All The Hurt Would Go Away

The path was clear...

The least likely person it could possibly be. Now what does that tell me? And it's someone only I know, not Lin. I rested my head against the window watching cars zoom past.
"You sure this prison malarkey is good for ya?"
"Not really no."
"Neither am I mate, perhaps you should give it a rest. Come back when you're good and ready."
"That's the problem. I can't. I'm in too deep now."
"Whatever this criminal is doing to keep a hold of you, ya gotta stop it. Don't let them assume higher ground."
"It's harder than that."
"Hey, you're the free one. Use that. They are a lot more limited than you are."
I hummed in agreement. If Andrew does help me get Ariella back, he'd go free cause he's only under suspicion. Which means his part of the deal, it would have no limits. He'd be a free man too. Then he'd expose me if I spoke out about what he will - what he might do to me.
"Here we are. Don't pay this time, that 20 dollars was enough for numerous trips so I'm paying you back now."
He chuckled and I smiled
"Stay safe."
I nodded and left shutting the car door behind me. If only he knew I just sealed my fate. Maybe what if I figure out who took Ariella without him? Stop visiting? But then when I do figure it out I'll be in the same place as before... at least then though I prolong the time I have to avoid Andrew. It could work. But it stops my supply of clues. Surely now I've found his weak spot, if I keep flirting there should be no withheld information. But could that make it worse?
"You're forfeiting a lot here for a little toddler. Who's life do you care about more?"
The all important question. What if Ariella is gone? It's a morbid thought but who knows who she's with, the world is a dark place with dark people on it. I already know what I'm forfeiting, and I'm prepared for it to ruin me again, and again, and again. Without a punishment he won't stop. That's why he made the deal. He will get what he wants without a consequence, it's every criminals dream. Checkmate. Once again Luz opened the door
"Jon! Back a bit later today!"
"Yeah, got lost."
She laughed as I later joined in to try and make the story more believable.
"I can tell, you look exhausted! Probably trying to find your way back I presume?"
"Yep, bang on"
She nodded and once again I waved her off as she left. I really need to think of a better excuse because my current one is threateningly weak.
"You gonna be all creepy again or -?"
"No I'm fine, I was just tired yesterday."
Lin looked at me sceptically.
"Mhmm, tired from an afternoon walk, it doesn't sound believable."
I sighed
"Fine. I'm figuring out where Ariella is. I can't tell you much and it's not working so far, hence why I'm tired."
He looked hurt now.
"You're struggling for my daughter and you didn't even tell her father? What the heck?"
"I was gonna tell you when I got my first clue. I got nothing."
"Right. Well, keep going I guess? But you should've told me earlier."
I hastily apologised and he nodded back, Isaac was playing with his toys and Lin was cooking dinner.
"I'm just gonna go nap if that's good with you?"
"Yeah yeah, it's fine."
Relieved, I headed upstairs and got out the hidden paper stash in my drawer and the pen from behind my ear. Through process of elimination, I determinately attempted to find the culprit.
"Someone I know."
"Someone it's unlikely to be."
"Someone I know."
"Someone it's unlikely to be."
Who was the last person it could possibly be? I mean, there's my mother, she's never met Lin and she couldn't possibly steal Ariella. No. Not a chance she would. I crossed out 'mom' with red sharpie. Then there's my brother David? I doubt they'd be able to get Ariella to him, besides, he's way too busy to look after a kid let alone kidnap one. How am I supposed to think of someone it's unlikely to be? Surely that just deters the fact they may have Ariella in their grasp? Every part of me wanted to just ignore Andrew's second clue but, with full knowledge of what it has cost me, it must be worth something.
"Jon"
I jumped turning around to see Lin standing in the doorway, he didn't look angry at my stack of papers, more intrigued by what my intricate drawings meant.
"I-I'm sorry I just needed it for -"
"Let him worry about one person only"
"For??"
He trailed off. Now what am I supposed to do?
"Just figuring stuff out about Ariella."
"What are these? Someone only you know? It's unlikely to be?"
"Just guesses, trying to decipher you know?"
He looked uncertain
"Well yeah but, why would someone who doesn't know me want to take Ariella?"
"It's just a -"
"- And what if it's our next door neighbour? How do you know this stuff?"
He was starting to get hysterical so I kept my mouth shut.
"You can't be guessing, you've looked into it too much! Look at all these names! Not one that isn't crossed out!"
He started to progress from pushing his finger into the pages now slamming his hand on them, I could see the tears forming in his eyes.
"Lin"
"And look at them! How long have you been hiding all this stuff from me! How could you not tell me!"
"Sólo respira"
He looked at me strangely. Shit, did I actually say that out loud? I've been learning Spanish slowly so that I could surprise him. Now what. Maybe I'll make my knowledge seem smaller, I'll improvise. But, to my delight, Lin calmed down.
"Wher - Where did you learn that?"
"In the Heights obviously."
I gave off a nervous chuckle and he smiled, thankfully believing me.
"Well, how did you know that was what -?"
"- Calms you down? Every time your parents came round they'd speak to you in Spanish so I thought, in the moment, I should give it a go"
"And it worked!"
"It did."
I warmly said.
"It's just - three whole days without my little princess. I'm starting to wonder if -"
"- NO! I will not let you think like that. She is well, and if not well, she is alive. We will find her and you will get to give her another cuddle again okay?"
He sighed, but it was a more positive sigh
"Yeah, thanks Jon."
"No problem."
What he didn't know however, was that once Ariella is found, his best friend must go.