Can't Outrun The Past {Book 3}

Chapter 16: I'm Innocent

*Noah's POV*

Let me recap what's happened in the last couple of hours. Nancy, Ellis, and I were captured and tricked by Janna's psycho twin Jemma, and taken to some fancy flat in God knows where. We were immediately taken to some basement like cellar. There is where we've stayed for the past hour, but a tall blonde by the name of Grace came to get us a few minutes ago. She said we were going to meet the big boss. One funny thing happened, however, Grace patted Ellis' head like a dog and straight afterwards tried to pick her up. When she tried to carry Ellis, Lis bit her in between the thumb and index finger, making the blond let go of her and say a few colorful words, as well.
Grace was one of those people you automatically didn't like. She just had that Regina George personality. The better and pretty than anyone else act. She seemed so sure of herself. It was written all over her, from her perfectly curled hair to her overkill matching outfit. "So," Grace dragged out the word for way too long. "Are you excited to meet Jas?" She queried.
Seriously has this chick's hairspray fried her brain? We weren't here for a tea party. We were kidnapped.
Nancy laughed from behind me, Ellis snuggled in her arms. "I'm not sure if you are aware of this, lady, but we aren't here for a social visit. We're being held against our will." Nancy quipped sarcastically. "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that." Grace frowned by smiled again quickly, shrugging as she did so. "Anyways, this way." She threw open the doors to an office.
"How the holy heck did this priss survive prison?" I whispered to Nancy.
Nancy shrugged as Ellis giggled softly and reached out for me.
I took her into my arms and walked into the room. A slender, lanky man sat propped on a huge wooden desk. The man had dark hair and eyes to match. He glanced up at us as the door slammed.
I stopped dead in my tracts. Ellis seemed to notice my breath hitch because she tightened her hold around my neck.
There sat the man who had haunted my dreams for the past several months. The man who I watched kill my mother over and over again. The man who made me watch as he killed Connor night after night in a different new way.
Here he was sitting there as cool as could be, even smiling up at us.
He was saying something to Grace, but all I could here was static. It's like I knew they were talking, but they were far way or in a well.
The man got up off the table and walked over to me. He touched Ellis' arm, to which I immediately flinched away from him.
"Don't touch her!" I proclaimed, my voice betraying how I really felt. It came out smooth and clear where as I was falling apart on the inside.
"Now, Noah, I wouldn't hurt her or you." He said calmly. "I just wanted to know my nieces is all."
"Un-Uncle Jas-Jasper?" I stuttered, finally realizing that when we were dead it would be my fault.
He knew where we were due to me. He was probably tracing the phone call as we spoke ealier.
How could I have been so stupid?!
"That would be me." Jasper brushed my cheek, something I was used to Uncle Alex doing when I was little. "It's good to see you again, Noah."

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*Ellie's POV*

"Connor. Connor, slow down. I can't understand a sord you're saying." Connor had rung a few seconds ago and was talking at a mile a minute.
"I said," Connor took a deep breath. "Noah, Nancy, and Ellis are gone. They've just disappeared." He sound frantic.
"What?" I demanded. "Why? How? Con, I swear if you're joking," I said a little louder than I'd meant to because Jerica's head jerked up. 'What's wrong?' She mouthed.
I shook my head. 'Later'
"Wait, Ellis is with my mum." I concluded.
"Grandma dropped her off an hour or so ago, and Noah stayed with her while we went to get food." Connor explained.
"You weren't suppose to leave the house." I didn't plan on yelling at him for breaking the rules, and all he is my child.
"I know, but none of us cook and Kenny's is open all the time." He sounded upset, worse than when the conversation started.
"Listen, Connor, I'm sure Noah and Nancy just went for a walk. Or maybe they're playing a trick on you." I assured him. "Listen I've got to go a man just walked in. Love you, bye." I hung up the phone without another word. Probably not the best Mum thing to do, but a policeman had just entered the flat.
"I was told I could find a Miss Eleanor Hendrixs here." He stated, looking around Jack's flat at all of us.
I stood and walked toward him. "That'd be me, officer." I said with a smile. "What can I do for ya?"
"Your stepfather Jackson Jones was just found dead in a hotel." He said calmly.
"H-How?" I stumbled out, suddenly at a loss for words.
I know I hated the man with every fiber of my body, but the news still stung to hear.
"His throat was cut open, he bled out." He paused. "The coroner confirmed the time of death Tueday at around two am."
"That's awful." I shook my head, trying to prevent the tears from falling.
"The real reason I'm here, Miss Hendrixs, is I want to know where you were at that time." He sighed.
He thinks I killed JJ? Oh, come on! What else you wanna throw at me universe?
"I don't know," I tried to think back. "My..... My daughter has terrible nightmares so I was probably up with her. That was the night before we came here."
"Which is what makes you look suspicious, ma'am." The officer said. "It's a well known fact that you and your stepfather don't have a good relationship. Some would even say you hated each other."
"But I wouldn't kill him!" I sighed.
"Quite a few people can witness you threatened to kill him twice. Plus with your record, miss."
"I was seventeen." I declared. "I was upset about something I'd seen. I wouldn't kill Jackson."
It was the truth, no matter what he'd done to me-and he'd done plenty-I wouldn't murder him. I'm not that stupid. I have kids to worry about.
"Unless you can tell me exactly what you were doing at the time." The policeman paused. "I'm going to have to take you in."
"Like I said my daughter suffers horrid nightmares. I was with her." I held out my wrists. "But I'll gladly go with you to the station, my brother-in-law's the chief."
"There's no need to cuff you," he laughed. "Just follow me."
I glanced back at Jack and Jerica. "Watch after the kids, will ya?" I winked and blew a kiss. "I'll be back soon."

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Dedicated to Nilli because she's leaving again, and by the time she gets back this book will be done. Love ya guys - Izzy