Chapter 20

The days in the hotel were long and monotonous. At least with things from home the room was more comfortable but in ways made Lottie and Steve wish to have more home comforts. Ted brought a portable CD player and a collection of CDs from the flat but not the ones Lottie wanted to listen to. He also brought books but they were ones neither were interested in reading.

Steve was thankful that he had sought out therapy before all this kicked off as some techniques he was looking into and had tried since his therapist told him about them became his main focus and he became a somewhat pro at them. Christmas was only two days away. Given he wasn't able to contact anyone at all, he had to leave it to Ted and Kate to explain to his parents what had happened. He knew his mother especially was going to be frantic for any kind of news and be phoning Kate and Ted every day. He promised himself that the first phone call he would make would be home to let them know both he and Lottie were safe. Lottie he noticed had become withdrawn as the week and a half went on. Understandable but not even her beloved music could keep her spirits up. Ted brought her school work which secretly she rather hoped he hadn't so at least she had that to occupy her during the day. She was constantly writing as well and used a table in the empty ballroom to study in during the day. She began to lose weight little by little and had begun taking naps during the afternoon. A tell tale sign of depression he picked up on right away and kept a watchful eye on. Usually the build up to Christmas was his time to fall into such a state not her.

Each day Kate or Ted swung by the hotel to see the siblings and try to give them something to look forward to. The letters between Lottie and Alex being a key element of the trip as well. Lottie, Ted and Kate came to the agreement to use the receptionist as the drop off and collection point so Steve wouldn't be aware and was a more private way to exchange letters. The routine was Lottie would write her letter in the evening and leave it at reception overnight, and then when Ted or Kate arrived they would pick it up and drop off the letter from Alex for Lottie to pick up later that day. It rolled on like clockwork. They always arrived at different times of day to throw off routines in case they were being watched as well. It came as a surprise to Lottie when that afternoon she was diverted from her college work by Steve, Kate and Ted walking into the ballroom together. She hadn't seen Ted and Kate together since they arrived at the hotel.

"Has something happened?" she instantly asked standing up.

"Somewhat, we have some news" Kate said before giving Lottie a gentle hug. Ted checked the corridor was empty before he closed and locked the ballroom door from the inside. Lottie being as far away from the door as possible made Ted feel more comfortable able the conversation that was going to happen, that they wouldn't be overheard.

"Good news I hope?" she asked and Steve smiled softly. He didn't say a word though which filled her with dread. "It's serious though isn't it? I can see it in your eyes."

"Come sit down, petal" Ted commanded and the four sat around the table. Although they were all close around the circular table, she felt that feeling once again when she first told the three about Christopher. They were only on the other side of a table but they felt miles away. "I want to start with the good news" Ted said after clearing his throat.

"That being?" she asked.

"After a full assessment of all your devices, cctv and investigation into the origins of the package as well as social media and generally watching your building, we have concluded that there is no evidence of you being followed specifically" Ted went further on to explain.

"What does that mean? 'Followed specifically'? Do you mean hunted?" Lottie asked confused.

"We prefer 'tracked' as a term. What it means is we have no evidence that someone is targeting you via stalking. We have been closely monitoring your building and no one has been hanging around. Extra security is now in place on the building including a security guard on the door. All post has been checked and nothing since the parcel has appeared has been out of the ordinary. We have also been checking out your college and again nothing. It would appear the parcel was a random act."

"Sending a severed hand in the post isn't a random act" Lottie muttered in reply.

"Agreed which is why the monitoring and security of your building will continue for a while yet. It means that you can go home."

Lottie's eyes widened. "Seriously? We … we can leave?" she asked and then looked at Steve with a smile. He hadn't seen her smile in days and it was a sight for sore eyes. "Now?" she asked.

"Tomorrow" Kate replied. "We need to put back anything removed in the investigation and of course buy you some food so you have something to come home to."

"You don't have to do that -" Steve began but Kate stopped him.

