CHAPTER 41

I wake up to the sound of silence surrounding me and I know that I'm alone.

I walk to the bathroom to clean myself up. After I walk out of the bathroom, I walk downstairs to see if Dan has returned. I look in every room, only to be met with silence. My stomach begins rumbling so I get glass of orange juice, not bothering with any food.

The clock reads 14:36 and I know that Dan must be out taking care of his "business." I walk back to the guest room. D.C Collins keeps popping up in my head and I know that I need to talk to him. I finish my drink and leave it on the bedside table. 

I quickly get dressed in blue denim shorts and a blue- shirt. I brush my hair into a messy bun as I grab my phone and leave the house. 

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I stand outside the police station not knowing what to do. I can’t believe I’m actually standing here. I take a deep breath before walking inside. 

I walk to the desk and a man wearing uniform asks 'hi, how can I help you?'

'I'm looking for D.C Collins.' He nods before picking up the telephone and dialling some numbers.

 'He's on his way if you would like to take a seat,' he replies motioning towards the chairs and I nod, sitting down.

I cross my legs and switch on my phone. Instantly, my home screen displays messages. 

I just do.. -Kim

Do you want to talk? -xoLuce

Hi. xLilx

(To Kimberly) Seriously. ~K~

(To Lucy) How do you know I'm in a 'happier' mood?

(To Lily) Hey. ~K~

I hear someone clear their throat and I put my phone in my pocket as I look up. The man I spoke to before is standing next to another police officer. 'This is D.C Collins,' he states and I nod my head as he leaves.

 'Hi Miss?'

'Hayden,' I reply and he nods.

 'Would you like to come to my office? He asks curiously.

 'Yeah, sure,' I reply as I follow him through the halls. He walks into a room and he sits down on the sofa. He pats the seat next to him and I sit down next to him.

 'So, what would you like to talk about Miss Hayden?'

'I heard you took the case about Kaiden Hayden who went missing when he was three months old.'

'Yes, I remember that,' he replies as he nods his head, waiting to hear where this is going.

 'Well, you stopped searching and I wanted to know why you did that?'

'I'm afraid I can’t discuss that with you,' he calmly says.

 'Why not? Is this some confidential matter?' I question and he doesn't say anything so I continue speaking. 'I'm Kiera Hayden, his sister.'

'Oh, I didn’t know.'

'How could you? I didn’t tell you,' I coldly reply.

 'I understand that this is a complex issue but you need to stay calm.'

'Are you going to tell me the real reason or not?'

'Well we received a letter from Kaiden on the fifth of July, 2004 which told us to stop searching and that he was safe. I showed it to your parents but your mother became hysterical. She told us to keep on searching and your father told us to stop searching. We continued searching and a few weeks your mother came and told us to stop searching for Kaiden.'

'When was this?' I curiously ask.

 'It was on the fourteen of July 2004 and a day later, I decided to close the case.' I save the dates he gave me on my phone before putting it back in my pocket.

 'Why did my mother say that?'

'I have no idea but they both said to stop searching for him so there was nothing I could do about it. I'm sorry.'

'It doesn’t matter.' I stand up, getting ready to leave.

'Wait,' he says and I look at him. 'I was looking at Kaiden's case a few days ago and I made a picture of what he would have looked like today at the age of twenty two.' He stands up to go to his desk and gives me a photo that is folded. 'I'm sorry I couldn't be much help.'

'Its fine,' I reply quickly.

 'If you have any other questions then you can always come and speak to me.'

'Thanks,' I reply gratefully and he nods.

 'No problem.' I smile one last time before I leave his office. The officer at the desk smiles at me and I return it as I walk out of the building. 

I unfold the paper and look at the picture. He has blue eyes, brighter than mine and dark blonde hair. He has pale skin and I can't help but question his existence. 

I switch my phone on and reply to my messages.

I never reveal my sources! -Kim

I don't but you’re happier in text compared to in person. -xoLuce.

Do you want to come over to mine? xLilx

(To Kimberly) Whatever Kim. ~K~

(To Lucy) Thanks (!) ~K~

(To Lily) Can I come over tomorrow?

I get the paper that Elaine had given me yesterday and I read Phillip's address. I know the exact location of it because it's near Lucy's house. I fold both papers and put it in my back pockets before setting off for my next destination.

----------

I stand outside Phillip's doorstep and I take a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. A man who looks about fifty opens the door. 'Hi, I'm here to talk Phillip.'

'That's me, please come in,' he replies as he leads me into the living room. 'So what would you like to talk about?' He asks as he sits opposite me on the sofa.

'You used to be the neighbour of the Hayden family who lost their three month old son.' He tenses as he leans back on the sofa.

 'Yes, I used to.'

'I heard from a reliable source that you took Debbie Hayden inside once she realised that her son was missing. It was as if you knew what was happening without her even telling you. Why did you do that?'

'Are you a police officer or something?'

'I might be,' I shrug my shoulders.

 'How do you know this? Debbie can’t have told you, she's dead.'

