The Search

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Derek tapped the rustic wooden door five times and he stood back and nodded at me, reassuring me. Weathered, stone steps had led us to the door, which were found down a dark alley way in grotto like Paris.

I looked up as I heard the door unbolt and a wrinkly, small man with sad eyes and drooping features appeared at the door.

“Saul!”

“Derek.”

The two men exchanged a strong hand shake,.

“You can’t be seen here, boy, trouble will find you, quickly, quickly now come inside, you too lass.”

He spoke in a broad Scottish accent and accented his r’s. The man intrigued me.

He hurried us into a small sitting room with a scrabby couch and dim lighting. The rooms melt damp and a musty aroma hung in the air. Derek and I sat on the torn sofa which looked ancient with its slightly yellow colour and floral pattern.

“What can I do for you wee-uns?”

“Saul, this is Willow.”

A dark look of worry crossed Saul’s face. He gave Derek a grave look which made me feel uncomfortable.

“You shouldn’t have come, they’ll find her.”

“She’s looking for Peter, have you seen him or even heard from him lately?”

Saul took both my hands in his dry hands which were surprisingly large for his height.

“Love, turn back now. He doesn’t love you it’s a show. It’s a professional doing his job, a little too well if you ask me.”

“But Saul,” Derek cut in, “He really did love her that’s why there after her. He made contact.”

Saul sucked in his breath and his wrinkles deepened in worry.

“This is what I feared. Willow, you need to tell me if you know anything. Did he mention anything to you about his job, about his life? Anything to do with money?”

“Is this what this is all about? Money?” I asked.

“Oh my dear, far more than you will ever know or understand. But you obviously know nothing but they will not take that so well. They’ll torture her Derek, take her home, before it’s too late, for Peter and for her. Now quickly now, leave.”

“You’re not telling us something..”

Suddenly the whole room was filled with banging and shouting and men with black uniforms barged into the room, knocking lamps and tables to the floor. Their heavy black boots pounded against the floor and I looked about me for escape. Glass shattered and my head pounded as I watched Saul be pulled out of the room, kicking and screaming. The whole world felt like it was in slow motion as I watched the men take Derek be hauled across the room as he screamed,

“RUN, FIND ISAAC, RUN NOW LOWIE.”

I looked into the eyes of the man who was taking Derek. Shivers went up my spine when I saw the icy glare filled with hatred. He glared back at me and shouted to the man beside him,

“That’s her. Take her alive.”

The noise became faint as I began to run. I felt a large hand grip round my arm but I used all the strength within me to shove it off with all my might and tear towards the door.

The fresh air hit my face as I began to run as fast as I could. Everything around me was a blur and all that I concentrated on was getting away from the heavy footsteps I could hear behind me. All I could hear now was the quick, rasping sound of my breath as I ran through the streets of Paris.

On every side women screamed as I pushed them out of my way and men grunted and yelled abuse at me. I shook my head and kept focus on finding somewhere safe. My eyes constantly darted round looking for an escape. I didn’t know who these people were that I was running from but the image of the man’s cold, blue eyes repeated in my mind.

My limbs began to feel heavy and I dared to look back to see if the men were in sight. I couldn’t see them anywhere but my eye caught a bus, pulling out from the curb so I ran with all the adrenaline left within me and leaped onto the bus.

The bus driver gave me a disapproving look for being late but nodded his head for me to go take a seat.

I began walking down the aisle of the bus, trying to take in as much oxygen as I could. I smiled at an old lady who was sitting on her own but she looked me up and down strangely. I realised I must have looked a right state at this stage, in my creased dress and wind swept hair and sweat pouring profusely down my temples.

I continued to walk slowly down the bus, patting down my hair, trying to look not as mad as I felt. I was shaking all over and so much fear was consuming me and I continued to dart my eyes around always feeling paranoid.

My eyes were drawn to a man sitting with a large newspaper covering his face. There was one spare seat left on the busy bus and it was right behind the curious man with the bowler hat and shiny shoes. He sat with his legs crossed and I could not see anything else about him because he was covered with a newspaper.

I sat down and patted down my dress and let out a deep sigh. The large woman beside me puffed and blowed and stuck her nose in the air.

To think, just hours ago, I had been getting ready for a “date” with Derek. Now Derek had been taken and I was completely alone. Whoever these people are, they won’t relent until they get what they want, which is information which apparently I have.

I tried to think back to anything Peter might have said about his past but my mind was blank and my heart felt crushed as I thought about him.

The bus came to an abrupt stop and the man with the newspaper, folded it up and stood out of his seat. This man interested me as walked off the bus without even lifting his head. So I decided to get up and follow him.

I hopped off the bus and followed the black bowler hat through the crowd, being careful and cautious of the people around me. His hat bobbed above everyone. He was a tall man, probably about 6ft 2” and I quickly manoeuvred through the crowd in order to keep up with him.

I followed him onto a quieter street and the darkness of the night made it hard for me to keep him in sight.

Finally I was only steps behind him and I cringed as he quickly looked round, realising he would find out I was following him.

I caught a glance of the side of his face before he sprinted off. I ran recklessly through the night and I ran after him trying to make him stop but he was too fast. He was out of my sight in moments and I sat down in the middle of the street and sobbed.

He was alive.

My heart soared above the clouds but was also strangled while I wondered why he had sprinted so hard to get away from me. So many questions filtered through my mind.

A young boy walked past and stared at me in a state lying on the ground, makeup running and my heart shattered.

“Mum,” he called and a woman soon appeared by his side.

“Toby keep walking, come on now.”

“But mum..”

The mother sighed and looked down at me.

“Would you like me to buy you a coffee or something?” She asked impatiently.

“Yea lady please,” The sweet boy smiled a toothless grin at me and it melted my heart.

“You know, that is just what I need right now.”