Honey

by Tammy Lewis

  and I refused, so I left. He chased me down, and I left him

  standing in the basement garage, downstairs. I went home

  and that was the last that I heard from him.”

  Watching the confusion take over Janine’s face, feeling as

  though still I was missing something, she asked “didn’t you

  think that it was odd that he didn’t try and call you this

  weekend?”

  Nodding I replied, “yeah, but it wasn’t as though we were in

  some kind of a relationship, we were just friends.”

  Noticing Janine raise her eyebrows, clearly puzzled, she

  replied “that’s not the impression that he gave us.”

  Now even more confused, I asked “I don’t understand, what

  do you mean?”

  Noticing that through the evident tears and despair, suddenly

  Janine smiled as she replied, “Quinn told our mother all

  about you. Quinn’s lived here since graduating, but you are

  the first lady that he’s spoken of. He even sent our mother a

  beautiful photograph of you both from his charity event, it

  sits in its frame on our mantle back home.”

  Glaring over at Marcus, I was sure that he was just as

  mystified as me, when to my surprise, completely out of the

  blue, Marcus urged, “maybe we should all go inside and talk.”

  Chapter 29

  Seating myself down on Quinn’s couch, feeling the severity of

  all that had happened, hit me hard. Unsure what had struck

  me the hardest, hearing that Quinn had discussed me with his

  family or the fact that he was missing. Then to my shock and

  amazement, Marcus almost pacing the floor called out

  “Cynthia, I am sure that she has something to do with all of

  this.”

  Noticing Janine’s eye’s illuminate at a possible lead, she asked

  “who is Cynthia?”

  Turning to face Marcus, sure that I didn’t even know where to

  begin, to even try to explain who or what Cynthia was. Urging

  Quinn’s sister to take a seat, Marcus began to explain every

  last detail of all that we had encountered with Cynthia. Very

  cleverly leaving out our first greeting, the night of the

  showdown in the hotel suite. Noticing the shock consume

  Janine’s face, collecting her purse, she urged “we have to go

  now. You have to come with me. I have to tell the police,

  Quinn could be hurt.

  Sure, that I didn’t want to be any part of this, standing I

  apologised.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you or the police any more than

  what Marcus already has. I am sorry that your brothers

  missing, but…”

  Interrupting me instantly, raising her eyebrows, Janine

  gasped “oh, okay I get it. You too, you think that he’s taken off

  with the money…”

  Shaking my head, defending my choices, I replied “no… it’s just…”

  Glaring over at me with tears in her eyes, she asked “what

  Domini, what did my brother ever do to you, that you

  wouldn’t trust him enough to know that he’d never do any of

  this?”

  Seating myself back down, lowering my head, I replied

  “things weren’t left on good terms between us. I am sure

  whatever the circumstances, I am the last person that he

  wants to see right now.”

  Seating herself down next to me, taking my hand, Janine

  asked “I know that your still angry with my stupid brother, I

  am sure that he regretted everything that he said as soon as

  he said it. But please, if you’ve ever had even the tiniest of

  feelings for him, please come with me, I need to find him. Our

  mother is beside herself with concern.”

  Sighing heavily, watching Marcus roll his eyes at me in the

  corner of my eye, knowing very well that I was about to cave

  at any moment. Closing my eyes tightly, I replied “okay, I will

  come with you, tell them all that I know and that’s it. But I’m

  still mad at him.”

  Lowering her head, Janine thanked me for agreeing to help

  her, sensing a change in her tone, she cried “I understand

  how you feel, I’m a little mad at him too.”

  Confused by her statement, I asked, “why are you mad at

  him?”

  Standing before me, placing the strap of her purse over her

  shoulder, she replied, “brother or not, I can’t condone the way

  in which he has treated you. He had no right to make you

  choose your career over him. Vice versa, if the tables were

  turned, I know that he would have reacted exactly as you did.

  He’s worked so hard to get where he is, he knows the struggle and just how difficult it is to get to the top.”

  Feeling as though we had found a common ground. Leaving

  the apartment, we made our way over to the police station.

  Marcus drove, while he took us step by step through the

  police protocol and procedures that was about to happen.

  Arriving at the precinct, instantly feeling as though reporting

  someone missing was a regular, normal, everyday occurrence.

  Sensing the almost robotic response, handing a clipboard and

  pencil over the counter to Janine, the officer at the desk with

  only one facial expression asked “fill these out and take a

  seat.”

  Slumped next to me with tears in her eyes, I could see that

  this was all too much for Janine. Noticing Marcus’s awkward

  glare, almost urging me to comfort her in some way. Instantly

  realising that I was way out of my depth, placing my hand on

  hers, I promised her that Marcus and I would do all that we

  could to help her find her brother. Thanking us both and

  returning the completed forms to the police reception,

  thankfully it wasn’t long before a detective was ready to speak

  to us concerning Quinn’s disappearance.

