"It's not him." She gasped "It's not Charles."

Chapter 5

Molly got out of the patrol car onto the sidewalk the police officer put his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you going to be ok Molly, I can help you inside?"

Molly shook her head forcing out a thin smile and looking up at him "No it's ok, I'll be fine thanks." The officer held her gaze.

"You know we are going to do everything we can to find him for you, Detective Gardner who you spoke to back at the precinct is one of the best there is, hang in there Molly ok?"

She nodded as she pulled her jacket around her for comfort more than warmth and turned to head back into the hotel.

For the next few hours she paced around the hotel room like a caged animal. First lying on the bed, then sitting up, then lying down again, then getting up and going to sit in the armchair in the corner of the room managing only a few minutes there. Finally she picked up the phone from the side table and dialled Charles's parents it was his mother who answered Molly took a deep breath and over the next few minutes and between sobs proceeded to explain the events of the last forty eight hours as she put down the phone she felt an overwhelming sense of relief which didn't feel right to her given Charles was still missing but his parents had insisted they would get the next available flight so at least she wasn't going to be facing whatever happened next alone now.

Light was flooding into the room as she slowly opened her eyes and squinted, she rubbed the back of her neck and suddenly had an overwhelming sense of Charles being in the room which startled her into a state of wide awake panic, immediately sitting bolt upright and frantically scanning around the room it was only when she caught site of his T shirt beside where she had been led that she realised it was the scent of him that was playing tricks with her mind as she had come to from her deep sleep.

Getting out of bed felt like a supreme effort, her body felt heavy and ached but at the same time numb the after effects of shock weighing down on her physically now. She moved toward the bathroom and walked into the shower turning it on holding her face up to the shower head not moving and allowing the water to cascade over her. She wasn't sure how much time had passed but became aware that she was shaking and again was snapped into reality where the water was freezing and her body was reacting to the acute cold. She stepped out and found a robe and reached for her toothbrush catching a glimpse of her hollow reflection in the mirror over the sink.

As she came out of the bathroom it suddenly hit her she hadn't checked her phone, there could be a message, anything, the police, Charles, his parents she dashed to the bedside table and picked it up frantically swiping it awake only to sink onto the bed when she realised there was nothing. She pulled on some clothes and tied her damp hair up, opening the doors onto the balcony and taking a seat at the table the sound of the city waking up becoming familiar to her, but now in such a short space of time she despised it.

This was the city that had taken Charles away from her they had been so happy spending their first holiday together for the first time in her life she had found proper happiness with someone who she utterly adored and felt the same way about her. Or at least she thought he did, she shook her head as the dark clouds of doubt started to creep into her conscious thoughts what if it was all a lie and he had left her on purpose, maybe he was having doubts and this was his way of dealing with it, by running away, but he wouldn't he would come back if he could…oh god…if he could…..he can't….he's dead…they just haven't found him yet…

These dark voices were suddenly drowned out by a building scream inside her head except the scream wasn't inside her head she was now on her feet screaming out loud over the balcony at the city that had blown her life apart.

She stood motionless and tried to take slow deep breaths again she needed to get a grip this wasn't going to find Charles and it was stupid to think that he would leave her on purpose they had been so happy just before he vanished and there was no signs he was having any doubts.

She wasn't thinking straight…she needed to start thinking straight.

There was a knock at the door she was swift in her movement across the room to open it. "Oh Molly darling…come here" Charles's mother dropped her bag and pulled Molly into her arms as they both began crying, she held Molly tight and whispered into her ear "Don't worry we are going to find him"

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Charles woke feeling cold and stiff he put his hand to his forehead as he felt a sharp pain and ran his fingers over an open wound near to his hairline. He tried to sit up but everything started to spin so he stopped himself by holding himself against the wall he had clearly slept against overnight. He was brought from his state of disorientation by a low voice holding a cup to his mouth.

"Here drink this."

The warm liquid was comforting to his dry lips and mouth as he slowly sipped from the cup bringing into focus the face on the end of the voice one he didn't recognise but the eyes seemed kind and he didn't feel threatened or anxious like he had before he got here, so he tried to relax and take the kindness that was being offered.

Charles tried to sit up again this time more successfully "Where am I?"

The man sat beside him "That's a nasty cut on your head buddy here take this." He passed Charles a piece of cloth to wipe his forehead.

"Are you from England? That sure sounds like a British accent you have there my friend"

Charles looked at the man blankly wincing a little as he began to wipe at the wound on his head.

"I don't know, how did I get here?...I was at a park….." Charles shook his head all of his thoughts were jumbled he kept getting different pictures in his mind that he couldn't connect together, faces appearing that he didn't recognise.

The man put his hand on Charles' shoulder "its ok buddy it looks like you have had a nasty bump to the head there, just relax."

He helped Charles to his feet and they began to walk out of the alley "Come on, I know a place where we can get something to eat and get you cleaned up a little."

After walking a few blocks they arrived at a small building by the side of church and Charles followed the man inside. They sat down at a table and both where brought a plate of warm food which made Charles realise how absolutely ravenous he was as he tucked into it at speed. He was just finishing up when he heard a familiar voice behind him, calling out a name, he could feel the voice closer and louder forcing him to turn and look over his shoulder as a man who he felt was familiar approached him, holding out his hand toward him.

"Captain James…..Charles James….." The face was familiar but the name wasn't Charles looked confused.

"I'm sorry your face looks familiar but I don't know a Charles James." The man looked equally confused back at him

"It's me Brad….Bradley Stevens…we met the other day, you are Charles James."

Charles stood up and stepped back "Look I don't know what you are talking about….I…..I…was at a park."

Bradley took hold of Charles' arm "Man you have a nasty wound on your head there we need to get you to a hospital ok?"