Forever Viper (11 page)

Upon awaking, I feed Noah quickly, as I need to head to the police station. He’s not happy I didn’t tell him about this, but I soon put him straight. He tries to tempt me to stay and he is doing a good job, I would like nothing more to bring him pleasure again and I nearly get back into the bed with him. But I leave with a joking threat coming from Noah.

When I reach the police station, I let the officer at the desk know I’m here and I’m told to wait. I’m looking forward to meeting this Detective who upset Peppa. I take a look at my watch, he’s ten minutes late. My head snaps up as a male voice says, “I’m sorry to keep you waiting Mr. Cassidy, something important came up. If you would like to follow me.”

When I’m seated facing the Detective, we both judge each other by what we see. His thoughts tell me he sees me as the typical rock star; sex, drugs and rock and roll and that I’m probably cheating on Peppa. I just think he is a jumped up twat.

He pushes a piece of blank paper and a pen in front of me. “Before we start, would you mind signing this for my niece? Her name is Beth, it’s her birthday soon, she’s a big fan and this will make her day.” I reach for the pen and sign my name leaving Beth a little note. He says, “Thanks for that, are you ready to get started?” I don’t answer him, I just nod my head. He presses a button and starts to talk, saying who’s in the room the time and date.

“Mr. Cassidy, do you mind if I call you Juan?”

“Yes, I mind very much, like I mind you making my girlfriend feel our relationship is wrong.” He wasn’t expecting my answer as I watch his eyes widen and then lowers his head to pretend he is writing something down.

“Ok, point taken. Mr. Cassidy where were you on the night of the 14th?”

“In bed with my girlfriend, holding her tight, while she cried in my arms because our lover was lying in his hospital bed after an accident almost claimed his life.”

“Ms. Thorne is your alibi I take it?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Do you believe in love at first sight Mr. Cassidy?”

“Please tell me what that has to do with this case? Do you believe in love at first sight? Are you trying to tell me something Detective Payne?”

He smirks at me, “I’m just trying to understand your relationship with Ms. Thorne and Mr. Blaise. You haven’t been together long, it must be hard not to let jealousy get in the way. You know the saying three’s a crowd.”

I laugh at that, “I’m guessing you have also heard of the saying you can’t help who you fall in love with? Let me make one thing perfectly clear to you, I’m in love with Peppa and Noah and I know this might be hard for your brain to comprehend, but they love each other too and they love me. Love makes the world go round Detective Payne, try it sometime.”

The smirk soon falls from his face and he writes in his file.

“Ms. Thorne is a beautiful woman, I can see why you would want her for yourself and getting Noah out of the way would mean she will be all yours.”

“And how do you suggest I actually rid myself of Noah?

“There are ways and means. It's so easy to get rid of a body these days. I hear you and the other band member are close.”

He just pushed me over the edge. I shove myself off the chair I’m sitting on and it scrapes along the floor. My fists clench together and I lean them on the table before I use them for other means, “Are you suggesting Viper killed Noah? Oh I can just see the headlines now, VIPER STRIKES AGAIN.” I turn away from him as I feel my fangs drop and I slowly walk over to the chair trying to calm myself down. I turn and drag the chair with me and sit back down and face him.

He opens his mouth to speak, but I get in first, “I love Noah. I know you don’t understand the love we share, but I would never hurt either of my lovers. I don’t give a shit what Mr. Blaise Sr. whispers in your ear. Peppa and I have nothing to do with his disappearance and we want him back, just like his family does. Now, are you going to show me the CCTV of Noah leaving the hospital so I can tell you I have no idea who is in the video, because I have no idea who has taken Noah?”

“I don’t like you Mr. Cassidy.”

He twists his body to turn the TV on and I say, “The feeling’s mutual Detective.”

I sit and watch as Jade wheels Noah out of the hospital. I hate seeing him look so fragile and know he would have been like that for the rest of his life if I hadn’t stepped in, but at least I know he is alive and well.

“I have to do my job even though I know your answer, but Mr. Cassidy is there anyone you recognize in the video? And do you know of anyone who would want to take Mr. Blaise?”

I give him two short answers, “Noah and no.”

He writes again in the file then peers over at me and says, “You’re free to go Mr. Cassidy.”

