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POV: Emily
Word count: 4988
Saturday, February 8, 2014; 4 am
I was woken up to a small wiggling body beside me and when I finally opened my eyes I seen that Alexander was looking at me, he was apparently tucked in very well with me and wait…why was I even tucked in? Nothing was hooked to either of us and I didn’t quite remember laying down, it took a few moments to realize the last thing I remember clearly was Eliza grabbing my arm. I must have fainted or something.
“Mama.”
“Mama’s right here baby.”
“Baby.”
“Yes, baby is right here too. So are you, Mama’s big boy.”
“Dada...”
I felt a sharp little stab. “I know baby, mama wants dada too.”
He kept wiggling around and I finally sat up, I was kind of shocked to see Aaron, Christopher, and Craig were all here. I got his diaper bag and he laid down in front of me while I changed the wet diaper, probably the reason he woke up. Craig looked at me when I got his cup.
“Do you want me to get him some milk?”
“Please.”
He got up and left the room, returning about ten minutes later with fresh carton he even washed the cup out and filled it. I laid back down and he laid down beside me, Craig tucked us back in.
“I wondered who done that.”
He kissed my forehead. “Just rest Emily.”
I felt tired and drained, completely just wiped out but I let Alexander fall back asleep before me, I even managed to sit the cup away from us before drifting back off. Sleep helped me forget the pain and the ache that was caused by Ian.
I woke up to Maddi’s voice saying she’d brought breakfast for everyone and then Aaron was quick to say we were both still asleep. I opened my eyes to see Alexander still asleep right where he had been, but the sun was filtering into the room already. Maddi apologized but began to hand out things to them. Why was Maddi here? I didn’t remember calling her; I planned to this morning actually. The smell of bacon hit me and I sat up.
“Maddi?” I asked.
“Oh..good morning! I hope I didn’t wake you up.”
“I need to be up anyway.”
“I brought Alexander something too, more baby friendly.”
“Thank you.”
A few moments later Max came in and I was very confused, why where they here? Who called them? I didn’t and I was sure that my brothers didn’t either. Maddi sat down at the foot of the bed and laid her hand on my ankle.
“No one called me. I got your pictures yesterday and I felt weird all day long. I laid down and I woke up from a nightmare about 2 and
I called your phone and Craig answered.”
“Nightmare?” I asked.
“I saw you falling in a room and then I saw Alexander screaming. It scared me so I called. Craig told me what happen and I told him I
was calling Max and coming up.”
“I was wondering how you knew…”
She smiled at me and Craig was about to ask something when Alexander sat up, diverting everyone’s attention. She sat our plates in front of us and despite the smell I really didn’t want to eat, but they were all staring at me and I was sure if I refused they’d just make me. Besides, little bean needed it more than I did. I actually kind of felt like curling up somewhere and dying but I couldn’t.
The wiggling toddler in my lap was a reminder that I was now his sole care taker and he would depend on me for everything now, dada wasn’t here to rock him and protect him that was now solely my job. I let him finish eating and he sat there beside me with his cup while I ate. I was certain that Christopher and Craig had seen Eliza, but they weren’t asking about her. We finished up breakfast, I got Alexander changed and in a clean sleeper. Zander came in and since he was much better he let him check him better and then he did vitals on me as well.
“I’m releasing you both to go home, because that is where you’d rather be anyway. Keep an eye on him if he starts sniffling or sneezing then make him an appointment, don’t wait. He could develop a cold or the flu from getting cold. Make sure he is eating, drinking, and diapers are consistent. I know you’ll be tempted and I know this situation is already stressful and bad, but do not bring unneeded and unnecessary stress onto yourself. I know with him being gone and missing it’s hard but you need to make sure you stay as calm as possible.”
“No worries, she will.” Max said.
“I assume Nurse Max is coming home with me?”
“Yes. Maddi and I both are. I image at least one of these three will also.”
Everyone nodded and that included Zander. Truthfully, I was kind of glad that Max would be there because if Alexander did start getting sick he’d know. He released us and by nine we were at home and Alexander was happier but I could tell he was looking for Zac, he wasn’t crying but he was looking.
“Has anyone called Ace and Nathaniel?” I asked.
“I did but there both on flights and won’t be home until the fifteenth. He said if he could he would return sooner but they were in Italy when I spoke to him.” Aaron said.
“Ok. I need to tend to something alone, if he’ll let me I’ll be in the office.”
