by Tammy Lewis
where she’d be. I’d get a call and I would have to go and pick
her up, at the hospital or a police station. She’d completely
lost her way in life. Then about three years ago, she got
herself together and Quinn knowing the conflict that we’d
had, he offered her a job at his office.”
“Though it didn’t take long and she became obsessed with
Quinn, he brushed it off at first, but she became more
persistent. He invited her out for dinner one evening, as friends, to try and let her down gently, but she automatically
assumed that they were dating and became unstoppable. He
had no choice but to let her go, while I stuck by his choices
and assured him that it was for the best,” he concluded.
Shocked to the core I turned to Janine, who’s eyes had once
again filled with tears. Taking her hand, comforting her as
best that I could. I asked Mr Sutton “do you honestly, hand on
heart believe that Cynthia could have anything to do with
Quinn’s disappearance?”
Nodding slowly, Mr Sutton replied “it kills me to say it, but
with Cynthia anything is possible. I blame myself, I spoilt her
as a child, I gave her everything to try and make up for what
she had lost. But now I realise, I could never replace what she
had lost with possessions. She needed love.”
Sighing heavily once more Mr Sutton cried “she needed her
father, but I was too busy, too busy thinking of myself.”
Feeling my heart sink, at the sight of this poor man pouring
his heart out to us in his kitchen, I raced over to him. Taking
his hands in mine, to try and comfort him in some way, I
assured him that he couldn’t blame himself. Then completely
interrupting my flow, Marcus called out “well she’s obviously
not living here with you, do you have any idea where we can
find her?”
Reaching over to a memo pad and scribbling down an
address, reluctantly Mr Sutton handed the paper over,
warning us all to be extremely careful, Cynthia could be a
force to be reckoned with. Giving Mr Sutton a brief hug and
thanking him for the crucial information that he had
provided, we made our way out. Handing the memo to
Marcus I asked “do you know this place?”
Taking a deep breath, glancing down at the paper, Marcus rolled his eyes and replied “I should have known. Yes, yes, I
do, it’s the apartment block behind Quinn’s office.”
Unfazed by the news, almost expecting it, taking into
consideration the photographs that she had produced on the
evening of the honey trap. It was plain to see that Cynthia
liked to be as close as she could to her victim.
Absorbing all of this new information, Marcus drove us into
the heart of the city, pulling up just outside Cynthia’s
apartment building. When suddenly, in the unbearable
silence, Janine’s phone began to ring, startling us all.
Answering the call, I could hear the desperation and
disappointment in her tone when she spoke.
“Yes… okay officer… I understand… but thank you.”
Looking over to her in the back seat of the car, waiting for her
to end the call. Shaking her head, she told us both “that was
the detective from earlier. They have been to talk to Cynthia
and Cynthia has told them that Quinn was in some sort of
relationship, with an escort named Honey. Cynthia believes
that she has something to do with his disappearance. She
even gave the officers a brief tour of her apartment, they are
absolutely sure that Quinn is not there.”
Glaring over at Marcus, noticing that his entire face was
scrunched up in anticipation, almost sure of the question that
was about to be asked. Wiping the tears present in her eyes,
shaking her head in sheer disbelief, Janine asked “I am so
sorry to ask you this, it’s probably all lies. But Domini, did
you have any suspicions that my brother may have been
seeing someone else. Anything that would have made you
think that he was cheating on you with an escort?”
Wanting to put her out of her misery, to come clean
immediately and tell her the absolute truth, knowing that she
was already going through more than enough. Taking a deep breath, I explained “I am pretty sure that Quinn was never
involved with anyone else… I’m Honey.”
Tilting her head slightly, widening her eyes in amazement,
trying to take in and absorb my confession, she asked “really!
You’re an escort, Quinn told us that you were in advertising.”
Then before I could even begin, to try and defend myself,
Marcus angrily called out “she is not an escort!”
Glaring over at Marcus, wanting him to stand down
immediately, I replied “I am not an escort. I am in
advertising. Though from time to time I engage in a honey-
trap side line, outing cheating partners. That’s how I initially
met Quinn, Cynthia hired me to lure him to a hotel room but
it all ended badly. When Marcus and I realised that she was
his stalker and it was all a set up.”
Sure, that she had heard quite enough, opening the rear door,
she left the car and began to walk away. Looking over to
Marcus, he urged me to go after her. Exhaling deeply, giving
him an evil glare, yet again he urged me to go and bring her
back to the car.
Finally admitting defeat, reluctantly I made my way over to
her, calling out for her to stop. Turning around to face me,
Janine lowered her head and cried “I’m sorry, but I just
needed to get some air. This is all too much to take in right
now.”
