Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you. Thank you for all reviews.
Eli sat in Red's jet facing him, "Why are we going to Nebraska?"
Red sipped his tea, "I'm visiting an old friend."
She scanned his calm face, "That sounds very not you."
He looked into his drink, "I'm not a monster, Eli."
She frowned, so he continued, "Sam, Lizzie's adoption father. He's very ill."
She bit inside her lips and nodded. He pursed his lips and looked at the window.
Few hours later, she sat in the back seat of the car they've rented. Red opened the car and sat next to her nodding to Dembe to drive. She scanned his rigid face, before she asks, "How is he?"
He twisted his lips and gazed her, "Dead."
She opened her eyes astonished, then she whispered, "I'm sorry, Red." He nodded and took the phone from Dembe to call Lizie. She watched him talking to her about her father and General Ludd and offering her to fly her to Nebraska to see her sick father. He hung up with her then sighed. Eli scanned him concerned, "Are you okay?"
He didn't look at her, but turned his face to the window, "I met her husband."
Eloise tried to examine his face, but she failed, so she asked, "Did he know?"
He turned to look at her for a moment then replied, "He knew Sam was dead, but hasn't told her yet."
She nodded and held his hand firmly, so he smiled with only the angle of his mouth and watched the road in front of them.
A couple of minutes passed, then he looked at her, "I'll take you to the writer's house, then leave with Luli and Dembe to Munich. We'll meet the Hudsons and come back the next day. We'll keep you briefed." She nodded silently and turned her eyes to the window next to her trying to swallow the pain in her heart .
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For a whole day, Eli didn't hear from Red or her associates. It wasn't common he leaves her all that period without calling her. She's spent the whole night awake waiting for their call. She was confused, is he still angry with her? He's been treating her normally since she told him what happened that night with Luli. Why did he leave her this time? That deal he's travelled to make with The Hudsons, it wasn't even a dangerous trip. She didn't know when she fell asleep, but it must have been after dawn. Because it was almost noon, when she got up panicked by the sound of her phone ringing. Her heart missed a beat when she saw the caller, it was Red.
She answered fast to hear Dembe's voice.
Before she asks him why they didn't call her, he talked, "Eli, bad things had happened. I want you to leave the house now and go to Kate. Stay there till I call you."
She asked panicked, "What's happened? Where's Red?"
She heard him sighing, "I don't know, Eloise. I lost him. One of our old enemies has set us up and broken into The Post Office, killed Luli and had Raymond."
Eli gasped and her tears ran as she heard about the death of her only friend. He heard her sopping so he said, "Eloise, listen to me. I'll find him and bring him back. I just need to know you're safe. Please, leave now. I'll call you later."
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Eloise held her suitcase and stood at the front door of the old house shaking. She waited till the door was opened and Mr. Kaplan has appeared. She threw the bag to the ground and threw herself into her arms crying. Kate twisted her lips and patted Eli's back gently, "It's okay, my dear. You're going to be okay. Come in."
Kate held the young lady leading her inside and helping her to sit in a comfortable couch. Eli wiped her tears and looked at Kate, "Did Dembe tell you?"
Kate nodded and gave her a cup of water, "He called and told me everything. I called Baz and he will be here soon."
Eli asked with hoarseness in her voice, "What are we going to do?"
Kate opened a small case on the table and checked its contents, "YOU are going to stay here. I have some business to do."
Eli shook her head persistently, "I'm not staying here alone. I'll look for my boss."
Kate turned to face her and held her shoulders firmly, "My job is to find my employer and keep you safe. This is the only place in which I guarantee your safety."
Eli stared at her with eyes full of tears and nodded. Kate patted her cheek lightly, "Good girl."
She took her bag and left. Eli raised her legs on the couch and held them tightly to her chest. Her tears ran silently on her cheeks, while her heart prayed to God for her boss.
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Eloise didn't change her position for hours. Kate and Dembe came back before sunset to find her still sitting in the couch embracing her knees with her arms. Only her eyes got puffy and red because of crying. When they got in, she raised her pale face to them expectantly, "Anything?"
Kate shook her head silently and moved to her room. Eli looked at Dembe terrified, so he sighed and sat down next to her, "We couldn't find him. We found Garrick, dead. But we couldn't find Raymond. It seems Raymond has killed him and gone."
She buried her face into her hands and whimpered. Before he speaks, his phone rang, so he answered then hung up fast. Kate got out of her room and asked him, "Any news?"
He nodded, "That blood on the chair beside Garrick's body, The FBI labs confirmed it was Raymond's"
Eli gasped and raised her head to him. He said fast, "It was only small spots. It seems he was injured but not seriously."
She looked at them with blurred eyes, "Now what?"
Kate held her shoulders pulling her up, "Now, you need to eat some food and go to bed."
Eloise shook her head, "I'm not eating anything."
Dembe embraced her face with his big hands and locked his eyes to hers, "Eloise. We will find him. I promise you."
She whispered, "What about Luli, what about her body?"
Mr. Kaplan replied, "I had that taken care of. We got her body and we will take care of her."
Eli rested her head to Dembe 's shoulder and sopped hysterically. He embraced her waist and led her to her room.
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Another night had passed without sleeping for Eloise. She stayed the whole night awake in her bed crying. When she saw the sunlight getting into her room through the curtains, she got up and left the room heading to the bathroom. When she got out, she saw Kate sitting in an armchair sipping her morning tea. She tried to hold on, but her legs were shaking, so she leaned to the door frame, "Kate."
Kate looked at her and got annoyed when she saw her that weak and pale. She rushed to support her, "Oh, dearie, you look like hell."
Eli whispered, "I'm fine."
Kate held her and led her to the nearest sofa, then went to the kitchen and brought her a cup of coffee. She gave her the cup and said gently, "Here, drink that and I'll make you a sandwich."
Eli pushed her hand weakly, "I'm not hungry."
Kate moved her hand over Eli's hair, "My dear, you need to eat something, please. You are starving, and Raymond will kill me if he sees you like this."
Tears began to run out of her eyes again as she whispered, "Raymond?! We've lost Raymond, and Luli. I lost my family, again."
Kate wiped her tears and smiled motherly, "No, my dear, Raymond is okay. He's called."
Eli held her breath and held Kate's hand firmly, "When? When did he call? Why didn't you tell me? Where's he? Is he okay?"
Kate put the coffee down to the table, "Easy, young lady. He called me three hours ago. I thought you were asleep."
Eli asked huskily, "Where's he? Is he okay?"
Kate nodded, "He's great. He's just angry. He's seeking revenge for Luli. He wanted to see Dembe and Grey. They must be with him now."
Eli hesitated, before she asks, "Did he ask about me?"
Kate smiled warmly, "Of course he did, dearie. He wanted to make sure you're okay and safe."
Eli sighed and rested her head back on the sofa, so Kate grinned, "Now, let me go and bring you something to eat."
Eli didn't really hear her, but continued staring at the air.
When Mr. Kaplan came back with the breakfast, she found Eloise lying down on the sofa and already has fallen asleep. She raised her eyebrows and put the tray on the table. She covered her with a small blanket and pulled the blackout curtains together leaving her to have some rest after a most stressful night.
I hope you like that chapter. Read and review, please.