"Not doing it as a colleague, but as a friend. Besides, I am sure your parents are going to want to drive here as soon as they hear you are both out so the place needs to be presentable."

"Thank you. They are more likely going to send us tickers to get to London right away."

"I'm not going to London" Lottie said abruptly. "I can't do that."

Ted noticed that Lottie was thinking intensely. "What is it petal?" he asked.

"I want to bend the rules again set by you but this time with your full co-operation and no holding back. I'm involved now. I don't need full details and documents. It will only be in this conversation and never further from this room, I swear. It has been plaguing me for a week and a half. How was my name found and how did the parcel get to the building?"

Ted was silent for several seconds and nodded. "Your right, we can't ignore your involvement. The parcel originated from Lush. It was slightly water damaged which showed that at some point it had gotten wet but given the weather had been fine but cold in the days leading up to the arrival it had to have been old damage. There were no online orders for your building apart from yours and that actually arrived the day after the hand was discovered given the police blocks on the building. It was concluded that it was a complete coincidence that you were expecting an order when it arrived. You don't have a regular standing order with them but if anyone knew you shopped there, they would know you would accept a parcel from them. The cardboard had damage on the outside where the original tape used to seal the box had been ripped off taking a thin layer of the cardboard off the top. The person who posted it simply applied new tape over where the original was but there was nothing they could do to disguise the damaged top of the cardboard. You simply didn't spot it but then how could you without examining the tape in full detail? The label was printed on what we believe to be a home printer as although the layout of the post label matched Lush, it was in the wrong colour. For Christmas they use a different colour to be more festive and the tape they use becomes red instead of black. The person posting it wasn't aware and so tripped up. It was posted from Manchester and Lush doesn't have a warehouse facility in the area the postage indicated. What was most interesting is that 'Lottie' was stated not 'Charlotte' as the official package you ordered from Lush showed. They have they print the name as stated on your account and you told them you were called Charlotte. They have no reference whatsoever to 'Lottie' so that means someone knows you call yourself that" Ted explained. Lottie nodded after he was done.

"If the good news we can go home, what's the bad news?" she asked now feeling nervous. Ted looked at Steve and nodded. Now Lottie felt scared. Steve turned to her and she looked deep into her brothers' dark brown eyes.

"Forensics came back on the inside of the box. It was run twice to be certain. The hand had deep freeze burns and the signet ring was identified by one of those questioned by us. This along with DNA has identified who the hand belonged to."

Steve fell silent and Lottie knew what he was about to say. She shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "No, please no" she begged in a whisper.

"I'm sorry Lottie, but it's Christopher's hand. He's been dead for decades it appears" Steve finally said.

Lottie turned her head away from them and closed her eyes. Although her bottom lip wobbled she refused to let the tears fall. Instead she took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes. Emotions weren't going to get the best of her.

"I always knew it was most likely he was dead but, hearing it … oh Gwen. I'm so sorry for her. I couldn't bring him home" she said quietly.

"It wasn't your job to save him. You can't apologise for something out of your control" Kate explained.

"But I gave her false hope that he might be found by bringing his case to you. I'm a monster." All three of them tried to convince her otherwise but she wouldn't take in what they were saying. "I know all of you are right but I can't see it that way right now. I'm sorry but I can't. Don't you get it? They are us." She got up and left to go out to the freezing courtyard. On route she went to reception where, as per usual, a letter awaited her and she cried softly as she read the words of comfort and praise that felt like daggers in her broken heart.

It felt so odd being back in the flat building. Now there was a security guard on the door twelve hours a day and when there wasn't one it took two security codes to get the door to unlock. The same went for the underground car park. All post got signed in by the security guard and only the guard had access to the post room where parcels were kept.

Lottie didn't really pay attention to the changes. She hadn't slept the night before and although she got to speak with her parents on the burner phone Ted had given Steve to use nothing could lift her spirits. The flat seemed different somehow. Yes she was more haphazard than Steve but even she could tell that things were slightly out of place which put her on edge. Knowing that someone had been in the flat when they weren't there sent a chill through her. Kate though has been the warm element that had been in the flat and put up Christmas decorations and tried to make the place as welcoming as possible. Lottie sat on the sofa looking at the tree while Kate and Steve busied themselves making hot drinks and getting the washing machine on.

