Chapter 19
When Kate arrived at Steve and Lottie's building she found them sat outside the flat in the corridor side by side against the wall. Lottie looked pale but doing ok whilst Steve was in police mode. Given Lottie was in a short sleeve shirt she wasn't able to play with the sleeve like she did when nervous or scared. Instead a scrunchie was in her hands and she played with it as a point of focus.
"It's in the bathroom sink in the Lush parcel. It's tagged to Lottie from Holly. Thought it best we sat out here. Someone must be watching us" Steve explained standing up before Kate spoke a word.
"Please don't say that" Lottie muttered as a silent tear ran down her face. She quickly wiped it away frustrated she was showing her emotion at such a moment before focussing back on the scrunchie.
"Did you touch it?" Kate asked. Lottie stopped playing with the scrunchie and looked at her with utter disgust. She had reached breaking point.
"Why the fuck would I do that?! No, I didn't. I'm not a fucking idiot! I was holding the parcel under one arm when I ripped off the tape with my opposite hand. When it popped open the smell hit me and I saw it. I dropped the box into the sink and ran out screaming. Alright?!" Lottie barked in frustration. She had never raised her voice at them before and she instantly regretted it. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm just … I'm tired, I've got a splitting headache, I'm uncomfortable and I'm hormonal and now apparently I have a sick twisted stalker. Who would do this? … Why? Why me?"
Kate knelt down in front of Lottie and gave Lottie a soft squeeze of her upper arms. "We are going to figure this out, I promise. You have every right to be mad and upset. Come here." Lottie leant forward and Katie wrapped her arms around the young girl. Kate looked up at Steve who gave her a nod of thanks.
It didn't take long for Ted and forensics to arrive which brought a lot of attention to the residents and people on the street with all the police presence. A neighbour, Catherine, was a nurse and arrived home from her shift at the hospital just before Ted and the forensics team arrived. She and Lottie got along well and she instantly insisted that Lottie be brought to hers whilst everything was going on. Being a nurse, it gave Steve an extra level of comfort that she would be taken care of. Steve ended up being sent into Catherine's place too as since he was there when the hand was discovered, he couldn't go back into the flat as part of the investigation. Phones were taken off them and other devices were removed from the flat to check for bugging devices and any tracking. So Catherine had to contend with two Arnotts, both grumpy and wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.
"A hotel? We can't go back into the flat tonight?" Lottie asked. She was sat on Catherine's sofa while Kate, Ted and Steve stood. Catherine was in the kitchen making a cup of tea.
"Sorry, petal. Forensics will be some time yet and given that there is a chance you are both being watched we need to get you out of here without being spotted. It may be longer than one night and no one can know where you are" Ted explained.
"How much longer exactly?" Lottie asked.
"Maybe a couple of weeks" Steve said.
"Weeks? We could be stuck in a hotel for Christmas? Fucking hell. What about my job? My college work? Alex?"
"Not important right now" Ted said.
"My life isn't important? Thank you so much for that" Lottie hissed and put her head in her hands.
"Lottie you have every right to be annoyed right now but acting like this is disrespectful. Apologize now" Steve said sternly. Lottie looked up and everyone could see she felt bad for what she said.
"I'm sorry Ted" Lottie said sheepishly.
"It's fine but in all honesty, your safety is most important not all that other stuff. We'll take you both out in an unmarked car via the underground car park and get you to a hotel. You don't leave that place until we give you the go ahead and we will bring you clothes and such once the forensic team are done in the flat" Ted explained.
"Wait, we can't take anything out of the flat?" Lottie asked.
"Sorry no, it's locked down" Kate said.
"Ok I can cope without my stuff but I can't cope without my medication and … certain products" Lottie explained. She decided not to explicitly say which products exactly given the men in the room but they all knew what she meant.
"Give us a list and I'll take care of it" Kate said. Lottie smiled and then proceeded to unzip her scrunchie via an invisible zip. From inside the scrunchie she pulled out a bunch of rolled up notes and loose change and handed some over to Kate.
"That should cover it, thanks Kate … what?" Lottie asked seeing everyone's surprised faces.
"Since when have you been stashing cash in hair accessorises?" Steve asked.
