Chapter 110

Almara’s POV

I lean in close as Bess discloses her plan. The news crew looks at us from afar with curiosity, wondering what we could be planning. Once Bess tells me the plan, I fall into action. I hang back looking annoyed, which comes easily, as she walks us to the news anchor.

Bess reaches the media team and the anchor peers at me through raised eyebrows. Bess is telling them that she just spoke to Roman and half the team is splitting up to another location. Bess agrees that the public have the right to know, but it doesn’t seem the anchorman is buying it.

Reason number two that Bess is giving them an inside scoops is because the more onlookers there are then the better chance of finding her grandson. This seems to be working.

I told Bess to make sure to dangle the fact that they could be passing up an opportunity to be the news crew with the breaking news of finding Roman, talk about ranking up their viewer numbers.

I watch as Bess begins pointing out the directions to the imaginary location where Roman and others will be. I turn my back so they don’t see me laughing at their gullible nature. I only turn back around when I hear Bess’s footsteps near.

“Well, they bought it.” She tells me, pride seeping through her words. I look past her shoulder and watch as the news man speaks to the camera about the inside scoop they had just received, of course from a person close on the case who wishes to stay anonymous.

With one news crew leaving and hopefully taking some passionate viewers with them, that might lessen the crowd that arrives here. Still, we need to enact the second part of the plan.

Just moments after the news crew packs up and leaves, with not even as much as a thank you, the police that Roman called shows up along with his partner. They spot us and begin to walk over.

“Hello ladies. My name is Mark and this is my partner Luke. We’re here about a report made from Roman. Have you seen him?”

“My son is off looking for his son.” Bess says an introduction to herself. Mark removes his hat out of respect and gives a slight bow. “It’s very good to meet you, Elizabeth. My deepest condolences about the stress your family is under right now.”

Bess nods in appreciation. “Yes, well we’re happy to have you here to solve at least one of the problems.”“Maybe two.” I jump in, pulling the attention on myself. I stick my hand out to greet Mark and Luke. “My name is Almara, Arthur’s wife. It’s been made known to us eager fans are going ot be arriving any minute in hopes to look for Arthur.” I jump right to the point as I can see Mark isn’t understanding the problem.

“There are going to be hundreds, if not thousands here. We might need back up in case of a riot.” I tell them and hope the desperation in my voice compels them to act quickly.

“We just don’t know how eager some of these fans are.” Bess nonchalantly remarks, indicating that some of these people may be crazy. Both Luke and Mark nod.

“I understand. Don’t worry, we’ll call for backup.” Mark turns to his partner and tells him to stay here and wait for the others to show up and try to keep the crowd under control. He’ll go off looking for Robert as per Romans request.

We say our thanks and the two officers set off to their duties. Mark sniffs the ground where Roman and Robert fought, trying ot pick up on Roberts scent. Luke pulls out his phone and talks to his team of men.

Suddenly an idea enlightens me. I quickly turn to Bess, “Please don’t be mad.” is all I can tell her. She looks at me with confusion and I chase after Mark.

“Officer Mark,” I call out. He stops in his tracks and turns to me. “Would it be all right if I came with you?” Mark looks hesitant already, so I quickly add in a white lie.

“Arthur has many admirers that I don’t think love the fact that I am his new mate. Some of them still wish it were Sofia and others wish it were themselves. Either way, let’s just say that I’ve received a few death threats and I’m worried today may be the day someone acts on it.”

Death threats? Lily questions me with amusement. Fine, I admit to her. I may not have gotten death threats, but that might be what it takes for the officer to let me come with him. At least this way I can actually be on the search for Arthur.

“I don’t know.” Mark looks past me as if looking for someone to tell him what to do. “Roman didn’t mention anyone coming along with me.”

“Please? How would Roman feel if his new daughter in-law died while under your care?” I plead. Didn’t he basically tell you that he wouldn’t care if it came to that? Lily mentions and I quickly shut her up.

“There will be other officers here.” Mark points out.

“Right, but they’ll be busy. I won’t be in the way, I promise.”

Mark looks up at the dwindling daylight and concedes. “All right. Fine. But for the record if Roman gets upset about this, that’s on you.”

“I can handle that.” I tell him, and mean it.

I don’t bother to look back at Bess. I follow closely behind Mark as he leads the way with a flashlight. Darkness comes on quickly. The night is silent except for our breathing and chirping of crickets.

The cold bite of the night air keeps me on alert. Lily’s eyes take over my vision so I better sense motion in the dark. The downside is, just as her eyes allow me to see further into the darkness those that are still far off can probably make out the glow of her eyes.

If Robert is still out here, we’ll just have to make sure we spot him before he sees us. We stay low to the ground, zigzagging in between trees for cover. We stop every so often to hear what’s going around us. It’s as if we’re being watched, a dense pressure closing in on us and yet everywhere we look is nothing but vast darkness.

We walk some distance more and the longer we walk the less vigilant I become. My mind keeps wanting to be pulled into the thoughts that tug at it.

Worry about Grace Elizabeth nags at me, plotting revenge on Emma is distracting, and the replay of running into Arthur’s arms prevents me from actually seeking him out. Every time I notice a thought distracting me, I pull myself out of it and look around.

“Shh. Stop.” Mark says suddenly. “Do you hear that?” I listen closely, and I do. There’s a ruckus not too far off. It sounds like more than one person, though I can’t tell how many. I focus in on my hypersensitive hearing.

“It’s coming from this way.” I tell Mark and take the lead.

“We could be heading right to the crowd.” He warns me in an irritated whisper.

“Or to my husband.” I say. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”