Chapter 12
Something happened. Something bad happened. She screamed, and now I can't get a hold of her. I hopped out of bed and walked down the hall. I pounded on Brett's door and waited for him to open it. I waited while the door opened, and Brett stood there looking groggy.
"Where's Lila?"
"I don't know, dude. She's been gone for awhile. She didn't say where she was going."
"Cheryl's been kidnapped. And if I find out that Lila had something to do with it, Brett, so help me god I will rip her limb from limb, and then come back here and whoop your ass for letting it happen."
I said, walking away from his room. I walked two floors down and went to Adam's room. I knocked softly on the door, because I knew the twins were in there. I waited until he came to the door and opened it. I smiled and shook his hand.
"What brings you to the Copeland room at two am?"
"Dude, something's wrong with Cheryl. She was on the phone with me, and she was telling me about this phone call and then she screamed and the line disconnected. I'm worried."
"Okay dude, Cheryl's not a joker. She wouldn't plan things like this. Have you checked with your brother?"
"I did. Lila's not there, and he doesn't know where she is. I swear to god, Adam, if Lila's behind this…"
I couldn't finish the sentence. Adam needed to find a sitter for the twins, because he said he was going to help me. I knew that things were going to be rough now, because Cheryl was missing, but I knew that Adam could find it in his heart to forgive her. He had called on his friend Jay Reso to come and watch the twins while we went to look for Cheryl. I was so scared.
"She's fine dude, I promise."
Adam said to me, clapping me on the shoulder. I dialed her cell phone again, and got voicemail. I left a message for her, and then I called Lila. Lila didn't answer either, so I left a very scathing message for her.
"Delilah. It's Ted, I swear to god if you hurt one hair on Cheryl's head, and I'll never forgive you, got it? Now, you'll call me and tell me where you have her."
I said, slamming down the phone. I couldn't believe this. She wouldn't have done this when we were younger. Something turned her into the vile, vicious woman who hurt me. A few minutes later, my cell phone rang, and I looked at it. It was Cheryl's cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Why hello Theodore."
Lila said on the other end of the phone. I shook my head. I couldn't believe it. She was behind it, she had to be, and if she wasn't, I would still make sure that Bailey never would see her again. That was my guarantee.
"Lila, why do you have Cheryl's cell phone?"
"Because, I have her. I'm proving a point, Ted. She needs to realize that I always get what I want. I want you, Ted. I've always wanted you. I sat idly by waiting for you to realize your feelings for me. Then this woman comes into the picture. I chose Brett, because it was easier to get to you! But then Cheryl came along…"
I had her on speakerphone, so Adam could hear her. He made the psycho hand motion and I nodded. This was my best friend, the woman who loved me unconditionally for so long. But I didn't love her in the same way that she loved me. I couldn't. Lila and I are destined to be friends, nothing more and nothing less.
"Hey! Lila, you have just gone completely crazy! I don't know the real you anymore! I thought I had feelings for you, but they never developed. Never! Cheryl and I were acquaintances, that feeling grew. She's everything I've ever wanted in a woman….everything. She's smart, funny, beautiful, and most importantly she's an amazing mom. Now…where is she!"
I couldn't hold it in. Adam could see how lost I was without her by my side. We pulled over to the side of the road, so I could talk to Lila.
"She's somewhere you'd never think. Now Teddy, you take your friend back to the hotel. Meet me at Ruby's Diner on 335. I'll give you little clues as to where Cheryl is. I promise you, Teddy. She won't be hurt."
And then she disconnected. I shook my head, and looked at Adam. He put his hand on my shoulder and patted it. I needed to go back to the hotel and regroup. I drove us back to the hotel and he got out of the car. But he stopped to look at me.
"Is there anything you need me to do?"
"Yes. Get in touch with Stephanie. Tell her Cheryl has been abducted and I know who has her. And if I go AWOL, tell her not to worry. I'm going to find our girl."
"Got it."
He said, heading back into the hotel. I drove back to the diner that Lila pointed out, and saw her step out of an unmarked car. I parked and got out of the car and walked over to her. She tried to kiss me, but I pulled away from her.
"What? No kiss for me?"
"No. Now, what am I doing here?"
"I brought you here to talk. I know you want to find her, Teddy. And I'm here to tell you where to find her."
I didn't believe it. I knew that there was something going on. She was holding out on me. I knew that. She went inside the diner and I saw my ally sitting at the table. John Hennigan. He was supposed to be on my side, I suddenly then realized that he was on Lila's. He'd been on Lila's side for this whole time. I gasped and followed her to the table.
"How could you do this to me?"
"The money was right, Ted…I am so sorry."
I shook my head and sat down across from John and Lila. I sighed and needed to hear them tell me where she was.
"You betrayed me. Cheryl liked you, John. She told me that we could trust you. I guess she was wrong. So, why am I here?"
"Well, Ted. Johnny and I have taken your Cheryl. We've hidden her in a top secret location, and I know that you want her back. But I have a few demands. First, you need to have one night with me…"
"Hell no! What part of no don't you understand? Lila, you need help. You and Brett, belong together! Once my brother finds out what you did, you'll lose everything."
"Don't you see, Ted? I already have! I've lost you! The one thing that I can't seem to get right, and I've lost it. Bailey is the one constant in my life! And now you're threatening that. So, I took the one thing that matters to you. Cheryl, and you won't get her back until my demands are met."
I shook my head. I couldn't believe this. This had to be a nightmare. I was going to wake up, and John wouldn't be there, and Lila wouldn't be making demands, and most importantly, Cheryl would be laying next to me in bed, curled up damn near on top of me, her hair on my shoulder.
"Fine! What do I have to do?"
"Simple, sleep with me. One night. Then I'll give you my next demand. But until then, you're at my beck and call."
I knew this wasn't going to be good. This was going to be trouble. I could only imagine what her next demand was going to be. She was going to get me to marry her, some how or another, and I wouldn't do it. That meant losing Cheryl for good, and I wouldn't do it.
"No way. I'm not anyone's fucking errand boy, Lila. I'm not. So you know what, I will find her myself. And I'll start when I can, where I can."
I said, walking out of the restaurant, knowing it would be a lost cause. But I'd try…I'd damn sure try…