Lifting my hand and placing it on to her forearm, I assured
her that I understood the emotions that must have been
plaguing her right now. Certain that now the police had
contacted her, detailing the lack of evidence that they had
against Cynthia, holding Quinn against his will at her home.
It was best that we head back over to Quinn’s, as it was
obvious that we were missing something.
Arriving back at Quinn’s apartment, feeling as though there was no time to lose, we returned to Quinn’s office, pulling out
file after to file to try and connect the dots. Hopefully
revealing the vital evidence and the last piece of the puzzle
that we needed, to try and locate Quinn.
An hour later, noticing Janine begin to doze off in the big
leather armchair, in the corner of the office, walking over and
crouching down before her, I suggested “why don’t you go
take a shower and get some sleep. I think you’ve had a really
long day.”
Nodding, Janine stood, looking down at the files and folders
covering the floor in front of Marcus, Janine asked “but what
about all of this?”
Looking up from his gaze, seated in a large black office chair,
Marcus replied “don’t worry, Dom’ and I will keep looking, we
promise that if we find anything we will come and let you
know. Go and get yourself some rest, we may need a fresh
pair of eyes in the morning.”
Agreeing with us both, thanking us for
all of our help, Janine
left Marcus and I to return to our role this evening as super
sleuths. Returning to the computer, trailing through every
document that I could pull up to try and find something,
anything, even the slightest thing to give us some sort of lead.
Feeling that the minutes were turning into hours, my eyes
began to feel like ball bearings, struggling to remain focused.
Turning to Marcus, his eyes fixated to the file in his hand, I
asked “have you found anything?”
Shaking his head and tossing the latest file on to the floor,
along with the others, Marcus replied “not a thing, Quinn’s
paperwork is impeccable, there is nothing at all that I have
seen that raises any concerns.”
Then with his next breath, he suggested “Dom’ you look tired.”
Holding out his arms he asked “honey, come here.”
Walking over to him, sitting down on to his lap, he placed his
arms around me and pulled me into him tightly. Resting his
head on mine, he promised “don’t worry, we’ll find him Dom’,
one way or another. I am positive that something will turn
up.”
Looking up at him, deep into his sincere, dark brown eyes,
there and then, lost in the moment, filled with exhaustion and
desperation. Something felt a little different, overcome with a
sudden emotion, that I had never felt with Marcus ever
before. I could see it clearly in his eyes, that whatever this
was, that he felt it too. Leaning in, brushing the tip of his nose
against mine, suddenly our lips met for the first time. With a
surge of electricity flowing through my veins, I could feel my
whole-body rise, lifted up into his loving arms. Consumed by
him, knowing instantly, that this connection that we had, had
reached a whole new level. Even greater than euphoric, like
nothing either of us had ever experienced before.
When suddenly, wrapped in Marcus and our unexpected,
mind blowing interaction, I heard the door to Quinn’s office
open. Jumping up to my feet, standing in the centre of the
room, aware of how the guilt from Marcus’s embrace,
consumed my entire body. Forcing out an awkward smile,
trying to hide whatever this situation was, that Janine had
just interrupted. I noticed the relief in Janine’s face and
excitement in her tone as she called out “great news! The
detective down at the precinct has just called, they’ve found
Quinn.”
Chapter 31
Feeling my eyes widen in shock and amazement, in sheer
relief that he had been found, I breathlessly called out “oh
my! That’s amazing, where was he, is he okay?”
Nodding with a huge smile across her face, she replied “he’s a
little shaken up, they’ve taken him over to the hospital, to be
checked out. He was found in an old abandoned warehouse,
belonging to the Sutton family, down at the docks. A security
guard this evening, heard his calls and cries for help and
alerted the authorities.”
Feeling Marcus’s presence closely behind me, he urged “I
think we should make our way over there, he’s going to need
to be with his family right now. I’ll drive.”
Arriving at the hospital after an extremely awkward, silent car
ride, filled with so much uncertainty, mulling over my feelings
for both Quinn and Marcus. Marching down through the
white corridors, side by side with Janine, knowing that
Marcus was only footsteps behind, we found ourselves
outside Quinn’s door. Feeling unable to catch my breath, with
the present knots in my stomach tightening, the closer we
came to entering. Instantly making me feel queasy, I gasped
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.”
Holding on to my arm, looking deep into my eyes, giving me a
reassuring smile, Janine promised “it’s going to be okay, I
know Quinn, no matter what has happened between you. He’s
going to want to see you more than anyone else. Please
Domini.”