  Hanging back, sure that I had already gone above and

  beyond. Feeling Janine take my hand, it was then that I

  realised, that I was going to have way more to do with this

  investigation; than I had originally anticipated. Almost

  pushing me towards the detective’s door, Marcus glared at

  me, urging me to go in with her. Frowning heavily in

  retaliation at him, reluctantly I gave in and followed her.

  Seated, arms folded, remaining unapproachable, I watched as

  Janine began incoherently babbling, almost begging and

  pleading with the detective to go out and find her brother.

  Lifting his hand, to try and get her to stop, the detective urged

  “please, let me go over the details and I promise that we will do all that we can do to find your brother.”

  Feeling the tension hit its peak, with every second that

  passed, escalated by the deafening, unbearable silence. When

  finally tapping into the keyboard of his desktop, the officer

  spoke.

  “Everything has been logged, as soon as we have any

  information, we will be in touch.”

  Shaking her head frantically, sensing worry and concern in

  her tone, Janine urged “you have to go and look for him now,

  there is no time to lose. Go to Cynthia’s, I am sure that she

  has him.”

  Turning to face me, Janine begged and urged me to speak

  “Domi
ni tell him, tell him all that you’ve told me about

  Cynthia. She has him, I know it, please tell him.”

  Feeling all eyes fall on me, cringing at the topic that was

  about to come up for discussion. Having to explain to the

  officer and Quinn’s sister, of how I woke up in Quinn’s arms,

  to find Cynthia stood watching us sleep, from within Quinn’s

  bedroom. Sighing heavily, I prompted the officer to go

  through the recent police report. Detailing the break in and

  disturbance at Quinn’s apartment. Noticing the officer raise

  his eyebrows, pulling up the file, shaking his head in sheer

  disbelief. Wiping his hand across his forehead, almost

  gasping, he said “it looks as though it may be a great start, to

  go and have a chat with Miss Sutton.”

  Confused I stood, feeling as though the name had triggered

  something, I asked the detective “I’m sorry, but could you

  please repeat what you said. Did you just say Miss Sutton?”

  Nodding, the officer squinting heavily towards me, replied

  “yes, Miss Cynthia Sutton. Is there anything more that you’d

  like to add to the report?”

  Ignoring the detective’s questions, knowing now for sure that

  Cynthia had given us a fake surname, when she had contacted

  me, to request the need for my honeytrap services. Charging

  through the office door and towards Marcus, who looked

  slightly confused, yet anxious at the sight of me proceeding

  towards him with such haste. Feeling someone grab hold of

  my arm, I turned to see Janine stood inches away. With her

  eyes wide open, glaring at me with sheer desperation, she

  pleaded “you know something. You know her, I could see it in

  your face, as soon as that officer mentioned her full name.

  Please Domini, please help me find him.”

  Needing to return to Quinn’s apartment immediately, Marcus

  drove, all while I explained to Janine, the identity of one of

  Quinn’s closest business allies. The gentleman that I had met

  on more than one occasion, Mr Sutton.

  Arriving back at the apartment, I headed into Quinn’s office,

  turning to Janine, I urged her “we need to find all that we can

  about Mr Sutton, we need to know if he has any connection to

  Cynthia, other than his last name. He may be the key to

  finding Quinn.”

  Searching the entire office, I stumbled on Quinn’s employee

  files, scanning through, it was then that I hit the jackpot. A

  contract for a joint venture, Quinn’s company and another

  company by the name of Sutton and Co. Taking to Quinn’s

  desktop computer, I began searching for all that I could

  concerning the elusive Sutton family. Trying to determine one

  way or another, what involvement they had in Quinn’s

  disappearance.

  When suddenly Marcus called out “Dom’, I’ve found

  something. I think that you may want to see this.”

  Turning to face Marcus, he handed me an open file, noticing

  instantly that it was an employment contract. Standing in

  complete shock, I called out “Quinn hired Cynthia, she was

  hired as his secretary, that’s how they initially met.”

  Certain that we had one choice and one choice only and that

  was to take her contact details and head over to her place of

  residence, praying that somehow it would lead us to Quinn.

  Making our way over, seemingly concerned at my unthought-

  out plan, Marcus asked “so Dom’, have you even

  contemplated what you are going to do when we get there?

  It’s not like we can just show up at the front door and demand

  that she hands him over.”

  Unsure what other choices we had, sighing heavily, looking

  over to Janine, I asked Marcus “well what do you suggest that

  we do?”

  In complete silence, entering the road where Cynthia’s

  residence stood. Pulling up a few yards down the street and

  turning off the dimmed headlights of the car, turning to face

  us both, Marcus asked “so now what?”