'It’s none of your business how I know,' I reply louder than I intended to. A young man walks in to the living room with a tray in his hand. I can’t see his keep his face as he's looking down but when he stands up straight and makes eye contact with me. It’s as if all the oxygen in the room has been removed. I take a deep breath as I realise that Kaiden Hayden is standing in front of me.

 'Go back to where you were,' Phillip says coldly.

 'Calm down dad, I'm just getting a drink for the guest.'

'I'm warning you.'

'Fine dad, I'm going. I'm going home now by the way,' he says as he leaves the house. Phillip tries to keep himself calm as he acts like nothing happened.

'I have to go,' I say emotionlessly as I walk out of the house. I open my phone and I'm greeted with messages.

Sarcasm noted! -xo Luce.

Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow! xLilx

I ignore the messages and walk to Lucy's house. I ring the doorbell and she answers with Halo in her hands. 'To what I do owe this pleasure?'

'Shut up,' I mutter as I walk past her.

 'Come inside why don't you?' She sarcastically says and I roll my eyes.

 'Lucy, are you coming upstairs or what?' Jess asks and I give Lucy a confused look.

 'I'll be there in a bit,' she replies and Jess walks back upstairs.

 'I thought you were alone.'

'You can stay if you want,' Lucy says, looking hopeful.

 'I wanted to talk to you about something but it looks like you're a little occupied right now.'

'What's wrong? I know it's something pretty bad because you didn’t even greet Halo,' she replies, stroking Halo's ear.

 'It doesn't matter.'

'Two minutes,' she says as she hands Halo to me before going upstairs. She returns with Jess and Lucy says 'we can rearrange our movie night to another day Jess, I'm sorry.'

'Its fine Luce,' she replies as she gives Lucy a quick hug. They pull away and Jess leaves the house.

 'You didn't have to kick her out,' I say breaking the silence.

 'Of course I did, my best friend came knocking on my door looking like crap.'

'Thanks,' I sarcastically say and she rolls her eyes.

 'Come on,' she replies as we walk to her room. I sit on her bed with Halo in my arms and Lucy sits beside me. 'So, what's wrong?' Instead of replying vocally, I stand up and get the picture out of my pocket and hand it to her. 'What?'

'That is Kaiden Hayden.'

'What?' She repeats.

 'Do you honestly want me to repeat that Lucy?'

'How the hell do you know that?' She asks and I sit back down.

 'I went to speak to the police officer that was in charge of the case and he gave it to me. I just saw him Lucy.'

'What do you mean you just saw him? The police officer or Kaiden?' She asks curiously.

 'Kaiden, his dad lives opposite you.'

'What?'

'Lucy stop saying "what" seriously,' I reply annoyed.

 'Are you being serious? I thought he was your full brother.'

'He is but he's been brought up by strangers, what the hell am I supposed to do?' She moves closer and puts her hands on my shoulders.

 'First, you’re going to calm down.'

'I'm already calm,' I reply, acting calm.

 'Then you'll forget about this and focus on your appointment tomorrow. And then after, we can discuss what we'll do about what you just told me,' she replies, as she shakes my shoulders.

 'We?' I ask.

'Yes, "we" Kiera we’re in this together.' She wraps her arms around my shoulder and I return the embrace.

'Thanks.'

'No problem,' she responds as we break apart. 'You're sleeping here by the way.’ Lucy stands up and walks to her wardrobe as she hands me some pyjamas.

 'Lucy, it’s only five.'

'So, we're sleeping early,' she replies.

'A little too early don't you think?'

'What time is your appointment?' She asks as she switches her phone on.

 'Half eleven.'

'You need eight hours of sleep Kiera,' she informs and I roll my eyes.

 'Can we at least watch a movie?' I ask innocently and she puts a random DVD in the DVD player. She clicks pause and I look at her.

 'Before you start whining, I want you to get changed.' she says preventing me from speaking.

 'Lucy-'

'No, do it,' she replies as she throws me the pyjamas. I scoff before walking to her bathroom and quickly getting changed. 

Once I return, she's already comfortable in her bed. I fold my clothes before putting it in her wardrobe. I walk towards her, pulling the duvet so there’s enough room for me. I lie down beside her and cover my head in with all the blankets, not bothering to look at the TV screen.

'Do you not want to cuddle?' Lucy asks as she rests her head on my shoulder.

 'I'm pretty comfortable like this,' I mumble, although it comes out as a muffled sound.

 'I'd say "good night" but it's not really night.' Lucy states and I laugh into my pillow. I wrap my arm around her waist tightly and sit up to ask 'Luce are you sleeping?'

'I think I'll watch you sleep first.'

'Funny,' I sarcastically say. 'Go to sleep Lucy, I don’t want to sleep on my own and where is Halo?' 

'He's in the corner in his basket.' She points to the corner of her room and I nod. 'I'm not sleeping right now.'

'I'll cuddle with you if you sleep.' She considers it for a while before nodding. She switches the TV off and takes the light off. She lies down opening here arms widely. I roll my eyes before resting my head on her shoulder and wrap my arm around her waist before allowing sleep to take over.