I smile and stand and just as I’m leaving the room he says, “Say hello to Ms. Thorne for me.” I let out a growl as I slam the door shut.

If I could box guilt up and sell it, I would make millions, as I sit and listen to Monica tell me what her and Peppa have been up to. We only had one night away from each other but fuck, I missed her. Holding her in my arms and hearing she begged people to get answers caused me to blame myself again for what she is going through. If I could go back to that Sunday morning and had made Noah stay with me none of this would be happening. I let her know Noah is still alive when she asks and I feel her relief at my answer. Somewhere in all this she thought I needed comfort and she let me in by asking me to take her to bed. That night I made love to her and with our bodies we loved, we found support and we hold on to one another until she falls asleep.

Chapter 9 (PEPPA)

Wake me up, before you go go… Still half asleep, I reach for my vibrating phone, which is bouncing around on my bedside table, to stop it yelling at me to wake up. Through half squinting eyes, I bring the damn thing closer and it stops singing to me. I notice it’s after 9:00 am and I close my eyes and tell myself, “Just five more minutes.” I’m just drifting back off to sleep when I jump out of my skin because my phone starts ringing. I answer it and bring it to my ear and in a sleepy voice I say, “Hello. No, you didn’t wake me up Detective Payne. Yes, that’s fine, I will be here. Ok, 3:00 pm it is, I will see you then. Goodbye.”
Great that’s all I need.
I roll on to my back and run my hand over my face and through my hair. I know the police are only doing their job, but I have no idea what they think they will find.
I suppose I better get up.

I shower, get dressed and make myself a cup of tea and find myself, once again, sitting on the sofa waiting for god knows what.
Noah walking through the door would be nice but that’s not going to happen.

I glance down to the list of numbers sitting on top of Monica’s laptop and think,
sod it
. I pick up the phone and dial a few numbers. I soon realize, yet again, I’m not going to get anywhere, but this time it’s for a different reason as I’m told I am the second person to ring using the same name asking for the same person.
Oh shit
.

I ring Lara to see if it was her and if she has found anything out but she didn’t answer her phone. I take a look around and decide maybe I should clean, the thing is it’s not even dirty. I know what I’m doing, I’m trying to distract myself, but nothing will work not when it comes to Noah.
I JUST WANT HIM BACK!

I head to the kitchen to do the little washing up that there is. I nearly have a heart attack when a scraping noise comes from behind and I spin around to see a fuming Lara sitting at the counter. My hand moves to my heart trying to stop it from jumping out of my chest. “Lara, you scared the hell out of me, are you ok? It isn’t Noah is it?”

She shakes her head, “No, we haven’t heard anything more about Noah. Please tell me you haven’t been using my name to gain information?”

I open my mouth to tell her the truth, but I don’t get the chance when I hear Monica’s voice say, “No, she didn’t, but I have.”

Lara turns to face Monica, gets off the chair and walks right up to her and shouts into her face, “Have you any idea what you have done?!”

Monica brings her hand up and wipes something off her face, “Say it, not spray it love.”

What happens next leaves me shocked. Lara slaps Monica hard across the face. “Do you even care what my family is going through!?”

Monica stands there wide eyed with her hand cradling her cheek. I felt the slap from here, so it must sting. I notice the look that crosses Monica’s face, and it’s not good. I take a step forward to try and stop her from doing something stupid, but it’s too late.

Monica flies at Lara and shouts, “Of course I do! Does your family care about how Peppa feels!? What is she supposed to do? Sit back and wait until you decide to let her know what is happening?”

All hell is let loose as I watch my two friends go at it like fighting cats. “Monica! Lara! Stop it for Christ sake.” That didn’t work, so I fill up a cup of water and throw it over them. They both stop pulling at each other’s hair and turn to face me. “Right. Now that I have your attention. Lara, we both used your name and I’m sorry for that. I needed to know what has happened to Noah and no one would give me answers, which I’m guessing is what you have found out too. I know how you are feeling because I’m lost too Lara and you two fighting isn’t helping matters.” I twirl away from them both so I can catch my breath.

“Peppa, daddy gave me that job to do, to phone the hospitals, and of course, I had to tell him what I found out. He put two and two together and after the police phoned to say they will be searching Noah’s house today, he phoned them back and asked them to find some legal document that entitles you to stay here.”

