Disclaimer: Sam, Phil and Tess aren't mine.
Chapter 24:
"Where is she?"
"I told you already, I haven't got her, I haven't seen her for about a year now."
"No, you're lying. Evidence was found in your car, evidence that Jo had been there."
"I haven't seen her, I have no idea how that hair got there, or that fibre. I'm as worried about her as you are."
"No you're not. You've got her; it's only a matter of time before we find her. And let's get one thing straight, you are not as worried about her as I am, not even close."
Tess realised what the blonde was saying, instantly understanding why she was being so tough. "She's your girlfriend, isn't she?"
"Fiancée actually."
"You're hurting, I understand that. You want her back; you want her more than life itself. You don't know why she was taken, and more importantly, you don't know where she is, and it's killing you inside. You want her back, and whoever is doing this won't let you have her back. It's a cruel world."
"You're the cruel one. You're the person who won't let me have her back. You're the one who won't let know where she is, or why you took her."
"I haven't taken her. I wouldn't. If only you realised that, believed me that I haven't taken her, then you would be out there finding her real kidnapper instead of wasting your time here."
"No, we have the real kidnapper, you're sitting right in front of me. Trying to manipulate me into believing your lies. We are out there looking for Jo now, and when we find her, I am gonna make sure you pay."
"How long have you and Jo been together?"
"What relevance does that have?"
"I was just wondering. It must have been a while if you're engaged."
"Twelve days."
Tess was shocked, certain that if she had a drink she would have choked. "Is that all?"
"Yes."
Tess seemed hurt. "It took her over a year to open up to me and finally say 'I love you', why is it that with you it only took twelve days to propose to you?"
Sam noticed the woman was beginning to open up to her, out of jealousy more than anything else. She decided to press her further, wanting to get the information out of her that they so desperately needed. "Five days actually, she asked me to marry her a week ago today."
"You must mean a lot to her."
"I hope I do. I know she means everything to me."
"Look, I'm so sorry about what's happened. You must be hurting so much, but I swear, I didn't do it. I wouldn't. I couldn't."
Sam felt everything inside her raging, unable to stand the woman denying it anymore, she let all her emotion go, screaming at the woman in front of her. "What have you done with her? Just tell me where she is. Let me have her back, give her back to me." Sam broke down into tears after her outburst; unable to keep it bottled up any longer, having only let her guard slip around Phil, Jack and Stuart. Not even letting her daughter see how much it was hurting her.
"Look, I'm sorry, you've got the wrong person. It wasn't me. I'm sorry you're hurting so much."
Sam stormed out of the interview, unable to listen to the woman any more, struggling with her emotions and finding it impossible to think straight.
She found she literally ran into Phil on her way out, allowing herself to be enveloped in his arms as he tried to comfort her.
"She won't tell me where she is. It's like she's taunting me, she keeps denying it. I want Jo back, why won't she let me have Jo back?"
"Hey, hey, I dunno Sam. I can't tell you what you want to hear, I can't tell you where she is. All I can do is be here for you, which I will do, until we find her, I will be here for you, I'll look after you."
Sam sniffed, trying to control the tears flooding from her eyes, "Are you hitting on me Phil?"
"No Sam. No, I promise you, I wouldn't do that. I won't deny that I care for you, very much, but I know how you feel about Jo, I know I don't stand a chance, you love her, very much. I just want to be here for you, and give you someone you can cry in front of. I'll be whoever you want me to. But I know I'll never be with you again, even though it didn't last for long, I loved the time we were together, but I can see you're happier with Jo, much happier. And really, that's all that matter's, she makes you happy, that's good enough for me."
"Thanks Phil."
"What for?"
"For being here for me. For not having an ulterior motive, for caring."
"I'll care for you whenever you want me to. I'll find Jo for you, 'cause I know how much she means to you. I won't let you lose her Sam."
Sam tried to force a smile, she was grateful that Phil cared so much for her, but couldn't bring herself to be happy, not when Jo was missing.
"Sam, will you come home with me tonight?"
The blonde virtually jumped out of his arms.
"Oh, no, Sam, I meant as a friend. You can have the spare room. I wasn't suggesting anything else. I just want to make sure you're okay."
Sam felt guilty for assuming he meant something more than that, "oh, right, sorry. Yeah, yeah that'd be nice."
"Good."