Keeping Secrets

Chapter Twelve: The Right Direction

René hadn’t known what to expect when he gotten a call from Louisa Diaz, she had been brief over the phone only stating that it was to do with Megan; she had information that could help them find her.

As soon as Sergio had heard that they may finally have a lead after almost three weeks; he had jumped at the chance to meet with Louisa to find out what she knew.

The two brothers were sat quietly in a small rundown café waiting for Louisa to arrive so that they could get her information; it could just be another false lead.

René glared at his brother who continuously bounced his knee, he knew that Sergio was worried about his girlfriend but he was driving him up the wall.

“Will you knock it off,” René hissed looking over his sunglasses at Sergio who looked at him; before they heard the bell on the door ring as someone stepped inside.

René rolled his eyes as Sergio started to bounce his knee again, however he didn’t get to threaten him as a woman cleared her throat making them look at her.

“I’m Louisa,” the woman said carefully sitting down, she looked around nervously hoping that she wouldn’t be seen; she didn’t want to lose her job since it was all that she had.

Sergio looked at her, and nodded while René stared at her suspiciously, they didn’t trust her and they didn’t know how she knew about Megan’s abduction.

“Listen I know you probably don’t trust me… but I’m the only hope you have,” Louisa said setting her bag down, she had brought everything they would need to rescue Megan from the home.

René crossed his arms; he wondered what she would get out of this if she helped them get Megan back, Louisa looked at Sergio with interest.

“Do you really love her?” Louisa asked making René look at her, she wanted to make sure that she wasn’t going to be putting Megan in a dangerous position; she was trying to make things better not worse.

“More than football…” Sergio said without a second thought, Louisa nodded and smiled at him; she had wanted to be sure that he wasn’t using Megan before she told them where she was.

“She’s at St. Paul’s home for unwed mothers,” Louisa told them, Sergio felt sick as he heard where Megan had been for the last three weeks.

St. Paul’s had a horrible reputation and woman often came back with depression after they had been sent there for pregnancy when they returned it was never long before they killed themselves.

“I work there… I’m one of the duty nurses, until I can get better work,” Louisa explained knowing that people often thought badly of her when she couldn’t get better work; René nodded as he looked at his brother who looked pale.

“How would we get her out?” René asked, Louisa quickly pulled some papers out of her bag and handed them to René, since Sergio seemed to have completely switched off.

“You’d need a blood relative to sign these… since Sergio’s the padre it should be easy enough, you simply get your Madre to sign them,” Louisa said, it wasn’t unheard off for St. Paul’s to allow the unwed mothers to move in with the unborn child’s family especially as it opened up more space for more people to arrive.

Sergio looked at Louisa gratefully for what she had done, she had put in motion the rescue of his pregnant girlfriend.

“Is Megan okay?” Sergio asked finding his voice, he looked at Louisa hoping that she could tell him some news of his girlfriend and their unborn child.

Sergio doubted that Louisa would be able to tell him much, she was only a nurse but he wanted to be a little prepared for the mental state that Megan might be in when he saved her.

Louisa bite her lip wondering how truthful she should be about everything, she truly didn’t know how Megan was; she’d been locked away for a week now and no one was allowed to see her.

Louisa took a deep breath, she could see how eager Sergio was for new and she knew that there was only so much that she could tell him; she forced a smile sure everything would be okay.

“Your baby is healthy,” Louisa said recalling what she knew about the baby, it wasn’t much but it was better than nothing; she wanted to give him good news and she truly didn’t have any right now.

Louisa hadn’t seen Megan since the matron had spoken to her and she knew that no one would see her until matron had gotten what she wanted.

Her words made Sergio feel cold, he hadn’t asked about his child; he’d asked about Megan and he worried that his girlfriend had snapped while she was there.

“Por favor…” Sergio begged her making René look at him, he didn’t want his brother agreeing to anything; he worried that Louisa was going to try and make money off the information that she was giving them.

It was more than clear that Sergio was concerned for Megan’s wellbeing; Louisa looked at him sadly knowing that he was probably worried sick.

“She’s been put into solitary confinement… matron wants to break her,” Louisa said making Sergio look at her, he knew that he’d have to hurry before the matron did something that would cause him to lose Megan.

***

“Don’t you feel guilty?” Rory asked peeking at his father, he missed his sister and in the three weeks that she had been gone so much had changed for the family.

Marcus and Adam had completely stopped talking to their father when he had told them what he had done to their sister.

Karl was furious and had tried everything to make Gerard realise that this wasn’t going to work; all his plan had done was tear the family apart and Megan was never going to forgive him.

Gerard shook his head, his eyes looking over profiles for families that could adopt Megan’s baby; he wanted a good family that would never allow Megan to contact the child again.

Gerard was already angry that Megan’s things had disappeared, he knew that Sergio had them but he was never going to allow the footballer to see Megan again.

“Padre… there is still time to stop this, before it’s all too late,” Rory pleaded, he wanted things to go back to normal; he didn’t like the fact that his family was falling apart.

Gerard sighed putting down his coffee, he turned to look at his youngest knowing that Rory didn’t understand; he might have been twenty but he didn’t know anything about any of this.

“I’m doing this for her… Megan will understand one day,” Gerard said sure that everything would work out, he already had everything planned for his daughter.

Once Megan had recovered from having her baby, Gerard had plans to send her to America; he had a friend who could give her a job and it would keep her far away from Sergio.

Gerard’s friend had even mentioned that his son would be interested in dating and maybe marrying Megan; he would be a perfect man for Megan once she was away from Sergio.

Rory sighed and shook his head, he collected his things and prepared to leave knowing that there was no hope for Gerard; he was the last to cut contact with him.

Rory slowly left the house, they hadn’t been able to find out where Gerard had sent Megan and rescue her; he hoped that Sergio would have better luck than they did.

Rory walked out of the house and slammed the door behind him, he was due with his father and he prayed that his older sister would be okay.