In The Dark

Chapter 4

Today Mason had to go to work. Because my family caused so much trouble, they're not allowed to come see me so I can't ask them to bring my phone. And for some reason Joseph hasn't been back so I can't ask him either. This means I have no way of passing the time or talking to Mason. I tried to be strong when he left because I know he could probably get fired if he took too much time off but I'm scared now that he's gone. Mason has been my rock since he saved me and I don't know how to be alone anymore. I decide to try to pass the time somehow. Turning the tv on I am shocked by the presence of a solemn Detective Sparks and a glaring Joseph walking into the police station. I turn the volume up.

"Sources have said that Joseph Barnes is suspected in the kidnapping of 22 year old Scarlett Jones." I drop the remote in shock. Nurses run in a flurry around me trying to calm me but I'm in a full blown panic attack. All I hear is thunder as my vision slowly blurs and I pass out.

When I wake up again Mason is sitting next to the bed holding my hand.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here sweetheart I saw the news. The hospital called about your panic attack. They said you were watching the news when it happened. Are you okay?" He says quickly and I start crying in relief that he's here. He rushes to pull me into a hug murmuring that it's okay.

Later that night he lets out a deep sigh, "Scarlett, I hate seeing you going through this, the doctor recommended you start talking to a shrink and I'm starting to agree. It's completely up to you though." Biting my lip I wring my hands together thinking it over.

"Okay." I say sadly.

"You know I'll be here when you need me right? I have to work occasionally but I can start doing most of it from my phone."

"What do you do?" I say trying to change the subject.

"I run a technology and surveillance company." I look at him abruptly.

"Like you own it? That's awesome! What's it like?" He smiles sheepishly and scratches the back of his neck.

"Well it's kind of like Private Investigators slash technological sales. I used to work as a P.I before I decided to open my own technology company and thought that since technology and being a P.I run hand in hand I merged and now I employ a company of 25 Private Investigators and sell specialized technology to others along with law enforcement."

"So you like monopolize the law industry?"
I laugh in amazement. "Doesn't employing Private Investigators defeat the purpose of them being Private?"

"Technically they're still private because they work on their own cases I just assign cases based on their skill set. We get more cases solved that way."

"Do you work on cases too?"

"Sometimes. I used to work on them constantly but it became difficult running a business like this and going around solving mysteries." He winks at me.

"What kind of cases have you worked on?" I ask curiously, I've always loved mysteries.

"Well I've had wives looking for mistresses and adopted children looking for parents but I've also consulted in police investigations."

"That's awesome what kind of investigations?" I say excited to learn so much about him.

He averts his gaze, "yours," he says quietly.

"Oh."

"I'm glad they asked me to help find you Scarlett," he says looking straight at me. I blush looking down at my hands. His large hand covers mine and I look up to see him smiling at me. Just then someone clears their throat and I look over to see a strange woman. She's wearing a skirt suit and looks extremely attractive. Embarrassed by how unattractive I look especially compared to her, I let my Chex mix blonde hair fall covering my face.

"Hello Scarlett my name is Dr. Amelia Gonzales I'm your psychologist." I glance at Mason and notice he's still staring at me even though there's a gorgeous women right beside me. I blush and let my hair cover me again. His hand comes up and tucks my hair behind my ear.

"Do you want me to tell her to go away?" He whispers softly. I shake my head and glance at her.

"I can do this." Squaring my shoulders and clenching my fist I attempt to look strong. She looks me over glancing slightly at Masons arms around me with a carefully blank face.

"What is your relationship with Miss Jones?"

"Mason saved me," I blurt out before he can say anything. "I want him to stay please."

Her blank look falls into a soft assuring smile. "That's okay Scarlett."

"Uh what am I supposed to do I've never talked to a shrink before," I say becoming nervous.

"Well I think we should take it slow so how about you just tell me about yourself today and we'll work on more another day okay." Relieved I nod and talk about how I dropped out of college, my childhood, hobbies anything that skirted around the incident.