by Laura Sutton
“Does either lawyer have anything else to ask?” The Judge looked to both lawyers.
“No, your honor,” they both said.
“Claire, you may step down,” the judge said. As Claire stood, she fell back into the chair as her lawyer put out his hand to help her. She took his help as he helped her to shuffle back to her chair at the lawyer's table. She refused to look at anyone.
Claire sat there as the final statements were given. She was completely drained. She stared at the glass of water she had drunk from earlier. She knew that they would determine her guilt officially, but she would always blame herself for not seeing the monster in her father sooner. The courtroom emptied as they waited for the jury to make their verdict. Claire stayed seated inside the courtroom, her guards blocking off anyone who tried to get to her.
“I want to talk to her,” Aidan's voice rumbled.
“I'm sorry, sir. She said no one.”
“What about me?” Ella's voice asked timidly. Her voice rough from crying.
The guard looked at Claire. Looking up and back down, the guard said "no." He knew that she did not want to speak to anyone.
“It wasn't your fault, Claire. You protected me that night. You protected me every night. You endured all our punishments when we were bad. Talk to me, Syd. Please.”
Syd. Sydney. The name that she called her as they were captured. They had all been given names. The name couldn't hurt her now. Claire was too broken. Too shattered. Tears fell down her cheeks, but she did not look back at Ellie. Ella, Ellie, how did I not see it. She knew she looked familiar, but she had believed the police when they said that both girls were dead.
The jury was ready within twenty minutes. Claire heard Aidan pulling Ella back as the jury came back into the courtroom. The judge entered as everyone stood.
The juror gave the paper to the security officer. After the judge looked at the paper, he nodded, handing the paper back to the officer.
The juror read the findings. “We find Clayton Gregston, guilty of forty-nine counts of murder.” Claire grabbed the desk. Forty-nine. FORTY-FUCKING-NINE! 'How was it so high?' Claire asked herself, she only knew of thirty-three.
“Sydney Gregston, we find not guilty.” Claire breathed a sigh of relief hearing her name cleared.
“I agree with their findings,” the judge stated. “Mr. Gregston, you are sentenced to death by lethal injection. This court is adjourned.”
“Death won't stop me. I will see you dead and I will fuck your corpse.” He yelled towards Claire through her wall of guards. She watched as the guards drug her father out of the courtroom.
“Let's go,” Claire quietly said as the judge walked down from where he sat.
“A moment, Miss Greg... Miss Henderson.” Claire nodded as the guards moved.
“I know you blame yourself, even after they ruled you not guilty. Let me assure you, that those girls were not taken because of you. I meet a lot of sick monsters in my business. He is one of those. You did your best for those girls.” He handed her five large manila envelopes. “If you choose, you may read these over. They are difficult, but I hope that they shed some light as to who the true monster is. Both survivors talked about how you saved them. Ms. Henderson you are not a monster like him, you saved them.” He turned and walked through the door back to his office.
Claire stood there a moment. She knew that Alyssa and the Hawkins family were standing there, but she didn't look back. It was just a matter of hours that Alyssa would receive a letter and gift that Claire had sent to her. Claire did not do goodbyes. This was the best thing that she could do. She had to protect them all.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Aidan was angry. He was not even trying to hide it. He gripped the steering wheel as he drove the SUV. The guards were in SUVs in front of him and behind him. The family was packed into his SUV. After that day in court, he wanted to keep everyone near. The man's threat as they drug him away still ringing in his ears.
“She wouldn't talk to me,” Alyssa said sadly, as they rode back to Ashby Enterprises. “She hired guards to surround her. When the hell did she hire them? Who were they? For all, we know they could be holding her against her will.” Alyssa used her anger to keep from crying.
“They’re not,” Aidan said.
“How would you know?”
“Max knows them. They are former Navy Seals. All of them. Honorable discharge. They started a protection agency called Black Target Security. Claire hired them before she left your panic room.”
“What aren't you saying?”
“They're good, they'll keep her safe. She needs that. I just wish... I wish she was with me instead.” How could Aidan tell her that he was angry at Claire? She had mentioned her fear of punishment. He had shushed her so many times when we were together. He dominated her in the bedroom. She never used a safe word, but how could someone that abused know when to use a safe word? He was glad to be home. When everyone was inside, he had security lock it down tight. He had a catered meal brought up and laid out in the kitchen. “Food's in the kitchen.” He couldn't eat. He looked at his text as he walked down the hall. He had texted her earlier, and he still had no response. He sent her another quick text.
