mother was painstakingly trying to capture his hands as he held a teething ring and chewed on it. He only cared that he was in his swing and his big sister was playing with some kind of doll in front of him. He seemed to find his sister, with her mess of curly blond hair, very interesting.
"Mama?" Darcy called out. "When is Papa going to be home?"
"In five days, Darcy." Ariadne said with a laugh. Her pencil moving away from drawing Dominic's hands to sketching the irresistible ringlets of Darcy's golden hair.
The Architect did nothing to tame the wild curls. She liked them like this. The way the little girl's hair shone in the sun. She would only pick through them and was careful not to brush them out. Preferring they stay curly.
"That's a long time. What if he dies in a plane crash?" Darcy asked.
"Darcy!" Ariadne trying to laugh off such a question. "Your Papa is not going to die!" She said looking at the little girl in disbelief. "Why would you think such a thing?"
"Phillipa's mommy died." Darcy said logically.
"I know she did." Ariadne said soberly. Her mind recalling the beautiful shade that was Cobb's late wife.
"Sometimes, mommie and daddies die." Darcy concluded.
Well, your Papa is not going to die until your a very old lady, with kids and grand kids of your own. That's a very long time from now." Ariadne said searching for a way to make Darcy's fears seem ridicules.
"Papa's mommy died when he was a little boy." Darcy said. "Your mommy and daddy are both dead, and they died when you were little."
Ariadne sighed. She didn't know how to talk to Darcy about death and dieing.
"When your Papa calls in the morning, he's going to talk to you about being so silly." Ariadne said taking a deep breath. "I don't want you to worry about your Papa. You know how strong he is."
"Being strong won't matter in plane crash." Darcy reasoned.
"Darcy, stop it." Ariadne commanded. She was feeling nervous now. Worried somehow Darcy's words would make it true.
"Will Mrs. Mills be here soon?" Darcy asked.
"Yes." Ariadne said in relief the subject was going to change. The part time nanny came early in the mornings to help with the kids and do some cooking and cleaning. Ariadne had resisted the very idea of a nanny, but now was grateful for the help with her husband out of the country, and two young kids to care for.
The door bell buzzed, pulling the Architect out of her thoughts.
"Oh, that's probably her now." Ariadne said with a smile. Darcy was showing her little brother her dolls as Ariadne went to the door.
The woman on the other side was not the old lady who was the children's nanny. She was a much younger woman with blond hair that Ariadne didn't recognize.
"Can I help you?" Ariadne said thinking the woman must me lost.
"Are you Ariadne?" The woman with honey blond hair asked. "Are you Arthur's wife?"
"Yes." Ariadne said feeling confused. "Can I help you?"
"Mommy?" Came Darcy's scared little voice from right behind the Architect.
Ariadne turned to her daughter and was about to tell her to go back and play when she felt a sharp blow to her head and saw only darkness.