Behind Closed Doors

Silence

Chris

I have no idea where I am, or how long I've been held captive but I'm getting a bit sick of it now. I've been looked after well, food, water and bathroom breaks when needed so it seems that this isn't what I perceive it to be in my mind. The last thing I remember was leaving the diner and deciding to go and surprise Jamie, despite my initial protests about going back to hers, so I could wake up next to the woman I love the following morning. But no, someone else had plans for me. I remember a hand covering my mouth, my phone falling out of my hand and my world becoming black.

One of the guys took pity on me and from what I have learned, the boss, the one that wanted me, has been out of the country for a bit and is due back in this evening and will be having words with me. I can't wait. Of course, that's me being sarcastic as fuck. I just want to know what the hell they want from me and to go home to Jamie.

Jamie. She is the one thing that has kept me going throughout this whole ordeal. The sound of her voice, her laughter, the way her fingers dance over my skin, the way we snuggle up on to the couch together and how quickly became the centre of my universe. I wasn't kidding that day I seen her last about if we ever decide to marry, I will want a small wedding, intimate, just us and her family, nothing more, nothing less.

But as the days moved on and I started to worry that Jamie would think that I have just upped and left her with my declaration of a future together. I worried that Jamie would think that we were over and that if I ever got out of this situation that I am in, that she would have moved on. Now my patience was wearing thin and I couldn't wait to see who this so-called boss is tonight so I can say my part and rip into them for keeping me captive against my will.

***

Later that evening, the door opened, and my eyes instantly widened. Ron. I should have known that he had something to do with all this and my anger was starting to simmer. This part of my life I was running from, that I was still running from was continuing to haunt me. I just couldn't believe that after all this time, that he was still gunning for me. "Hello, Chris."

"Ron. You son of a..." My hand went straight to my face and held on to my cheek that he just backhanded a beauty. Stunned me into silence and I looked at him bewildered. "What the fuck, Ron?"

"It's high time you and I had a little chat, don't you think?" He dragged a chair and sat it in front of me, looking at me with his cold eyes. "Now, no lip or I will not be shy in backhanding you again, you got me?" I nodded my head and looked at him. "So, you got out of jail then? Did you have a good time there?" I looked at him if he was off his rocker and he continued to stare me out until I answered.

"No Ron, it was awful. Not a place would recommend."

"Hmmm." I don't know what he is playing at but I'm starting to feel uneasy and shifted uncomfortably in the seat I was placed in earlier by one of his goons. "I thought we could catch up. You know, make sure you stay away from Riley."

"I have stayed away from Riley... I..." Should I divulge that I am seeing someone else? Then I thought, if I let anything out, that I would put Jamie in further danger and I am not having her life put at risk, not for me.

"That isn't entirely true now is it, Chris?" I looked at him and met his eyes. I have no clue what he is getting at. "You were seen talking to her at a club a few months ago." Months? Is that how long I've been gone, fuck.

"She approached me; I was there minding my own business. Ron, I want nothing more to do with Riley, I really don't." I knew I sounded desperate, that I was pleading with him, but I didn't care. I have profoundly moved on from my past, away from Riley and have something amazing with Jamie. Suddenly the door opened and one of his goons spoke into Ron's ear. He nodded his head and then looked at me. "It looks as though my daughter has got herself into a spot of bother at the diner you work in." My heart felt as though it had stopped beating when I heard that. "Your precious girlfriend was involved in it." Fuck. Jamie, what have you done?

***

Jamie

"I honestly have no idea where she is." Either this Riley woman was a brilliant liar, which we already knew about, or she's being honest, and I can't work out what is going on.

"You better not be lying to me, or so help me god..."

"I'm not, I swear. I have no idea where she is. At least tell me what is going on? Maybe I can help?"

"Help? You fucking screwed her over to begin with." Riley's eyes dropped down to the floor and she nodded her head. She knew what I was getting at and despite being fuelled by my rage, I will not out her to her friends, especially if they know nothing of her past or what she has done.

"I know. But please, tell me what's going on." She motioned me to sit at the table with her and Trev joined us, and we sat staring each other out.

"Since we have already established that you know the start of her downfall, you need to be brought up to speed and any information you have, no matter how irrelevant it may seem to you, please say something and we will take it from there." Riley nodded her head at Trev, looked at her friends to ensure them that she is fine and returned her gaze to both Trev and me.

Trev gave Riley some information; I knew he was withholding a lot from her for safety reasons and when he mentioned roses being left on the doorstep, I thought I seen a flicker of recognition, but it was only slight, but I then became doubtful that I had noticed it. Despite the information Trev fed Riley, she was about as much use as a chocolate teapot. When she left, I let out a frustrated groan and Trev patted me on my shoulder. "Don't worry Jamie, she will start looking. Her body language was completely off when I was feeding her information. Hopefully, someone will slip up soon and we will find her."

"I hope so Trev, the not knowing, it's slowly killing me." A clearing of a throat brought us out of conversation, and we looked up to see Ronnie. "Hey Ronnie."

"Sorry to bother you both, but I thought I'd hand over your laptop and things, too many people in the diner now for me to safeguard it."

"Thanks Ronnie."

"For what it's worth Jamie, Ty is a strong woman. Whatever she is going through right now, she will do her best to make her way back to you. I know we didn't exactly get off on the right foot in the beginning, but we have become good colleagues and she is incredible person. Keep the faith." I looked at Ronnie and nodded my head, hoping the sincerity in my eyes spoke volumes so that I didn't have to open my mouth and I know that my voice would betray me.

"We have people watching you Jamie, so you know. I have no doubt what happened tonight will make its way back out into the community. Despite the fucked-up crap that Riley has pulled the past few years, her Dad always has her back."

"Do you think he's behind this?"

"Unsure. He has been out of the country for a few months now and we can't link him to anything just yet, we just need to bide our time." I groaned. Time? They've had months so far and it is showing no signs of ending.

***

Riley

I am beyond fuming. I have never been grabbed like that by anyone in my life and Jamie was lucky that I wasn't out with my other set of friends or she would have had her ass kicked big style. But the evening was informative. Chris is missing, has been for some time and they seem to think it's an abduction of some sort. My insides churned when the calling card was mentioned, it sounded like something my father would do, but he hasn't been in the country for some time now, so unsure if he is behind this at all.

I will hold my hands up, I made a colossal mistake doing what I had done to Chris and if I could turn back time, I wouldn't do it. I destroyed her life, my own in the process and inevitably shoving myself back into the closet to where my father is concerned. Then came along Nettie. She was amazing and yet again, my father caught us in a comprising position and history started to repeat itself, but I managed to put a stop to Nettie having the same fate as Chris.

Now all I have to do is work out if my father is behind this, or not.