Snowflake: I feel your pain. I'll be there soon. I have to start writing my 2,500 word essay soon. Not looking forward to that and thanks =) Sorry but the story will be ending soon, sorry. I don't have much more planned. But I got a whole lot of other stories planned which I hope you will enjoy.
olimacproductions: Ah, I don't think 7 billion people can fit into teeny tiny New Zealand. Maybe Australia or maybe America.
keeganmegson: How can you have a bad lunch time? It was like my favourite part of the school day (except for when I got to go home). But glad I cheered you up. Yeah that would be funny. I already got stuff planned for Anna's labour. It may not be as funny as her going into labour in Hans' office.
Guest: Sorry, Jack didn't need to be in the last few chapters but he's in this one and lots of future chapters.
ElsaTheSnowQueen2: Jack's good, he's in this chapter, sorry I've kind of not needed him in the previous chapters.
Guest: Someone is a little excited.
1BookWorm: Yay, another Potterhead! I'm with ya. Have fun at Into The Woods. I'm gonna go see Big Hero 6 sometime next week so I'm excited. Favourite movie? I don't think I have one. Maybe something like The Yong Victoria, Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2, something like that. I'm actually not sure.
maggie98: Well originally he wasn't but I thought he would be a good link for the police to find Pitch. Otherwise I had no idea how Pitch was going to be found and if couldn't be found, Elsa would be killed. We all know that no one wants that.
Chapter 36: That Phone Call
"You remember the plan?" Bunnymund's father said to Anna.
"Yes," Anna said.
She was sitting in a police van outside The Southern Isles Company building in downtown Burgess. The building had a very modern look. There was a stature of Atlas holding up the Earth (Elsa often criticised this as according to Greek Myths and Legends, Atlas holds up celestial spheres not the Earth) in the middle of the entranceway into the building with seats all around it. Bunnymund's father had just finished prepping Anna for her meeting with Hans. Anna was going to play the scared little sister who was determined for answers that will lead her to her sister. Anna would drop hints that the police were looking for Pitch which would make Hans try and alert Pitch which the police would pick up.
Anna had to arrange a meeting but she placed it under a fake name so Hans wouldn't get to suspicious on why his ex-girlfriend was booking meetings with him especially after what had happened between them. After Anna announced her engagement to Hans to Elsa, Elsa was a \little berserk and told Anna not to jump into anything (Anna had literally known Hans for a few months) which caused a rift in their relationship. Eventually Anna saw what Hans really wanted – her money and her family connections. Anna found out that Hans was a cheater, a blackmailer and who had no heart and soul. Anna had yelled and screamed at him before breaking up with him. Anna repaired her relationship with Elsa and managed to get rid of Hans at the same time.
Anna just hoped that Hans didn't have any hard feelings about it all. Anna, herself, had moved on from it all. She had dated Kristoff, married him and was now starting a family with him. Hans would have known this but Anna being pregnant would also say this. Anna didn't like having to see Hans again. He was a snake and Anna would be extremely happy if she never had to lay a single eye on him again. But this was Elsa they were talking about and Anna would do anything for her even if it meant seeing that dirty, rotten fool again. Anna summoned up some courage and looked at the rest of the people in the room. Both Kristoff and Jack were there with Bunnymund and his father.
"You can do this," Jack said.
"You can," Kristoff gripped her hand.
"Let's do this," Anna said.
A police officer wired up Anna before Bunnymund's father nodded and opened the doors of the van. Kristoff gave her one final kiss before wishing her good luck. Anna took a long, deep breath and walked up to the building. Anna gave her name, well the false name, to the receptionist who told Anna to go up to Hans' office. Anna got into the elevator and headed to his office. Hans' sectary told Anna to wait which she did. She sat on a comfy seat and read on of the magazines that were sitting next to the seat. She didn't really read the magazine. Her eyes were pinned on the doors that would reveal Hans' office. Eventually the doors opened and a man walked out carrying a lot of papers. Anna was used that scene. The same thing would happen with her father and his meetings. Anna guessed that that man had things that required Hans' signature. Anna waited until the man was in the elevator and the doors were closed. Anna was told she was allowed to go in. Anna took another deep breath and walked through the doors.
Anna found Hans sitting on his desk. He was flicking through some papers in his hand. He looked just how Anna remembered him. He still had the same hairstyle, the same sideburns, the same everything.
"Mrs. Granger," Hans looked up when he said the name and got a surprise when he saw Anna walking into the room. "Anna Winters," he put down the files in his hand. "I didn't expect to see you. I thought I had a meeting with a Rose Granger."
