Ransom 3
After securing the scrapyard, Robert sat in his car and told himself to think, he had to somehow explain Aaron's sudden absence, he had to give some plausible reason for him suddenly taking off without so much as a goodbye.
Hazel! In his frantic search for a reason the name had suddenly popped into his head. Aaron had talked a little about her, about how close they'd become after Jackson's death. A little too close, and eventually they'd had to put some distance between them so as to be able to move on. The bond was still there though, and Robert knew that if Hazel needed Aaron he would drop everything and go to her, wherever she was in the world. He was pretty sure no one would question Aaron's loyalty when it came to Jackson's mother. All except Chas maybe. Chas just didn't trust him and in all honesty he couldn't blame her, he'd caused Aaron so much grief and then there was Katy! Chas had good reason to be suspicious of him, she didn't like Aaron being involved with him and Robert knew she was watching him, waiting for him to mess up. She could so easily smell a rat and call him out on this! It was all too real a possibility but what else could he do? So far this was the best he'd come up with, the only thing he'd come up with. Knowing Aaron was in so much danger he was struggling to keep his thoughts on track let alone formulate any kind of a plan.
Like it or not he was going to have to use Hazel, he could say she was ill, gravely ill, and that she'd asked for Aaron. He was just going to have to build on that lie, flesh it out a little. Actually, the more he thought about it the better it sounded.
Paddy was away so he wouldn't have to worry about him asking questions, and he could easily fob Adam off. Now who else did he need to worry about? Cain? Well just as long as he looked Cain in the eye when lying about it Cain wouldn't question it. As for Liv, well he had a couple of days grace where that madam was concerned. Yeah, that just about covered all the interested parties.
Another thought hit him, Aaron's phone was dead but he could maybe use his sim card and send texts from Aaron if need be. He was just going to have to play this by ear, and he could do that. He was a dab hand when it came to subterfuge, a master at it. He was going to have to play his best game yet because no one could know what was happening, especially the Dingle clan.
Robert had waited half an hour before making his way to the Woolpack. As he'd expected Chas's gaze had settled on him as he'd entered the pub. As he an Aaron were virtually joined at the hip these days he knew she expected to see Aaron with him now.
"Where is he?" Chas asked, Aaron should have knocked off work an hour since. It wasn't all that unusual for her son to work late but the fact he wasn't with Robert now was. For some inexplicable reason she felt concerned, she knew she was being silly, but since she had found out about the abuse Aaron had suffered she had become a lot more protective of him, and she worried constantly about him whether she had reason to or not.
"You're not going to like this... " Robert had chosen his words carefully, he wanted his lead in to the conversation to set Chas' mood, he wanted her more irritated than curious at his news. "...he's had a call about Hazel..."
"Hazel?"
Robert could see Chas' hackles were already raised, it was time to vex her some more, "Jackson's mother."
"I know who she is!" Chas snapped, she only knew the one Hazel and just the mention of the name set her blood pressure soaring.
"Yeah, well she's ill..."
"So what's that got to do with my Aaron?"
"She's very ill, critically ill is what they told Aaron, and she's been asking for him, so..."
"So he's going to see her!" Chas wasn't at all happy about that. It would be another emotional upheaval, Aaron certainly didn't need that right now.
"He's gone..."
"Gone? You mean he's already left?"
"Yeah, he had to, she's up in Scotland and..."
"And he couldn't even phone and let me know?"
"He knew you wouldn't like him going, that you'd end up arguing about it." Another twist of the knife.
"No, not if she's that poorly." She wasn't heartless! "I know how much Aaron cares about her." Chas had always resented their bond and she'd hoped time had withered it, but it seemed not. She could live with it though, and anyway it didn't threaten her and Aaron's relationship anymore, it was stronger now than ever.
"I took him to the station, if he hadn't caught the train he did, it would have been the early hours of the morning before he got there. He said he'd ring you later, and that you're not to worry about him."
