in threes
Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Lottie’s POV

“Thank you for inviting us into your home. I am happy enough now to sign everything off back at theoffice. I think it would be best to perhaps run another check in six months just to cover everyone’sbacks would this be ok?” Officer Owens stands by the main door with the male officer, as I standslightly behind Aunt Rinna and nod slightly.

“Oh of course! Pop by any time you are both more than welcome!” Rinna makes a move to open thedoor for them, politely gesturing for them to leave as they smile and nod – seeming satisfied.

“Great we will see you all then! If you need anything at all Charlotte please feel free to contact meon my personal number too!” The male officer exits the home with a polite goodbye, as OfficerOwens speaks directly to me again.

“Thank you.” I smile, as I watch her step out before seeming to hesitate

“Oh! Before I forget! Some of your school friends were desperate to get in touch but I respect thatyou don’t want anyone to know where you are at the moment… so I told them that If they wrote youa letter I would pass it over to you and then you can take it from there – let me go grab it from thecar!” As each word leaves the cops l*ps, my body turns rigid.

Can they just f**king quit this torment already?

I feel Anna move closer to me, linking her arm in mine as a show of comfort as I instinctively cling toher. I watch Officer Owens head down the path, before going into the cop car – rummaging aroundbriefly – and coming back out with an envelope in hand.

She smiles as she heads back over to us quickly, not a care in the world, before she puts out herhand with the sealed crisp white envelope in it.

I shakily take it from her, desperately trying my best to not seem so weird, as time feels like it slowsdown.

“Thank you Officer! Have a safe drive home!” Aunt Rinna cuts in, as I take the letter and step back –thankful for her distraction.

“Thank you! Stay in touch girls!” The Officer chimes, lifting her hand in a wave before she headsback off down the path to join the male cop as he waits in the car.

We did it…

Rinna closes the door, as we all seem to sigh at the exact same time.

“That went well!” Aunt Rinna confirms, before she heads towards the kitchen as I force a giggle andsmile.

“Thank you for that!” I call to her, as she waves me off and laughs as if it were nothing.

She seriously was the coolest…

“Let’s go wait upstairs… I’ve asked Jace to pick us up…” Anna informs me, as she tugs me towardsthe stairs as I continue to grip the white envelope in my hand.

The thoughts of what could even be on this letter are eating me alive… this was sheer proof that thethree of them would stop at nothing to get me back…

We enter one of the spare bedrooms, as I follow Anna across to the window – where a sofa benchlay in–front of it,

We plop down onto the comfy cushions, as I turn to look outside to see that the cop car was nolonger there – giving me more peace of mind.

They wouldn’t be back for six months… I don’t have to worry about them now…

But the letter?

“Ok let’s get it over with shall we?” Anna sighs, shuffling slightly to get comfy as she nods down tothe envelope in my hand.

“Çan… you read it out?” I ponder the thought out loud, not feeling that I had the strength to do it onmy own.

“Of course! Let me see!” Anna confirms, as I hand her the paper.

The envelope itself was slightly puffed out and stuck down with tape – probably to deter the officersfrom being nosey and trying to open it – pretty much meaning that they could write whatever theywanted in it!

“Ready?” I watch as Anna fumbles with the tape, cursing slightly at how difficult it was to get openas the swallowing anticipation only

grew…

I only nod, as she finally pulls up the seal, revealing the folded sheets of lined paper that lay inside.

She unfolds it, seeing that there was two pages, as she glances across them both briefly beforeeyeing me.

“Ok…” Anna clears her throat, as I perk up slightly awaiting the horrendous words that were yet tocome.

“Charlotte,

We are coming to get you. We miss you so much babe! It’s not the same here anymore… nothaving you around and spending time with you every day is killing us! You’ll be glad to know that I’mnot dead and that for as long as I shall live, I’ll never stop looking for you. It’s only a matter of timebefore we cross paths again, and I know you’ll be desperate to feel my hands on you when we do!

I have to be honest, because it’s eating away at me, but I thought you should know that Holdenrecently f**ked your Mom senseless because he misses you so much babe – she was the closestthing to you. I’ll probably take a shot of her this week too since she’s so needy… like mother likedaughter I suppose!

Please come back to us babe… it will make things so much easier… we were devastated to replace outthat you boarded a bus that night just to get away… If you would have behaved then things wouldhave worked out fine for you.

Anyway, if you want to be a tease and continue on with this game of hide and seek, we are morethan willing to play. It’s only a matter of time Charlotte, and believe me when I write this – we won’tEVER let you go without a fight.

Lots of love,

**

Tommy, Jason & Holden (your three loves) x”

By the time Anna had finished the first page, my face was wet and completely flushed. They werecruel, heartless and mentally unstable! Everything they wrote was so thought out and clever –making their point without saying too much to help cover their backs if the cops ever seen!

“Are you ok?” Anna’s eyes hold a deep sorrow, as I wipe at my cheeks and nod furiously.

“What’s on the other page?” I ask, knowing that this wasn’t the whole of the message.

A map…” Anna clears her throat as I furrow my brows at her words.

“What?” I question, leaning forward, before she turns the second page around to show me.

I glance it over, seeing that they had stuck a picture of the bus route maps on there – all of thebuses at that specific terminal that were leaving from my old town. On the map, there were red inkmarked crosses, seeming to cancel out a number of towns.

My eyes scan the page as quickly as possible, until my eyes settle on Westerfield County… Ibreathe out, thankful that the town wasn’t yet marked, however it is only then that I realise they aregetting close…

They know that I took a bus out of town that night… all it takes is for them to replace out what bus itwas to narrow down what town I’m

in…

My chest grows tight, as I again scan over the crossed out towns – I’m guessing these are theplaces they have checked or ruled out?

One cross in particular, being Oakland County, is only three towns away from here which sentanother chill down my spine.

“They are coming… they will replace me… I announce, before breaking down completely, sobbing asAnna embraces me to her.

“I won’t let them!” Anna confirms, as I shake my head and continue to cry.

They will kill me…