“Ok.” They said.
I went to the office but Alexander was right behind me and when I went to close the door he started crying, so I just let him come in with me. He had a few quiet toys in here but he wanted in my lap so I sat him down and he sat quietly with one of his books. I called
Detective Walker first, I explained what was going on and she was already aware of Eliza and even agreed they were not doing a good job. It turns out they had not even gone to the address that Robert had given them! If he was holding them there, he could have been home hours ago! I asked her for the number to the person above Eliza and Grant, she gladly got the information for me. Gilbert Daly was her boss and after hanging up with Detective Walker I called him.
“Daly speaking.”
“Good morning Agent Daly, this is Emily Hanson.”
“Good morning in deed, what can I do for you?”
“I’m hoping a lot. I would like this case to be assigned to someone else. I don’t believe the agents in charge are working and that they are competent enough to find my husband and our friend and bring them home alive. I don’t believe they want too and Agent Eliza Marshall is actually my twin sister and I didn’t know about until December, when she decided it was time I knew. Ian’s nephew gave her his address, phones, information and she has done nothing. In fact, she sat at the hospital most of the time and blamed me for the death of our friend and my son’s godmother, a woman who died protecting him.”
The other end of the line was quiet as he processed the information.
“I understand, please hold on.”
Alexander handed the book to me and I quietly read it to him and waited, he pointed to the pictures and listened.
“Mrs. Hanson are you still here?”
“Yes.”
“Special Agent Michael Rodriguez and Richard Stewart will be coming to your house around two today. I have just assigned them and they wish to meet you personally and they’re going to review the case thus far.”
“Can you send me a photo of them?”
“Yes. I will send it to your e-mail and I will inform Agent Marshall myself, please do not call either of them with anything else going forward.”
“Not a problem, thank you.”
I hung-up and sat there a few moments in the quiet room. The e-mail arrived and I printed them off because the other people here needed to know they could be allowed onto the property. Alexander was just sitting in my lap, not really wanting to do much and I could understand that. There was a soft knock and Maddi peeked in.
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I needed to call the FBI.”
She came in and sat down in the other chair, closing the door behind her.
“He has gotten bigger since Christmas.”
“He has, his last regular check up showed him to be within range and perfect. Where is Ginger Monster at?”
“I asked my mother to take her; I trust her and Cody to take care of her for a few days. I didn’t think you would mind but I also didn’t know the circumstances surrounding my vision.”
I sat there a moment and before I could stop it I was crying and Alexander seemed so confused but Maddi was there quickly. I honestly had no idea what to do now. But, Maddi held us both and got me to calm back down.
“Max informed Casey’s parents and their coming up for a few days. Craig said that Natalie and Taylor came to the hospital last night and apparently Natalie got quite defensive against some woman.”
“What do I do Maddi? I can’t live without him and I feel so helpless. It’s like I want to crusade and find him and bring him home but I can’t do anything.”
She rubbed my back a few minutes. “You’re not helpless Emily. What you have to do is take care of little munchkin here and yourself.
You have to be strong because you know he will come home, Zachary is not going to live without you and without his babies. He will find a way to you somehow.”
“You like…didn’t have any visions of him being dead did you?”
“No. I didn’t.”
That was a good thing but and since her facial expression held I believed her. We came out of the office and she insisted on fixing lunch and sent me to the living room with instructions to sit my ass down and do nothing. I had just sat down when Natalie sent me a text; I thought it was strange at first.
Hey Ems, Taylor said you were home. If you need *anything* do not hesitate. I’ll come and sit with you and Alexander if you need me too.
We are home and thank you. I have Maddi and four men here pretty sure they’re not going to let me need or want anything. Zander put me on rest so nothing heavy…even if I really want to be out there…
I know honey but right now you should be taking care of you and Alexander. We’re here for you and Alexander.*hugs*
It was nice to know she was, even if we didn’t do a lot just her and me, Natalie and Nikki both had been good sisters, much better than Eliza was being right now. Alexander was playing with his toys, but he was staying within a few feet of me, something he did to Zac when he’d come back from places. She called us for lunch about 11:15 and Alexander ate his lunch while we did.
But I felt bad sitting at home eating what she’d fixed not knowing if Ian was treating them nicely, was he feeding them? Was he at least giving them water? Adam had cared about those small things and I’d never appreciated it. But, now I was.
“Emily?” Craig asked.
