Without care (15 page)

We climb into
the car and I can’t shift that nagging feeling that Melanie wasn’t
telling the truth about something. Jen is silent as we drive off,
her eyes focused on the road ahead.

“Are you
okay?”

“I think so”
she sighs, she turns in her seat to face me. “It was just… I think
I just assumed he would be there. I thought I would walk into that
house and nothing would have changed.”

“Have you
always seen a lot of your Aunt Mel?”

“Yeah, she’s
always been around.” She pauses and tilts her head to the side. “In
fact I can’t remember a time she wasn’t around. Do you think she
knows more than she is letting on?”

I pull the car
into a car park and cut the engine. “I know she does. That was
obvious, what I didn’t get is why she is living in your father’s
house. It just seems strange,”

“I thought that
too. If Lacey had left her husband, I wouldn’t bother with him ever
again.” She stops talking and looks at me, she seems shocked. “Do
you think…” her eyes dart from side to side. “That they're
together? As in togethe
r together
?”

I nod my head.
“Sort of makes sense.”

“If that is the
case… she does know where he is” anger fills her voice. “Why would
she lie to me?”

“Because I
think she’s covering something up. Her body language gave her
way.”

“We need to go
back there tonight. We need her to tell us and if she doesn’t then
we just search that house for clues.”

I throw my head
back and laugh. “Clues? What are you detective Hopkins now?”

She playfully
hits me in the arm. “Yeah and you’re my side kick. Come, let’s get
some lunch and discuss our plan.”

For the rest of
the day we chill out back at the flat. Jen calls a few people, but
no one has heard or seen her father in a while. I feel as if we
have hit a brick wall. I know Melanie has all the answers.

I sit down on
the sofa as she hangs up another call. This is all beginning to get
a little too much for her. I wrap an arm round her shoulder, her
head rests against my chest and she lets out a deflated sigh.

“How can
someone disappear like this?” She curls into me and I hold her
tighter. “We’re not going to find him, are we?”

“I don’t know…
Leave Mel to me. I’m pretty sure by the end of the night we will
have at least one lead.” I feel her smile against my chest. I’m
going to stand by my word. Tonight Melanie is going to tell me
something. That I am going to make sure of.

The front door
opens and then closes. “Honey, I’m home” Tucker calls out. Jen
gives a little chuckle and moves out of my grip. Tucker slumps down
in one of the chairs. “So, what have you two been doing today?” He
wiggles his eyebrows in a suggestive manner and I immediately give
him a dirty look.

“I think I’m
going to have a little lay down” Jen stands up and leaves the
room.

The second I
hear the bedroom door, I pick up a cushion and throw it at Tucker.
He ducks and it flies over his head. “Why did you do that?”

“What?” he
looks all innocent. “I was only messing. What, you can’t take a
joke anymore?”

“Just don’t do
it again” I warn.

“Alright” he
smiles. “What you love birds up to tonight?”

“Tucker,” I say
sternly. He just shrugs and sits back in his chair. “We are
actually going to have dinner with Jen’s Aunt.”

“Ah” Tucker
smiles. “Meeting the family already? Sounds pretty serious.”

“It is serious.
Do you still have that connection?”

“What
connection?”

“From the data
base agency? I need someone checked out.”

Tucker sits up
and lets out a groan. “Ayden, you’re talking about that woman
April.”

“Yeah and? Can
you do this background check for me or what?”

“It means I
have to take her out. I haven’t spoken to her in a year and you
know how obsessive she got the last time.” He lets out a deep
breath and rubs his brow. “She practically walked me down the
aisle.”

“I wouldn’t ask
if I was desperate…” I beg, my eyes pleading with him. “Please,
Tuck, you know I would never ask if it wasn’t important.”

He rolls his
eyes and pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Fine, but you’re
paying. When do you want this info?”

“A.S.A.P” I
grab a piece of paper and a pen and quickly write down Melanie’s
name and address. “I want to know everything you can find out about
her.” I hand it over, just as Tucker starts talking on the
phone.

I am hoping
Tucker can find that missing link and I’ll have something to
confirm my suspensions about sweet aunty Mel.

***

Jen sits at the
table, she looks nervous and uncomfortable. Melanie is fussing
around preparing food. She has been welcoming towards us. I have a
strange feeling it’s just an act. I lean over and place a hand over
Jen’s.

“You need to
relax” I whisper, she looks up and bites down on her lip. “If you
want I’ll ask all the questions.”

“No, I need to
do this” she sighs.

“What are you
kids whispering about” Melanie jokes as she places food down on the
table. Jen looks up at her all wide eyes. “I’m joking. I made your
favourite. Pot roast.” She takes her place at the head of the
table. “Tuck in before it gets cold.”

Both I and Jen
recluntly begin to help ourselves to food. We all eat in silence. I
might not like the woman but she sure can cook. I look up at Jen
and she is just moving food around her plate. This can’t go on and
I am desperate for answers. I sit up straight and turn my attention
to Melanie.

“You said
you’ve been here a year?”

“Yeah. Jen’s
dad was in a bad state and needed someone to help out.” She puts
her fork down and looks over at Jen. “You really have to understand
how upsetting it was when your mother left him. He wouldn’t leave
the house and he would drink...”

“And you came
to his rescue” Jen snaps, slamming her fork down. “What exactly are
you doing here?”

“I told you. I
am here because your father needs me.”

“You said he
has gone away. Obviously without you.” Jen lets out a deep breath.
“Shouldn’t you be on my mother’s side? After all she is the victim
in all of this. He lied to her and he committed Freud. You do know
that, right?”

