After spending one day in Boston with my family, I actually wasn't looking forward to going back to Bellevue. Not because I no longer want to find out, but because I'm scared of what I have gotten myself, Elliot and Kate into.
At least we all have decided against telling Mia. She is just too compulsive and would probably confront her parents with everything we know by now. We know we can't... Lord knows what they would probably do to us. Still, we don't know what to do with this knowledge...
When I arrive home Kate and Elliot are already waiting for me and we sit down.
"So, I've looked up the name you've given me... you know, about the guy at the diner who must have been the one to slip you the note."
"Did you find anything?"
"I found a few guys who possibly could be the Luke Sawyer you've met, here I printed some pictures." Kate says and it doesn't take more than a look to point out the guy from the diner.
"Ok, let's see." Kate said and did some google searching.
"His name is Luke Thomas Sawyer, he is twenty-seven, born in Minnesota, ex-army... moved to Canada two years ago where he works for a Jason Taylor..."
"What?!" I gasp.
"What is it, Ana?" Elliot wants to know.
"Jason Taylor is the husband of Christian's biological mother... the same guy who has called me before to tell me to back the fuck off... Kate, what kind of company does this Mr. Taylor have?"
"Let me see... oh wow, apparently he is the owner of one of Canada's largest and most prestigious private security and surveillance companies. They provide close protection security to celebrities, politicians... even the British royal family when they come to visit Canada. In addition, they offer any kind of surveillance." Kate explains and I had enough get up and scroll through my phone to find the number from which Mr. Taylor had called me once before.
"Taylor?"
"Mr. Taylor this is Anastasia Steele."
"Miss Steele, I thought we were clear that I don't want you to contact my wife."
"Yes, and I haven't... however, I do not appreciate it to be followed or threatened. So, do tell Mr. Sawyer the next time he is slipping a note into my purse he shouldn't be as obvious..."
"It was not meant as a threat... it was meant to keep you safe, Miss Steele." Mr. Taylor says.
"What's it to you if I'm safe or not?" I snap... I'm so on edge with everything I just can't be polite or even civil anymore.
"Look, I know you have the best of intentions... but you are in over your head."
"How... how do you know?"
"As a husband it is my duty to keep my wife and children save, naturally I looked into her family history, especially with everything that has happened... let's just say Elena and Carrick Grey are both very powerful and dangerous people who will not stop until they get whatever the fuck they want... so you better not piss them off, young Lady or you might become number one on their shitlist which in turn would be harmful to you." Mr. Taylor says obviously angry.
"I know that already. In fact, I know more than I ever wanted to know... but I'm not backing down now, so thank you for your advice but I'll take my chances..." and with that I hang up.
"We need to get help... I never thought I would say this but my parents need to pay for what they have done." Elliot says.
"I know... but whom can we trust, Elliot? We cannot go to the cops because they have already proven to be on your Dad's paylist... he practically is friends with all lawyers and judges in town... who knows who else owes him a favor..." I say and rub my face and habit I have picked up from my Dad... my Dad!
"I'm going to call my Dad... he has many friends back from his time in the army... maybe they can help us with this..."
"Ok, call him." Elliot says and so I sit down and call my Dad.
"Annie..."
"Hi Dad, I'm in Bellevue with Elliot and Kate... you are on speaker."
"Ok, what is going on, Annie, why are you in Bellevue?"
"I came back home to find out what happened to Christian." I murmur knowing my father is going to give me a tongue lashing for doing what he told me to finally give up on.
"Anastasia Rose! I told you to leave it be. I know you loved the boy but you have to let it go."
"No! I owe it to Christian to find out what has happened."
"Ok, did you find something?"
"Apart from the fact that Elena touched him inappropriately on a number of occasions and his father hired a hitman to murder him not much..." I confess.
"I'm coming home, you will stay put. Do you hear me, Anastasia? You will not doing any more until I'm home." My Dad demands.
"Ok... I'll wait... I'm sorry for ruining your vacation with Mom."
"Darling, I know you miss Christian... I always knew you would come home eventually... I just wish you would have talked to me about it so I could have been there from the start."
"It's ok, I'll see you soon, Dad."
"Stay out of trouble, Annie." He replies and I hang up.
"Well, that is good... Jesus Christ, I feel like we are in some weird murder mystery live game." Kate mutters.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this, both of you."
