Hidden Temptations

Chapter Thirteen

*knock knock*

Ian walks into my hospital room with Officer Turner. Officer Turner was short and round, he was an older gentleman and has been on the force for a long time. I remember seeing him when the police came to talk about my dad's accident.

“Are you ready Addie?” Ian looks at me, so passionately, longing for me again. He breaks his eye contact and takes his notepad out of the pocket of his uniform shirt. I nod. “Can you tell me from the beginning, what did he look like, what did he say?”

“Well, he is ginger with blue eyes, about 5ft 11 and he was about my mother's age, maybe a little older so I’m the upper 40’s. He came into the room acting like my doctor and took me for my xrays. I was texting Sarah so I wasn’t paying attention to where I was being taken. By the time I realized where I was he had taken me to the basement, then he must have hit me on the head with something because I blacked out.” I start to tear up. Ian takes a step forward, but stops. He needs to be professional right now, it must kill him inside to see me cry, I can tell by the way his face looks right now.

“It’s okay, take your time Ms. Marten.” Officer Turner said, he was also taking notes. I sniffed, but I continued.

“I’m not sure how long I was out, but when I woke up and screamed for help. I tried to move, tried to fight but I couldn’t. He told me to be quiet and grabbed my face, hard. After he said something about how my dad died, I think he said that it was sudden, then he laughed. I am not too sure what he meant by that. After he said that, he left for a little while and brought back chicken noodle soup. He tried to feed it to me.” I stop to sniffle and wipe my tears. “I spit it out, and he told me I needed to learn my lesson, then he poured the soup on my legs.” I ran my fingers over my thighs, they are bandaged up. “After that he left. I stayed awake for a while, the pain from the soup on my thighs was too much.” I look down at my legs, the pain is still there but not as much. My mom places a hand on my shoulder, I look up at her, she’s crying again.

“I am so sorry this happened to you Adeline. This shouldn’t have happened.” She can’t hold back her tears.

“What happened next?” Ian asked, I looked up at him, into his deep blue eyes, I get lost in them.

“After a while I fell asleep, I couldn’t fight anymore, I needed to sleep. Then I woke up, heard your rescue teams radios then I screamed for help, then Officer Matthews untied me along with a few other officers and they got me here. I wouldn’t be here without you Officer Matthews. Thank you.” My gaze never leaves his, we are locked, he was meant to find me, to be the one to save me, I don’t know why, but I can feel it.

“What about these texts and the note you have received? You mother has informed us that there Was a vehicle that was following you, is this correct?” Ian continues without a beat.

“On graduation day I got a note in my diploma booklet saying'' *You have no idea what is about to happen to you. Get ready for your life to change.*” I also received a text the same day saying “Be Ready.” I thought it was just from Sarah trying to set me up for our birthday party, but it wasn’t. A few days later on my way to pick up my dress for my party I saw a suburban following me. And while I was in the dress shop I saw a man looking at me through the window. And over the next few days I received more texts.” “You’re not taking this seriously enough.”

“Answer me.”

“Adeline.”

“If you don’t want to talk, I will make you talk.”

“After leaving the hospital from my accident my mother noticed the suburban following us home, and then again at the coffee shop while I was meeting a friend for coffee.”

“Was that a date at the coffee shop?” Ian asked, while looking right at me.

“Yes, he said that he noticed the suburban there before I even arrived.” Ian looks a little upset because he saw me there with Bryan. I just don’t see how this is relevant to the case, but it seemed relevant to Ian.

“Thank you that is all we need.” Officer Turner leaves. Ian stays, just for a moment, making sure I am okay if he leaves. I nod at him. He touches my foot before he heads toward the door and leaves.

“Can you get Sarah mom?” She nods, wipes her face and leaves. I am alone, it gets cold, I don’t want to be alone, but I know I am safe.

“Addie!” Sarah runs in, pulls up a chair and sits by my side.

“I am okay. I promise. Happy birthday Sarah.”

“Don’t worry about me, you just got kidnapped, how are you okay?!” She scoots closer and grabs my hand.

“Because I’m safe, and now I’m with my best friend. I want to apologize.”

“Apologize?! For what?!”

“For not being into parties, for not living my best life with you. And that’s what I want now. I want our party, I want to celebrate with you and all of the people I hated in high school.” We both giggle. “And I want to laugh and be free, I want to lose my virginity dammit.” She laughs even harder. It was such a beautiful sight. “I don’t want to cry anymore, I want to fight and be happy. Enjoy everything!”

“Maybe Ian can help with that! I saw the way you two were staring at each other!” She laughs even harder “Yes, we will enjoy everything, but I canceled our party, I didn’t think you would want to jump back into life right away. I want you to take some time.”

“Nope, call, text, email or do whatever you can to get everyone, we’re having our party. Tonight. Wait, what time is it?” I ignored the Ian comment, I pull out my phone, it’s dead.

“It’s 7 in the morning. They found you around 5 this morning. But I am on it! All the decorations are still up and everyone will be notified within a few hours!” She jumps up excited! “But get some sleep okay? Your mom gets to bring you home at noon I think. I am going to get all the food and cake. I love you Addie. You won’t be alone, Ian I right outside your door.” She winks at me. “He hasn’t left your side since he found you has he?”

“No he hasn’t, he told me he wants me, that he has for a long time. He just couldn’t because I wasn’t 18.” She screeched, but quietly so Ian wouldn’t hear.

“Bring him to the party! Oh this couldn’t be more perfect.” She claps her hands very quickly. I couldn’t even see them move.

“Don’t you think that’s weird? He was everyone’s teacher.”

“No! Say he’s your personal police escort or something!! Oh this is great!” She is more excited than I am, but that is how it usually goes with us.

“Okay, send him in. Make sure my mom isn’t around.”

“She isn’t, she went to get lunch with Mark.”

“Who is that by the way?” I forgot about him.

“A coworker of hers, he has been here since he heard you went missing.” She starts to head towards the door.

“I love you Sarah.” I haven’t told her that in a long time, and tonight we celebrate turning 18. She leaves while blowing me a kiss, and before the door could swing shut, Ian walks in.

“You asked for me.” He walks close, he sits in the chair that Sarah placed next to my bed.

“Yeah uh, I have a weird question?” I blush, he can tell I am which makes me blush even more. “Can you come to my party tonight?”

“You’re having a party? Tonight? Isn’t that a little early after everything?” He rubs his chin.

“Yeah, I want to live my life and not be scared all the time, but that’s not the point. I want you to escort me to my party.” He looks down between his legs, he is thinking, I hope I don’t look stupid asking him this. “I know it could be awkward, but it’s a masquerade ball and you will be wearing a mask and if anyone asks you can always say you’re my police escort in case anything happens.” He looks back up at me, I’m still beat red.

“I can’t say no to you. I will yes, I want to be there. Yes.” He stands up, leans in close to me, and kisses my forehead. My forehead, what the heck. I just want to kiss him, his perfect lips are calling me. “My shift ends in an hour. I need to go get some sleep before this big party. I will see you there Addie. Officer Turner is outside of your door if you need anything. See you later.” He winks at me, he runs his fingers down my arm as he walks away. I get warm, but I get goosebumps and butterflies. What is this feeling? Safety? Lust? Love? After he leaves, I drift off to sleep.