Chapter 20

Show down

"Shh! It's only me." I turned around to face the backseat. "Clare" I said softly. "What are you doing here? What happened?" She motioned for me to be quiet again. "Just drive" She said, and climbed into the passenger seat. "Adam has no idea I escaped." She breathed.

"Let's get Dustin and get out of here" She said, as I made the turn down the road of the Elementary school. "Nice Code work...Care to explain?"

"I ran to the apartment,and used the spare key to get in. I found Ellie there watching the tape on the video camera. I stopped when I realized it was the fight that went down last night. I asked her where it came from and she said someone dropped it in her mail box. I watched the tape through 2 times,before putting the code on the fake note. I hid the camera in the closet,and wrote you the note. Then Ellie told me to hide in her car,that I'd be safe there. She was pretty persistant about it,so I did." I tried to calm her down.

"Who took the video?" I asked. She shook her head in response. "I really don't know." I turned my directional on,and made the turn into the school. I decided I would park behind the school,and walk around front.

"Stay here, I have a feeling they're expecting me" I said, reaching for the rather large knife out from under the passenger seat. I tucked it into my leather jacket, closing the door quietly. "Be careful Eli" Clare said. I made it to the office. "I'm here to pick up my nephew" I said, trying not to draw any suspicion.

"Dustin Gold rod" I said. The lady handed me a piece of paper to sign. "Schools just about closed. He's in latch key, I'll go get him." I sighed a breath of relief, as she came back with my son.

"Uncle Eli!" He stuttered. I smiled. "Hey Dusty, Let's get out of here" I picked up my son, and carried him out the school doors.

"Open the door Edwards. It's safe. There's no bad guys here. I think we outsmarted them." I teased her,trying to open the door to the back seat. She looked up at me seriously,nervously shaking. She figited with the car door,but couldn't get it open.

She shook on the handle again, pressing her hands on the glass, not speaking. She pursed her lips into a mumble. I walked over to her door, trying to pull the door open. She shook her head.

"Elli… There's a poisonous…gas!" She yelled,as the window started fogging up. I gulped. "Clare!" I again tried to open the car door. The door was not cooperating.

"Let it go Eli. You can't save her, and this is going to be all your fault. Just like Fiona." I turned to see Adam staring at me with cold and evil eyes.

"Put the boy down!" He ordered. I shook my head. "No" He wasn't happy with that response. He snapped his fingers together signaling for Declan and Fitz to grab Dustin. I reached into my jacket pocket, taking out the knife.

"Back up!" I warned, like a musketeer with a sword. "Get Back!" I yelled even stronger. Declan put his hands up and Adam shook his head at me.

"You're not man enough to kill anyone Goldsworthy." Fitz said, nearing laughter. "All this time, I thought Declan was the person driving that car that killed her. I've been covering up for him for years. He has made my life a living hell, and I'm sick of it!" My tone was horrifying and threatening, enough for Fitz and Declan to step back and my son to cry.

Adam on the other hand,did not move. "The love of your life is going to be dead in 30 minutes once that chemical comes in contact with her cute little lungs, so there's nothing you can do Eli." I shook my head. He's trying to scare me. He's trying to look like he's in control,but he's not I'm.

"You're wrong! I didn't kill Fiona. I cared too much for her. I tried not to, but after that night, and when she came to me to tell me she was pregnant. I was furious. But time went on, and I fell for her. So sorry about that Adam, but killing Clare is not going to get Fiona back. I love that girl and I would do anything to save her. So you're going to have to scare me with a lot more than a dangerous chemical"

My grip around my son tightened. "That should be my son!" Adam yelled, and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a birth certificate.

"I loved that girl, just like you love Clare. You took everything from me Eli, and you killed her. Declan's sister, My girlfriend and you have to pay for that." I shook my head. He wasn't armed. He was just a heart broken man staring back at me. He rolled his eyes at me, pulling out a large metal crow bar from behind his back.

"I've paid for it enough. Even though, I didn't do it, but I've been paying for it, for 3 years and I'm done. Step away from the car, because you're not destroying the two most important people in my life." I breathed heavily, as I approached the car, knife still in hand.

"You were my best friend, Eli." Adam said wrathful. I held the knife to his chest, making the crow bar dangle from his hand. His hand shook as he dropped it. The metal hit the ground, making a loud clang noise. "It's okay, Dusty you don't have to cry. Everything's going to be alright' I tried to comfort my son.

"I want to get down" Dusty cried. He started kicking and screaming. I let him down, and he ran in the direction of Declan.

I tried using the crow bar to bend the door open, when that didn't work I tried a different approach. "Clare, get down!" I yelled. She nodded, shaking as she covered herself. I then hit the glass window with all my might, breaking it. Clare let out a frightened scream,clutching her hands around the back of her neck. I reached my arm into the window laying it against peaked glass pieces ,unlocking the car. I pulled the door open. She ran out, crying heavily as she hugged me.

Adam just stared at me, as did Declan and Fitz. "You don't win" Clare said to them angrily and resumed hugging me. "He's not the guy you think he is" Declan said, causing her to roll her eyes at him.

"Edwards, it's true. There are things about Eli you don't know." Fitz added. "He doesn't love you. He isn't capable of loving anyone." Adam said,stareing at us with mischievous eyes.

"How do you know if Fiona loved you back? She cheated on you twice! With not only Eli, but KC." Clare looked around. Adam was nearing tears.

"I'm sorry for everything Ms Edwards" Clare let out an angry scowl. " Jesus will forgive you, but I won't." She said, and then held onto me for what seemed like eternity. "Eli, there is nothing you could tell me that would make me love you any less." She reassured me.

I hate to say this. "They're right though, Clare. I haven't been entirely honest with you." She let go of me. "What do you mean, Eli?" She questioned, her eyes full of concern. "For starters…" I took a breath. "Clare,I'm not..." I was stopped mid thought by the sound of sirens coming from down the street.

"Let's get out of here!" Adam motioned to Declan and Fitz. They all made a run for it.

to be continued...

Hmm anything you can find or think of that Eli wasn't truthful about? Here's a hint into the next chapter…

My past comes back to haunt me

But don't worry that doesn't have to do with a ghost.

"Eli,you can't be serious you killed him!" hmm wonder who he kills/killed/is killing next chapter.

Xoxo review :)