Thank all you wonderful people who take the time to review it means so much. I hope you like this chapter.
Nick drops the monkey as he jerks awake. He becomes aware of loud voices, he recognizes Lulu's mother and groans. He wants to stay where he is but the need to know what's going on with the investigation is far greater. He looks at his watch, he has been asleep for half an hour. He slowly gets out of the chair and bends down, picking up the monkey he puts it back on the bed. He starts towards the door but stops, turns around and looks at the monkey. He moves back to the bed and picks it up, he holds it to his nose and the smell of Anne fills his senses, he takes it with him. As he enters the living room Caroline spins around and before anyone can stop her she slaps him on the cheek. Nick doesn't flinch but Burton grabs her by the arm and pulls her away.
"Leave now Caroline"
Caroline shakes her arm free.
"I'm not going anywhere, this is my daughter's house and I have a right to be here more than anyone. It is you two who should leave."
Grainger comes to calm things down.
"This isn't helping anyone and I could arrest you for assault."
Nick intervenes
"That's alright detective I'm not pressing charges. I take it you haven't found them?"
He looks at Caroline
"I'm sorry about Lulu Caroline."
Burton butts in
"This is not your fault Nick, you didn't invite this man in to Lulu's life."
Nick turns his eyes to his dad:
"I should have stopped him taking them. If I hadn't acted so rashly..."
"Nick he had a gun, there's nothing you could do against a gun, you were shot trying to stop him, you've nothing to blame yourself for."
Burton can tell he's not getting through to Nick. Everyone's startled as Nick's phone starts to ring. He looks at the display but it is an unknown number.
"Hello Nick Fallin...Lulu, where are you? Are you alright, is Anne alright?...
Burton can tell that the news isn't good. Caroline moves forward to take the phone, Nick hands it to her and walks away.
Burton follows him outside and sits on the step, hugging the monkey tightly against him.
"He dumped Lulu and took off with Anne."
Caroline and an officer pushes pass them and get into a car. Grainger is standing in the doorway.
"We have her location and he left her just a few minutes ago so we are concentrating the search in that area. We should find them soon."
He hands Nick back his phone. Nick stands up
"I'm going back to my place."
Burton suspects that Nick doesn't want to be here when Lulu gets back without Anne.
"I'll drive you Son."
"Thanks Dad but I'd like to be alone. I would appreciate it if you would stay here just incase."
Nick stands up and looks at the monkey undecided whether to take it with him or leave it, he decides to leave it. He would hate to be the reason that Anne didn't have her monkey. He hands it over to his dad, gets into his car and pulls away. Burton watches him go. Nick is surprised when he arrives at his place, he can't remember much about the drive from Lulu's.
He makes his way slowly to his door, his keys feel heavy as he fumbles to get them in the lock. The silence that he often revels in, is oppressive and weighs down on him that he almost stoops. He doesn't bother with any lights he trudges up the stairs and disrobes, meticulously folding every bit of clothing. Concentrating on the act distracts him from Anne but then guilt invades him that he wanted to not think about her. He walks into the shower and turns the tap to as hot as he can stand and lets the water pound his body, tears sting his eyes. Eventually his body complains at the heat and force of the water and he turns off the tap, rubs himself down, putting on a pair of boxes he lays down on the bed. He lays in the dark, immersing himself in memories of Anne. Sleep doesn't come and it's not long before he has to be up, he is regretting his decision to come home. He puts some clothes on and is tying his shoes when his phone rings. When he answers it Detective Grainger is on the other end. Nick's heart leaps:
"News Grainger?"
"No. sorry Nick. The mother is home and I want to warn you to be careful, Detective Harman planted the drugs and the two attacks on you were arranged by him. I don't think he is finished yet."
"Thanks but don't worry about me just find Anne."
"Watch your..."
A knock at the door interrupts the conversation followed by some shouting:
"Fallin open up now if you want to see your daughter."
"Nick what's going on?"
"It's Harman he's at the door."
"Don't open it."
"What choice do I have, he has Anne."
"Nick we are on our way."
"Good"
Nick closes the phone, putting it away.
"Fallin don't you care about your daughter?"
Nick takes a deep breath and unlocks the bolt and the lock. He opens the door and Harman'ss stood in the doorway with a gun in his hand. Nick raises his hands, his goal is to delay as long as possible for Grainger to arrive.
"Where's Anne?"
"She's safe in the car, unlike you."
Harman moves inside and closes the door
"What have I ever done to you?"
"Look at you Fallin, you have everything that I have always wanted. Looks, money, family."
"There are lots of men that fill that criteria."
"What have you done to deserve such good fortune. You took drugs, got rich making money for big companies who cheat the hard working guys. Yet I, who has spent my life protecting the city from drug addicts such as you, has my little girl taken away from me."
Harman's voice catches in his throat.
"I'm sorry but you can't just take Anne. You'll never get away with it and she needs her Mother."
"I thought Lulu wanted to be with me but she didn't."
"That's because you hit her."
"She shouldn't have let you near Anne."
"That's why you planted the drugs so Lulu wouldn't let me near Anne?"
"I need to get back to her, she has been alone for too long."
"What do you want?"
"To kill you and then leave with Anne. It's better for her if you are totally out of her life."
Nick backs up as Harman raises the gun. The door bangs open startling Harman as he shoots. Grainger tackles him and has him on the ground handcuffed. Nick against the wall a bullet hole by the side of his head. He recovers from the shock and races past the two men, down the steps looking for Harman's car. He stops short when he sees Anne in the arm of an officer coming towards him. He gratefully takes her in his arms and showers her with kisses in a rare public show of affection and emotion.