Run Away

Chapter 37

"He has her," Evie mumbled aloud.

She wasn't saying it to anyone in particular, more just to herself. Confirming what she already knew, deep down.

Rocking back and forth on her heels, Evie tried to focus on her breathing, attempting to calm herself down.

It was useless. No matter what she did, someone would get hurt because of her. When she had arrived at the station with the police officers, she immediately declared that if she was going to cooperate then she needed to be able to remove herself from the Taylors. She wanted them safe and she wanted them to have police safety also. Detective Michaels had been all too accommodating and Evie now understood why; he already knew that Kelly was missing.

Muffled voices of anger and confusion filled the air and Evie opened her eyes and looked up. Brian was on his phone trying to call Sandra, Owen and Zane were shouting at the detective. The two officers and a few others had jumped in to hold them back, afraid they might get physical. Detective Michaels was trying his best to soothe the situation, which got more heated when Brian didn't get an answer from Sandra.

Mrs Wickens crouched down beside Evie, one arm around Evie's shoulders and the other hand gently rubbing Evie's arm in a consoling way. The feeling wasn't comforting, but more irritated her. She pushed Mrs Wickens away and stood up suddenly, holding onto the desk beside her to keep her balance as her head spun.

Owen stopped arguing with the detective when he noticed Evie was now standing and ashen faced, swaying slightly. Mrs Wickens was hovering over Evie, but Evie simply pushed her aside. She took two unsteady steps towards them, nearly falling over her own feet. It was obvious to Owen that she was on the brink of an anxiety attack; he had seen her suffer from them enough to know the signs.

In one swift movement, Owen was in front of her, his arms cradling her carefully so she wouldn't fall over.

"Are you okay?" Owen whispered to her, concerned.

"He has her," Evie murmured, finally looking up into his friendly blue eyes.

"Who?" Owen looked down at Evie trying to read her eyes his own etched with concern.

"We don't have time to argue about this. My daughter is missing!" Brian argued with the detective then turned to face Owen, "We need to get back home, now."

Owen nodded once in acknowledgment.

"Jimi, Carl," Detective Michaels barked at two officers standing nearby. "Escort the Taylors home. Stay with them until Detective Johnson or I state otherwise."

The officers stood behind the Taylors, waiting for them to leave the station.

Brian turned to face Evie, "I'm sorry, I'm glad you're safe, I really am, but I need to go home to Sandra."

Evie watched on blankly, wondering why no one was listening to her.

Owen remained by Evie's side, watching her, hoping she would change her mind and go home with them.

"Owen, now," Brian ordered from the doorway where he stood with Zane in tow.

Owens eyes drifted to his father and back to Evie, before he let his hands fall from her sides, making sure she was able to stand on her own. Then he followed his father out of the station, a brief glance back to see Evie standing on her own and Mrs Wickens fussing over her.

"I don't feel right leaving Evie there," Owen complained once they were in the car driving home, escorted by two officers.

"She's safe where she is," Brian replied, trying once more to call his wife but to no avail.

"If she is so safe with the police, why was she always running and hiding?" Owen argued.

Zane sat silently in the back seat, not saying a word.

When Owen pulled the car into the family driveway, Detective Johnson's car and two patrol cars parked out front on the street. Two officers that sat in one car gave a knowing nod to the just arrived car. Two other officers stood to either side of the house.

Brian entered the kitchen, shaking hands with Detective Johnson, who stood to greet him. Owen and Zane followed in after, Owen throwing his car keys haphazardly onto the kitchen bench and turning to face the detective with arms crossed.

Sandra rushed to Brian and threw her arms around him, letting the tears she had been holding back all day start to flow now that her husband was home to support her. After a minute, she calmed and pulled back from Brian and smiled weakly at the boys standing in the doorway.

"Where's Evie?" Sandra asked looking back up at Brian.

"She's at the police station," Brian explained.

"She's chosen to go into witness protection," Owen spoke, irritation evident in his voice.

"When we find Kelly, we'll talk about Evie," Brian stated to his son and then turned to Detective Johnson. "What can you tell us about my missing daughter?"

"There is no evidence of Kelly being taken," Detective Johnson spoke.

"What does that mean?" Owen demanded, stepping forward.

"Owen calm down," Brian ordered his son. "Zane, why don't you two..."

Brian nudged his head towards the living room.

"Come on, man," Zane encouraged his best friend, leading Owen out of the room against his will.

* * * * *

Detective Michaels talked in hushed tones with another officer, while Mrs Wickens tried to encourage Evie to follow her out of the station. Evie resisted and stormed towards the detective who looked up at her when she approached.

"Is everything alright, Miss West?"

"No. Nothing is right," Evie spat at him in frustration that no one seemed to be listening to her. "Ryan has Kelly and none of you are out there trying to find him!"

Detective Michaels turned to face Evie straight on, giving the other officer a nod who stepped away to go on with his work. Mrs Wickens came up from behind Evie, placing a hand on her shoulder, but Evie just shrugged it off.

"Did Ryan mention to you that he was going to kidnap Kelly?"

"No, but-" Evie started, but Detective Michaels interrupted her gently yet firmly.

"At this stage there is no evidence that shows Ryan has taken her, no struggle of any sort. For all we know she is at a friend's house and not informed her parents. We are all taking precautions with Ryan still out there. There are police officers on watch at the Taylors and unmarked police watching the motel where you were."

"Ryan isn't stupid, he won't go to either of those places again," Evie argued, "He's escaped prison twice and stayed hidden. He found me when I was hiding."

Detective Michaels breathed a sigh of defeat and decided to allow Evie to have her say. Out of anyone, she might be the only person who knew how to track down Ryan, whether he had the Taylor girl or not.

"So, what do you suggest we do?"

Evie took in a deep steadying breath to calm her nerves and feel brave.

At the end of the day, Evie knew if it came down to her life or someone else's because of Ryan, she would give hers. Kelly didn't deserve this. The Taylors didn't deserve it. It was Evie's fault for involving them. She never should have gone home with Sandra that first night.

Images of Rhiannon's family flashed through her head. Her mother lay in a pool of her own blood, her father close by. The pain of the kitchen knife slicing into her belly by her own brother right before Ryan killed him in retaliation for hurting her.

Evie squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to remove the memories. Her heart pounded so hard, she thought it would leap from her chest. Focussing on what she was attempting to do, save Kelly's life, Evie focussed on calming her breathing.

"Give him what he really wants," Evie whispered, before speaking more confidently, "Give him me."