"Having emergency cash isn't a bad thing. Let me ask you this. If I was walking down the street right now and someone decided to mug me, would they want my hair accessory or my handbag? I've got a mini rape alarm in here as well if that makes you feel better. When do we go?"
"Now" Ted said and after thanking Catherine for giving up her flat, the four of them left and headed for the underground car park.
The unmarked car driven by Kate pulled up in a hotel Lottie had never heard of. It didn't look too bad from the outside and apparently had a private courtyard just beyond the lobby only open to those who were staying in the hotel so they could be outside despite not able to go out. After getting their rooms and saying bye to Kate, the Arnotts settled down for their stay in their room. They had been forced to share a twin room due to availability and in case someone did come after them, Lottie wouldn't be on her own. Steve was flicking through the TV channels while Lottie lay on her bed but no matter what she did, she couldn't get comfortable. Not having her phone was driving her crazy. She had never gone so long without listening to music. Now she started to slightly get what addicts go through in withdrawal.
"I'm going downstairs for fresh air in the courtyard" Lottie declared sitting up and grabbing her shoes from the floor.
"You can't leave the hotel" Steve reminded her causing irritation to Lottie for what felt like the millionth time that day. She quickly put her shoes on.
"I'm not stupid. I'm just going to sit in the courtyard for a bit. I can't breathe in here. I won't be long I promise and will keep in sight of people as agreed." Luckily for Lottie, Kate had leant Lottie her jacket and she grabbed it off the back of the door before she left.
When she got down the stairs to the lobby a wall of sound hit her. It was coming from the hotel ballroom. A Christmas disco was going on and the DJ was allowing Rick Astley to serenade her as she headed for the courtyard. The courtyard was directly opposite the hotel entrance and a pair of doors opened out to it. It was basic with stone benches and a fountain in the centre which was turned off. When the doors shut behind her the sounds of Rick Astley instantly disappeared. All that remained was silence and the freezing cold air. Lottie drew the short jacket closely around her body and walked to a bench where she sat and listened to the silence. She didn't feel the cold really but felt the cold air as she breathed deeply run through her body. It made her head tingle nicely and started to sooth her headache. She seemed to be drowning in the cold air and lost track of the concept of time or how long she sat there for.
"Lottie?" she heard a familiar voice ask. She looked over her shoulder back to the hotel lobby and her eyes widened. There, across the courtyard with the door closing behind him was Alex dressed warmly against the cold. She rushed over to him and he held her close.
"You're freezing! Come inside." He led her back into the lobby and they sat down side by side on a sofa in the corner as far away from the main entrance as possible.
"How are you here?!" she asked quietly as he tried to warm her hands with his by rubbing them. Only now did she register she was shaking and her hands were turning blue.
"Ted called me."
"Ted?"
Alex nodded. "I don't know the details just that you have to be here for a while. He gave me a half hour window and after that I can't be here. We brought you and Steve your stuff as well as some food and such. What's going on?"
Lottie knew that if anyone from AC-12 were there, they would have done everything in their power to stop her but her trust in Alex was far more important to her in that moment. She leant over and whispered in his ear.
"Holy fuck!" he reacted a little too loudly which made her shush him. The woman on reception quickly looked up at them but was soon drawn back to her work. "Are you ok?" he quickly asked in hushed tones.
"Honestly I don't know … I don't know." She began to cry so he drew her into his chest and let her cry quietly, one hand cupping the back of her neck, the other on her back. Although he had seen her softly cry in the cinema and the aftermath of tears when her guitar was destroyed, he had never seen her cry from raw emotion. He simply let her cry as long as she needed and rubbed her back to comfort her.
"Sorry, I'm tired and hormonal. Why did this have to happen when my period is due? Today has been a lot" she explained into his chest.
"Nothing to apologize for. This is so messed up. What kind of a sicko would do that? How do they know your name or know where you live?"
"Someone might have been following me but I had no idea. How could I not know?" Lottie explained finally feeling composed and warmed by Alex's embrace. She leant back and he reluctantly let her go. She wiped her eyes. "That's why I couldn't call you. They took my phone, my laptop, everything."
Alex's eyebrows furrowed and the penny dropped. "Wait, was I considered a suspect?" he asked.