"Well Rose is the name of Hermione Granger's daughter and Granger is obviously from Hermione Granger," Anna explained. "I had to give a fake name because I thought that if I gave my real name, you wouldn't want to see me."
"Why wouldn't I want to see you?" Hans said with a smile.
"Because I threw a glass at your head which cut open your forehead," Anna said, "and that required ten stiches."
"Well there was that," Hans said. He gave a small laugh and then stood up. Hans moved around to behind his desk and sat down. He picked up a pen and twiddled it around in his fingers. "What can I do for you?"
Anna sat down on the seat opposite the desk. She could see a shiny name plinth that had gold letters that spelled Hans Westergaard CEO on it. She focused on some of the things that Bunnymund's father had said to use. Well here goes her Oscar moment, Anna thought to herself.
"I need your help," Anna said with tears coming to her eyes. "I'm sure you've heard about my sister."
"Ah yes." Hans said looking crestfallen. Anna thought he was probably faking it. He was good at faking things like emotions. "I did hear about Elsa. If there is anything I can do to help, just say it."
"There is one thing actually," Anna said. "The police are looking at an old friend of yours and I was wondering if you had anything on him."
"Which friend?" Hans asked.
"I think the name was Mitch or Pitch Black," Anna said. "He was arrested for some crimes back in Arendelle and they found out that the person charging him was my Dad so they think some crazy revenge scheme."
Hans let out a small laugh which sounded a bit like nervous laugh to Anna. She wondered if that was an omission of guilt.
"Sounds like Pitch," Hans leaned back in his chair. "Yeah I used to know Pitch Black. I used to help out in his lab when I was younger. I haven't seen him in years though. The last time I saw him was like seven years ago when he was invited to a barbeque that my parents were hosting."
"So you haven't seen him since?" Anna asked trying to sound desperate which wasn't hard as she was. This was her last chance to find Elsa. If Hans didn't buy her ploy, then she may never see her sister again which wasn't an option for Anna. She was going to find her sister at whatever cost.
"Afraid not," Hans said. "But Pitch Black does sound like the kind of guy who would do this. I remember reading an article about him that said he was stealing people for trials he was preforming on them."
"Well that's what alerted the police," Anna said.
"So the police have him pegged as the number one subject?"
"That's what Bunnymund says and his father is the chief of police," Anna said. "He thinks that Pitch is just repeating the past."
"Well I might know a few people who could help you," Hans said. "How about I call them and see what I can do for you?"
"Thank you," Anna looked grateful. "I know I'm the crazy ex bursting in like this but I really appreciate you taking this so calmly."
"I understand," Hans said. "I know if it was any of my brothers, I would try everything that I could to get him back. Elsa is going to be fine. Trust me."
Anna dabbed her eyes with a tissue from her purse.
"Thanks," she hiccupped. "When you say that, I feel like you know what you are talking about."
"I do," Hans smiled. "Why don't you go home and rest, you are pregnant after all while I give my friends a quick call?"
"Yeah, maybe," Anna said.
"How far along are you?" Hans asked.
"About eight months."
"Almost time, huh?"
"Yeah," Anna nodded.
"Any names?" he asked grinning.
"Oh a few," Anna said. "Kristoff had put forward a few good suggestions. There is one like. I think we might go for that."
"Kristoff's that big blonde guy who had a reindeer right?"
"Sven," Anna smiled. "Yeah that's him."
"Thought so," Hans said swinging in his chair.
Anna stood up. "Thanks so much Hans."
"No problem," he gave Anna one last smile before helping her out of his office. Anna thanked him one last time before she left his office. She walked as fast as she could so not to alert Hans' receptionist and she was also pregnant so she couldn't fun even if she wanted to. Anna walked at a really fast rate once she left the elevator on the bottom floor. She walked as fast as she could into the police van outside on the opposite side of the road. The doors of the van opened as she approached.
"Did it work?" Anna asked as soon as she sat down in the van.
"We're working on it," Bunnymund said.
One of the police technicians had his laptop open which was linked to Hans' computer. Another police officer was also monitoring his calls.
"Maybe he knows that we're onto him," Jack suggested. "That could explain why he's not calling Pitch."
"Or this has been a waste of time," Kristoff said. "Maybe he was telling truth. Maybe he hadn't seen Pitch in years."
