Seacrets

chapter 6

Solène's head hangs down as she walks to Pichon closely followed by Adrien. She keeps glancing back at her friend heading alone in a different direction. Her stepfather is the assistant director of the federal investigative department over there. He would surely come with help.

They make their way back to town and her store under the cover of a gloomy sky. A shy ocean breeze welcomes them back. Solène's father is nowhere to be seen. She walks through the remnants of the break-in. They went through her belongings in the house and her father's shop. Even her late mother's defunct office space had been invaded.

-What if I actually ate their egg that morning?

-Would you go to all this trouble for a chicken egg? Let's just sleep here tonight and think this through tomorrow.

-My father isn't answering his phone. I think they may already have him.

-We'll find him when we find the egg.

They continue to talk through the night, though they had decided to rest a bit. Solène keeps on trying to clean and fix things. Adrien keeps going through things, ranting about not knowing what to look for.

Almost vomiting because of a smell of breath mints and cigarettes woke her up but her head was caught with a dark fabric bag. Strong arms seized Solène who had fallen asleep in her father's workshop. She struggles to get free. She kicks her feet out and about. His strength proved to be insurmountable. Dorsainvil's voice calls out to get her under control. A hit on the head renders Solène unconscious before she can free herself.

Her hands are bound behind her back when she comes to. She hears the sound of water running in the distance. People are talking somewhere close even though she can't make out what they are saying.

-Hello! ... Somebody help!

-Solène, is that you?

Her father's voice brought tears to her eyes. She wiggles herself into a seated position. With her knees, she manages to pull the bag off her head.

-Appa! Are you okay?

-I'll be fine.

The old man sat up against a ceramic wall across the room he was chained to. He looks as though their captors had battered him. The two snuggle together in the damp room. Henchmen then bring in Adrien. He thrashes around, giving them hell. He catches one on the chin and another one in the groin area before he is tased unconscious.

A figure calls for the man with the device they used on the bus as he approached.

-Dorsainvil, where is it?

-They brought it back with them, sir. We just need to know what it looks like.

A frail gentleman in a purple suit walks in. Everyone else in the room stiffens their stance.

So that's the man who has been hunting me, she thought. No wonder he sends goons to do his bidding. I could have whooped his derriere with one grand battement.

-It was in their store last night sir, she has it with her.

He scowled at her through his glasses.