I don't own OG characters, I thank Tony Grounds for creating them.
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Again this is dark...as you will read, but I will try to not make it too distressful to read.
Your ref: This story began 3 months after the very end of Molly's choice...
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Julie drove the car into the car cark looking directly upward when she killed off the engine, "Heavens above, look at the state of this place"
Charles unclipped his seatbelt and looked at her, "I think it's best you wait in the car...", Julie went to protest but he jumped in before she could open her mouth, "...you don't mind do you? I know this is all rather inconvient for you...I know we had plans for that romantic weekend away in the lakes..."
Julie shook her head and rested her hand on his shoulder, "No, no...I totally understand, you go up and find out what's happened and lets keep out fingers crossed that it's a misunderstanding or something..."
Charles broke into a smile and he moved in and kissed her on the lips, then got out of the car, Julie leaned in before he closed the door, "Do you need your wheelchair?"
He shook his head, "I've been sitting down for the best part of 5 hours, I'm sure I can climb a few flights of steps if the lift is not working"
Julie watched him go, this was all she needed. Something like this could send Charles' mental state spiralling back into depression, she just hoped in her own selfish way, that she was right and his brat of a daughter had been taken by some derranged relative or something and it would all get sorted out.
And by the look and state of this dump, that wasn't really hard to believe.
XXX
Molly was still sat on Esthers bed when there was a knock at the door. Nan who was in the kitchen washing up went through to the hall and opened it.
"Ohh it's you...it's about time too..."
Charles pushed his way in, "Where's Molly?"
Molly's ears pricked up at the sound of that deep voice. She stood up and brushed herself down, then taking in a deep breath, walked into the through lounge.
"I'm here"
Charles's eyes looked up and met hers, they lingered longer than they should. Molly broke the eye contact and turned to her Nan folding her arms, "Nan, you can go for that fag now..."
Nan could feel they needed to be left alone, so she grabbed her cigarette packet from the kitchen counter and went out onto the landing outside for a puff.
Charles moved to the armchair, "Is it allright for me to sit down, the stairs have exhausted me if I'm honest"
Molly nodded.
Charles sat and looked up at her, "So, tell me..."
Molly shrugged and perched on the arm of the opposite armchair, "there's not that much more to tell...the police are circulating Ests picture and..."
The captain broke in, "...police! Molly do you know who's taken her?"
She looked at him like he was stupid, "No! Charles I dont know nothink...that's what I keep saying, Est has been abducted, this is serious"
He looked rocked by the news, "But I thought... when you called I thought that it was something that would be resolved...a misunderstanding or something in the liking"
Molly sounded choked up, "she's been gone for 19 hours now...every hour that ticks by...it's doing my head in that there's no news!"
Charles went straight into military mode, he got up and started to pace as he spoke, "have all her details been taken down by the police, do we have a make and model of this car, have you given a complete full discription of these so called good samaritans that rescued you...have..."
"YES YES YES!"
He stopped and looked down at her, she looked like she was losing the will to live, "I've done everythink I can...what do you take me for Charles? Do you think I'm stupid or somefink...the police are...well, they are out there looking"
She looked away completely broken. He sat opposite her and took hold of both her hands, "look...I'll get more than the police searching...I have alot of clout in the job...I'll make a few phonecalls to some barracks I have contacts in and I'm sure they will want to do everything they can to help one of their own..."
She looked up and him, her eyes tired and sad, "I just want her back..."
Charles's face was stern but positive, "I will do everyhing in my power to make sure that happens...we'll get Esther back to her mother"
"...and her father", Molly whispered, it sort of just slipped out.
Charles swallowed and gave her one if his dismissive nods.
Molly sniffed back the tears and tried a smile, "So...have you gone and left Julia in the car"
"Err, yeah, it's Julie actually"
"Yeah whatever"
Both then turned around as Nan stepped back in, "is alright to come in? It's brass monkeys out here, Molls"
"Yes Nan...", she looked to Charles and sighed, "...and you best get Julie up here if you are stopping for a while, flash cars are always getting nicked round here and I dont want yours to..."
Charles shook his head, "No, no...I really need to start making some calls...Julie and I will find a hotel nearby..."
Molly swallowed, "you leaving already...you've only just got here..."
"I'll be nearby Molly...I promise"
Molly nodded and watched him move to the door. She called after him, "You look well...I mean it's good to see you on your feet at last"
Charles smiled but didn't give her eye contact, "I still have the chair...just in case I need it"
"...well, it's good to see you", she said.
Charles then met her eyeline and muttered, "...ditto" and then he was gone.
Nan came and snaked an arm around her, "are you alright love?", her granddaughter nodded and went back into the direction of Esther's bedroom.
XXX
Charles paused at the base of the stairs and looked up, Lee was then coming back from the corner shop and saw him get back into the flash motor, he recognised him because Molly had shown him a picture of him once. As the car drove off, Lee stared at Charles James, he glanced back at him, but not knowing who he was, he began chatting to the woman driver.
Lee watched it go, then headed to the steps.
XXX
Julie pulled the car into a bus stop and turned, "Ohhhh Charles, oh my God, I am so sorry...so she has been taken"
Charles nodded, "yeah...I can't really take it all in if I am honest..."
She rubbed his shoulder, "Poor you...this is so horrible"
He swallowed and set his brown eyes on her, "just get me to the hotel Julie...I need to make a few calls"
XXX
Lee stepped into Molly's flat and thumbed back into the direction of the door, "I see he's be then...to be honest, when I saw him, I thought he'd only just got here...but I can see he's actually been and gone...flying visit was it?"
Nan turned from the sofa, "He's staying over at a hotel...he told Molly he'll do everything he can to help and that"
"Bit sarcastic"
"Well, you would have thought he'd stopped longer...but, then again, why would a well to do gent want to spend time longer here than he needs to around this dump"
Molly listened at the bedroom door. She shook her head and stomped into view, "Nan, will you just give it a rest, he's gonna do all he can...and I trust him"
Nan just clicked her tongue and glanced at Lee.
XXX
At the hotel, Charles sat on the bed with his head in his hands, Julie was going on and on, "...I just can't believe it...who in there right mind would even leave their child with strangers, even if it is for a split few seconds!"
Charles shook his head, "Put yourself in her position for a moment...she just crashed the car...she said it was cold and it was wet and she just wanted to get Esther back home safely, this middle aged couple come along, she trusted them"
Julie changed tactics, "I know...I'm not accusing her of being stupid, I...myself...wouldn't do that, that's all"
Charles got up and headed to the bathroom and glanced at her before closing the door, he looked bemused "yes well, every mother cannot all be as perfect as you, can they..."
Julie shook her head biting her tongue. She could hear the shower. She huffed and got the holdall to take out her night creams, then heard Charles's phone go.
She bit her lip and looked towards the bathroom door, the shower was still going, she snatched up the mobile and scrolled the message.
It was from Molly.
Thanks x
Julie dismissed it and pressed delete...
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Again thanks for the reviews.
Reviews, opinions and feedback fuel us writers!
Next time The police have news for Molly and Charles and Julie takes advantage of Molly feeling low and sticks the knife in...
