Disclaimer: Still the same
Last chapter, I am so thankful for all of you for reading and reviewing, it has been a great ride, and I will begin work on my next Without a Trace fanfic, as soon as I can come with a decent story idea.
Chapter 8: Unmasking Deceit.:
35 Hours Missing
Sam and Martin walked up the path to the mansion, and Sam knocked on the door. Ruthie answered the door. "Agent Spade and Fitzgerald? Come on in. Mrs Lilia is in the living room with her fiancé. Come this way."
Lilia Kingston looked up and saw the agents as they walked into the living room and walked toward her. "Have you found her yet?"
"No, not yet. Actually we are here to question Mr. Little about how he knows Alicia." said Martin.
"But I already told you, he has never met her," said Lilia.
"No Mrs. Kingston, Bentley has never met her, but Stanley Cross has, hasn't he Mr. Little?" asked Sam.
"Don't know what you are talking about." answered Bentley, standing up from his chair by the double French doors.
"We thought you would say that. Before you were Bentley Little, you were Stanley Cross. Here is a photocopy of your driver's license, Stanley and you are one and the same." said Sam.
Lilia took the photos from Sam. She looked at her fiancé and looked at the picture of the driver's license. "You lied to me?"
"I changed my name a few years ago. I am sorry Lilia I should have told you, but I forgot, honestly." said Stanley, with a look on his face that Martin couldn't understand. Stanley was caught, but for some reason he was calm about it, like he still knew he was free and clear.
"Was that before or after you took that acting class with Alicia?" asked Sam.
"What? Are you saying he's the man that my Alicia told me about?" asked Lilia.
"Yes, I am afraid so, Mrs. Kingston." answered Martin.
"Where's Alicia?" asked Sam.
"How should I know?" answered Stanley. He walked over to the glass French doors, and looked out. Martin caught the gesture, and walked over closer to the doors himself, and caught a very distinct smell, "Sam, you smell that?"
"Yeah, smells like smoke."
"The pool house is on fire!!" yelled Ruthie.
All of a sudden, the truth hit Martin, why Stanley had been so calm, he knew Alicia wasn't a threat anymore, "Oh my God! Alicia!" said Martin as he and Sam both took off running toward the pool house.
Martin reached the pool house before Sam. Sam was blinded by the smoke and slowed to a stop. She yelled for Martin, hoping the sound of her voice could lead him back out of the pool house, that was now fully engulfed.
In the distance Sam could hear the sirens of a firetruck, Ruthie must have called. Before Sam knew it Martin and Alicia came running out of the pool house, both of them were on fire, and the jumped into the pool.
Sam ran to the edge of the pool to help Martin and Alicia get out. As Sam was reaching down to grab Alicia's hand, another person joined her poolside, Jack!
"Thought you two could use some help," he said as they got Alicia and Martin out of the pool.
"Oh no, I left Stanley in the house alone." said Sam.
"I met him at the door. He is right over there, in the lawn chair." said Jack. "Alicia, You alright?"
"Yes, achy but alright. Thank you all so much, thought I was a goner."
"Alicia!" yelled Lilia.
"Grand!" said Alicia standing up and walking over to her great-grandmother.
"I am so sorry dear, if I had known who Bentley was ..." Lilia started to explain.
"Who?"
"Alicia, do you remember Stanley Cross?" asked Sam.
"No, should I?"
"He's the man over there." she said pointing at Stanley, who was close enough to hear everything being said. He could only sit there and watch his dreams of being rich, along with his life go up in flames.
"He doesn't look familiar, what does he have against me?"
"Haven't you ever seen him before?" asked Lilia.
Alicia looked at Stanley again, "Maybe, but for the life of me, I couldn't tell you where."
"You don't remember me?" asked Stanley, in a state of shock. The whole point of keeping her away from the wedding was unnecessary? She didn't even recognize me? "We were in acting class together!"
"Is that why you did this to me? Were you a really bad actor or something?" Alicia asked.
"Noooo!" Stanley cried. Martin led him away. I had did it all out of fear that she would recognize me, and she doesn't even remember me?
"Would somebody please tell me, what the hell is going on!" said Alicia.
"Sure dear, how about some tea? I will tell you everything I know," said Lilia.
"Tea sounds great,"said Alicia.
Back at headquarters ...
"Good job you guys," said Jack as he walked down the hallway with Sam and Martin. He then turned and walked to his office, letting the glass door close behind him.
" Yeah thanks Jack, you too" said Martin just before the door completely closed.
"Can you imagine being so afraid of what might happen ... then finding out that you had nothing to worry about?" asked Sam.
"Yeah, I can, and my face would look something like Stanley's did." joked Martin.
Jack was alone in his office, Vivian and Danny had already left. It had been a very long day.
"My place or yours?" asked Sam.
"Mine." said Martin. "I will walk out first."
"You follow, yeah I know the drill." said Sam as she sat down at her desk, and watched Martin turn away and walk out, and down the hallway toward the elevators. She couldn't help but wonder how much longer they could keep their relationship a secret, but that was something to worry about later, for now, she would just enjoy it.
THE END!!!!!
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