“We need to talk. You can't hide from me forever.” Oh, he was angry there was no doubt. 'How could she not have told me about this? Why did she ever agree to be my submissive? Did she allow it so I could punish her for what she blamed herself for? Did she know who Ella was when she signed the contract?' The dialogue in Aiden's mind was rolling.
He heard a ping in the bedroom. Looking up, he smiled, as he walked quickly to the room. She had come home finally. He did not realize that his fear for her is what angered him the most. He froze as he saw her stuff on the bed. The presents he had given her since they had been together. Even the t-shirt he had packed for her when she was in Topher's panic room. He picked up the folded note, that was on top.
“Dearest Aidan, I know how angry you must be after the shocking news from today. All I can do is apologize. Apologize to you, to Ellie, to Alyssa. I swear to you, I never knew that Ella was the girl that I thought died in my arms. Yes, I should have told you everything from my past, but I was told by the FBI never to disclose my true name. It was for my safety, and I never broke that promise. These past months have been the best months of my life. You taught me that love could be possible. That brokenness could be fixed. It's with a heavy heart that I write this. I have always loved you and I always will. Maybe in another life, we could have been happy but not in this lifetime. I am doing the only thing that I can do for you to make up for the hurt and misery I have caused for so many. I have one favor to beg of you, and I know that I have no right to ask, but please look after Alyssa. She deserved so much better than me as a friend. I held her back with my issues of people and groups. Ella is an amazing young woman. Love her unconditionally. Love her forever. She is strong, but sometimes even the strong need someone to step up and be their strength. Stay Safe. -Claire.”
Aidan didn't realize that he was crying, as he sat there holding the note. She was running. The monster told her that no one would love her, and she believed him. He loved her, but could he be with her after all of this? Could he give up the punishments, and the Room to protect her from herself? Could they get over her past? Could he forgive her for the betrayal of pushing him away? For not trusting him to love her. Love. The ring that he had planned to give to her that weekend, was still sitting in his safe.
His mind was so focused on his questions that he didn't hear Ella come into the room. She sat down and took the note out of Aidan's hand. Reading it quickly, she laid it on the bed and took his hand.
“She’s running?”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What?”
“Aidan. Sometimes you're so frustrating. You love her, and she loves you. She thinks that you will blame her as she blames herself. I saw her look at you a few times, and anger was always sketched
on your face.”
“Of course, I'm angry. That man... he hurt you, and he hurt Claire. I hated seeing those guards around her. I should have been protecting her, at least had my men protecting her.”
“Aidan. She was not allowed to be here because I was. She wouldn't come here; she was protecting me. Can't you see that?” Ella laid her hand on his shoulder, “It's my fault.”
“No, none of this is your fault.”
“I said some stuff to her?”
“What?”
“When you asked me to go over there to get her to eat something, we started talking.” Ella blushed as she paused from telling him the story. Aidan kissed her temple.
“You can tell me anything, you know that.”
Ella sat up so she wasn't touching him. “I talked about you. That you were the closest thing that I had to a father. I told her that, I almost called you 'dad' at the wedding.” Ella bit her lip, “I never said that out loud until I started talking with her. I felt safe with her. Aidan, you can't be mad at her. She has always protected me. She was just following the FBI rules, as I always have. She needs you. You need her too. I've never seen you so relaxed and happy before.”
“Ella.” Aidan heavily sighed.
“Aidan, do you love her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you sitting here?”
“I...”
“No! You've protected me, protected us, long enough. You need to think about yourself, for once.”
Aidan hugs her, kissing her cheek. “When did you get so smart, Pumpkin?”
“You taught me well.”
He got up from the bed and walked to the door. He turned around and looked to her. “I've always thought of you as my daughter. Love you, Pumpkin.”
“Love you, dad!” Ella said with a smile as Aidan turned and walked down the hall.
He had to find her. “Max!” Aidan shouted. Several of the people moved out of the kitchen towards the living room looking at him. He saw Alyssa. “She's running.” Alyssa shook her head, as Aidan sighed. “MAX!” He shouted even louder as Max ran into the room with two other guards. “Claire's running. We have to find her.”
“Sir.” Max nodded, but his eyes told him Aiden what he already knew. Her guards were not your average guards. They were skilled professionals at making people disappear through relocation. She would already have a new identity and a new place. She had pushed them all away; he should have seen this coming.
