Chapter 14

Miles had fallen asleep in the chair where he had been drinking last night. Oh god he felt like he had been run over by a truck. But with no power; like that had happened.

He could not hear any movement in the house, so guessed everyone was still sleeping. He walked onto the terrace. He shielded his eyes for the sun which was starting to peak above the trees. God he felt his age, sleeping is chairs was not what he should be doing.

He sat in the seat he had occupied when he had been talking to Charlie. He had an uneasy feeling something was not right, but didn't know what it could be. He started thinking about last night brought a smile to his lips and dispelled any uneasiness he was feeling. He felt that he had a chance again. When he had arrived yesterday seeing her in Strausser's arms; just about to kiss made him think that he had been too late to tell her how he truly felt. Then he remembered their kiss. She had tasted so sweet and lovely. He had never felt so aroused by a kiss before and now just thinking about it had him getting aroused again. Miles tensed he heard a noise from behind him.

He turned quickly and saw Connor coming towards him with two cups of coffee. "Morning Miles, sleep well?" he smiled and handed Miles the spare cup.

Miles was hesitant but knew he needed his coffee. He took it from Connor's hand. Connor sat down beside Miles.

They sat in silence for some time, something they had done many times before in the past. Miles had thought about what Connor had said, they did need to talk about the past. He had to find out the truth once and for all. He started to speak to Connor "About what happened.. " When Nora came running outside she looked really worried.

"Has anyone seen Charlie?" Miles and Connor looked at each other, and shook their heads. "Not since she left for walk before going to bed last night" Miles pointed in the direction she had went.

"Well I just checked her room. I went to see if she was ok. Her bed has not been slept in and pack and everything is still there." Miles sat up straight and the uneasy feeling he had came back with avengance.

Connor called the few men he had at the house to come and help search. Nora went and got Aaron to help with the search. Connor was worried, but not as much as it showed on Miles's face. "Charlie probably went for a walk and lost track of time and fell asleep. She is probably in the garden somewhere fallen asleep below a tree."

Nora and Aaron appeared in the doorway. "Why don't you two take the south garden. Aaron and I will take the east garden. I have sent your men to the west and the north gardens" Mies was about to argue but realised that it was not the time.

They headed on the the terrace and went in the direction Charlie had taken.

Charlie opened her eyes. She felt like she was lying on a bed. She tried to sit up but she could not move, she was chained to the bed. She struggled with the shackles but they were on tight. her head was pounding, god where am I now? Where's Miles? The last thing she remembered was talking to Miles on the terrace. Deja Vu sprang to Charlie's mind

She heard the door being unlocked and then open. She watched him walk into the room "Hello Charlie, glad you are awake."

He sat on the chair which was beside the bed. "So Charlie how you feeling?"

"Where's Miles?" Charlie asked worriedly that he was locked up here or worse.

"Oh don't worry Miles will probably be here soon to rescue you. You really mean something to him?" he smiled at her

"Well if I was not chained up, it would be you who needed rescuing" she said through clenched teeth

"Charlie the chains are for your protection "

Charlie scoffed at this "I think it is for your protection not mine" he laughed at her comment. "Feisty aren't you?"

"If you take them off, why don't we see who it is to protect?" Charlie replied.

"Oh I don't think so at the moment Charlie. Why don't you rest. I will come and see you later, se we can eh get to know each other" He smiled down at her and headed for the door.

"Where's Danny?" he turned around "All in good time, You will see him soon enough. We can have a family reunion Charlie" He laughed at started to close the door.

As he did Charlie shouted at him "It is Charlotte to you. Only my friends can call me Charlie and you are not my friend."

Connor and Miles entered the garden. Miles saw something sparkle in the grass. His stomach ached with uneasiness. Miles nealt down to pick it up. Connor came up behind him "What you found?"

Miles turns and shows him "It looks like one of the flowers from Charlie's dress. Maybe she caught it on the rose bush?"

Miles stared at him "Really Strausser, and where is the rose bushes in your garden? I can't see one here can you?"

"Ok Miles I know, I am just trying not to think the worst" Connor ran his hand through his hair.

"Well I go by my gut and it is telling me Charlie has been kidnapped. Again!" He looked pointedly at Strausser and then looked around the garden. "Well I was with Nora and Aaron so you can not think that I..."Miles put his had up to silence him. Miles had caught a glimpse of something over by the tree, it looked like a sleeve. Miles tapped Connor on his arm, and pointed to the apple tree, just in front of them. Connor saw the sleeve, Miles used his hand to tell Connor to go to the left and he would go to the right. They made their way silently to the tree. Connor poked the body with his sword "He's dead" Connor stepped closer and bent down, he tilted the face towards him and gasped "His name is was Simon Brent. Brent was one of my best men, I sent him to look for where they were holding Danny."

"Great, well he was that good he got himself killed and Charlie kidnapped" exclaimed Miles.

"Miles look at him; see the blood is not fresh, he has been dead for a few days at least. He took a good beating, I trusted him with my life he would not of betrayed me. Everyone knows I stay here, they are usually to scared to enter. He was left here on purpose, probably after they took Charlie." Connor removed his jacket and laid it over Brent.

"Well we both know who done this; and who has Charlie" Connor said to Miles.

Miles just turned and headed back to the house "Yes we do and if he harms one hair on her head I will not hesitate this time to kill him" as he angrily took the steps two at a time into the house, shouting for Nora and Aaron.

Authors Note:

Hope everyone is still enjoying.

Who could have Charlie now? Neville, Monroe?

All will be revealed in the next chapter..