Dinner was basic, but delicious. I'd never known fish and chips to taste so good. The fact that I was safe and no longer on guard was a relief. I knew this security couldn't last forever. For the present though, I imagined it would.

After I reviewed the events of my capture, Kael and Ava dominated much of the conversation. Trying to uncover Gideon's plans was a consuming topic for both of them. From what I could glean from the conversation, the man seemed to have a history of being elusive. But he had never gone without giving Kael some inclination of his intentions.

Again, I was the only person concerned for Garrett's well-being. Though I interjected several times on Garrett's behalf, I suspected any help Garrett would receive would depend on my own initiative entirely.

After observing her at dinner, I built a character profile of Ava. Strong and independent, she had once had a passion for the human race that had been altered by past experiences, most notably by my father. Now, she seemed almost ruthless in her quest to bring down the European smuggling business, especially her quest for Gideon himself. Her hardened heart no longer felt guilt or sympathy, only a yearning for justice.

Ava insisted I lie down after dinner to rest. Although I knew sleep was out of the question, I obliged. Ava left on business. I didn't ask, but I was sure it had something to do with tracking Gideon. According to her, Kael would help her find him while I waited at her home with a bodyguard who would arrive tomorrow and stay for the week.

Ava had loaned me a laptop. So before attempting to rest, I read the three emails Maria had sent since she'd left. She was having the time of her life, touring places she had always dreamt of seeing with the man she loved. Hearing the excitement in her words made me smile. She deserved this fulfillment and happiness in her life. The last email she'd sent was from a day ago. Her tone reflected her anxiety at not having heard from me. Though I wasn't always attentive to my emails, she felt I should have contacted her by now. Not wanting to cause her any worry, I sent a moderately long email. Only half the length of her shortest message, mine was light hearted with only vague details of my travels. I omitted the peril I had recently endured and the family I had encountered. I hadn't decided how much I was going to share. The information would cause her undue stress anyway. After finishing my emails, I considered checking my work email as well, but decided against it. There would be plenty of time to catch up later. Instead, I stretched out on the coverlet to try to rest. I knew I had a long, lonely week ahead of me locked in Ava's home with an Interpol agent. So, when I didn't fall to sleep after half an hour, I went in search of Kael.

Kael sat in the dark living room, his features illuminated by the laptop's screen. His legs were stretched out, taking up the whole couch. He saw me enter and slid them to the floor to make a place for me to sit.

"I can't sleep." I said as I tucked my bare feet under me on the couch

He half rolled his eyes but said kindly, "I didn't think you would." There was something else in his voice, I could tell. He watched me as if trying to decide if he should continue.

"What is it?" I pressed. By force of habit, I twisted my hair around my fingers and over my shoulder.

"It's Garrett. He's not on the hospital's database." Despite the dim lighting, he seemed to notice my face pale and reassured me with a promise, "I'll find out where he went first thing tomorrow."

I let my head fall against the back of the couch. "I knew it! We shouldn't have left him." I whispered frantically. Blood began to pulse in my temple as my mind raced with the possible explanations for his disappearance. None of them were good.

"Madeline would have killed him immediately. He's useless to her." Kael offered in consolation.

My head turned back to his direction. Trying to make out his expression, I squinted against the laptop's light.

"You think he's dead, don't you?" My voice cracked as I spoke. I couldn't comprehend my world without Garrett in it. Even though I tried, I couldn't fathom it. Garrett had to be alive.

Kael closed his computer. His expression was lost with the light from the screen.

"I don't know."

We sat in silence for a moment.

The thought occurred to me, not for the first time, that Garrett was not a priority to Kael. He'd made it clear that he'd left him in the hospital for his safety, but I no longer felt we could leave Garrett's safety to providence. I sensed Kael was in an empathetic mood. Perhaps, if I exaggerated our relationship, he would take this rescue more seriously. Unfortunately, I had divulged too much about our personal lives, the proposals specifically. Perhaps now I could use this to my advantage.

