Chapter 16

Mariah had returned to the living room with all her things.

"Come on lets get out of here," Gabby said.

"Hang on Gabby, dad has his diary here"

"We don't have much time"

Mariah was flicking through the pages and she found a random address written down.

Mariah ripped it out of the book and the left the house and got in Matthew's car.

"What's that," Gabby asked looking at the bit of paper.

"I think this could be where Tish is, its a remote cottage, nobody would think to look there, its quite a way from here, we must get there,"

Mariah told Matthew the address, it was somewhere out on the moors. It was getting dark when they arrived.

Mariah jumped out of the car and ran up to the building, It sure was isolated, not a soul in sight. The cottage looked like it was falling down. There was an old wooden door. Mariah banged and called out.

"Hello, anyone in there"

There was a noise in there, sounded quiet. Mariah called again. Whatever was in there made a noise. Matthew banged the door down. There sitting on an old chair in the middle of the room, bound and gagged was Tish.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Mariah. Tish looked so ill. Mariah ran to her, untied and ungagged her. Mariah gave her a big long hug.

"Oh my god, Tish, you're alive"

Tish was in tears. "Mariah, get me out of here, I've been here for months, ever since your mom's funeral"

"What Happened?"

"Well when I left you in the cemetery I was getting really nervous on my own, I sensed someone was with me, I didn't see anyone, then I tripped over and blacked out, then I woke up here."

"Who brought you here?"

"Your dad Mariah, he's a psychopath, I thought he was going to kill me, he told me you no longer needed me as a friend. He's drugged me a number of times, so I'm too weak to move and escape. When I heard a car, I thought it was him. He visits regularly brings me basic stuff like bread and water"

Mariah was horrified. "Tish, he's a monster, he killed my mum and lied to me about everything. I ran away to London and he found me and brought me back to Emmerdale against my will. I'm never going back, and there's nothing he can do about it Tish"

Tish shook her head as to warn her. "Mariah don't underestimate him, he's clever"

"Tish, we're taking you to Home Farm, away from this place, come on"

When Tish got up she couldn't walk, she was drained of energy.

"Oh Tish, look at what he's done to you"

Grayson's abduction had made Tish into a nervous wreck; she couldn't walk due to lack of energy. She wasn't the Tish Mariah knew, full of energy and character.

"Matt, I think you should carry Tish into the car, she can't walk," Gabby said.

Matthew picked up Tish and carried her to his car. Mariah and Gabby got in.

"Come on lets get out of here"

Matthew drove them all back to Home Farm.

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The next day, Tish spent resting in Home Farm. A doctor was called to look at Tish. She was told to rest as much as possible, she would make a full recovery.

"Tish you have to tell the police"

"I can't"

"Why"

"Because they won't believe me, Grayson will manipulate them and pay them off, he's rich. Besides who will take the word of a teenage girl over a well respected barrister."

Mariah and Gabby looked at each other, and then the door bell rang.

Tish was put into panic attack mode.

"Tish, keep calm, its probably one of Matt's friends," Gabby was trying to calm her down.

If only that were true.

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Grayson had been furious when he found out he had been tricked. There was no client in York. Grayson had an idea; it was Matthew King messing him about. Grayson's anger increased when he found Mill Cottage to be empty, Grayson went into Mariah's room and found everything gone.

He stamped on the floor.

"DAMN," he called out loudly to himself.

The next day, Grayson sped up to Home Farm to confront Matthew and find his daughter.

Grayson rang the door bell.

Matthew answered.

"Larry, what a pleasant surprise"

"I know it was you on the phone, pretending to be a client, don't deny it," Grayson had forced his way past Matthew and was now in the living room.

"Talk in English"

Grayson was in a dangerous mood. He began shouting.

Gabby and Mariah heard the shouting. Tish was having a panic attack.

"Tish, he can't harm you, he doesn't know you're up here, keep calm please," Mariah spoke gently.

Tish was calming down.

Gabby handed her Ipod to Tish. "Here listen to this, you won't hear him then"

Tish put the ear phones in and pushed play. Tish had calmed down.

Gabby then went up to her before going downstairs.

"I'm going to lock the door, if he comes up in a rage, he won't be able to get to you"

Tish nodded and put the earphones back in.

Gabby locked the door behind her and safely hid the key.

"Come on Mariah, we better confront him"

Downstairs there was a full blown argument going on. Mariah and Gabby safely watched from the stairs. Mariah decided to speak out.

"Hello dad"

Grayson immediately stopped and turned in Mariah's direction.

"Princess, you came here yesterday didn't you, now its alright I've come to take you home, you remember what the psychiatrist said," Grayson continued the lie, unaware that Mariah had told Matthew and Gabby the truth.