I finished what she’d put on my plate simply because I was being nice but it was a little bit after finishing that I was in the bathroom, her lunch taste much better going down. I sat on the tile floor, letting the coldness seep into me and just sat there. It was Craig that opened the door for Alexander to get in and he came right to me, Craig came in too and wet a rag and handed it to me before he sat down beside me.
“I’m not going to ask if you’re ok.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“He was whiney so I figured he wanted you. Apparently I was right.”
Alexander had settled in my lap pretty quickly. “It’s not me he wants Craig.”
“We both know that but right now you are all he has.”
“I know.”
He put his arm behind me and gave me a little squeeze, then questioned the painful expression.
“Shoulder’s a bit sore, I guess from the fall.”
“You know we have questions, you’re not hiding out in the bathroom to prevent us from asking are you?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Emily she was there and we all saw her, Natalie actually bitch slapped her like twice. I’ve never seen Natalie that mad.”
I looked at him. “Natalie?”
“Yes. She showed up a moment after you fainted on us. She was very defensive and I think she hit her as hard as you did. Although, you know we have questions.”
“I know, I just…”
He laid my head over and rubbed my arm. “I know you’re worried about him Emily, I know you just wish he’d send you something to prove that he’s ok and that he’s alive. But believe me getting those messages would be worse because then you can’t convince yourself that he is ok. That he is fine. The messages we got from Adam were torture Emily because it made us feel so much worse because we knew there was not a damn thing we could do.”
“He’s not going to sent me anything. He’ll just keep him.”
“But you know Zac will come home to you. Come on, tell us about this girl. We need to know and we should be told before the agents arrive.”
“Fine.”
He got up and helped me, wiped my face off again and we went to the living room. Alexander got his cup from the table and climbed into my lap again, settled himself down where he wanted to be. Maddi was beside me on the love seat facing the front of the house, Zander and Aaron were across from me and the other three were on the sofa.
I showed them the pictures first and explained they’d be here soon.
“What about the two existing agents?” Aaron asked.
“Zander would not approve of anymore violent outburst so it’s probably better to reject either of them, I don’t care what they say or what they claim.”
“Who is she Emily? I’ve never in my life seen you that way, just the way you talked and your body language it left me feeling…honestly you reminded me of David.” Christopher said.
“Our older brother’s should hear this.”
I was hoping it would get me out of talking about it, but that just prompted them to conference call the older three and given they already knew that something happened, then it looked like I wasn’t getting away easy. Alexander was a distraction because he’d finished his cup but while he was rubbing his eyes but he wasn’t falling asleep. I slide into the corner and he placed himself in that space and I put my arm behind him, let him know he was safe.
I wasn’t sure how to explain any of it.
“Ems we won’t be mad at you. We are your family and we love you but we need to know what is going on.” George said.
I took a deep breath. “We met Grant when the bus wrecked, he came to the hospital and Zac didn’t like the way he looked at me, Grant commented on how he’d never met anyone with the same color eyes as his wife. His wife was assigned to our case in November but she wouldn’t meet us, kept insisting on e-mails or phone calls. We went shopping in December and Ian put snow globes in the car with the items we’d bought. He called her and she said she would send someone after Christmas, but instead she came the 27th. I opened the door and I couldn’t believe what was in front of me.”
“She looks so much like you, it’s almost scary.” Craig said.
I looked at him. “She claims to be my twin sister.”
Aaron dropped his phone and everyone else looked stunned. Zander and Craig also had this confusion in their expression. Maddi just stared at me from her place. Zander finally got Aaron’s phone off the floor and laid it on the table.
“I was there when you were born Emily, I’ve never seen this person or anyone that looks like your saying.” George said.
I had Maddi get my phone because Alexander didn’t need to be moved. I then sent them the graduation comparison photo she had sent to me earlier. They would know mine because they had copies of it.
“Is that her?” Jason asked.
“Yes. She pulled my graduation from a fan website and apparently that is her picture.”
I’d sent the picture even to those in the room, so everyone could see it.
“Well, you can’t deny that she looks like you I mean damn if I didn’t know better I’d say both of them were you.” Jason said.
“But we’ve known you for your entire life, David never mentioned Mom having two girls. Where the hell has she been?” Joshua asked.
I felt the little blimp of anger. “She was living in Arkansas with her perfect fucking parents.”
Zander’s head snapped up at me quickly. “Don’t get upset Emily.”
I looked at him while the others in the room were looking at me.
