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EPISODE TEN: Get Me to the Church on Time
CHAPTER ONE
Emma stared at Jacob in astonishment. It fitted, of course: He had arrived in town shortly before things started happening, he had a connection with the club. But he had seemed so insignificant that they hadn't even considered him. "Look, Mr. Barton…"
"Don't call me that,"he snapped. "My name's Miller. Jacob Miller."
And then it clicked into place. So much so that it should have been obvious. "You're Justin's father."
"Justin…" Jacob shook his head. "He never understood. He hated me. Thought me weak. Thought I'd let his mother down. I was just thinking of him. I took the payout, let Ted Mercer keep his job. I was just looking to provide for us. It wasn't letting him get away with it, I was going to make him pay eventually. I was always going to do that. And then…then he was dead. He did get away with it. I could never make him pay. So I have to make you pay instead."
Emma tried her best not to panic but she could feel events slipping away from her. If Jacob really was responsible for everything that had happened, then he must be seriously unstable underneath the apparent rationality. "I know that what happened to your wife must have hurt,"she said carefully. "And I know it was my dad's fault. But hurting me, hurting my friends…it's not going to bring her back. And it's not going to help you."
"It'll bring Justin back,"Jacob snapped. "He'll see that I've done something, that I've avenged her death. I'll be the father he wants at last. We can be a family again."
Justin was sitting in the back of the car with Jordan and Laurel, while Ethan drove with Sutton in the front. "I kept telling Dad that I didn't want this,"he explained. "I tried to get him to stop but he just wouldn't. He was convinced that someone had to pay even if Ted couldn't. And then when he found out about the phone call…"
"You should have told someone about this before,"Laurel snapped.
Justin hung his head. "Yeah, I know. I just never thought he'd go this far."
"Even after he shot my brother?"Ethan asked caustically. Justin remained silent.
"What phone call?"Jordan asked, eager to move the conversation on.
"The one that Ted got while he was operating on my mother, the one that caused him to make the mistake. Dad had to ask around a lot, do a lot of digging, but he finally found out what it was all about."
"Was it Rebecca?"Sutton asked.
Justin shook his head. "Alec. Rebecca had just told him that she was pregnant and he told Ted."
"Pregnant with me and Emma,"Sutton realised. "So he blames us."
Laurel leaned closer to Ethan. "Are you sure that he's taken Emma to the club?"
"No,"Ethan snapped. "But I can't think of anything else."
"Ethan's right,"Justin agreed. "It's the only place in town that Dad knows well."
Sutton put her hands together. "Please let it be all right."
Emma struggled to free herself from her bonds. In front of her, Jacob had opened up a drawer to reveal a set of chemicals. He began pouring them one by one onto a piece of cloth. She could smell the chemical reaction, the poisonous gas it was producing, and it was making her gag even from that distance.
"Don't worry,"he told her calmly. "It'll be quite painless."
The car carrying Ethan, Sutton, Laurel, Jordan and Justin screeched to a halt outside the club just moments before the car carrying Mads and Char. "We called Dan,"Char noted as they all piled out. "He's on his way."
They hurried through into the reception but it was completely deserted. "Where would he have her?" Laurel wondered.
Justin shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."
"He's got a flat here,"Jordan suggested. "Maybe he's taken her there."
Then they heard a scream. Emma's scream. "The cellar,"Ethan realised. He led the way, smashing the door down and hurtling down the steps. And then he stopped. The others stopped behind him.
Jacob was in the process of trying to force the cloth covered in poisonous chemicals over Emma's face, Emma struggling desperately, when he realised he had an audience. He stopped and turned to look at them.
"Let her go!"Sutton shouted desperately, making a rush forward. Ethan caught her arm, worried about spooking Jacob. Jordan slipped an arm round Laurel while Mads and Char held each other.
"Jacob…we can end this,"Ethan said carefully. "No-one else needs to get hurt."
Dan and two officers came down the steps behind them but Dan gestured for them to stay back. Jacob scanned the crowd and picked out his son. "Justin!" He smiled, relieved. "I'm doing it, son. I'm finally going to do it for Mum."
"Dad…stop,"Justin begged him.
Jacob looked confused. "But…you always said…I mean, I know you asked me to stop but really…"
"I wanted to punish Ted Mercer for what he did to Mum,"Justin agreed. "But he's dead now. And Emma…Emma's my friend. She hasn't hurt anyone. Just let her go, Dad. This won't bring Mum back. And it won't bring me back."
Jacob deflated completely, the cloth falling from his hand. Dan motioned the officers forward. They took Jacob by the arms and led him out. Justin watched him sadly. Char put her arms round him, hugging him.
Ethan hurried to Emma and untied her. She got to her feet and collapsed into his arms. "You're late to our wedding,"he said quietly.
Emma smiled slightly. "I'll make sure I'm on time next time."