"I'm not going to." Chas said decisively, there was no reason for her to worry now was there? And anyway she was beginning to realise Aaron's mercy dash meant some time away from Robert. She was grateful to Robert for all he'd done for Aaron recently, but she couldn't forget the past, he was involved in her best friend's death, and he'd almost killed Paddy, they were two people she loved dearly. She couldn't forget and she would never forgive him his actions. Chas wasn't stupid enough to think this enforced separation would in anyway come between Aaron and Robert but she would revel in it. For starters she wouldn't have to see them together, she wouldn't have to pretend she was giving Robert a chance, because that's what she was doing, pretending. She hated him, he was no where near good enough for her son and she was just biding her time, certain Robert would do something soon to finally convince Aaron of that fact. Holding onto that thought, Chas turned on her heels, cheerfully greeting a customer, rudely dismissing Robert in that one simply act. Now that Aaron wasn't around she didn't have to play nice.
/
Robert was at the top of the stairs when he heard the house phone ringing. He'd just stepped into his and Aaron's bedroom when Chas had screeched his name, letting him know he was wanted on the phone. He hadn't thought it odd because he lived at the Wooly now, but then Chas's disembodied voice had told him the callers name... Billy! His blood ran cold and he hurried down the stairs, trying to stay calm, to at least look calm, he didn't want Chas picking up on there being something wrong. Thankfully she'd returned to the bar before he'd reached the phone. He snatched it up, held it to his ear, he was about to speak only to hear a click and then the dialing tone. Shields had rung off! He was toying with him, torturing him, trying to weaken him emotionally. He wanted him on his knees, and willing to pay whatever sum he asked in return for Aaron's life. Well he had long since reached that point!
/
There had been a sliver of daylight visible through the doors, it had afforded enough light for him to see around him but that had long since disappeared, it was pitch dark inside and out now, night had fallen. That told Aaron that the van had been travelling a good few hours. It wasn't showing any signs of stopping, he could be in Scotland by now, or Wales, maybe even half way to Ireland! Just where the hell was he being taken? He didn't think he should dwell on that and turned his thoughts elsewhere.
He was lying on his side, he'd found he couldn't stay on his back for long, not with his hands bound so tightly behind him. It added to the pain in his shoulders, they hurt like hell, just about every inch of him hurt now, but his shoulders hurt the worst. God he was pathetic, whinging on endlessly, after all nothing was broken, and he was still breathing, he could be a lot worse off. He told himself to remember that fact.
He was trying not to think about what was happening at home, but his mind kept straying back to Emmerdale. Someone would have noticed something was up by now, Robert had probably come looking for him, wondering why he hadn't answered his texts. Again he was hit by the thought that Robert was in some way responsible for the mess he was in, and once again he quickly dismissed the thought as nonsense.
Robert would be worried, his mum even more so! Hadn't he caused her enough worry over the years? He'd put her and Paddy through hell and it was happening again. Aaron knew the first person his mum would phone would be Paddy, and he'd come hurrying back. he could just see the two of them huddled together on the sofa worry eating them alive! He had to stop thinking about them! It upset him and he really needed to be strong right now.
As he tried to think of something to lift his spirits he realised the van was slowing down, his heart started to pound painfully in his chest. Remembering his plan he shifted into position. Just seconds later the van came to a shuddering halt.
An unnerving silence fell around him, and the longer it went on the more on edge Aaron became, until finally he snapped. His plan forgotten he started kicking at the doors, putting as much weight and effort into the blows as his restraints allowed him to. Anger and fear fuelled his actions and suddenly to his surprise and great relief the doors flew open. He stilled, suddenly weak and air hungry. The gag stopped him from taking the deep breaths his lungs craved, and he started to feel lightheaded, faint. He told himself he couldn't pass out now, that he had to fight the encroaching darkness, but his eyelids felt so heavy...
Just as his eyelids started to flutter shut there was an explosion of light, jolting him to his senses. He could now see out through the open doors, and just a few yards away there was a concrete wall. He could hear something... footsteps! And they were getting closer...
TBC