Alec came marching into the Bed and Breakfast and straight to what was Ellie's room. He knocked on the door, quite violently but when no one came to answer it he started slamming his fists against it and calling her name. Becca was just walking the corridor as she heard him shouting and quickened her pace to see what all the commotion was about. She rushed to Alec, a scowl on her face and demanded to know what he was doing. After all she didn't want to have complaining guests because one couldn't control his temper. Alec turned to look at her, he was panting quite heavily, exhausted from all his shouting.
"Where is Miller...I mean Ellie?" he asked realising Becca would just think him rude if he only referred to Ellie as Miller.
"I don't know, she hasn't checked out but her Sister was here with the kids yesterday" she offered kindly.
"Where does her Sister live?" demanded Alec.
Becca kindly told him but was concerned that he seemed so concerned as to her whereabouts. She wasn't sure but she assumed something must be wrong. Alec had disappeared before she had chance to ask him and so she went about her business trying not to let it distract her.
Alec hurried outside and started to head towards the houses where he had been told Lucy resided. He really hoped he'd find Ellie there safe and well and he could return her phone. All he wanted was to get on with unearthing the real truth they suspected was still buried amongst the community in connection with Danny Latimer's death. The wind was cold and nipped at his skin as they sky clouded over with the thickest black clouds he had seen in a long while. He really hoped he was going to make it to Lucy's before the heavens opened. Quickening his pace he tried to ignore the pain developing in the side of his head and pressed on, he needed to find Ellie and that was his only focus.
The heavens opened, lashing upon lashing of rain came down and the sky was practically black in colour. Unfortunately for Alec he was caught up in it as he had not quite made it to Lucy's yet. He was getting absolutely drenched and he wasn't best pleased about it. A loud rumble of thunder sounded over head and then Alec saw it was followed by a crack of lightening.He began walking faster again and into the estate to find Lucy's house.
The garage that Ellie was being held in had a tin roof. On it the rain sounded louder than it actually was and the racket it was making caused Ellie to begin to stir. This time her head was really pounding but with her hands still bound she couldn't even touch or put pressure on it to see if it helped. She groaned, feeling groggy and lethargic as she looked around and saw she was once again alone. The garage was almost pitch black and she couldn't see much of her surroundings, just feint shadows of furniture and clutter. All she could do was sit and wait for someone to come and hope they would shed more light on why she was there, however whilst she was waiting she tried to concentrate on wriggling free of her restraints.
The tape was super sticky and clung to her skin, rubbing and cutting in as she struggled. It was leaving her skin sore and rough but she kept at it in the hope that fighting with it would result in her freedom. Persistence was all she needed and she was sure she could break it, after all it was only tape. What Ellie didn't know though was that Nigel had been sure to wrap several layers to make the restraint as tough as possible and had left no room for any real movement. She kept at it until she had started to sweat and had exhausted herself. Feeling suffocated by the gag across her mouth she stopped, relaxed and rested but only momentarily, she would not give up.
Outside the little garage and both sat in Nigel's van Dean and him were discussing what to do next. Ellie Miller was going to be a real problem if she discovered it was them who abducted her so they needed to do something quick to silence her. Nigel only had one idea and he was adamant that he was going to go through with it despite Dean not thinking it a good idea. They had a rather in depth discussion about it before Nigel started up the van. Dean had assured him Ellie was definitely unconscious so he was happy to leave her and return later to carry out the job alone. As the engine revved up Ellie just about heard it and could make out that it was leaving not arriving. She didn't know if it was her captor or whether it could be someone able to help her. She wished she could scream, alert whoever it was of her presence but she couldn't and before long it was quiet again and all she could hear was the storm brewing outside.
Alec banged on Lucy's front door, drenched head to toe as a result of getting caught in the downpour and looked quite angry but not intentionally. Lucy opened up the door and looked now as if she was stressed and had been crying. It took Olly appearing behind her and recognising him for Lucy to allow Alec inside. He wasted no time and refused the cup of tea offered by Olly, he wanted to collect information and go.
"Have you seen Mil...I mean Ellie?" he asked.
"No, actually we thought she might be with you?" answered Olly after looking at his mum to see if she was going to do the honours.
"So you've not seen her at all?" asked Alec, completely baffled. That was not what he had expected.
"No, she left me with the kids yesterday and no one has seen her since" shouted Lucy as she stormed away back into the living room to tend to Fred who had begun wailing again, clearly frightened by the storm outside.
Olly looked over to Alec and then moved in closer so he could whisper the further alarming details to him. Alec's eyes widened in alarm at being told that Ellie's oldest Son Tom had also run away earlier that day. Something was very wrong in that household. He thanked Olly and silently left, on the hunt now for two missing persons instead of one, he needed some help and he couldn't deny that it was now time to get the police involved. He paced as fast as he could getting soaked yet again by the sheet rain that was still pouring but making a call to the superintendent at the station. Ellie could be in danger so they would have no choice but to help, especially for one of their own.
Come dinner time it was still raining. Even though Beth Latimer had cooked dinner for Mark, Chloe and Dean she wasn't feeling in a very sociable mood. She hadn't actually been in a sociable mood now since all had been laid to rest or so to speak in the murder investigation of her baby boy. They all sat in silence, the only thing that could be heard was the scraping of cutlery against the plates of those who were eating. Beth had blocked it all out, she was staring aimlessly out of the window just watching the storm that continued to brew outside. They hadn't had one this bad in a long while and it usually signified trouble brewing. Beth was in a complete daze and world of her own, there was nothing on her mind except for remembering her baby boy.
Dean's phone suddenly started ringing loudly and to his embarrassment everyone turned to look at him. There was so much tension in the room you could have cut it with a knife. He apologised and glanced down at his phone, it was Nigel calling and it was almost dark. Dean didn't know why but he suspected he wanted some help with something. He smiled and excused himself to take the call. Out in the hall he answered it but whispered as he didn't wish to be overheard. Nigel sounded panicked and demanded that Dean come and meet him. The young lad didn't know what to do, he was frightened but felt he had better do as he was asked rather than risk annoying Nigel. He felt rude doing so but he wandered back into where his girlfriend's family were dining and made his excuse to leave. He seemed anxious and hurried which made Chloe instantly suspicious. She got up and offered to show him out but he insisted she not and disappeared. Annoyed Chloe got up and followed him, calling after him but the door had slammed shut by the time she reached it. Grabbing her coat and hurrying to slip into a nearby pair of shoes she had discarded she went out after him.