Lane just stared at him. "Aaron, I’ve been kidnapped and held hostage for two years. I almost died today. And right now, I am so, so tired. In the bigger scope of things, it’s not that big of deal. One could even argue that this ambition kept you near me, made it more difficult for Prince to act on his plan. Whatever you were when this started, you are my friend now."
Aaron brushed his thumb against Lane’s hand. “Friend?”
Lane giggled. “Maybe more.” She cleared her throat. “I would like to tell my friend my story, and I would like for him to write it. It needs to be told. People need to know.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I’m quite sure.” Lane smiled at Aaron, and he returned it.
Aaron ran a finger across Lane’s long bangs, pushing her hair back. “Nice eyes, by the way.”
She fluttered her lashes. “Thank you. They’re working well. That’s a relief.”
“I would imagine--“ Aaron’s stomach gave a yowl that rivaled a hungry stray cat.
Lane’s eyes rounded as she giggled. “Aaron, are you hungry again already?”
Aaron slapped his stomach. “I never really ate. I brought food up here, but saw you gone, so I threw it somewhere as I took off to look for you.”
“Oh, Aaron, you poor thing!”
“I’m fine. I can wait until morning.” His voice became stern. “I’m not going--“
“--anywhere,” Lane finished as she fished the nurse call button from the side of the bed. “I agree, but surely one of the nurses will have pity on you.”
“One can hope.”
Later as Lane dozed, Aaron devoured a sandwich his aunt brought him. Nancy had bustled in the moment she was on the floor, upset she had missed all the action and now her famous patient was fast asleep. Nancy had plopped down in a chair insisting Aaron tell her everything he knew. When she could no longer linger, hoping for Lane to wake up, she ordered Aaron, “You buzz me the instant her eyes open. I want to make sure the poor dear is okay.”
“You just want the scoop, Aunt Nancy.”
“Hush now, you hear? I want to apologize for not believing her in the first place, and make sure she is okay, and get the scoop.” Nancy’s bright eyes danced as she turned to walk from the room, almost running right into Detective Pearson. She put a hand up to Pearson’s arm to stop herself. “Oh, Detective.”
Pearson chuckled. “And ‘Oh’ to you, Nancy.”
Aaron frowned as he looked at them. What exactly was going in with those two?
Aaron stood, waved the detective into the hallway and joined him. “Sorry, I don’t want to disturb her.”
“I understand. Not a problem.”
The men weren’t as quiet as they believed themselves to be, and Lane stirred at the first rumble of male voices.
Detective Pearson shrugged out of his trench coat. “I wanted to bring you up to speed.”
Aaron’s eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “Are you up to speed?”
The detective cleared his throat. “Of course. I tracked down those two supposed police officers, Benson and Wilderson. We were on their trail.”
“And you didn’t think to tell us?”
The detective ran a hand over his face. “I was on my way to do that when I got the call.”
Aaron huffed and stared at the floor.
Detective Pearson went on. “So the one here, his name is a Marco Prince. His partner a William Smith. Together they ran Princess Friends. It made them a ton of money. Too bad they resorted to abducting their actresses.”
Aaron rolled his eyes. “Yeah, too bad.”
“I only meant— Anyway, they are both tucked away now. Won’t cause harm anymore. And we found Rose Briar and the others. Rose is in a room down the hall, drugged but other than that, she’s fine.”
Aaron nodded. “Good, that’s good.”
Detective Pearson tipped his head toward Lane. “How’s she doing?”
“A couple cracked ribs and a concussion, but Lane’s okay.”
The detective chuckled. “She’s a fighter.”
“Yeah, she’s tough.”
Pearson eyed Aaron. “Lane’s been through a lot.”
“She has.”
“She could use somebody.”
Aaron stared at the detective, his determination clear. “Lane’s got that.”
When Pearson raised a questioning eyebrow, Aaron said, “Lane has things to work through, but I’ll be there for her — if she lets me.”
Detective Pearson gave Aaron a sharp nod and a wink before walking away
Inside her room, Lane’s eyes brightened, and a smile covered her face as she fell back to sleep. Now this was a happy ending.
The End
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About the Author
Alicia Donovan is an emerging author of mystery thrillers. Alicia lives in Ohio with her loving family and big imagination. She happily scribbles as fast as she can to get her stories on paper and to her readers. She appreciates each and every one.
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Cinderella Lane Page 9