𝐀 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 (𝐛𝐱𝐛)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕 - 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

David's POV

"Did you guys get anything out of the staff at the coffee shop?", I ask the twins.

"Yes, we found out that the guys who took Ash have some kind of gang tattoo. It's the letter A with roses around it.
Does that seem familiar?, Jack speaks.

"No not really.", I answer. "Do you have any idea?", I asks Regina but she shakes her head no.

"Wait.", I hear Vincent say next to me.

"It was an A with roses around it. I have an idea who it could be. And if it's him we have a big problem.", Vincent's says to me.

"Who is it?", I ask, glad that we have some kind of lead.

"Well I think it's Paul Williams, but I'm sure he changed his name. To make it short you parents, Paul and I were best friends.
Later he met his wife Annabelle and we all got along quiet nicely.  But one day Annabelle was murdered.
Ethan found her in their house, she was already dead. He took the knife out of her abdomen and just in that moment Paul came in.

He assumed the worst and was absolutely determined that Ethan killed her, so he wanted to shoot him.
Luckily I could stop him , by knocking him out. I'm not proud of what we did next.
We left everything behind, moved to different countries so he wouldn't find us.", Vincent finishes the story with a sigh.

"So you want to tell me that our little brother was kidnapped because of some damn misunderstanding that has absolutely nothing to do with us?!", Cole exclaims angrily.

"Cole, calm down. We can't change the past.
It is, what it is. We have to concentrate on finding Ash.", I speak in an authoritative voice.

Cole just huffs but calms down a bit. "Wait, did you say his name was Paul?", Elijah says looking at Nick and Tyler.

I see their eyes widen and Nick clasp a hand over his mouth.

"You don't think...", he doesn't finish his sentence but Elijah nods.

"What son?", Vincent asks.

"The new guy at our school Levi Bennett.
After the party in the morning, his dad came home.
He introduced himself as Paul Bennett. This can't be a coincidence.", Elijah says  looking at all of us.

"But Levi is our friend...", Nick speaks in a small whisper.

"Maybe he tricked us, so he could get to Ash.", Tyler says in a low voice putting his hand on Nick's shoulder.

"It has to be him. He named his son Levi. But after all these years...", I look at Vincent.

"Do you have any clue where he could be or where he could have taken Ash?", I ask him.

"No I'm sorry. We completely cut ourselves off. After a few years we tried to locate him but without results."

"What about his house?", Jack asks, looking hopeful.

"Sorry to break it to you dear, but only a complete fool would go back to his own house and if I'm right about this Paul he seems like a smart man.", Regina answers.

"She is right. They probably won't be there.", I reply with sigh.

"What if we call Levi?", Nick asks in a quiet voice, "Maybe he wasn't part of this."

"Nick I don't think-..", Tom tries to say but Nick interrupts him.

"NO! I won't believe that our new friend could do something like this.
Maybe you think I'm naive for thinking this but..but..", he starts sobbing and runs out of the room.