“Call in any favors you can. I'll make some calls too. I need to bring her home.” Home. Yes, this was her home. His chest tightened; Ella was right. He could not lose her. Max had his phone out making calls as Aidan walked towards the elevator, standing tall. “I'll find you, Claire, and I won't let go.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
She had done it. She had left him; set him free. Claire opened her wallet, pulling out a picture of her and Aiden dancing. Would he find someone, who he'd allow, to love him? Claire loved him, but she also wanted the best for him. Tears ran down her face as Heath, her bodyguard, drove the car. She unbuckled her seatbelt, curling into a ball, crying.
He had loved her; she knew it. He had said it so many times that month. Love hurts. Her mind played scene after scene of the last four months with Aidan, as tears fell over a love that was lost. A love that had turned to hatred.
Hatred. She had seen the anger in his eyes as she spoke from the stand. The anger as he gripped, a crying, Ella to his chest. Protecting her as a father would. He had wanted to speak to her, Ella had called her 'Syd.' It had been so long since someone used her true name. She had been Claire since she was eleven. The FBI protected her by changing her last name to her mother's maiden name.
"How would I live without him? I had been so lost before him, forced to display everything on my paintings." Claire questioned herself silently. Claire needed to be strong. She was on her own for the first time in her life. She stopped crying as she allowed the numbness to swallow her. She tucked away her emotions as she wiped away the last few tears and watched the scenery pass outside the window. She would be strong. She would take her punishment of exile.
Her new apartment was cold. There was not a homely feel to it like Aidan's house or her studio apartment. A couch, a bookcase, and a desk stood out along one wall with a painting easel. The bed was big, and the traffic was quiet.
“It's not a lot, but it's the basics to get you started. We stocked the other room with sketchbooks, painting supplies, and canvases. It should last you a while. There is an art supply store down the street and a grocery store.” Health said as he walked into the room. He showed her around, giving her the alarm code. “Call us if you need to. Your private code is on the back.” He handed her a business card with handwritten code.
She let the guards go. She didn't want anyone to trace them, back to her, or hurt them. Anyways, she did not care if her father, one of his buddies, or even one of the parents of the murdered children found her. Maybe she deserved to be killed. To be laid to rest with the other children her father murdered.
Alone, she turned on her iPod to her sadness playlist. Sitting down, she pulled out one of her sketchbooks as she drew Aidan's face. Memories flowed onto the pages of her sketchbook of their time together. Time became irrelevant as she lost herself within the blank pages. When the sketchbook was full, Claire whispered, “I love you, Aidan.” She closed the sketchbook and labeled it, 'Aidan.'
“Please be happy,” Claire prayed; kissing the sketchbook before she put it on the bookshelf. She slid on his t-shirt from their first night together, curling up on the couch, she cried until sleep finally found her.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love Never Fails.”
Epilogue
Four Months. Four bloody months, he and his team had been searching for Claire. He had called everyone and pulled every favor. Black Target Security would not tell him a thing except that she was safe; no matter how much money he threw at them.
Life still went on during the day. At night, he was completely lost. Ella had been living with him; trying to distract him. He hated to keep working but he had his family to think about. He wanted to be out there, pounding on every door in the world until he found Claire.
Monday afternoon he was sitting in a meeting when Max ran into the room, completely out of breath, “We found her.” Max almost froze as he saw he had run into one of Aidan's business meetings, but he had orders to tell him the moment anything changed.
Aidan looked to the people around them. “Everyone out. Meeting adjourned,” Aidan bellowed. Everyone scattered, quickly from the room. Max stood there until the last person left the room and the door had closed. He handed Aidan the manila folder that he had been gripping, tightly.
“Ready the jet. I want her home.”
Aidan opened the folder and pulled out several pictures. The first picture was a close-up of her face. The sadness seemed to leap off the photo paper. Seeing the look in her eyes, he felt like he could not breathe. Her face was sunken as if she hadn't been eating properly. She wasn't living. She was barely coping without him. She was alive at least, and soon she would be where she belonged... in his arms.
About the Author
Laura Sutton is a pseudonym of Kara Joy. She has always loved being behind a computer in her own little world. She was born with an overactive imagination, a pen in her hand, and a story in her heart. Laura is a complete sucker for happily-ever-after’s for people with darker pasts.
Because of the people that Kara must deal with on a weekly basis, a pseudonym was needed for her to write without judgement. All her novel writing is under Laura Sutton.
You can find all of Kara Joy’s other artistic endeavors (Film, Photography, Art) at her Art Studio www.SilverLabelStudio.weebly.com
To stay up to date on the latest writings from Laura Sutton make sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook (@AuthorLauraSutton)
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Laura Sutton, Through the Lens