“Ok. She came to you in December and said hey sis it’s me basically. How come you didn’t tell anyone? I presume Zac knows about her.” George said.
“Yes, he knows and so do Ike, Tay, and Casey. I just was trying to determine if I could trust her.”
“So, tell us about the encounters and please don’t get upset. It’s not going to change how we feel about you. We won’t even be mad.” George said.
“You say that but I can see two of you.”
“Well, they need to calm themselves down because we don’t have a reason to be mad at you.”
I took a moment before telling them about the encounters and how each time felt worse until January when we seemingly made peace. That was, until last night. I didn’t hold back how I felt, the resentment and anger toward how she had the perfect family.
“Have you told Dad?” Aaron asked.
“No. I didn’t even know how to tell you and right now I’m terrified he’ll want us together and I…well…I can’t be around her.”
“But she’s the lead investigator for this case; you have to be around her.” Craig said.
“She’s not anymore. I called her boss and requested two new agents, which are the ones coming here at two. I cannot let her be the reason Ian kills them.”
“I’m sure…” Christopher started but he stopped when I looked at him.
“She blamed me Christopher. Point blank told me I didn’t care about Alexander or Velma. That this is what I wanted, that I wanted Ian to take them. She is nothing to me right now but a selfish bitch that only cares about herself and her own happiness. I will not sit back and let her get them killed. She came to me to find her parents; she can have David for all I care.”
“She didn’t seem to care guys, I heard her.” Craig said.
The gate buzzer went off and Craig got it, allowing the two new agents to come inside.
“We should give you and them some privacy. We’ll go to the basement and we can finish this later.” Craig said.
“Do you want me to take Alexander?” Maddi asked.
“You can try.”
She smiled and it took several moments to get him up without really waking him up and she carried him downstairs as Aaron let the new agents inside. Agent Rodriguez was a Hispanic mix, he had the resemblance of being Hispanic but all the tell signs of being born in the United States. His hair was clipped short, his eyes a dark brown and he looked serious. Agent Steward was an African American man with a shaved head and dark eyes as well. Both of them were over six feet and both wore tailored suits that fit well.
“Good Evening Mrs. Hanson.” They each said.
“Evening, please can I get you anything?”
“No thank you.” Stewart said.
We sat down this time they took the love seat facing the kitchen and I took the end of the couch, facing the tv.
“We are aware that this is a hard time for you and we’ll try not to take much time.”
“No, if you need to take time to make sure you can bring them home then by all means, take the time.”
“We have reviewed both your current and previous case. We have a team assembled to raid the address that Robert McDermid gave the prior agents. We have reviewed what they’ve done and sadly it’s not much. We understand your frustrations and your issues with them and we hope going forward we don’t have those same problems.”
“So they really hadn’t done anything?”
“Um, Spencer Marshall was actually doing what he said. He was scouring pictures from years back to determine but there is no need for that because in a case like this where he’s sending pictures it’s clear he’s obsessed with him and how long is not quite as important as what he is doing. By the time he was involved there were two assaults already, that was more than enough to be concerned for his immediate safety. Mrs. Hanson your husband should have never been allowed to leave the state alone, you should not have been alone given his threats. Why neither of you had any kind of police protection is beyond me.” Rodriguez said.
It felt like everything was crashing all over again. I’d sent Casey and Robert with him but really there was no one else here and no one to protect us.
“The man who brought your son said there were items in Casey Smith’s car that were supposed to be turned over. Do you know if they were?”
“No. If not there still in his car, I drove his car home this morning.”
“We will check before we leave. Please can you give us a glimpse into what you know?”
I told him what I could, what little interaction I had with Ian was brief and mostly through Zac’s phone. I provided them with everything I knew including letting them see the e-mails we had forwarded that they hadn’t seen because they weren’t part of the file and really they should be! The idea of having a sister was remote at this point, she’d compromised everything. They took notes, looked around the house including the basement, and looked at the security system, called Craig up to actually have him pull it up. It turned out the cameras were triggered when Ian came into the house, they hadn’t been gone very long when I came home. We then sat down in the living room again.
“What can you tell me about Velma?” I asked.
“The medical examiner was working on her when we called, all we truly know is that she was shot from behind. Your son’s sleeper was turned over but her phone had the pictures of them and there was blood on both sides. Robert McDermid indicated that it was his jacket over her and that he saw shoe prints and believed she was running away. We believe that is true also.”
“Have her parents been notified?”
