Ransom 11
"Why isn't he answering his damn phone?" Chas demanded of her brother for the umpteenth time.
Cain sat watching his sister anxiously pacing the floor, that same question was plaguing him too, he wished he knew the answer.
"Do you think he's heard off Shields?"
Cain shrugged, "Maybe." It was a possibility he supposed, "I think Robert would have told us if there was a change of plan." He'd be stupid not to!
"I think you should go look for Robert." Chas couldn't stand the waiting, the sitting down doing nothing. She felt so helpless, so useless.
"Where exactly?" He honestly didn't know where to start looking and right now knew his place was with Chas, "I think we need to stay here, I..."
"He doesn't deserve this Cain, he's been through hell and back and all that with Gordon... " Chas slumped back down into her chair, she'd forgotten all about Gordon being dead, with Aaron being in so much danger she'd pushed all thought of him aside.
"What is it?" Cain demanded, the look of horror on his sister's face deeply concerned him.
Chas gulped down the last of her brandy, then blew out a shaky breath hoping to regain some control, "DI Wise came last night, Gordon was found dead yesterday, he couldn't tell us how or anything. I completely forgot what with Aaron... I just remembered now."
Cain's initial shock ebbed quickly, "Not a minute too soon!" He was glad the bastard was dead, he'd have been dead a lot sooner if Aaron hadn't stopped him from killing him.
Cain's reaction was as Chas had expected but it was Aaron's reaction that worried her, "Aaron's going to come back to that news. How do I tell him? God knows what state of mind he's going to be in when he walks through that door." Chas shivered uncontrollably as she was suddenly overcome with doubt, "He will walk through that door won't he Cain? He will come back to me?"
"Of course he will." Cain clasped his sister's hand in his. He hoped the gesture would reassure her in some way even though he wasn't nearly half as confident of getting Aaron back as he sounded. He liked to be in control of a situation, but with Robert going AWOL he had no idea what was happening now and he feared for his nephew's life.
/
Aaron had wanted Robert dead, he'd wanted to be the one to kill him... at least that's what he'd told himself. But looking down at him, seeing him lying so still on the floor, blood tricking from his head... he felt no satisfaction.
His sense of reasoning had returned and had overwhelmed his blind rage, he was now horrified by what he'd done. His whole being was shaking, his legs were trembling so much they threatened to give way beneath him.
He hated himself for letting his emotions get the better of him again. He was better than that wasn't he? He wanted to be, he tried to be. Oh God what had he done?
He looked at the the length of wood he was holding in his hand, it had broken on impacting with Robert's head. He'd seen it lying on the ground and had picked it up determined to do Robert some damage... and he had. Robert wasn't moving, he lay where he'd fell. Tossing the wood to one side Aaron dropped to his knees, he rolled Robert onto his back, relief flooded through him when a groan escaped Robert's lips. He was unconscious, out for the count but not dead. So what did he do with him now?
Did he just leave him where he was and go home? Did he call the police and let them deal with Robert? Did he wait for him to come round and listen to him try and talk his way out of what he'd done? Like he ever could! Still Aaron knew Robert would try to, he always did.
Aaron knew he couldn't just leave Robert here and go home like nothing had happened, no that was a ridiculous idea and showed he wasn't thinking clearly, he had to get a grip, he had to get his head together. Taking a few calming breaths he began his reasoning again. Calling the police and letting them deal with the piece of scum was the right thing to do, but ... well he wanted, needed some redress, he needed to get back at Robert in some way. Knocking him senseless wasn't enough, he wanted him to know the despair he'd felt, the anguish... the fear... the... the heartache. Heartache? No Robert wouldn't feel anything like that, you had to be capable of loving someone to know that emotion. The only person Robert loved was himself.
Aaron was tempted to dump Robert in the shite hole he'd just been locked up in, the only problem with that idea was that he'd be found too quickly, the knob-head who'd brought him here would turn up at some point and release him. No he had to think of something else. Robert had to pay for what he'd done, for the hell he'd put him through. But not here, he had to take him somewhere they wouldn't be disturbed.
Aaron sprinted outside to Robert's car. It was unlocked and Aaron pulled open the driver's side door. He pressed the button that opened the boot, and as he did so he spotted a package in the passenger side foot-well. He'd done enough business with a bank to know what it contained. He snatched the package up and tore it open, he didn't know how much money was there and he had no desire to count it, but he knew it was a huge amount, thousands and thousands of pounds. It had to be the ransom money... his family had paid it already!
Aaron's anger started to burn again and he stalked back to Robert. He grabbed him by the arms and dragged him to the car hampered a little by his injuries. Gritting his teeth against the pain he hauled Robert's limp form into the boot. Robert moaned softly and Aaron realised he was slowly regaining consciousness, he hurried back in side and frantically searched for something to bind his hands and feet. To his relief Aaron found a lengthy piece of rope, minutes later he had Robert bound the very way he had been, he was getting a taste of his own medicine... and this was just the beginning.
Aaron had only driven a mile or so when he realised where he was. The fields, the large building in the distance, all so familiar. It was Home Farm! The village, his home was only a few minutes away, his mum would be there, worried sick about him... Roberts phone was ringing, Aaron snatched it up from the passenger seat and smashed it against the dashboard silencing it instantly, he didn't want any interruptions.
There was only one place he could take Robert, it held nightmarish memories for him but it seemed apt he do what he needed to there. It was out of season and he hoped against hope it wasn't in use.
/
Robert was aware of pain, of an intense pounding in his head. It was hard to think past that but he wanted to know why it was hurting so much. He forced his eyes open, blinked in an attempt to focus on his surroundings, his eyes widening on seeing Aaron standing before him.
"Aaron!" Memories of the last 24 hours came rushing back leaving Robert bewildered and at the same time overwhelmingly relieved to see his boyfriend. "Thank God! I don't... how did you... " He had a host of questions begging to be asked but he'd suddenly realised something was wrong. Aaron was glaring down at him with hate filled eyes... he tried to get to his feet, to get to Aaron... but he couldn't... he was tied up! Then to add to his confusion he realised where he was... a place he'd never wanted to see again ever... the lodge.
tbc