Written in the Rockstars (Completed)

Chapter 11- The Search

I entered the kitchen,  where Jack was chewing his fingernails nervously.

" What happened? " He asked.

" Abbey's got mum, " I replied distantly.

"Oh my god," he blasphemed, placing his head in his hands.

" She was going to tell me something and then she started screaming and crying "Help" and then she said "Abb" before the line went dead, " I blurted in one breath.

" Abb?"

" She was obviously cut off!  She was going to say Abbey! " I explained.

" What the heck, Annabel?  You're relying on the fact that you thought you heard your mum say "Abb", meaning Abbey?" Jack exclaimed.

“ Yes, Jack. The thing that you're kinda missing here is that my mum has been hurt or kidnapped by someone,  most likely Abbey, " I snapped.

" Whoa! Annabel! I'm not the enemy here.  Don't you dare take it out on me!" He shouted viciously.

My eyes began to prickle with tears and I flounced out of the kitchen, allowing them to spill over my cheeks. I grabbed my jacket and shrugged it on.

"Where're you going? "

"That's irrelevant," I growled.

I leaned over to open the door but Jack grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

"Annabel. Where. Are. You. Going? " he whispered with a warning tone.

" Don't try to intimidate me, Jack.  It won't work.  I'm going to search for my mum and I'm going to do it alone, " I hissed.

He released my wrist and placed his hands around my waist.

" Get off, " I snapped, trying to pull away.

He placed a finger under my chin and raised it so that our eyes locked. He pressed his lips to mine.

" I love you,  Annabel. I'm coming with you because I'm never going to lose you again, " he whispered against my ear.

I rested my head against his shoulder and began to sob.  He stroked my hair and held me tight.

" You ready? " he asked softly after what felt like an eternity.

I nodded and rubbed my eyes.

We climbed into my car but I let Jack drive. We tootled along the road in complete silence until Jack switched the radio on.  I glanced at it and switched it off without a word.

" What did you do that for? "

" I like the silence.  I can think, " I replied quietly.

" About what? " Jack asked tentatively.

" About what Abbey's doing with mum."

Jack sighed. " Annabel.  You can't go throwing accusations around."

" When mum said "Abb", can you think of what she would be trying to say? Something other than the obvious? " I said angrily.

" Annabel-"

" No, " I interrupted,  " You're struggling. If mum was screaming for help I don't think she would be asking me to record 'ABsolutely Fabulous', do you? "

" I get that, okay?  But you could have misheard her or. .. whatever.  Just deal with the fact she's been kidnapped before you think about the kidnapper, " he advised.

" Why are you so desperate for her to be innocent?" I muttered.

" Have you heard yourself? " Jack said incredulously,  "I hate every damned bone in Abbey Malone's damned body! "

" Right then."

We travelled in an angry silence until Jack stopped the car in front of mum's house. Lucy was at university in Manchester,  so she wouldn't be at home until the Easter break.  Mum was the perfect target.  Alone,  not getting any younger and vulnerable.

" What's that? " Jack squinted at the door.

I followed his gaze and saw what looked like a white sheet of a paper stuck to the front door.

"I'm not sure, " I murmured.

I got out of the car and jogged up the driveway,  towards the front door.  There was a sheet of folded paper stuck to the door.  On the front, in a thin, spidery sprawl, was 'Annabel'.

I unfolded the paper:

If you want your precious Mummy back,  then you're going to have to find her.  I hope you like treasure hunts, I know I do.  Attached are some instructions.

I'll be waiting.

A x

"Jack! " I called,  rereading the note over and over again.

"What is it? "

I handed it to him and he read it,  furrowing his brow.

" A?" He said,  clearly confused

" For crying out loud!  ABBEY! "

" Annabel,  it could be..." he faltered

"Could be...? Please I'd love to hear your theory! " I said sarcastically.

" Maybe I don't know.  But that doesn't mean it's Abbey, " he shrugged.

I set my jaw and turned away from him. I found the instructions for finding mum and read through them.

"Okay. So, it says-"

" Annabel, " Jack interrupted, " Are you really going to go through with this? "

" Why wouldn't I?" I asked.

" The easiest thing to do would be to call the police, " he offered.

" The police take too long.  Plus,  mum might get hurt if Abbey finds out that we've told the police, " I said.

" You don't know what you're doing. You might get hurt," Jack protested.

" I can look after myself.  I'm more worried about mum, " I told him stubbornly.

He hesitated before saying,  "Okay then. Where do we start? "

"You don't have to come."

"I know.  But I am, " he answered.

Here goes nothing.