Nolan's Mansion, Hamptons
"What you're planning is not exactly safe," Nolan warned, looking back and forth between Emily and Charlotte. He had just learned from both what had happened in the Manor and was not exactly enthusiastic about Emily's suggestion to take matters into their own hands.
"We know that." Emily nodded. "But we have to do something."
He was just about to reply to her comment as the door opened and Ava entered. He had informed her immediately after Emily had made contact with him by telephone.
"I came as fast as I could," she said, looking apologizing. "Nolan said you need my help?"
"I need someone to take care of Julian," Emily explained, pointing to the back of the house, where she had placed the baby in Nolan's bedroom.
"I can't stay long, I have to go back to the bar, but I can take him with me," Ava suggested. "What exactly are you planning?" She said, turning to Emily.
"They're both looking for Conrad," Nolan said, rolling his eyes. "And maybe they'll find David in the process, too."
Ava put her arm around Charlotte's shoulder sympathetically. "Nolan told me what happened, I'm really sorry for your mother. Although I understand that he was understandably angry that she deceived him, that doesn't justify rape."
Nolan cleared his throat and then turned to Emily. "After your call, I already did a little research to find out where Conrad went after he left the house." He shrugged helplessly. "He's neither at Grayson Global, nor in any bar or restaurant."
"What about the South Fork Inn?" The thought came to Emily's mind.
"The hotel?" Charlotte exclaimed. "Yes, that's a possibility. He has a suite there."
"Then we should begin our search there." Emily was suddenly full of expectations. The solution seemed to be close at hand.
"You shouldn't go there alone." Nolan looked at her worried. "What if he gets another aggressive fit again?"
"He won't do me any harm," said Charlotte, full of conviction.
"Nolan is right," Ava interfered in the conversation. "You two shouldn't go alone." She looked quickly at him. "Just take him with you."
Nolan nodded affirmatively and then went to a safe in the wall and opened it.
Emily held her breath for a moment when she saw what he took out of it. "Do you think he'd better listen to you if you put a gun in front of his nose?" She asked skeptically.
Nolan shook his head. "This is only for our defense," he said. "I am a pacifist and reject any form of violence."
"I'm going to take the baby and go back to the Stowaway," Ava said, walking to Nolan's bedroom to get Julian.
Emily gave a deep sigh. "I hope we'll find him," she said thoughtfully. She looked up as Ava entered the living room with the baby carrier. Quickly she bent over her little son and kissed him goodbye. "Take care of him," she said, and suddenly noticed tears in her eyes.
"I take care of him as if he were my own child," Ava promised.
"Are you ready, then?" Nolan put the gun in his jacket pocket, took the car keys, and made a gesture that Emily and Charlotte should follow him.
South Fork Inn, Hamptons
After his hasty escape from the Manor, Conrad had sought refuge at the South Fork Inn, where he had had his own suite for several years. He didn't know how he'd ever should meet Victoria again after what he'd done. He still couldn't grasp that he almost had forced her to have sex with him against her will. But when he had seen the disheveled bed, where she just had sex with David, it had pushed him over the edge. Groaning, he dropped onto the bed and buried his head in his hands. By his soul, he regretted what he had done. But would Victoria just accept his excuse? He doubted it. In addition, she had clearly shown with her attitude towards David that she considered their marriage to be over. He might have changed her mind, but not after his aggressive attack. With this action he had driven her even more into David's arms. But he could not give up on her without a fight. He shook his head resolutely. He would fight for his marriage, and if it was the last thing he would do! He had been so engrossed in thought that he flinched in fright as he heard a knock at the door to his suite. No one else except the hotel staff knew he was here. And he couldn't remember having ordering something. "Who is there?" He asked warily.
"Room service, sir!"
Frowning, he went to the door and opened it. He saw a man in the typical uniform of the staff of the South Fork Inn, who had a gilded serving trolley with him. "I haven't ordered anything," he said tightly.
"This is our special service for special guests."
Conrad was still not convinced. "I am a regular guest," he said impatiently. "Are you new here?"
The man nodded eagerly. "I've only been working here for a few days." He cleared his throat. "Please, Mr. Grayson, I'll lose my job if I don't carry out my assignment!"
"You were commissioned to bring me dinner?" Conrad asked skeptically.
The man nodded. "Freshly made by the head cook," he explained.
Conrad looked at the man with a frown, wondering what to do. At least he knew his name, so he apparently belonged to the hotel staff.
"Mr. Grayson?" The man from the room service looked at him expectantly.
"All right, come in." Conrad opened the door further so that the man could push his trolley into the room and pointed to the table. "You can put it there, I'll take what I want."
"Sorry, but my boss said I'm supposed to do the job personally."
Conrad looked at the man confused. Something about his tone bothered him, even though he couldn't say what it was. But he didn't have to marvel about it for long as the man pulled out a rifle from under the serving trolley and aimed it at him. "W-what do you want?" He stammered.
"With the best regards from Mr. Bellows," the main said, grinning.
"B-Bellows?" Conrad looked at the man puzzled. "I... I don't know a Mr. Bellows." He raised his arms defensively and blenched. "You are in the wrong suite."
"Nice try." The false employee continued to aim his rifle at Conrad. "You are Conrad Grayson, general manager of Grayson Global." It was not a question but a statement.
Conrad nodded hesitantly as he broke out in a cold sweat. The man didn't bluff. He really wanted to kill him!
"Then you're the right person." The man nodded contentedly. "It would be a pity if I hit the wrong one."
Conrad closed his eyes reflexively as he saw the man's finger bend as he pulled the trigger. He shrieked and ducked down to avoid the bullet. But that the attempt to save his life had failed, he realized when he felt a sharp pain as something struck his neck. He grabbed his throat and noticed at the same time how everything around him became black. So that was how his life would end, murdered in a hotel room, was the last thing that flashed through his mind before his legs gave way under him and he sank to the ground...