"Given Ted called you I gather no but I don't know what is going on. The only thing that makes sense is that it is to do with Steve and his work but I don't understand why I am the target. So until further notice I am stuck her and might be beyond Christmas!" She took a deep breath and looked around the lobby nervous at who may be watching.
"What can I do?" he asked making her smile.
"Please, just be you. Talk to me about music. I haven't heard any in hours."
Alex opened his mouth to speak but stopped. He heard the party and smiled. "Fancy gate-crashing a party?" he asked and held out a hand to her. Usually she'd say no as it wasn't their party and they weren't appropriately dressed for a Christmas do but right now she didn't care. She took his hand and followed him to the ballroom. It was packed full of people so they could easily blend in and people were too drunk to care what they were wearing.
A slow song began to play and Alex brought Lottie's hands up to rest on his shoulders before placing his own of her lower back drawing her body to his. They hadn't slow danced before and she felt butterflies in her stomach. As they swayed slowly she realised the song was Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac.
"You are aware this is a breakup song?" She asked. "Not really appropriate for our first slow dance."
"I'm not in control of the music. Better than Highway To Hell." That made her chuckle which was a sight he loved to see. "I know what you're thinking and you know what the answer is" Alex said seriously.
"You don't know me that well. I was wondering if you were a closeted disco dancer like John Travolta."
"No you weren't. You were wondering when I'm going to run to the hills like you flagged to me before I kissed you for the first time. You know the answer is I'm not going anywhere."
"Today's events aren't what I had in mind when I said that. This isn't something that happens all the time that is hard to take."
"Then what does?" Lottie couldn't answer him. "I respect if you aren't ready to tell me, but I can see it is burdening you. I'm not just your boyfriend, I'm your friend too. You can talk to me about anything."
Lottie smiled softly. "Boyfriend? Does one date constitute that title? I would have thought three?" she asked making him grin cheekily.
"Well there was the cinema trip followed by dinner, you've popped by mine four times this week, there was the chips by the river and … right now. I'd class that as more than three dates."
"Dates constitute food and a trip out so I'll give you chips by the river as date two. No food here so …"
"Alright then" he took hold of one of her hands and led her back to the lobby heading for the lifts. There were two vending machines side by side and he bought her a diet coke, crisps and chocolate.
"Never say I never bought you anything" he said with a wink and handed them over. "So if this is an outing with food that is date three so ….?" He asked.
"Best make it official then" she finished his sentence. He leant in to kiss her but she stopped him by pressing a finger against his lips. "Just between us, ok? For now? Given all the shit going on I … might have to take a step back to protect you until all this shit is blown over. I don't want to do that and I'm not a quitter. I just don't want to see you get hurt because of me. This whole day feels dangerous. It's not a game so if I have to step back to protect you I will. Can you accept that?" she lowered her finger and waited for the answer. He didn't kiss her or tell her he was going nowhere. Instead his eyes looked sad and troubled yet he simply nodded.
"I don't want to hurt you either … Look, I need to be honest. There is stuff about me I've not told you either. Nothing serious just … things that some people understand and some don't. Maybe we both need to practice patience with each other. I'm in if you are."
"Deal." She went up on her toes and kissed him softly. She felt him kiss her back and wrap an arm around her back. Right at that moment the lift doors opened revealing Ted. He cleared his throat which made the two jump apart.
"I see you found her then" Ted addressed Alex as he stepped out of the lift. "How are you doing, petal?"
"Better now, thanks. Any update on everything?"
"Just that the forensic team are done in the flat for now so Alex and I brought some stuff with us and Kate's been shopping for you. Tomorrow I'll give you and Steve an update." Ted turned to Alex. "Time to go, lad. I'll let you say goodbye. You have one minute." Ted headed for the main entrance.
"Will you do something for me?" Lottie asked. Alex turned his attention back on Lottie.
"Anything."
"Will you write to me? Music and words are my life. They are more precious to me than all the gems and gold in the world. I'd take a letter or a song over millions of pounds in a heartbeat. I can't live without them. So please, write to me. Anything and everything! Let me know what I'm missing. It will give me something to look forward too. Ted and Kate will bring them and I can reply. Most importantly, be honest. Even if you are having a shit day, tell me."
"Likewise." He cupped her face and kissed her softly. She then felt his tongue request entry to her mouth and she let him. When they broke apart she felt him kiss her forehead and with that he was gone.