Hart to Hart: A Love Story

by Carol Mankiewicz

RJ Hart: Hollywood actor. He's tall, dark, and handsome. He's also an actor who has made it on his own merit. Stephanie Barrington: Born into Hollywood 'Royalty'...she loathes everything Hollywood...Will RJ and Stephanie find their 'Happily Ever After?"

14. Chapter 14

Hart to Hart: Chapter 14: RJ Rescues His Lady Love.

RJ, armed with copies of the findings from his private investigator, bursts in to the Sydney Police Department. After signing a document accepting full personal, and financial retribution if Stephanie was not found at Elliott's compound, and should he be of the mindset to sue...RJ, and members of Sydney's finest, race out of the Police station heading to Elliott Manning's Compound.

"Can't you go any faster?" RJ yelled. "If Manning has her, God only knows what he's doing to her." Within minutes they arrive at Manning's compound. As the approach the front door to the main house they could hear Stephanie crying, and pleading with Elliott to stop. Before the officers have a chance to react RJ kicks the door opened. "STEPHANIE...BABY...WHERE ARE YOU?" RJ called out to her. He opened the door to the master bedroom, and was horrified by what he saw. There she was, the woman he loved from the moment he saw her covered in syrup in the kitchen of her uncle's home in London. She was tied to Elliott's four-poster bed. Her blouse was torn opened, and Manning was grabbing at her pants, trying to get them off her as she was kicking and screaming...begging him to stop. RJ sprung across the room, and before Elliott could react RJ grabbed him, spun him around and punched him square in the face, knocking him to the floor. By the time the officers got to the bedroom Elliott was sprawled, naked, on the bedroom floor. One of the officers threw Elliott a pair of sweats and a t-shirt to put on while another officer read him his rights. Within a few minutes Elliott Manning found himself under arrest, and in the back of a patrol car.

RJ ran to her, threw his arms around her, sobbing into the nook of her neck. "Stephanie, Baby, it's all over now" RJ told her as he untied her wrists. "Miss Barrington, we're going to need you to come down to the station to give us a statement." one of the officers told her. "Does she have to do it tonight? Look at her. The woman has been through hell at the hands of this psycho." RJ said. "First thing in the morning will be good enough then" An officer replied.

RJ accompanied Stephanie to the hospital where she was examined after her horrendous ordeal. She was examined and released with a prescription for a mild sedative to calm her down. When she entered the waiting room of the hospital she saw RJ waiting for her.

"RJ...we need to talk." She said simply. But right now I'm going back to my hotel, taking a hot bath and having a good night's sleep." RJ offered to see her back to her hotel, but she insisted on going alone. She got in to a taxi, gave the driver the address of the hotel, and sadly looked back at RJ as the taxi pulled out into traffic.

RJ's heart sank. He couldn't understand why she was so distant, and cold. "She's in shock, that's it." He thought to himself. "We'll talk tomorrow, and things will be fine...they have to be." He quietly told himself.