"No," Anna said firmly. "This will work. Trust me. I know Hans. This is the kind of thing he would do. He may not be involved with Pitch or he might be but I know that Pitch would have gone to his old friend to ask for help and Hans would have provided it. I just know it. Hans is helping Pitch. I know it."
Anna had to repeat those last three words. Not just to convince other people but herself as well. It could have been a major risk that she went to see Hans today. She just wanted it to pay off as much as possible because if the risk didn't follow through, Anna would think it was her fault like she didn't drop enough subtle hints or she didn't think of something that was important. Anna just wanted to make sure everything was good because it wasn't, Elsa would pay the price and that was a price Anna would never pay.
"And he's playing solitaire," the police technician said.
"What?" Anna said. She looked over at the computer screen and sure enough Hans was playing solitaire. He just moved the King of Hearts into an empty space on the board. Anna groaned and leaned back into the edge of the van. Had all of this really been for nothing? Was Hans really not involved? Anna felt like an idiot. Hans would never risk his reputation, his place in the community, his money on some silly venture with an outlaw. He may be a psycho creep but he would never risk imprisonment. She felt like an idiot for suggesting him. Of course Hans wouldn't do something like this. He wouldn't risk anything if it could taint his perfect image. She kicked the other seat in the van which made everyone turn around at her.
"Calm down," Bunnymund said. "We will get him."
"What if he's actually not involved?" Anna said. "And this has all been for nothing?"
"I'm sure it's not," Jack said. "This is going to work. I can feel it. That phone is going to ring…now!" he pointed at the phone. It did not ring. "I mean now!" Jack said repeating the action. It still did not ring.
Minutes past. Anna was getting frustrated. She just wanted that phone to ring. Why wasn't it ringing? Jack was still trying to get the phone to ring and no one had the heart to tell him that he was getting on everyone's nerve. Eventually they all got into their positions. Anna had her legs on Kristoff her was massaging her swollen ankles, Bunnymund was texting Tooth, his Dad was concentrating on the computer with the technician and Jack was leaning on his elbows next to the phone and was muttering the word 'now'.
This went on for a long time. Anna wondered what Hans was doing. Maybe he was in a meeting? He could have already called Pitch on a different phone that the police didn't tap so they had already missed the conversation. The only thing that they knew was that he hadn't left the building as they hadn't seen him exit the building unless there was a secret passageway that led to Pitch's location or the location where they were keeping Elsa. Anna let out a small groan. She just wanted something to happen and she wanted it to happen now. The longer they wait, the more trouble that Elsa could be in.
The quite suddenly the phone went off. Everyone got exited but they all calmed down and listened in on the call.
"Hello it's me," Hans' voice came out clear as if he was sitting right next to them. "I'm just calling to tell you that the police have been snooping around you. What on earth have you been up to?"
"Nothing," the voice that rang out chilled Anna's blood. There was no forgetting that voice. It belonged to Pitch Black.
"Did you take that Winters girl?" Hans asked. "Because the police seem to think so."
"I didn't," Pitch said which made Anna know that he was lying.
"Look I know when you are lying Black. If you took Elsa Winters, that would be the most stupidest thing you could do. We had a deal; runaways, prostitutes, drug addicts. Nothing high profile and Elsa Winters screams high profile. She has a powerful family would could ruin me, so if you have her, fix the situation."
They could hear the slam of the telephone as Hans hung up. It all gave them a bit of a jump. Bunnymund's father instantly leapt into action.
"That was Pitch Black right?" he asked Anna.
"Yeah," Anna confirmed. "There is no forgetting that voice."
"Okay," Bunnymund's father looked happy at this. "Did you get the location?" he said to his technician.
"Yes," the technician said. "Some abandoned area about forty kilometres from here."
"Okay," Bunnymund's father said. "Black will be panicking about now. So we move in now and we move in fast."
Everyone suddenly sprang into action. Anna couldn't believe this was happening. They had Elsa's location and it was only a matter of time before they get her back. Anna smiled for the first time in days.
Don't worry Elsa, Anna thought, we are coming for you.
Far, far away, Pitch was pacing around the little dungeon room that Hans had funded him to construct. He was angry. Hans had just called and basically just told him off for kidnapping Elsa. Doesn't he understand his plan? Elsa was as useless as her father and with her out of the way, Hans could try and take over the Winters' business. It was a win/win situation for both him and Hans. Hans gets a massive takeover and Pitch gets some sweet justice, the justice he had been craving for a very, very long time.