“Yes Ma’am. Agents went to their house earlier today.”
“I should call them.”
“That is your decision Mrs. Hanson. We are going to have officer’s drive by every hour will someone be staying with you and your son?”
“Yes. My brother’s are staying and I have two friends also here. I’m not sure how long they’ll be staying but I can ensure at least my brothers will be.”
“That is good; we don’t want you to leave unless you have too. Please if he calls, texts, or messages, do not go like your husband did in 2010. We understand you love him and you want him home but right now our priority is to keep you safe while we look for him.”
“He won’t call me.”
“How can you be so sure?” Stewart asked.
“Adam used me to get Zac for cash; I have no value to anyone but David in that capacity. Ian isn’t like them he wants Zac.”
“You seem very sure about that.”
“He’s not Adam or David, they sent messages to Zac to torture him Ian doesn’t care about me or Alexander, and he just wants Zac.”
“We would like to do a press conference with you and his older brothers. We don’t want to involve the fans but we do want people to be watching for them and to inform the police if they see either of them. We do not want your son part of the broadcast, just the three of you.”
I agreed and made the call to Taylor and Isaac, both agreed to come over and we contact a single news crew something kind of small because I didn’t want a lot of people in the house either. Alexander wasn’t use to that and especially not a bunch of strangers. Taylor and Isaac arrived first and it was clear they were upset over this as well. Taylor’s eyes were red and Isaac’s were lacking their usual spark.
“How are you? Alexander?” Isaac asked.
“Alexander is downstairs with Maddi and the others, she sent me a text and said he was awake but he was playing. I’m here, beyond that I don’t know.”
“Where are the Marshalls?” Taylor asked.
“I requested new agents this is Special agents Rodriquez and Stewart.”
Taylor and Isaac greeted them and they sat us down to go over what they wanted, it really wasn’t much a simple statement saying he was missing and so was Casey and that if anyone seen them to report it to the authorities. The news crew arrived and because things couldn’t be worse Maddi came up-stairs with Alexander who was crying.
“I think he got to missing you.”
I took him from her and stepped to the side, there was one news crew here and when they started toward me Taylor and the agents stopped them. I took him up-stairs and he calmed down quickly so I went ahead and changed his diaper and sat there a few minutes before heading back down. I found Maddi was in the kitchen again.
“You don’t have to do that.” I said.
“There setting up and I am hoping food will distract him long enough for you to get that done.”
I sat down at the table with him until she was done, they finished before hand but waited and once he was eating I went to the living room. He did whine but she got him interested in dinner again and he was ok. The actual recording went quick and I hide the shock when Isaac declared there was a hundred thousand dollar reward for anyone that provides information that leads to their safe return.
“Ok, we’re going to have this run as soon as possible, breaking news and we will assign protection to each of your houses and that includes your younger siblings and parents. Is there anyone else you feel needs the protection?”
“As much as I want to deny this, you should ensure that Robert, Ian’s nephew, is protected also. I can’t deny that he did what Zac asked of him. He didn’t have to and he didn’t have to tell me.”
“We have him and his family under watch.”
Alexander came running from the kitchen to me but then he looked at Taylor and Isaacs. “Dada.”
I could see the small pools in their eyes even if they denied them.
“Dada will be home soon little man.” Ike said.
Yet, Alexander didn’t seem to understand that. He wasn’t use to seeing either of them without Zac somewhere nearby, so he asked again and again. Taylor took him from me so I could say goodbye to the detectives and news crew who left me numbers and cards. Aaron made sure that everyone left and the gate was closed. Alexander didn’t fall for Taylor’s baby whispering skills, he kept asking and after an hour he got hysterical. Crying and asking for dada.
“I’m sorry Ems.” Taylor said.
“Don’t be Tay. He’s going to be bad either way. We all know who his favorite parent is..”
Given the number of people trying I just took him up-stairs to his room and sat down in the floor, there was nothing I could do but tell him Daddy would be home soon. He screamed, he yelled, and he cried and eventually I broke down and cried with him because what else could I do?
I couldn’t give my son what he wanted and he didn’t understand that and he didn’t understand that while I kept telling him Daddy would come home soon, deep down I had no hope of that being true. Ian was fully prepared to keep him for infinity as he would say.
Alexander and I both eventually cried ourselves to sleep in his bedroom floor.
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I will be adding more within the next few days. Glad your enjoying it and hope the remaining chapters are just as good!