Melanie shifts
in her chair and reaches for her glass of water. “Of course I do.”
She takes a big gulp and swallows loudly. “You have no idea how
demanding your mother is. She wanted the best of everything and he
had to pay for it somehow.”

“Not by being a
criminal. Are you with my father? Are you and him an item?” Melanie
doesn’t answer. She just looks down at the table. “I knew it! So
you lied, your not just here as a friend and you do know where he
is.”

“Jennifer,
please don’t be angry with me…”

“Of course I’m
angry.” She throws her hands up in the air. “He has been
threatening my mother. He sent men with guns to come and get
me.”

“And why would
your father do something as crazy like that” she narrows her eyes.
“He loves you and he would never do anything like that. I think
your mother has been telling you lies and I feel for her, of course
I do.” She points her finger in Jen’s direction. “Let’s get one
thing very clear. Your mother treated your father like dirt. She
was never happy and constantly cheated on him.”

Out of nowhere
a door opens and slams shut. Both I and Jen turn to look at
Melanie, who now looks just as shocked as we are. She pushes back
her chair and storms out of the room. That’s when the shouting
begins.

“What are you
doing here?” we hear Mel yell, it’s the other voice that makes Jen
stand up and charge out of the room. I closely follow behind, eager
to see who has caused this reaction from them.

A tall slim man
with grey hair is standing in a doorway, his skin tanned and
wrinkled, it looks like he hasn’t shaved in awhile. He looks tired
and his clothes are all creased up. The minute he sees Jen, he
takes a step back shaking his head. A hand covers his mouth and he
lets out a painful cry.

With a shaking
hand he points at Jen and turns to look at Melanie.

“What is she
doing here…? This wasn’t…”

Melanie walks
up to him and places her hands on his shoulders. We can’t see her
facial expression as her back is towards us. I can tell she is
mouthing something to him.

Before I have a
chance to do anything Jen comes running up to Mel and pushes her
out of the way -Almost sending her flying through a wall. She
begins to push her father until he is forced up against a wall. Her
fists start punching his chest and she is crying
uncontrollably.

“You’re a liar.
You’re spineless. How could you? How could you?” she yells at him,
over and over again. It’s as if she uses all her strength up and
collapses on the floor in a hemp.

Her father
looks down at her. He is breathing heavily, but it’s his expression
that captures me the most. He looks shocked with a hint of
confusion. He should be on his knees hugging his daughter –
comforting her, reassuring her everything would be okay.

My heart breaks
for her, I drop next to her side and hug her. Her head falls
against my chest and the tears continue to fall. I look up at him
and meet his gaze.

“I don’t know
what to say” he mumbles, running his hand down his face. “I don’t
know what to say.” He staggers through a doorway, not bothering to
even speak to his daughter. At least we have found the
arsehole.

My grip of Jen
tightens and I slowly help her to stand up. The tears are calming
down; I can feel her shaking with anger.

“You lied to
me, Mel” she sobs. I guide her to the front door. She needs to get
out of here and gather herself before she does anything stupid.
“I’ll be back tomorrow” she yells over my shoulder. “And you make
sure that waste of space is here!”

***

The rest of the
night Jen stays in my bedroom. I’m beginning to worry about her;
maybe coming here wasn’t a good idea. I lie back on the sofa and
close my eyes. I really need to sleep but my mind won’t settle.

I would have
loved nothing more than to of punched that man his face. He was
cold towards Jen and what did Mel stop him from saying. Something
wasn’t quite right with them; there was more than they were letting
on.

“What are you
still doing up?” Tucker says. I open my eyes and he is standing
next to the sofa, holding something in his hand. “Here” he throws
it in my direction and it lands on my chest. “You’re in luck. She
is actually getting married and gave me the info to get rid of me.
“

“Lucky escape
then” I laugh sitting up.

“Tell me about
it” he grunts, he turns to leave but stops in the doorway. “Look, I
don’t know the exact details but if you need my help with
anything…” I slowly look up at him, his big goofy face is serious
and I just nod in response. “Well, night.”

“Night” I call
after him. I pick up the envelope and just stare down at it. I have
a feeling that what ever is inside this is bad. I sit up and rip it
open. I scan through the paperwork, basic information; her age,
height, address.

I dismiss that
and turn to her previous offences. Everything seems to be in order.
She’s only been arrested once for shop lifting. Then jackpot, it’s
an article about the Lopez case and now everything finally makes
sense.

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

Jen

I can’t sleep
and wiggle around in the bed. Every time I close my eyes my father
haunts me. He looked like a complete stranger, there was nothing
there of the man I remember. I punch the mattress in rage, blinking
up at the dark ceiling.

I feel sick,
mainly because I’m missing home and mainly because my father looked
at me like I was nothing. I feel so lonely, either though I know
Ayden is in other room. Tonight I just really want to be on my
own.

I sit up in bed
and reach over to the bedside cabinet for my phone. I really want
to hear a friendly voice and search through my contacts. There’s
only really one person worth taking to and that’s Ali.

I hit the call
button and place the phone against my ear.

I’ve been
meaning to speak to her ever since leaving her at the dance with
those gunmen. I guess nothing happened, but I would like to make
sure. I patiently wait and finally she answers.

“Hello,” her
voice is a little groggy; I guess I have woken her up.

“Hey,” I try to
keep my voice as normal as possible. Even though I actually feel
like breaking down into tears.

“Jen!” She
screeches. “Oh my god Jen, where are you? Are you okay? What’s
going on?”

I give a little
laugh at her endless questions. “Ali, calm down. Everything is
okay, I’m fine. I’ll be back in a few days. Tell me what I’ve been
missing out on?” I get comfortable and wait to hear all the latest
gossip.

“Well,” she
sighs. “Chase has been telling the whole senior year he dumped
you.”