Stolen (Sequel To Capture)

Four

The growing sound of snoring loomed around me as I looked over to see Niall slumped over in his chair head drooped. I sat back cracking my neck and back against my hard wooden seat back. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't help thinking that Emma was too.

We had been pouring over all the texts and emails she had sent in the past few months and attempted to track her phone which of course turned up nothing. Each passing minute brought more fear and anger.

Harry sat in the corner looking at security footage from the hotel trying to track Emma's movements from the day. Nothing was turning up.

I couldn't shake the worst fear in me that she was in trouble. She wouldn't have just run like Harry loved to remind me of at any chance he got. We were back in London, the danger of my past was a real threat, it was all I could do to not race out the door and search out Trey myself. I glanced back over to Niall who was still sleeping, drool beginning to pool out on the table where his head had landed.

This was getting us no where, I wasn't certain if Trey was involved but there was no doubt he would know who was. Maybe seeking him out wasn't such a terrible idea. Looking back to Harry who was hunched over his laptop still I was temped to get up and walk out, Harry wouldn't stop me, he hated me and Niall was sound asleep.

I stared at Harry for a moment contemplating what to do next when my pocket began to buzz. Shoving my hand in my jeans I yanked loose the cell phone and answered it quickly not bothering to look at the ID. "Emma?"

Harry looked up at me. I spoke so frantically, like a yelp of concern breaking free, Niall even jumped awake.

"So it is true then?" She asked me. I felt my hope fade as I realized I wasnt speaking to Emma but rather her best friend Casey. "She's missing?" She sounded as concerned as I felt.

"Hey Case." I sighed at the sound of her voice. She was a sliver of relief to me. "Yea, but im sure she is fine." I lied.

"Don't bullshit me Payne!" Casey growled harshly through the phone. I smiled despited her jaded tone, when we first met Casey, as best friends do, put me through the ringer to determine if I was good enough for Emma. For the first year I'd known her she only addressed me with my sir name, until one day I told her I didn't think I was good enough for Emma, from that day forward she accepted me and adopted my first name as part of her vocabulary. "You are looking for her right?" She pressed.

"Of course I am." I assured her. "How did you find out?" I asked.

"Zayn can't lie worth shit." She swore making me smile again. "Isn't that literally his job? To lie, hide and protect people?"

"He's out of practice Case."

The call went quiet, neither of us knowing what to say to each other. Normally silence was uncomfortable for me, but with Casey I found it surprisingly comforting to just know she was there, feeling the same fear and worry I felt, like a friend sharing the burden, no words just the understanding that this was a terrible situation to be in alone.

"Have you spoken to her parents yet?" She asked finally breaking our silence.

"I can't. Not yet. What would I tell them?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll talk to them soon enough."

"No, it should be me, I should tell them." I interrupted. "I just can't do it yet, I can't until I know something."

"They need to know Liam." Casey whispered.

"Honestly, I've tried calling them now about ten times but the thought of Janie answering, Emma sounds just like her over the phone you know?"