Awake, My Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 33

Hours passed before Heaven and Sebastian heard any news from the police. They, along with Ricardo, Susie, Leo, Gracie, and Don Guido, were all seated in the living room waiting anxiously when Officer Bracket arrived.

"Officer, did you arrest her?" Sebastian asked him. Bracket frowned and shook his head.

"I'm sorry but I'm afraid Esther Black has fled," he replied. His answer set a chill over everyone like a cold blanket. "My men and I stayed at the home waiting all day and she hasn't returned. There are various empty hangers in the closet of her bedroom and even the house is empty."

"Empty?" Sebastian asked with a puzzled look, "What about the maids? What about the head butler, Arnold?"

"They weren't there," Bracket said, "It's as if Esther had let them all go and moved out."

"But some of her clothes are still there, right?" Heaven asked him.

"Some, but not all. Like I said, there were lots of empty hangers hanging in the closet. My guess is that she packed a few days worth of clothes and left."

"That's not a surprise," Susie said with guilt, "I'm so stupid for opening my mouth! If I'd kept my trap shut and not said anything about the diary and Ricardo's recording she would have been arrested a long time ago."

"Don't beat yourself up, Suze," Heaven sighed, "They have to find her. You will find her, right Officer?"

"I don't think it's possible that she's gotten that far being that she's only had a few hours," Bracket said, "Either way, I'm going to alert all airports and cops to keep an eye out for her."

"Thank you," Sebastian nodded and opened the door for the officer.

After Officer Bracket left, Susie looked at Heaven worriedly.

"Heaven, I'm a little nervous," she said, "Esther had this crazy look on her face."

"If she's smart she won't come back here again," Heaven assured her friend, "She already knows the police is coming after her. She'd have to be stupid to come back here."

"Or just determined to get back at the both of you for taking the diary from her and handing it over to the police," Leo said grimly. "At this point she might be so blinded by rage that she's probably not thinking about the consequences."

Sebastian and Heaven looked at one another.

"I think we should just stay put," Don Guido suggested, "None of us should go out until we have word that she's arrested or at least out of town."

"This is ridiculous," Gracie barked, "Now we're supposed to live cooped up inside out of fear because of that nut job? No way!"

"Gracie, she killed Sebastian and Leo's father!" Susie said to her grandmother. "We need to be very careful."

"Susie's right," Sebastian said, "Who knows how Esther might react when she sees herself backed up into a corner."

Heaven frowned, hating the conversation they were having; the way they spoke about Esther. She wished she could have seen something earlier and offered Esther the help she needed. Ricardo pulled her out of her thoughts when he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm going home," Ricardo said to her. Heaven blinked and turned to him. She smiled and gave him a hug.

"Thanks for all your help," she said to him, "Come on, I'll walk you out."