Chapter Thirty Eight.
I've been nominated for an award for this story! Ahhhhh!
"Are you his legal guardian?" the new cop asked, pulling a pen and pad from his back pockets.
André shook his head. "No, his parents are in Paris. I'm looking after him whilst they're gone."
"Have you got any legal documents to state that?"
"I have some letters back at my house." He shook his head like he might be able to clear it.
The man nodded, writing down something. "If you could come with me, sir."
They headed towards the school where a series of classrooms had been turned into interview rooms.
André sat down; the world was becoming a blur to him. "Can… Can I ring my wife?"
"I suggest we talk and then you call her."
"Right, okay, sorry."
The officer sat down as well. "So… Mr Harris, the last time you saw Zachery?"
"This morning, when I dropped him off to school," he answered, his concentration was wavering.
"Did you arrange to meet him after school?"
André nodded. "I told him to meet me straight away because Zach said someone had been following him."
"Zachery said this to you?" The officer frowned.
"Yes, he told me he didn't want me to worry so I called the school and told them what had happened. They were supposed to keep him safe!" A wave of anger hit André which quickly subsided as he realised that he was yet to tell Sherry and Isaac unless the officers had done so.
"Mr Harris, have you noticed any suspicious activity recently?"
André looked down, thinking about it.
"Perhaps someone lurking around your house you share with Mrs Harris?" the cop suggested. "Due to your celebrity status', we have to look into wider matters."
"I'll ask Tori if she can think of anything when she brings the documents."
The officer studied André. "Sir, you look a little ill."
"Shock, it's the shock," André reassured himself. "Can I call Tori now?"
The cop gave a small and short 'yes' then walked out of the classroom.
André took his phone and, shaking, he pressed Tori's name.
"Hello? What's taking so long?" she asked.
"It's Zach…"
"What about Zach?" Tori's voice shook and when André didn't answer for a moment, panic built up. "Oh God, what's happened, André?"
He took a deep breath. "You know how he told me he was being followed?"
There was silence at the end of the phone.
"You're kidding, right? This is just some prank you're trying to pull and Zach's probably sat in the back of the car laughing about it. It's not funny!" she shouted, fear and anger swamped her insides.
"I wish it was."
…
"I cannot allow you to marry at twenty, Josh."
Josh looked at his mother. "Are we going to keep running around in circles?"
"It looks that way." Jade sighed, staring at her watch. "Isn't it time you lot left me in peace?"
"Not until Josh agrees to call of the engagement," Michael said firmly.
Louise nodded. "For the first time in ten years, we agree on something."
Mimi sat up straighter as she spoke. "I got married really young and look at how that turned out. I ended up a single mother until I met your father."
"Yeah, how unlucky can you get?" Jade said sarcastically. "The only time you ever see your kids is at Christmas when your ex goes away and they need money."
"That's unfair; they're happier where they are." Mimi brushed her skirt down her knee.
"Aren't they about 20 something?" Josh screwed up his nose. "Why on earth would you still see them? Surely they're old enough to see how annoying you are? I mean, mother of the year isn't exactly your calling. You think you're so high and freaking mighty that no one in the world can touch your greatness but I'm sorry, the only reason you're sat there is because our dad has a thing for stray dogs. Always has."
Mimi started for Josh, her hands ready to slap him or strangle him; she was quickly making her mind up.
Jade blocked her way. "Don't you dare even consider laying a finger on my little brother."
Mimi laughed, shrill and witch-like. "I'm above slapping pregnant women."
"I suggest you back the hell away from my best friend before I shout Robbie," Cat warned, stepping in front of Jade. "You are a disgusting excuse for a human being."
"Oh and the little Barbie joins in. Bless you sweetheart but this is an adult conversation not for some teenager who is trying to be all grown up with her daughter that lacks a father." Mimi held her nails up as if she was bored as she spoke.
"You know, I've been quite civil with you all day so why don't you just go back to the kennel," Cat spat at her.
Mimi's eyes were furious. Her hand was raised and the hand went flying towards Cat's face. The noise echoed to the point Robbie came running downstairs.
Cat rubbed her cheek. "You've made your point that you think I'm an awful parent and that Josh is going to mess up his life so please get the hell out of my house and never come back or I will call the police."
Michael stiffly grabbed Mimi's arm, driving her out of the house muttering some sort of apology to Cat. Jade looked at her mother who dropped her gaze then proceeded to leave as well.
"I'm so sorry; I should have stopped them coming here today." Josh shook his head. "Maybe if I hadn't had wound her up so much she…"
"She would have still done that, she has always hated me." Cat laughed, the redness of her cheek matched her hair colour. "Ever since I threw her vodka down the sink and called her a whore all those years ago when I found out she had stopped you two from seeing your dad. She never quite got over that, did she?"
Robbie walked straight towards her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"The mad woman I have as a step-mother decided it was a bright idea to slap Cat." Jade glared at the door they'd just left out of. "Josh, are you sure you want to go back with them? You could stay with us then fly down to meet your girlfriend."
