A Priest's Deadly Obsession

Chapter 38 - In His Lovers Arms

Rohan sat in his home office blankly staring at a photo of his niece when she was five back in the U.K. She was outside in the gardens of her old house, covered in dirt from playing around. She was holding a purple ball in her hands when the photo was taken.

I am so sorry...he held the frame in a tight grip as he prayed to his niece.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock.

"Sir, there's a detective at the front door." Diana called out to him.

Rohan put the frame down and stood up abruptly. The past few times the detective had called merely to inform a lack of evidence but this time he had shown himself at his home; a wave of dread swept over him.

The last thing he wanted to hear was that they found a body and wanted him to identify it.

Still, Rohan braced himself and went to meet the detective at the entrance of the foyer, his team was behind him in their cars.

"Evening," he said solemnly.

Rohan nodded, "What can I do for you?"

The detective  looked him in the eyes, "We have received a call from one of the nearby airports. It appears Mr. Satti...your niece's father has been detained."

Rohan's eyes widened, "And Elizabeth..? Is she with him?"

But the detective merely shook his head, "No he was alone traveling into the country. We have him in a holding cell and would like you to come with us,"

Without much else to say Rohan climbed into one of their cars and drove off to see his brother. His mind swirled with thoughts.

Did his brother have anything to do with this? If not then why was he here?

If he is innocent...how will he break the news that his only daughter is missing?

Rohan's knees couldn't help but bounce inside the back of the detectives cars all the way to the station.

*******************

Elizabeth and James woke up to the smell of coffee. Albert had emerged from his room, and brewed himself a cup.

James lifted his eyes towards him and glared at Albert, but the young man merely drank from the hot cup unfazed.

Elizabeth groaned slightly, her body still ached but more and more the paleness in her skin was diminishing.

James brushed the hair from her face and checked for any bruising but she did not appear to have any.

"Good morning my Elizabeth," he smiled at her gently, giving Albert that sickening feeling in his stomach. "Are you feeling better ? Does anything hurt ?"

Elizabeth clutched onto the blanket around her tightly as it was her sole protection from either of them.

She shook her head and mutter a simple no.

"Good, I'm glad." James moved in on her and kissed her forehead, as he did so his eyes wondered over to Albert who was gripping his cup so tightly had it been plastic it would have imploded.

James got up and approached Albert but instead of talking to him he just passed him and went straight to the kitchen counter.

Insulted Albert sneered, "so you're not going to talk to me? You're just going to pretend I don't exist ?"

Elizabeth turned her heard to the surprising commotion, her eyes twinkled at both men.

James did not look at Albert who was at this point fuming with anger.