"I didn't mean it like that, Ana. Christian was my friend as well... actually, he was the glue to our group of friends... without him everything crumbled... do you remember when Mia and I were fighting during a sleepover at my place and he locked us into the basement to figure it out." She says grinning.
"Yes, both of you were so mad at him but at least both of you being mad at him made you forget what you were fighting about." I giggle.
"Or do you remember when we all snuck out in the middle of the night to meet at the park to make smores and by the end of it we were all sick and vomiting all over the place." Elliot laughs.
"How could I forget, you threw up on my feet and I fell into the lake and almost drowned." I laugh.
"There was no chance of you drowning, Christian jumped in so quick to get you... he wasn't about to let the love of his life drown..."
"Don't say that... we were friends."
"No Ana, you and I were friends, Kate and I were friends and you and Mia were friends, Christian and you have been more from the get-go. Did you know I asked him once why he wasn't asking you out on a date?"
"No, what did he say?" I ask Elliot.
"He was scared. He said most of the time relationships that start in High School end because one or even both of them hasn't found his way yet... then with college there will be most likely a long distance separation... but he knew you are the one. So, he had made the decision to give both of you the time to grow up, go to college and after that he wanted to ask you to be his girlfriend... he wanted to be able to provide for you that's why he always put some much effort in his education... he wanted to built a career quick so you guys could get married young and start a family. He was so sure that no matter what you guys would end up together... it's amazing." Elliot says and I try to smile but really, all I want to do is cry.
I never knew that he too felt that way about me... he never said anything... I hoped he was feeling that way the night he went missing... but what hurts me the most is that I never got to tell him that I love him.
Hyde could be lying... maybe he did kill him and I will never get the chance to tell Christian what he means to me. That there hasn't been a single day since he went missing where he wasn't constantly on my mind... he doesn't even know that... no, I can't allow myself to think about this now or I will be worthless.
"Thank you for telling me, Elliot... I need to be alone for a while." I murmur and decide to go for a walk.
In the evening my Dad has called to let me know that he will be home some time tomorrow morning, while my mom will continue their cruise. It makes me feel better to know that I will have my Dad here to help us soon. If anyone can figure this out and find us the right people to help it is him.
Elliot
I still cannot believe what is happening to my family. My parents have called me numerous times but I ignore them... to keep Mia save I have sent her off on a trip to Europe last night. She has been dreaming of going back to Europe for so long that she jumped at the opportunity. So, at least she is safe and doesn't have to worry about the drama that is unfolding back home.
I really fucking hope that Ray will be able to help us, when he arrives later today. Still, there is a part of me that still desperately hopes that everything is just a huge misunderstanding. That neither of my parents has any part in all of this and that my brother just ran away because he wanted to go on an adventure... but knowing Christian I know that is just not the case.
"Elliot?" I look up and see Kate walking into Ana's kitchen.
"Hey, do you have to work today?"
"No, it's my day off, have you seen Ana?"
"No, isn't she up yet?"
"I can't find her."
"What do you mean you can't find her?"
"She is not in her room or anywhere else in the house... she is just gone." Kate says and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"Maybe she is just out for a run."
"Without telling us... no... and her phone and keys are still here... her car is in the driveway..."
"Let's check the house again." I say and we both check every room from the basement up to the attic but Ana isn't there. All of her stuff is still there, her bed hasn't been made yet and the security system is running, so I have no idea what happened.
"Her wallet is in her purse." Kate says when she returns with Ana's purse into the kitchen.
"Fuck, what are we going to do no?"
"Elliot, Kate, what are you two doing here?" We both turn around to face Ana's father. Even in his late forties, Ray Steele is an impressive guy, tall, built like a brick wall and right now I have no idea what to tell him.
"Well, is one of you going to say something?" He asks again and I clear my throat.
"We are staying here with Ana, there was a break in a few days ago and I didn't want her to be alone."
"A break in?" He asks alarmed.
"Yes, but Ana wasn't harmed and nothing has been stolen."
"Where is Ana."
"We don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?!" He snaps.
"We woke up this morning and couldn't find her. We've been looking everywhere for her but she isn't home... her car is still there, as well as her clothes, wallet, and phone... we don't know where she is... I think it is time to get the police involved." I say and watch as Ray Steele's face turns into a mask of rage before he storms out of the house... in this moment I know he knows more than we think and whoever has taken Ana better be prepared because I have no doubt that Ray Steele is going to murder anyone who dares to bring harm to his child...