"Someone has to make sure mom doesn't marry someone else," he tried to make a joke of it. "Besides, coming here has told me something."
Jade frowned at him. "Never ever invite both of our parents for dinner?"
"I'm twenty and I'm my own person, if I love her then I love her. I make my own mistakes and I have an awesome family of two sisters who will always be there for me." He smiled at Cat and Jade, then he looked at his real sister. "Now, you take care of my future niece, okay?"
"How do you know it's a girl?" Jade eyed him. "You have a sixth sense for baby gender?"
Josh shrugged. "Just a feeling, that's all."
He walked over to Cat and hugged her. "I'll see you on your wedding day, I'll be sure to leave the family at home. I'll just come with a white flag and my girl."
Cat laughed. "If the family do happen to tag along, we'll have a cage ready."
…
"Do you think Mommy will be happy now?"
Blaise looked up at Evanna who was dancing around in her fairy costume. "I guess so."
"So she'll stop crying every night when she puts me to bed?" Evie asked.
Seth nodded. "She has Robbie now."
"Good, maybe now she's happy and won't cry anymore, she'll let me have a pony."
Seth laughed, taking the girl's hand and letting her spin under her arm. "I don't know about that one."
Evie smiled to herself. "I'll ask Robbie to buy me one. He gives me extra ice-cream."
"A horse and ice-cream are a little different," Blaise said as she tried to hold back a smile.
"Not really," Evie shook her head like it was Blaise who didn't understand. "Just one needs putting in the freezer, the other needs a field. Silly Blaise."
"Yeah, silly Blaise," Seth teased his twin.
…
Beck rested his head on the pillow. Jade was at least an hour late and she hadn't called.
How would he break the news of his mother to her? Jade practically consider his mom to be her own since hers wasn't there for her.
"I'm so sorry I'm late," she said breathlessly. "My parents and Mimi decided to turn up."
"I didn't invite them this time," Beck said defensively.
She laughed, sitting on the bed next to him. "I know, they came to complain about the advice I gave Josh and ended up insulting everyone in the process. Heck, Mimi assaulted Cat."
"What? Is she okay?"
"Mimi isn't, Dad has practically kicked her out for the night. Cat is fine though, she's really got some fight in her."
"I guess she has to." Beck nodded sadly. "Otherwise, who else would have stuck up for her when she cut everybody out and the media attacked her?"
Jade rested her head gently on his shoulder. "I suppose she had to grow up when Evie became her responsibility."
"I think she felt it was something she had to do on her own."
"I wish she hadn't have felt like that." She sighed, lacing her fingers into Beck's.
He looked at her and took a deep breath. "My mom has a tumour."
"What?"
"They're treating her here," he added.
"You can't just say things like that when you haven't prepared me, Beck! I'm six months pregnant!" She looked at him wide eyed.
He pulled his eyes away from her. "I didn't know how else to say it."
She planted a kiss on his head. "She'll be okay, she always is."
"But what if she isn't going to be, Jade? I could lose my mom."
…
"Hear that?"
"What?" Cat glanced up at Robbie. "I can't hear anything?"
He grinned. "Exactly, that means we've succeeded in forcing them to sleep for the night."
"Well whose bright idea was it to give them all three packets of sweets before bed?" She glared at him then relaxed her head back on his chest.
"Not mine," he lied, flicking the channels of the TV over. "I spoke to Annie and Lucy earlier."
Cat sighed. "They're not happy about the wedding, right?"
"They think I'm an idiot but they're coming."
"I'm glad they think you are," she replied. "I've told you before you're crazy for wanting me."
Robbie wrapped an arm around her. "Maybe I am but why should that stop me?"
Cat smiled at him, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
Then she smelt it.
Perfume.
And it definitely wasn't hers.
…
"There's been a sighting," the officer reported back to Tori and André who were sat waiting anxiously.
"That's good, isn't it?" Tori said, reading the man's expression.
"Yes and no."
André looked at him, puzzled. "Why good and bad?"
The new female inspector sighed; no officer liked giving bad news. "There's been a black bag found down an alley that looks suspicious. I need to prepare you for the worst, Mr Harris. There may be a body inside."
At that point, Tori just broke down in tears whilst André stared at the blank wall hoping and praying.
So I took a night off from revision because: a) I've done so much recently and b) I was supposed to be at a party tonight but the snow cancelled that plan.
I hope you've missed me! And I shall be back with awesome updates this time next week hopefully or maybe the following night!
Now, I love you all very much and I have missed you all greatly. I wish I could remember the questions I was supposed to answer but that probably won't happen because my brain is like a colander.
I cannot believe it had only been about two weeks since I last updated. FEELS LIKE FOREVER AND A WEEK.
Anyway, please be patient, I would like to pass my exams next week so I'll see you all next Friday/Saturday depending on what is happening with party reorganisation.
And keep strong, loves.
Love always,
Chasing Midnight.
(Wow, I was big on giving you life updates back then.)