Purple Hearts

They’d decided that the two most obvious places to hide someone would be either in the attic or the basement.

It was Tre’s job to search the attic. Hopefully thought Tre as he climbed in through the kitchen window, Mike could do a great job on the guy and keep him talking for some time. He was sweating profusely as he followed Billie in through the window, suddenly realising how nimble and quick Billie was, and he seemed to be in such a hurry. He’d hated that day when he told Tre he loved his daughter but now he could see it for himself. He was a great man and if things had been different, may be if Franky wasn’t meant to be marrying Gerard then… yeah… may be I would have given Billie and Franky my blessing after all thought Tre.

The place was a mess, not like how his old neighbours had kept it. They’d loved this house and Tre really missed the old couple, they were always calling round to his and he to there’s, they always had time for him and sometimes babysat his kids for him if he’d had to go out somewhere. Tre made a mental note to visit the old couple as soon as this was over. When it was over.

“Good luck dude,” said Billie who was over by the stairs that led down to the attic. Tre remembered the little room that was off the basement, telling Billie to make sure to check there.

Tre crept out into the hall, it was deathly quiet. He could see the guy’s back at the front door, talking to Mike. Shit, behind his back the guy was holding a shotgun. Fucking hell thought Tre, his heart pounding through his ears. I’m going to have to be dead quiet here.

He could hear Mike’s voice droning on about something or other so Tre crept silently past the guy and up the stairs to the attic area.

**

Billie’s heart too was pounding heavily but all he could think about was seeing Franky again. The door to the basement was ajar; obviously the guy had no reason to lock it so Billie crept down the stone steps into pitch darkness. Good job he’d brought a torch he thought as he switched it on, the light from the torch casting its long brightness here and there as he searched around the place for something, anything, anything to do with Franky.

There was nothing here so Billie headed over to the area where Tre said there was a secret room. What the fuck would anyone want a secret room for? Thought Billie.

Suddenly he felt a fear like no other, he was quite sure that Franky was being held here but what if she wasn’t? What if he’d got this totally wrong? Where would she be? He thought as he put his hand to the handle and pushed down. The door squeaked slightly as it opened.

He could hear some muffled crying.

She was here; he’d found her and his heart lifted.

“Franky, Franky, its OK sweetheart, we’ve got you.”

**

Franky had been crying for ages. She’d never felt fear like it, she’d seen things on the news in the past and it was rare for someone to be found once they’d been kidnapped. May be the guy would take her father’s money and then kill her so that she couldn’t tell anyone about him. She’d seen his face and it would haunt her for the rest of her life, that was if she lived to tell the tale.

What if he killed her? What then? She’d never get the chance to marry or have her babies, if it was twins, she’d never know if they were to be boys or girls, she’d never see Gerard again or kiss his sweet lips, she’d never see her family, her Dad and she’d never get to tell him about his grandchildren. I’ve been stupid thinks Franky, I should have told Dad, the one person I can trust and I haven’t told him. If I get out of this mess then I’m going to tell him. I’ll never see Billie again, never see the way he always gave me that special smile because of the bond we’d shared, never see his messy black hair or his green eyes or hear his wonderful voice.

She sobbed quietly.

She heard the door squeak and then Billie’s voice. But it couldn’t be his, it couldn’t possibly be, it was because I was thinking of his voice I’ve heard it. I’m going mad now.

But it was.

He was here.

Billie.

Franky sat up as Billie came towards her, grabbing at her, his hands in her hair as she fell against him and just clung onto his t-shirt for dear life, not ever imagining that she would see him again, let alone feel him holding her.

“Its OK, he murmured against her hair, you’re safe now,” he said.

Then Tre came bounding down into the room, down the steps, practically falling down them as he came rushing over to see Franky.

Billie stepped aside as he watched his friend hug his daughter. She looked dreadful, she needed some love and attention and he was sure she’d get lots of it once they’d got themselves out of here.

They heard a shout from above.

“Who the fuck is down here?” they heard as a guy approached in the doorway. They couldn’t see him at first as he was silhouetted against the light. Just behind him Mike came into view. The guy lifted up the rifle but as he did so Mike gave an almighty shove from behind and pushed the guy down the stairs. Tre made for the rifle and grabbed it so the guy couldn’t lose it.

At the same time, Billie reached for the gun that had been given to him by Ramona and Emily. The guy, whoever he was was scrambling around and had managed to grapple the gun away from Tre.

Suddenly the guy had the gun and he was facing it at Tre.

“Dad, please, don’t shoot my Dad,” said Franky running forward.

“Franky stay there,” said Mike.

Franky started sobbing. “Don’t hurt my Dad…please,” but the guy cocked the gun and pointed it at Tre.

A shot rang out.

Billie had fired the gun but it had missed the guy and he’d got Tre instead.