Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

28. Method to Madness

"This is it." Niall said, pointing to a thin, tall townhouse on a cobblestone street in Gordes, France.

"Are you sure?"

"Yea, when I called the PI he said this was definitely the address." He said as we stood side by side, staring at the house.

"Well..." I said, starting up the steps and Niall followed. When I reached the door I glanced back at him and knocked a few times, my fist firm on the door, but there was no answer. "Check through the window." I ordered and Niall climbed down the steps and hopped up to peek through the window.

"It's empty," he said, glancing at me, "Totally cleared out." I narrowed my eyes and furrow my brow and knocked again.

"I thought you said this was it, for sure."

"I don't know man..." I knocked one last time, then placed my hand on the handle. "Harry, that's a terrible idea." Niall said, but I ignored him, turning it and pushing the door open.

"It's open," I whispered, pushing it further.

"I see that," Niall whispered back, rushing towards me. "Close it and let's go, no one lives here."

"I just want to see..." I said, stepping through the front door and Niall followed, shaking his head slowly. We walked through, the old hard wood floorboards creaking under our feet. "It's totally deserted..."

"We should really go..." Niall said as I ignored him, venturing all the way into the house. "Harry seriously, I'm getting the creeps."

"Come in here." I called from the kitchen, opening and closing the cupboards to check for dishes, food...anything that would indicate that someone lived here, but came up with nothing.

"Harry," Niall said from across the room at a large kitchen bulletin board with a calendar attached to it, a strange thing to have in an otherwise empty house. "It just has a bunch of open house dates, and moving day is labeled up here," He said, pointing to a day just over three week prior to today's date. All of it was in Tori's writing.

"Niall, what time is it?" I asked, staring at today's date.

"Just past three pm."

"Shit," I said, pointing at Tori's writing on the small square for today, 'Real Estate Agent, 3 pm' it read in her loopy script. As Niall and I exchanged a glance we heard the front door creaked open.

"It's in really good condition," A voice came from the entryway, a voice that I recognized and that I was not expecting. "All original hardwood floors, it just didn't work out for the family."

"What the fuck," Niall mouthed as he pulled me down behind the counter so that we were both crouching out of view.

"Come on in, we'll start in the kitchen." My large hand was on Nialls mouth and he watched me through wide eyes as footsteps grew closer. When they stopped on the other side of the large island table in the middle of the kitchen I popped up to my feet, my eye's meeting Liams in a deadlock stare.

"Liam?" I said, my heart rising to my throat.

"Harry?" He said, absolute and total shock covering his features. "What the fuck are you doing here." As he spoke, Niall popped up beside me.

"I'd like to as you the same damn question." I demanded, crossing my arms. Liam turned to the man beside him dressing in a suit with a camera in his hand.

"I'm so sorry, I have to deal with this, and we'll have to do this another time."

"Of course, Monsieur," The man said, nodding and tucking his camera into his suit pocket.

"Deal with this?" I said, "You mean explain exactly why you're showing a real estate agent the house that my private investigator dug up to be Tori's ?"

"Technically, it's Tanners," Liam said before shaking his head. "Why are you here? When I spoke to Matt he said that you were made to stay in the hospital."

"Yea for seventy-two hours, that was days ago..." I spat, "Thanks for coming by the way."

"I'm sorry, it's not my fault you overdosed on cocaine like a fucking idiot and landed yourself in the damn hospital."

"No, maybe not, but you still haven't explained why you're here when the person who's fault it is that I landed myself in the hospital isn't."

"That is not Tori's fault either, you are responsible for your actions and you need help, you-"

"Why are you here?" Niall asked, clearly tired of our bickering.

"I'm selling this house," He said surreptitiously, crossing his arms mimicking my stance.

"Why? Did Tanner call you?"

"No."

"Then how did you..." Niall stopped and stared at Liam, his mouth slightly agape. "Did you know where she was all along?" He asked and my eyes slip from him to Liam, my skin prickling with anger.

"It's a long story," Liam replied, swallowing hard.

"We have time." Niall and I said in unison.

"Have you been upstairs?" Liam asked, his eyes closing slowly, then opening, revealing how exhausted he really was. I wondered why.

"No offense but I'm not interested in a house tour especially from someone who is harboring fugitives."

"Jesus, I was just asking," he said, his arms dropping to his sides in defeat. "Yes I've known and I bought Victoria a house here for her and..."

"Her and Tanner?" Niall interrupted and Liam sighed

"Yes, kind of, he's sort of helping her with some stuff and he helped her leave, if there's anyone you should be mad at it's him mate, I'm just keeping her safe and doing what she says she wants."

"Don't try to act like you're doing the right thing. While I've been at home obsessing over her, writing her songs, searching for her around the fucking world you've been helping her shack up with some guy-"

"Enough." Niall shouted, and I stopped speaking, startled by his outburst. "Where is she, Liam."

"Nice."

"So take us there," I said, glancing at Niall who nodded.

"We need her for the trial against Hope," Niall added.

"I don't know if it's that easy," he said, pulling his phone out. "Let me just call her."

"Absolutely not." I snapped, shaking my head. "And give her the chance to run again? No way."

"Fine, but I have no idea how this is going to go..." he began then pursed his lips. "Harry, mate, there's something you should know."

"No, you can tell me whatever you want when we get there, you're not allowed to speak again until we are at her front door. Now march." I said, pointing to the front door.

"No, Harry, I'm serious." Liam pushed but Niall swatted his arm.

"You heard the man, move." He said, pushing Liam out the front door and down to our rented SUV.

"Fine," Liam huffed, "She's a fucking mess, mate. So don't say I didn't warn you when your entire world gets turned upside down."