My hands grip the sides of the counter as my legs buckle underneath me. Monica shouts out, “Your father is an asshole! Oh my god! This is Peppa’s home he can’t make her leave!”

I spin around quickly to stop them both from going at each other again but I’m hit with a head rush and I collapse to the floor. Once my heads stops spinning, I try and get up but they are both there telling me to stay still, “I’m phoning for an ambulance.”

I shake my head, "Monica don’t be silly, I’m fine I turned too quickly that’s all.”

“Let me at least call the doctor then, you aren’t sleeping, you’re hardly eating anything. Please, I’m worried about you.”

Lara hasn’t said a word yet, but when I take a peek at her she says, “I’m sorry. I‘ve tried talking him around, to let him know I don’t agree with what he is doing but he blames you.”

“What did I do to make him hate me? I fell in love with two men, that’s what I did. I can’t change, no I won’t change that fact for him or anyone.” I try to stand and Monica grabs me by the elbow and helps me up and I say, “I’m going to lie down.”

I turn to Monica, “If I promise to eat more will you get off my back?”

She nods yes.

Before I walk away Lara asks, “Do you want me to be here when the police arrive?”

Monica huffs, “What? So you can report back to daddy and tell him what the police find. I don’t think so. I will be here so you won’t be needed.”

I close my eyes count to ten and then say, “I don’t need any of you to be here. Monica, you can go back to work. And I’m sorry if this sounds bitchy Lara, but do I really have any say if you are here or not? I’m sure daddy can arrange that for you, after all this isn’t my house.”

I leave them both standing there speechless. I break down when I make it to the bedroom. Losing my home is the last thing I need. It feels like Mr. Blaise is trying to wipe me out of Noah’s life.

Animosity is rising from deep within me. If he thinks I’m going to lie down and take his shit, then he doesn’t know Peppa Thorne, because I will fight him all the way. He is not cutting me out of Noah’s life, I love him too much to just walk away.

I doze for a bit but soon become restless. I drag myself off the bed and head for the bathroom. I splash my face with cold water and brush my hair. I make myself presentable and stroll to the kitchen to try and eat something and wait for the police to arrive. Monica and Lara are nowhere to be seen which I’m thankful for. At exactly 3:00 pm a knock comes to the front door and I open it to Detective Payne and four other uniformed policemen.

“Ms. Thorne, it’s good to see you again. Can we come in?”

I felt like saying, “No, sod off, you’re not welcome here,” but instead I say, “Yes, of course, please do.”

He smiles at me and stands back to let the other officers in, he then walks in himself and I close the door behind him. He has a quick word with his team then turns back to me, “Ms. Thorne, we have been told Noah has an office, can you please show us the way?”

“Of course please follow me.” I walk ahead of them all and when I reach Noah’s office I open the door and they all walk in.

Detective Payne turns to me and asks, “Has anyone been in here? Touched anything?”

I stand silently and think for a minute and then realize that I had been in there, “Yes, I have, to get a pen and some paper from the desk.”

He nods his head at me then turns back to the officers and starts barking instructions at them and I leave them to it. I don’t know what to do with myself. I can’t sit still, I hate the thought of them going through Noah’s personal belongings and I start pacing from the lounge to the kitchen. I turn the kettle on and stand there and watch it boil. That’s when I think,
I wonder if they would like a cup of tea.

I make my way to ask them, but when I enter the lounge I find Detective Payne standing there admiring the TV. “Nice place, no expense has been spared. I thought you should know, I have two of my officers checking the bedrooms. I hope you don’t have a problem with your personal items being searched.”

I shake my head, “I have already told you Detective, I have nothing to hide.”

He gives me a nod of the head then silence fills the room, I decide to break it when I ask, “Would you like a drink, a cup of tea or coffee?”

He smiles over at me, “A cup of coffee would be great. Milk and two sugars please.”

I turn to walk back into the kitchen then I remember the other officers and quickly turn back to ask a question. But Detective Payne is right there and I walk into him. One of his hands goes around my waist to steady me and I stare into his brown eyes that are the same colour as Noah’s and for a split second I get lost in them. I mentally shake myself and when I glance down to see he is still holding onto me, I step back out of his hold. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.