  Glaring over at the big, picturesque, white house. That sat in

  what I could only assume was a very prestigious

  neighbourhood. In an elite suburb, on the outskirts of our

  grand city. Feeling unsure, trying to find the words, noticing

  Janine’s desperation heighten with my silence. Throwing all

  caution to the wind, I opened the car door. Feeling Marcus

  reach and grab my arm, gasping, he called out almost silently

  “Dom’ what are you doing?”

  Turning to face him, looking at him directly through the open car door, I whispered “I am going to have a snoop around.

  Look through some windows and see if I can see anything.”

  Watching Marcus abruptly take off his seatbelt at force,

  charging through the car door and towards me, closely

  followed by an extremely nervous Janine. Standing before

  me, with his eyes widened, Marcus pleaded “please Dom’, just

  get back in the car and let the police do their job.”

  Ignoring him completely, wanting this to be over before it had

  even begun. Trying to hold my nerve, I crept over to the large

  wooden gate at the side of the building. Which I assumed

  would maybe lead to some sort of backyard or rear entrance.

  Grasping the lever to release the gate from its locked clasp.

  Turning to face Marcus and Janine just yards away, placing

  my index finger to my lips, I urged them both to be quiet.

  Breathing deeply pulling the heavy gate open, I was instantly

  greeted by a very large and overly friendly St Bernard.

  Forcing me backwards and on to the floor. It was then pinned

  to the ground, flat on my back, that I wriggled and struggled,

  trying to release myself from his strong hold. All while the big

  brute proceeded to slobber and dribble all over my face. Only

  releasing me when I heard a man’s voice call out “Brucie boy,

  get off Mrs Hamilton.”

  Chapter 30

  Closing my eyes tightly, realising that I had been caught and

  captured, unable to move. When suddenly I heard Janine

  gasp, calling out in shock “Mrs Hamilton!? You and my

  brother, you’re married?”

  Looking up to see Mr Sutton in a bathrobe, holding out his hand to help me up, glaring down at me with confusion in his

  eyes, I began wondering whom I should address first. Taking

  Mr Sutton’s hand, I gradually got myself up off of the concrete

  floor and began straightening myself out. Looking at Janine

  and then back to Mr Sutton, feeling as though I had been

  backed into a corner. I exhaled deeply and replied “I promise,

  I can explain.”

  When suddenly to my surprise, going in for a second attack,

  Brucie jumped up to me. Placing his large paws on to each of

  my shoulders, losing my balance, once again he pushed me

  backwards. Though thankfully to my relief, Marcus was on

  hand to catch me this time, all while Mr Sutton took Brucie by

  the collar and forced him away from me. Apologising, while

  remaining curious to why we were all standing in his

  backyard.

  Firstly, explaining to Janine, the charity event and how

 
humorous I had found it, introducing myself as Quinn’s

  shrink. Only for him to get the better of me and begin to

  introduce me to everyone as his wife. I then watched tears

  appear in her eyes, looking up and holding her hands up

  together in front of her. Laughing to herself, she happily cried

  “damn you Quinn! Why have you always got to win?”

  Turning to face Mr Sutton once more, sensing the

  bewilderment in his tone, hearing him ask “so I guess that

  you’re not Quinn’s wife. If you are not here to hand back the

  donation, that our company so generously offered to the

  children, then why are you here?”

  Trying to begin to find the words to answer, Janine called out

  “it’s my brother Quinn, he’s missing and we think that your

  daughter Cynthia may have some information on his

  whereabouts.”

  Lowering his head and sighing heavily, Mr Sutton began to shake his head slowly and lowering his tone, he replied “I’m

  sorry, but I can’t help you… Goodnight.”

  Taking a firm hold of Brucie’s collar, Mr Sutton turned away

  from us, retreating in the direction of his backyard. With not

  a second left to lose, sure that it was up to me to try and get

  him to somehow comply and help us. Searching for the

  words, sensing the desperation in my tone, I called out

  “please, we both know that Quinn wouldn’t just take off with

  the money, he’d do anything for those kids. He’s been missing

  since Friday, if you know anything, please help us. We all

  miss him and I can’t bear the thought of anything happening

  to him.”

  Hearing Mr Sutton sigh heavily, turning to face us once more,

  closing his eyes tightly he replied “I think that it’s best if we

  go inside.”

  Following Mr Sutton into a large cream, ceiling to floor

  marbled kitchen, he gestured for us all to take a seat. Leaning

  against his kitchen counter, lowering his head into his hands,

  Mr Sutton confessed “yes, Cynthia is my daughter. Though a

  father daughter relationship is something that we haven’t had

  in a very long time. Sadly, Cynthia’s mother passed away just

  before her 12th birthday and it hit her hard. We were both

  grieving, yet somehow, she blamed me. She rebelled, then as

  time went by, she’d take off for weeks at a time, I never knew