“Joshua Stanton, where is your wife?”
“Are you ok, Mr Stanton?”
“Is it true your wife has been found dead?” another yells. I stop mid-step and make eye contact with the cockroach who has just said that.
“Get in the car,” Ben snaps as he grabs my elbow and pushes me into the car.
“Get out of my way!” I hear Cameron yell as he falls into the car and closes the door behind him. I stare out the window as the car speeds away. A zombie-like calm sweeps over me. I cannot speak, “It’s ok, Josh,” Cameron whispers. “It’s ok.”
The ride in the car is silent. Ben is driving and another guard is in the front seat. There is a car behind and another in front of us.
Too little, too late.
It starts to rain and my heart drops. What if she’s out in the rain? Does she have protection? My elbow rests on the door as I stare at the scenery rushing past us in a world where everything seems normal, everything seems fine. Finally we arrive at our destination, the hotel, and I am ushered up the lift and along the corridor to a room. Ben slowly opens the door and I see Bridget in Adrian’s arms. She turns and sees me and her face screws up in pain.
“Joshua,” she whispers.
Tears instantly fill my eyes. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
She rushes and grabs me in an embrace and holds me as I drop my head onto her shoulder. “I couldn’t keep her safe. I couldn’t keep her safe,” I whisper.
“Joshua, stop. This isn’t your fault,” she sobs as she pulls back and holds my cheeks. “Joshua, do not dare blame yourself for this!”
“How can all of us love her so much and not one of us know where she is?” I whisper.
“This is totally fucked,” Abbie yells. “Who would do this?” she shrieks.
“Quiet,” Cameron yells as he turns the television up to hear the news.
More on the Stanton story, Natasha Stanton, wife of billionaire celebrity Joshua Stanton, has gone missing in what are very suspicious circumstances on the luxury yacht of a friend at some time in the early hours of Sunday morning. Witnesses say that the night before, the pair were involved in a very public heated domestic dispute that had Joshua Stanton forcing Natasha into his limousine against her will.
The camera goes to footage from someone’s phone of the night before and I see myself acting like a lunatic and screaming at Natasha.
“Natasha, get in the fucking car!” I yell.
My eyes widen in horror at what is unfolding before me. What the hell was I thinking? I don’t even remember this. I watch myself grab Natasha by the arm and throw her into the car and then start yelling that I am going to kill Max.
Cameron points the remote at the television and it goes dead. I drop to a seat on the lounge in shock. I sit still as I stare into space. This can’t be happening.
“The police are doing everything that they can, Josh,” Adrian says softly. “There have been foot patrols and choppers. Everyone has been looking everywhere. A clue is going to turn up and then we will be able to piece together what happened.”
“Check the emails again,” Cameron says to Adrian and he nods and rises to check the computers.
The vision of Natasha smiling and laughing fills my thoughts and I drop my head into my hands.
“I’m going to find her.” I stand with renewed vigour.
“Sit down,” Cameron snaps. “It’s not safe out there and photographers are everywhere waiting to get a shot of you. You need to be here and contactable in case someone produces a ransom note.”
I drop to my seat, defeated. “I can’t just sit here and wait like a stale bottle of piss. Natasha needs me,” I yell.
Bridget stands and heads over to the window and stares out at the view. “Please be safe, Tash,” she says in a monotone.
The room falls silent.
Please, Natasha, come back to me.
It’s 3 am and everyone is in their beds trying to sleep. I can’t lie down. I have been pacing back and forth in my room for four hours. It’s raining outside. She may be in the cold. What if she has a headache? She has no medication on her. I dry-retch in the toilet for the tenth time in an hour. I need to stay strong. I look out the window at the street below. The police cars have all gone… everyone is gone. The reporters, the news channels… Natasha.
My beautiful Natasha, where is she? Where are you, baby? Who has you? I can’t stay here. I can’t just sit here and wait. I’m going crazy. I pull on my runners and a tracksuit and pull my hoodie over my head.
I’m coming, my love. I’m coming to find you.
Adrian
I am just dozing off when my phone rings. It’s 4 am. I pick it up. It’s Ben.
“Is Stan with you?” he snaps.
“No, why?” My eyes widen in fear.
“He’s not in his room.”
“Shit.” I jump up immediately and turn the light on as someone pounds on the door.
“Who is it?” I yell, half-frightened.
“Me, you fucking idiot, who do you think!” Cameron snaps.
I open the door in a rush.
Cameron screws up his face. “Put your junk away.”
I shake my head as I quickly pull up my pants.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“I don’t know but we have to find him. He’s not fucking thinking straight. God knows what he will do,” Cameron mutters.