Thanks for the reviews they have inspired me to put the next chapter up.
There were no rooms left, just like the previous times when Seth and Ryan had tried to get their room changed. Now they were going to have to share their room and bed with Kirsten. Originally it had been Sandy but when Kirsten realised thatthat meant she would be sharing a bed or at the very least, confined space; with the nana she quickly changed the arrangements. They had decided there was no point in switching hotels since at the very least Seth and Ryan would be going to Newport tomorrow, and it was the summer every hotel in New York would be busy. Sandy was hoping the rest of them would follow suit after discussing it with them later. He was having to pay for virtually three rooms here because of the others staying but it was a small price to pay for knowing they were safe.
Before they went back to the room Sandy led his wife out to one of the benches outside the hotel. The sun was just starting to go down and it was still fairly warm outside. He just wanted to enjoy a few more moments with his wife before he was going to have to tell his mother to go to California.
"Don't know when we're going to get peace like this again for a while." He said sighing, he was so tired already. He had decided that he was going to book Kirsten on the same flight he could get his family on. He was going to ring the airline back later he had spoken to them earlier but they were going to try and see if they could get them all on the same flight as Seth and Ryan. Kirsten had booked their flights earlier. Kirsten took his hand, she could see how tired he was and he didn't look his usual self which was to be expected after the day he had experienced.
"So do you have any idea when his body will be released?"
"I'm guessing it could be a while although the police should have new leads tomorrow once I've paid Gary. As soon as I know he has the money and everyone is on their way back to Newport I'll go straight to the police."
"Don't you think it would be safe if you went to the police first? How are you going to give the guy his money anyway?"
"I'm going to an apartment that I know he'll be at."
"Sandy, have you already met him?" Sandy did not know how she did that! He couldn't look at her.
"Well I went there earlier today. I didn't actually see him but I spoke to him." He regretted telling her and not telling her earlier at the same time.
"Sandy I can't believe you! You know how dangerous is he is, he killed your brother for God's sake! Your mom could have been facing burying two sons tonight. Do you know how stupid that was? What are we supposed to do without you.?"
"You'd survive. You're strong." He spoke quietly; his wife was shocked that he had answered that question, shocked that he thought that.
"Sandy, why don't you get it? You didn't get it when you were working on the hospital project either. This family depends on you, we all do in our own way. We look to you to lead us and to always do what's right for the family. We wouldn't survive without you Sandy. Period." With that she got up and headed inside.
Within seconds he was up and calling her name. He caught up with her before the she had left the lobby.
"I'm sorry, honey but I had to do it. I had to. Now all I need to do is give him his money tomorrow and then we can go home.As for the other stuff I do get it and I need you lot just as much. I really am sorry about the whole hospital project I wish I'd never got involved with the Newport Group." He looked at her straight in the eyes and she could see how sorry he was. "I need your support right now, honey, I really do. It's going to be incredibly hard to convince the Nana and the rest of the clan to go to Newport and I'd feel a whole lot better if I new you were with me."
"I'm with you." She leant into him and whispered in his ears. "Always." They hugged for a while but eventually made their way, reluctantly, back to their room.
The discussion slash argument lasted well over an hour. Seth and Ryan had been sent to their room before it had started. They weren't too bothered that they were going home a couple of days early. Sure they liked New York but they would be in the good books of Summer and Marissa for getting back earlier than expected. Sandy wanted to speak to them about Ben on their own and he didn't think they needed to hear the conversation that was about to take place. They took Sarah's children with them.
As for the rest of them Sandy told them the truth or most of it anyway. There was no other way of getting them on a plane to Newport and making them see how dangerous it was to stay in New York. He tried to lessen the blow by telling them they shouldn't be there long and that he would follow them out ASAP he just had to tie up loose ends.
The conversation came to an end eventually and Sandy left to confirm the tickets for tomorrow. Sarah had to discuss the situation with her husband, she didn't want to leave him here on his own but she wasn't sure he would go to Newport. The Nana and Jane had gone to take the children to get a drink at the café downstairs to give Sarah a chance to speak to her husband. Kirsten met her husband in the hall and they went to talk to the boys.
"Hey guys." Ryan let them in. "So we need to talk to you about something."
"You're not getting divorced are you?" Seth was relieved to see the look on both parents faces as they shook their heads.
"No, no. definitely not." They were both shocked that Seth would think that but Sandy needed to get this over with. "It's about Ben. I don't really know what you know about how he died so am just going to tell you everything."
Sandy told his sons about the murder of his brother and danger the family was in. he tried to not go into too much detail there was no need to scare them but he felt he owed it to them to be honest. Also they needed to keep a close watch on things while he wasn't with them in Newport.
Sandy didn't leave their room until late. Neither he nor Kirsten would get much sleep anyway they didn't like sleeping apart and they had a lot on their mind. When he got back to his room Sophie was still awake.
"Hey Ma, you really should try and get some sleep its going to be a long day tomorrow."
"Really?" She turned to him and smiled. "There's too much going on in my head to sleep. I don't want to leave you here Sanford. If you think it's that dangerous then why aren't you coming with us? Why is it okay for you to stay?"
"Mom I'm not discussing this anymore with you. I'm going to be a couple of days at the most. I'll be fine don't worry about me."
"I get the impression that you think Kirsten is going back to Newport but she thinks she's staying." She raised her eyebrows at him.
"She wants to stay but I'm hopeful that with the help of you lot tomorrow I can convince her to go. Now we've got to go to bed and at least try to get some sleep." He went over and kissed her head. "I love you, Ma. Night."
"Love you too, son." It was odd, Sandy actually felt better after speaking to her it was so rare that they had sentimental moments like that.
The airport was busy when they arrived there the next afternoon. Sandy had gone with his sister and mother to their houses to get whatever they would need while Kirsten and the boys went with Jane. They met up at the airport. Sandy was hoping the boys had convinced their mother to go with them.
"Sandy a word please." It wasn't looking good.
"Hey, honey, everything okay?"
"Nice try but its not worked. I'm staying. The boys are eighteen they canlook after themselves not to mention the fact that your mother and sister will be there to make sure they are okay." She kissed him on the lips and walked away. He sighed but he wasn't beaten yet.
The queue for check- in was big so Seth and Ryan took Sarah's children for a walk to keep them occupied. When they were nearly at the front of the queue Ryan came back with the kids but not Seth.
"Where's Seth? We're nearly at the front."
"I don't know I thought he must have come back. He went to look to see if there were any comic books in the shops and when we couldn't see him I just assumed he had come back."
"I'll go look for him. I'll kill him if he has to queue up on his own just because he couldn't get back here in time." Sandy walked around all the shops at least twice before returning back to them with no Seth. Seth had missed them checking- in too because he hadn't turned up there.
"I phoned him a couple of times but he's not answering." Ryan was on his cell again trying. Sandy started to worry.
"I'm going to get them to put an announcement out for him maybe he's forgotten what airline we're with." Ten minutes later they heard the announcement. Half an hour later still no Seth. Everyone was starting to worry now.