William woke up with a jerk, furious with himself. He had slept through the entire afternoon.

After quick bite to eat he decided to walk around the town. He was trying to retrace what would have been his steps back to the hotel after that night with Adam.

Starting from his room, William scanned the hallways to Adam's room which was locked by the cops. Then he moved to the driveway and out of the hotel grounds looking for clues.

When he approached the bar he stopped. Dana was going to strangers with a picture in hand and talking to them. Then she spotted him and when towards him.

"Hey!" She said, smiling.

"Hello Dana." William said. "What are you doing here? Are you lost?"

"Oh no, I'm just looking for someone. Have you seen this guy?" Dana asked holding up a picture of the young man. It was Aaron.

"No idea, I'm new here so...." William lied. He had a bad feeling about Aaron and did not want her near him for the time being.

"It's ok." Dana said, pushing the picture deep into her bag. She looked very upset but she tried to hide it.

"Where is your family." William asked, looking around as thought he would find them standing nearby.

"In the cornwall maze." She replied. "My brothers were really excited about it."

"Dint you want to go in the maze?" William asked. He knew immediately it made her uncomfortable.

"I just thought I would use the time to find my friend." Dana said.

Suddenly a thought came to William. Dana has been looking for Aaron for days, Aaron definitely knew about this because he saw Aaron coming out of her mother's room the previous night, after Dana had some sort of breakdown in the reception area.

This means that he does not want to be found but is keeping a close eye on her. So the only way to find Aaron was to stay out of Dana's way and look for someone spying on her.

"I hope you find him." William lied. "I have to go now, see you later at the hotel."

"Bye." She said as they parted ways. William went back down the street and Dana wandered in front of the bar.

He lost sight of her soon after because he was looking around at the buildings and trees in the area.  Then he found what he was looking for. The man in the red shirt, watching them from behind the dumpster across the street.

"Aaron, you have got some serious explaining to do." William thought angrily, sneaking up on the guy from behind. But before he could forcefully turn him around and say anything he noticed the heavily bandaged hand.

"Adam!" William gasped.

******

John was getting impatient but he was trying to hide it. It was getting dark and still no news from Cristy about Adam. She needed to find Adam before Aaron could realise his brother is missing.

His wife Helen was throwing him nervous looks, she didn't want him to go out of control because of his temper. Last time he lost his temper was just two nights ago, which brought attention to the media.

Avoiding media attention was one of the main things they were good at. They managed to kill and destroy every bit of evidence that linked the victim to them and there had never been questions. The closest was the road construction workers at the outskirts of Lanchester. Lucky Aaron was able to get to him in time and bring him back before the police came and he got caught.

She had just received an urgent text from Cristy.

Mom, I need you.

Helen could not go to her daughter immediately without having to answer a lot of questions from John and Aaron. So she did not reply. Cristy must have realised that, so she sent another text.

Meet me after it's over.

Helen slipped the phone back into her pocket. Wondering when it would get over.

Suddenly she realised she was letting Alice get away. Alice had almost finished the maze and was almost at the exit.

Helen quickly jumped forward and slammed on a button which sealed the exit and opened a trapdoor.

John and Aaron turned in time to watch Alice scream and then fall into the dark trap. The cameras did not show what lay inside but the silence made them satisfied.

"I think it's time to move her to the cells." John said, getting up.

"Let me." Helen insisted. "I got her after all."

"You need to find the father." John said, giving Helen a look that clearly told her to listen to him. Helen did not argue. She did not want to test her husband's patience.

She watched him walk out quickly and then turned back to Aaron. He was staring at her.

"What?" She asked, surprised at him.

"You know I have always looked at you and John as my parents or the parents I wish I had." Aaron said.

"Honey, that's nice." Helen said. "I do think of you as my son too."

"Then I hope you will do me the curtsy of telling me where my brother is." Aaron said, his eyes flashing.

"Aaron, what makes you think I know where he is." Helen said, keeping a straight face.

"He lives in this town and suddenly he went missing on the same night you had called me in urgently but I was unfortunately busy." Aaron said.

"We needed you to help deal with someone else." Helen said.

"Someone who goes  by the name William Cooper?" Aaron asked. "I know what you want with him. He is a mistake to involve in our lives."

"He is already involved. Nothing has changed on that account." Helen said coldly. "As for your brother, I suggest you wait a day or two. I am sure he will turn up."

"He better." Aaron said softly, trying not to send a subtly threat without risking his relationship with Helen.

Helen was not afraid of Aaron, she was a strong women. But she was afraid of her husband and she knew if she let slip about Adam before he was ready, she would be next in the maze.

Aaron turned his attention back to the screens and laughed.

Sophie and David got Eric to climb out by turning their jackets into a long rope. Even with a broken leg he had managed to lift himself up.

"Let me know when you find the father, then we can call it a day and put those who survived in the cells." Aaron said torn between the urge to stay and torture Dana's family and worry for his missing brother. A big part of him said that John was involved and he would never forgive anyone who tried to hurt his brother.

******

Hey guys!!

Surprise!! Adam is still alive!!

Although he lost all his fingers in one hand, he is able enough to sneak around town, undetected.

Question is why?

Aaron seems aware that something is wrong but is more focussed on hurting Dana and her family. #priorities 😅

I hope you are enjoying the book! Will update soon 😄

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