He looked and saw that Elsa was still unconscious on her chair. She hadn't woken up in several hours. Pitch had to double check she was still breathing. He didn't want her to die just yet. There were quite a few things that he wanted to do before she did. He knew she couldn't take much more of what he was doing to her before her body collapses from it all. Pitch was waiting for that moment; the moment when the body breaks and there is no return from that. He wanted to know what Elsa's breaking point is.
However if what Hans says is true, and it usually was, then the police were looking for him. If he could, he would just release Elsa and make it look like some manic got to her but he couldn't. She had seen his face, heard his voice. She could identify him which was a massive problem. Hans said to fix the problem. Hans would want him to make sure that Elsa was alright as if Elsa died and then he was connected to the problem, then all hell would break loose for him. Right now, Pitch only saw one solution to the whole problem. He had to get rid of Elsa and make it look like an accident. That was hard considering everything that was going on. The police would see through that at once. Maybe Pitch could make sure that the police never identify Elsa and that way Elsa remains missing, presumed dead and Pitch could get away. It was the only solution that Pitch could think of that had a remote shot of working out.
Pitch knew that he had screwed up in taking Elsa but he wanted his revenge scheme to be fulfilled. Elsa had failed him just like how her father did as well. Pitch did feel sorry that her mother had died and all the other people on the boat as well. They were unnecessary deaths that had occurred. Pitch's main objection had been Elsa's father and only her father. Now Pitch's new objection was Elsa. He had wanted to play around with her for a while but now it looked like he had to step up his game and fix the issue. Taking Elsa had been dangerous. There were people all over looking for her and they won't stop till she is found. Pitch just had to carry out with his plan and then disappear. Hans would want that to happen. Maybe Pitch could go someplace in Europe. He did know several European languages. But right now he had to work on his plan. He had to make sure that they couldn't identify Elsa. Pitch supposed he could get rid of all identifying factors; the teeth, hair, fingerprints but there would always be a way.
The answer came to him in a blinding flash of light; fire. That would destroy every other piece of evidence as well and then Pitch could safely run away and meet up with Hans later to discuss the second phase of their plan. Pitch started carrying in all the instruments that he had used; the electricity poker device, the drugs he had used, everything he had ever touched was pulled into the room. He didn't want to leave a single thing that could tie him to the crime. He didn't want to be arrested. He couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life behind bars and who knows, he could get the death penalty. Although, a quick and an easy death does sound a lot more preferable than prison. Pitch didn't know if he would be able to survive prison. At least back in Arendelle, the prisons weren't too bad. Arendelle didn't have the death penalty so he wouldn't get the quick and easy death he wanted. That was too bad. Maybe he could end it before they get to him. That could be an option.
Pitch came back carrying two bottles of gasoline. He started spraying it everywhere. He placed it around Elsa. Elsa woke up at that moment.
"What are you doing?" she groaned.
"Well it looks like our time together is over," Pitch answered emptying the bottle of gasoline on the instruments. He felt like it was a lot more important to get rid of the physical evidence against him. Even if Elsa remembered him, Pitch could argue that Elsa was mistaken and eye witness testimony wasn't always relied on too heavily. Pitch could say it was the trauma of the event and her PTSD was getting her confused. With a little luck and no way to tie Pitch to the crime, he would get off scot free. Well maybe not as he was still a wanted man back in Arendelle but for this, he would be free.
"You're in trouble," Elsa's voice was weak and it looked as if every word was costing her a lot. "They somehow found you and now you're trying to get rid of things that could incriminate you."
"Clever girl," Pitch said.
"Well I do Law," Elsa said. "I know how a criminal thinks."
"That's it," Pitch emptied the other bottle of gasoline on spots next to Elsa. He realised he had forgotten to pour some on her. He did want her death to be drawn out and painful but he also wanted it to be quick as someone could notice the smoke or fire and call someone. But then he remembered where they were so that was unlikely. He may get to see her burn after all. "Well this is goodbye," Pitch said to her.
"I guess it is," Elsa seemed to have accepted her fate.
Pitch took out a box of matches, drew one out and lit it.
"Au revoir," he said to her. "It was nice knowing you."
Elsa watched him as he dropped the match onto a pile of gasoline.
A/N: Dun, dun, dunnn, what's going to happen now? Sorry this wasn't up yesterday. I was hosting a pool party (making the full use of my summer which has been awesome) which meant no time for writing. Well hopefully you all got the Harry Potter ref, it was kind of an obvious one and a slight Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 2011 movie ref. Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed this update. Please review =)