I broke the silence.

"You know, if I could go back, I would have said yes to Garrett's proposal. I still would have refused him the first couple times but the third time, I just should have said yes." I reached for another lock of hair, twisting it around my finger.

Kael made no comment as he flipped the computer open, bringing light once again to our small meeting. His expression was stoic. "I'll call them in the morning," he repeated.

"And if that's a dead end?" I pulled the laptop away from him so I could see what he was looking at. The St Mary's Hospital website took up the screen. "I should just go," I said, "You and Ava can finish here. I'll be fine."

Kael's expression was grave. He thinks he's dead, I thought. My best friend was gone. If Kael didn't want me to go, I would have to find a way out of here, a way back to the hospital.

Kael would know nothing of my plans. He was needed here, not traipsing all over England looking for Garrett. I would be safe enough. After all, Gideon had about as much interest in me as Ava did.

"What are you thinking?" Kael's question interrupted my thoughts. He must have sensed that they had spiraled in dangerous directions.

"I guess everything hangs on what you learn in the morning," I lied. Stretching my arms lazily, I commented, "I wouldn't even know where to begin if they didn't." Another lie. I would interview every nurse, doctor, and janitor until I found someone that knew of Garrett, where he'd gone or who'd taken him.

"You're planning on going after him, aren't you?" Kael slid the laptop to his side and leaned toward me. His proximity cut into my personal space.

His confounded ability to read me was exasperating. I tried a new approach, usually reserved for fights with Garrett. "You know what, Kael? You have no right to do this. It's your fault Garrett's in danger now. Not to mention you've been lying to me ever since we met. I don't even know you!" I tried to slap him, but he caught my hand. I pulled against his vice grip around my wrist, but he wouldn't release me.

I continued to try to recover my arm as he spoke darkly, inches from my face, "You know now, Harper. And I'm no saint. Just because I happen to be helping the government doesn't mean I'm not everything you thought I was before. This was one small omission. Ask me something. Anything."

I stopped tugging at my arm. Intrigued with his offer I asked, "What have you done? Murder?"

"Yes," he replied sharply, still holding my arm out in front of me. "What else?"

I winced and asked coldly, "Rape?"

He backed away. His expression was surprised, hurt. "What?" he gasped, "No! It wasn't a resort experience for those girls when they came through, but in the end, I've never lost one. They all were rescued eventually."

Tingles traveled up and down my spine at the thought of hordes of lost souls passing through those cells below the manor. I considered my next question. Knowing I would be pressing my luck I asked softly, "Madeline? Did you really love her?"

He didn't appreciate the question, but after a moment he answered, loosening his hold on my wrist, "I've never believed in romantic love. Ava told me she was bad news, and turns out, she was right. Move on."

"Why did Kiley die?" I whispered, hoping I didn't cross some invisible line. I wanted to know. If he would tell me anything, it should include her death.

"Harper," he expelled a heavy sigh and dropped my arm. Running a hand through his hair he said angrily, "You really want to know?"

"Yes." I leaned in close, my gaze parallel with his and spoke evenly, "I think it might help me to understand you better."

"Mason's all about getting to you where it counts. He finds who you love. He kills her."

I swallowed hard. Needles pricked my skin, remembering being in the same room with Mason. Had recording Madeline's work really been her idea or Mason's? Both of them had the demented nature to record their victim's torture, but it was starting to sound like classic Mason strategy.

"Let's take a drive," Kael said abruptly. He stood up and stepped around the coffee table.

"I'm supposed to rest," I pointed out. I followed however, in my bare feet.

He called over his shoulder, "You going to sleep?"

I slid on some of Ava's slightly loose flats by the door and retorted, "Not a chance."

*****

Harper's getting all the answers she can while the opportunity exists. Is Garrett dead? Should Harper go after him? Share your thoughts below! XD

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