Wrongfully Claimed

Chapter Thirty-Two

With apprehension building in her chest, Aurora lay there, waiting to hear what the officer was going to tell her, fearing his next words - already knowing what they were going to be.

After a few seconds, he took in a deep breath and finally gave her the answer she'd been dreading to hear since he walked in here.

"I am sorry, miss," he said, with a strained expression on his face, after finally meeting her gaze." I really don't know how to tell you this given the unfortunate circumstances of your situation, but it looks like Ryder got away once again. Our men searched the entire house after you were brought here and we found no trace of him anywhere. We did manage to track down some of the others, but Ryder, unfortunately, was gone by the time we got there."

Aurora's mouth gaped open, uncertain whether she wanted to breathe or scream, as another wave of emotions came flooding through her, hitting her, like a tsunami.

The only thing her mind could register at this point was that Ryder escaped and her hopes of ever being able to have a normal life had deteriorated the second the officer told her the disheartening news.

The way he made it sound, was as if Ryder disappearing had been the most normal thing in the world, like he almost predicted this was going to happen. She guessed this was due to his notorious track record of ducking and diving from the police for all these years.

Still, it made no logical sense to her how Ryder could have fled the house, without getting caught, considering he could barely move after getting the crap beaten out of him from Christian and his men.

"I don't understand," she stammered, hoping he would elaborate. " How could he have possibly gotten away? The whole place was surrounded by police before I left. After I watched those two other men get arrested, surely they went into the house and found him. He was badly wounded, so how is this possible? Please tell me, because I just don't get it."

The officer gave an infinitesimal pause. "Look, Aurora, I know it must be a terrible shock to you," he said, leaning towards her, with his eyes directed at the floor. " But like I said this is nothing new when it comes to Ryder pulling stunts like this."

That still doesn't answer my question," Aurora countered, refusing to accept what she was hearing." You make it sound like he's fucking Houdini or something. He was badly injured before, I left there. How the hell could he have gotten away when he could barely walk, let alone dodge an entire police force?"

The officer's eyebrows rose in a surprised arc as he moved back in his seat, startled by her harsh tone.

"I am sorry," she mumbled, feeling terrible for snapping at him when she knew he was only just trying to help her. "I just want to know what's going on. Please explain to me how he could have escaped when there was no possible way, he could have gotten out of that house without anyone noticing?"

" You see, miss, " the officer cut in, pulling out a large black folder that she presumed was Ryder's case file containing all the heinous crimes he committed," Ryder has been a wanted man in these parts for a heck of a long time. We have been trying to track him down for years and every time we think we finally have caught him, he manages to escape - without a trace. It's all in this file. He covers his tracks well - better than any rapist, wanted murderer I have ever come across. "

"How so?" Aurora asked, her stomach contracting in a tight ball, while she lay there, trying to make sense of this all." How do you think he does it? With the help of someone, maybe?"

The officer shrugged. " Unfortunately I don't know the answer to that, miss. All I know is he's a professional at what he does and having a famous country singer as a brother only makes it so much easier for him to lure in these girls, which is why I need your help. I know this is asking a lot from you, but I am going to need you to work with me on this if you want to end his reign of terror and finally put this monster behind bars where he belongs."