Run Away

Chapter 39

The front door opened, surprising everyone inside the house. Sandra ran to the front door, followed closely by Brian, hoping it was Kelly coming home. Owen and Zane stalked out of the lounge room and stopped in the archway. Detective Johnson, who had stayed towards the back, stepped through the family members, when he saw it was Detective Michaels.

"Michaels? What are you doing here?" Johnson asked confused. "You're meant to be with Miss West back at the station sorting out her protective custody."

Michaels rubbed the back of his neck knowing he was going to get in a lot of trouble for what he was about to tell him. He looked from one family member to the next, their eyes all on him in interest. It didn't make what he had come to inform Johnson about any easier.

"Can we talk outside?" Michaels indicated towards the front door and Johnson followed him outside, closing the front door behind them.

The Taylors and Zane watched on through the window as Michaels spoke to Johnson, his hands moving about as he spoke. Johnson's eyes widen and he looked red with anger.

"You what?" Johnson growled, loud enough the family inside could hear.

Michaels looked like he was attempting to explain something hurriedly and Johnson rubbed a hand over in face to as if to ease a large headache that was forming. A pointed finger in Michaels face, Johnson was obviously upset with him as he reprimanded him.

Opening the front door, Johnson returned inside, faced with an anxious family, wanting to know what was going on. Michaels stood off behind him, looking ashamed and frustrated with himself.

"There's been a development," Johnson spoke cautiously, trying to find the right words to break to news to the family.

"Is it Kelly? Is she okay?" Sandra choked back a sob as she spoke.

"We still have no word on the where about of your daughter," Johnson answered gently.

"Then what is it?" Brian asked, wrapping a comforting arm around his wife.

"It seems that Detective Michaels allowed Miss West who volunteered to use her as bait to draw Mr Scott out of hiding. Miss West was convinced that Mr Scott is the reason for your daughter's disappearance," Johnson explained.

"That's what she meant," Owen cut in, all eyes turning to him. "Evie said something like 'he has her' right before we left her at the station. She was having an anxiety attack and wasn't making much sense, but we left to come home."

"So where is Evie, I mean Rhiannon, now?" Sandra pushed for answers.

Johnson looked back at Michaels who bowed his head ashamed and then back at the family who were waiting eagerly for a response.

"We don't know," Johnson replied and there were gasps throughout the room. "The plain clothed officers detailed with following Miss West lost sight of her on the train. Surveillance footage shows Miss West and Mr Scott exiting the carriage together at the last minute at the first stop, holding hands. It didn't seem like Miss West was resisting either."

Colour drained from Owen's face and his blood ran cold. After everything they went through to rescue her, she willingly runs away with him. It didn't make sense.

"Why would you let her risk her life like that?" Owen demanded to know, looking straight at Michaels.

Stepping forward, Owen was ready to punch Michaels in the face from frustration and anger. Zane quickly stepped in front of him and managed to push his best friend away before he did anything that would land him in handcuffs.

"I get you are upset, but we have people out looking for them and we're going through any surveillance footage we can find," Johnson tried his best to ease the family's fears.