"They know dad, that you made me lie, it didn't work and I know about what you did to mom"

"Excuse me,"

"The suicide plan didn't go well; I know you had her murdered so you could take responsibility of me,"

"I assure you I didn't kill your mother, princess"

"Oh but dad, you may not have pulled the trigger, but you might have well have done"

Grayson didn't know what to say.

"Plus I know about Tish, you had her abducted after my mom's funeral, so I wouldn't have any friends. That's why you lied to me about everyone here and why I was put on my own in college"

Grayson just nodded. Then his anger flared.

"You put this into her head didn't you Matthew"

Matthew stood there looking smug. Then Grayson flew at him and took a swing, there was a fight.

"Matt," Gabby called after Matthew. "Someone help,"

All of a sudden two men arrived at the scene. They were both dressed smartly. One was slightly bald and the other had brownish blonde hair.

"Matt, break it up," the blonde one said pulling him away. The bald one went for Grayson. They broke the fight up.

"Do you mind telling us what this is all about," the bald one said.

"Larry here started it"

"Both of you pack it in"

Then the bald one turned to Mariah.

"Haven't seen you around here before, are you new?"

Mariah answered. "I've been here for months, my dad kept me away from everyone, I'm Mariah," she shook his hand and pointed to Grayson as to single him out.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jimmy, Matthew's older brother and this is Carl, we're all brothers"

Mariah shook Carl's hand too.

"Didn't know you had a daughter, Grayson"

The look on Grayson's face was dangerous. He was all quiet of a sudden.

"Keep him away from me, he's a monster," Mariah pleaded.

"Why don't we all go and talk about this like adults," said Jimmy.

Mariah was worried.

"Its ok Mariah, me and Jimmy will sit with you," Carl said.

They went into the living room. Mariah was sat in between Carl and Jimmy. Grayson stood and Matthew sat on a chair. Gabby was going to join them when she thought she best check on Tish.

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Gabby went upstairs and unlocked the door.

"You alright Tish?"

Tish was sitting up and using a laptop. Tish was worried.

"What is it Tish?" Gabby ran over to her.

Tish put the laptop down. "Gabby, I found out more about Grayson, he's been inside"

"Prison?"

"No, its worse, he's been in a mental hospital"

Gabby was confused. "What"

"Gabby, back in 2008 he was run over by his wife Perdita Hyde Sinclair; she was locked in jail for a year for dangerous driving. Grayson had suffered long and short term memory loss as a result. The authorities decided it was best to have him sectioned. Then this year something strange happened, he was released all of a sudden, no explanation why."

Gabby took a look on the screen, there was an article, a page long. There was a colour photograph of Grayson. It was him alright.

"Oh my, we have to tell them, I'm printing this off"

Gabby hooked the laptop to the printer and pushed the print button.

"You going to stay here, Tish?"

Tish nodded.

Gabby took the information downstairs with her and entered the living room.

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A conversation was in progress

"I only wanted the best for you, princess"

"Don't talk to me"

Gabby cleared her throat, indicating she had entered the room.

"Everyone, are you aware that Grayson here has been locked up in a mental hospital for the past 16 years"

Everyone looked up. Grayson spoke first.

"Clearly you are the one who should be in a mental hospital, making up accusations"

"Oh should I now, take a look at this, its in black and white"

Everyone looked.

"HOW THE HELL COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME DAD"

"I didn't think it was relevant, princess"

Mariah couldn't believe he just said that. Mariah got up and backed towards the door. Grayson got up.

"I bet it was you who organised that car crash in London"

"What"

"Don't lie to me dad, you were always against me becoming a dancer"

Gabby spoke. "That was you, you bloody nutter"

Grayson shook his head. "I didn't want you ruining your life"

"Ruining my life, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED"

Grayson was upset. Matthew got up and was going to shout. Then in a split second. Grayson lunged at Mariah; he was too quick for Mariah to act.

He grabbed her. "AHHHHHHHHHH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GET OFF ME"

Grayson had picked up Mariah and carried her over his shoulders. He was too strong for her to get away. Grayson quickly walked through the house to the front door.

Mariah kicked her legs like mad.

"Help, Jimmy, Carl, Matthew, help, anyone, please"

Mariah was screaming. The King Brothers ran after Grayson. They couldn't pull Mariah away. She tried to grab hold of Jimmy, but she was unsuccessful. Grayson threw her into his Range Rover.

"Do something Matthew," Gabby called out in hysterics.

Grayson had locked the car door. Mariah was banging against the windows.

Matthew tried to open the door but was unlucky. Then Grayson put his foot down and Mariah fell back. The King's did all they could to stop him but there was nothing they could do.

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