Pretty Wings (Paul Walker)

Ch. 16

The next few weeks for Hanna went by in a blur. She'd tried her best to solider on, but it wasn't that easy. The only thing that kept her going was Paulie and Cara, who was set to make her arrival any day now. Walking by the room that she once shared with Paul, she sighed before opening the door. There were so many memories in this room and she found herself smiling. Everything was just as they'd left it. Walking over to the drawer that held Paul's clothes she opened it and inhaled his scent.

"I'm going to find out who did this to you Paul. That's a promise," she said closing up the drawer and walking out of the room.

***

Kori flipped through the camera angles and was starting to grow impatient.

"There is nothing going on," she said turning to Vanessa.

"Give it time. I'm sure that she'll be back soon."

"She knows something Vanessa, I know she does."

"If I have to tell you one more time that she doesn't know anything," Vanessa said rolling her eyes.

"Did you know that she hasn't been home in three weeks?"

Vanessa stopped what she was doing and practically ran over to the computer monitor. She flipped through every single room and saw that everything was in its place neatly.

"Fuck," Vanessa said hitting the computer as she hurriedly grabbed her keys.

"Believe me now," Kori sighed as followed Vanessa out of the house.

"Shut up and get in the car."

***

Hanna had just put Paulie down for his nap when there was a knock on the door. Jumping, she grabbed a knife before looking the peephole and relaxing when she saw it was Cody.

"Hey sis," he said.

"Hey come in."

She put the knife back in its holder and he chuckled.

"You were going to stab me after I brought you pizza?"

"I'm just being cautious. Someone is after me."

Cody looked around the place.

"Where is Paulie?"

"Nap," she said sliding the pizza box over to her and grabbing two slices. "Your niece and I thank you."

"How is she doing in there anyway?"

"Good."

"Thought of a name yet?"

"Actually Paul and I agreed to name our daughter Cara Elizabeth."

"Pretty name."

"Yea it is. When I was pregnant with Paulie, he looked up names on his own and found out that Cara meant beloved one and Elizabeth meant God's promise. He wanted Paulie to be a girl so badly because he couldn't wait to spoil her," Hanna said as she fought to hold back her tears.

"Hey, she may not have Paul but she has her uncles who I'm sure will spoil her rotten. Just like Paul wanted," he said hugging her.

"Thanks Cody," she said smiling up at him.

"Mom is worried about you."

"I know I've been meaning to call her back and let her know where I am, but I haven't had the time."

Cody nodded his head.

"You're not going through this alone. You do know that right?"

"Yes I do, but sometimes it feels that way."

"You look tired."

"That's because I am. If I'm not in Paulie's room watching him sleep, I stay awake all night wondering how things spiraled out of control."

"This isn't the movies, doll."

Hanna paused mid bit and looked up at Cody-ready to ask him questions- but he was already out the door and headed to his car by the time she'd gotten over her initial shock. Sliding down on the floor, she sighed. That was the exact same thing Paul said before he'd been killed.

***

Vanessa looked around carefully before she broke into her daughter's home.

"What are we looking for?"

"Anything that could give us a clue to where she is."

"What would that be?"

"I don't know something that reminds her of Paul."

Kori took a long around the place and suddenly remembered why she had gotten involved with Vanessa. She hated Hanna and the way that she had managed to get a baby, house, and ring from him. She couldn't understand what was so special about an underage girl when she could have given Paul the very same thing Hanna had.

"I can't think of anything because he never did any of this for me."

Vanessa looked back at Kori and smirked. This was how she'd gotten her to do her work the last time.

"Hey, don't cry. It's ok. Just use this as fuel to the fire. I told you how she treated me during her teenage years."

Kori smiled sadly and wiped at her eyes.

"Let's get to work."

Vanessa smiled clearly satisfied with herself. Kori didn't understand just how evil Vanessa really was, but what neither woman understood was how much Hanna and Paul loved each other, and she was about to go through hell and high water to bring the truth to the forefront.