"The invite is still open for you to come to mine for Christmas. Even if you decide mid-morning on Christmas day, lunch will be on the table for you both" Kate offered making cups of tea.

"Thanks but I think we need to spend it with family given everything. Mum and dad are driving up right now and will be here tonight" Steve explained and Kate nodded.

"Quite rightly. Back at working boxing day?" she asked.

"For sure. I'm itching to get back in the office." Steve looked over at Lottie. "I'm worried about her" he admitted quietly.

"Me too. Perhaps a visit from Alex might do her some good?" she suggested. He nodded. Although there was a no boys rule, he could break it this one time.

After saying their goodbyes to Katie the Arnott siblings were finally alone. "Do you want your Christmas present now?" Steve said out of the blue getting Lottie's attention.

"What?" she asked confused.

"I want to give you your Christmas present because even though Christmas is tomorrow I think you need it" he explained.

"Alright" she agreed a little perplexed.

"You have to close your eyes though" he instructed.

She smiled softly and did as she was told. This brought her back to her childhood when she would be teased by Steve with something big and then he was gave her a tiny gift. She heard him go into his bedroom and come back out again.

"Ok, open your eyes." She did as she was told and her mouth fell open. There in front of him stood a hard leather guitar case with a red bow around the neck.

"Steve, you didn't?" she asked admiring the case. She got up and walked over to it, running her hands lovingly over the case.

"The case is from everyone at AC-12 and those at the Winslow who wanted to contribute to get you a case, what's inside is from me" he explained.

Carefully she lay the case down on the floor, kneeling as she did so. Steve sat down with her and watched as she opened the case. Gently she peeled it open and gasped. Inside was a guitar, but not just any guitar. It was hers, the one that had been destroyed months before completely restored. She knew because she knew every bump and chip in that instrument like it was the back of her hand. It had been restored with tender loving care and came out beautifully even though yes she could see slight imperfections that couldn't quite be fully restored it was like it was its old self again in her eyes.

"Oh Steve … I don't know what to say. It's wonderful" she whispered, the surprise having taken away her voice.

"Just because something is broken that doesn't mean it can't be fixed. You didn't give false hope to Gwen; you gave her a purpose again. She told me to tell you that this morning when I called her. Now we are more determined than ever to bring Christopher home. I'm not losing hope, nor are Ted, or Kate, or anyone else in AC-12. I can't have you lose hope either. I need you to just be you to get me through this, like you needed those letters from Alex at the hotel."

"How did you?" she asked confused. She had been so careful to keep them hidden she thought.

"I'm a police officer remember? I'm not stupid. Unless you have started writing a novel there is no way you would concentrate so much on writing if it wasn't a letter plus your trips to reception every day were noticeable to me. I'm not angry or upset. It's what you needed to get through and I'm thankful you had them. So," he pulled out Lottie's mobile from his back pocket and handed it over to her. "How about an in-person visit instead? Mum and dad won't be here until tonight with so much food we will be eating leftovers for weeks, and although Kate did great here whilst we were away, I need to fix this flat before mum and dad arrive."

That made Lottie laugh. "The fridge magnets are driving you nuts aren't they?" she giggled making him smile. Her laughter was wonderful to hear.

"Like you wouldn't believe! So while you and Alex have some time alone I can get this place back to normal. One rule though, bedroom door stays wide open."

"I can handle that."

"Good, so can I have my present now?" he asked. She nodded and went to her room bringing out a wrapped box. Steve opened it and smiled. Inside was his own vinyl player and a collection of Fleetwood Mac vinyls.

"It's perfect, thank you" he smiled.

"You know, oddly, this has turned out to be our most positive Christmas yet" Lottie observed.

"I'll toast to that" Steve replied and the two tapped their mugs together before Lottie made a very important phone call.