Taking my hand in her left hand, she pushed the door to
Quinn’s room open with her right. Where we could see Quinn
seated at the edge of his bed, holding a juice cup, while he was
being questioned by a police officer. Feeling a huge lump hit the back of my throat at the sight of him, dishevelled in a
hospital gown, made my heart break a little. Sure, that the
past few days, he had obviously been through hell and back at
the hands of Cynthia.
Looking over to see who had just entered, Quinn’s whole face
illuminated at our entrance. Placing the juice cup on to his
tray table, with his eyes fixated on me, he made his way over
to us, at a great urgency. Not taking his eyes off of me,
holding on to his sister with his one arm, he pulled me into
him with his other. Then losing his gaze only momentarily, he
kissed his sister’s cheek, with tears visible in his eyes.
Releasing his hand from hers, just so that he could lift me into
his arms and regain his main focus.
Feeling his lips reach my earlobe he cried “please Domini,
please forgive me. I can’t even to begin to describe, just how
much I’ve missed you. Locked in that damn warehouse,
tethered to some damn gas pipe, while conscious all I could
think about was you, about us. I was an idiot, I should never
have tried to have made you choose. Can you find it in your
heart to ever forgive me?”
Unable to say anything other than “yes.”
I felt numb, speechless and frozen to the spot.
Placing me carefully on to my feet and holding on to me so
close, that I could hardly breathe, Quinn suggested “the
doctors have just finished running their tests. They seem
quite relieved that there has been no permanent damage
done. Just a few cuts and bruises, I am going to be fine. I just
need to get some rest. Once I’ve finished up here, they are
happy to allow me to go home.”
Then feeling his lips gently touch my earlobe, he whispered
“stay with me tonight.”
Feeling the lump return to my throat, swallowing hard, looking over to where Marcus had been stood. Only to realise
that somehow, within the last few minutes that we had
entered this room, it had all been too much for him and he
had fled.
Looking up at Quinn, anxiously awaiting my answer, I replied
“I don’t think that it’s a good idea, you need to get all the
sleep and rest that you can get right now.”
Lowering his head, feeling his lips edge closer to mine, with
desperation evident in his tone, he suggested “I don’t need
sleep and rest. Domini, I need you.”
Noticing Janine’s cheeks blush red, at her brother’s words, it
was plain to see that she was overjoyed by our closeness,
smiling from ear to ear. It was then catching me off guard,
that Quinn came in for an almighty toe-curling kiss. Feeling
his want and need for me, despite our lack of privacy, current
company and surroundings.
Releasing myself from his arms and steadying my balance,
> sadness quickly followed, knowing that despite Quinn’s
perfect kiss. It was nothing like being in the solace of
Marcus’s loving embrace. Just the thought of our very first
kiss, earlier, back at Quinn’s office, made my heart skip a
beat. Stepping back, out of the line of fire, with the fear of
being pulled back in at any second. Wanting so badly to see
and talk to Marcus, I suggested “I am going to go and find
Marcus. So that as soon as you’ve finished up here, we can get
you back home.”
Reaching out his hand and taking mine, with tears visibly in
his eyes, he took me over to his bedside, while suggesting to
Janine “would you go, please.”
Nodding, knowing that her brother wanted to keep me close, Janine smiled and then left, all while the detective patiently
waited to begin questioning Quinn again.
Prompting for the police detective to begin, Quinn pulled me
into him close, sitting me down next to him, caressing me. All
while he apprehensively waited for the tirade of questions to
once again be asked.
Hearing the officer’s tone change, sensing the seriousness of
the next question. Almost holding my breath as he asked “we
know that you were hit and taken while unconscious, from
your underground garage, at your home address. Now while
captive, we need to determine what happened. I can see cuts
and bruises suggesting violence, was there anything else that
you can remember that you encountered while you were
captive?”
Lowering his head into mine, feeling him hold me even
tighter, struggling to find the words, squeezing his hand
tightly, I asked “do you want me to step outside?”
Shaking his head, with pure determination, he replied “no
Domini, I need you in here.”
Then with his next breath, he explained “she drugged me to
keep me quiet, to keep control. I tried to fight back, but it was
just so hard, I had no strength to focus or to even speak. God
knows what she did to me while I was unconscious.”
Lifting the sleeve of his hospital gown, to reveal a trail of
small pin pricks, injection holes in his arm. I squeezed his
hand tightly, trying to comfort him, seeing with my own eyes,
the horror that he had faced.
Lifting his head from his paperwork, the detective then asked
“you say that for the past three days you have been almost