Chapter 6 Janet Lawson

• "How long has she been missing for?"
• Lia gave Jane a look and sighed. "it's been two days. Can you find her?"
• She was trying not to get upset at this man but he was testing her patience. He had been asking irrelevant questions. Wasn't the job of a Private Investigator to find the person? What did it matter how long the person has been missing for?
• "Can you find her, Brian? George wouldn't recommend you if he didn't think you could." Jane squeezeed Lia's hand as she spoke, trying to calm her down.
• "I apologize for my earlier behaviour ma'am. I just wanted to be sure you knew what you were doing." At Lia's raised eyebrows, he sighed. "I have had clients who only wanted to use me. Anyway, I apologize."
• "It's okay. How long do you think it'd take to find her?"
• Brian adjusted his glasses and looked at her mother's picture sitting on the table. "It shouldn't take long. A month tops."
• "But I need to find her as soon as possible." Lia sighed and Jane sent Brian an apologetic smile.
• "I'm sure there's something you can do. Surely you understand how upset my friend must be feeling with her mother gone."
• Brian nodded and looked down at the picture again. "The best I can do is three weeks."
• Lia opened her mouth to speak but Jane cut her off. "I can't wait..."
• "What she means Brian, is we'll be waiting for your call." Jane spoke and rose to her feet, tugging Lia's arm. "Please update us at every step."
• Brian nodded. "I will.." Let me walk you out." He rose to his feet but Jane waved her hands.
• "There's no need for that. We can find our way. Thank you for doing this, Brian. You don't know how much it means to us.*
• "I'll call you as soon as I hear or see anything."
• Lia and Jane walked out of the office and Jane stopped staring at her friend. "What was that in there? Do you think a private investigator is a miracle worker? How can you put pressure on him like that?"
• "I just want to find my mum and I can't wait for a month. How long do you think Fernando is going to play Mr Nice Guy for? He's surely going to lose his temper soon and take his frustration out on me."
• Jane closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Fine. I'm sorry Lia, I didn't mean to yell at you."
• Lia sighed. "I know. I didn't mean to pressure him either. I just need to find my mum as soon as possible."
• "And he'll find her. Come on. Liam, is waiting for us."
• Liam was waiting out side the building, standing in front of the SUV, He took Lia's bag from Jane and walked behind them.
• "Are you okay Mrs. James?" Liam asked as soon as they were sited inside the car.
• Lia nodded and leaned her head against the chair. "Just take me home."
• ***
• "How's the restaurant doing?"
• Fernando rubbed his eyes and smiled. "Everything is fine. I need a favour from you."
• "Is Janet okay?"
• Fernando gulped and closed his eyes. "Actually I need your help to find her."
• "What is..?"
• Fernando sighed in frustration. "Mark, please don't ask any questions."
• There was silence on the other end and then a long sigh. "Stop by the office and let us talk. Are you sure you're good?"
• "I am good dear. Thank you man."
• "Everything okay?" Adam asked, walking into the office.
• Fernando looked up and nodded. "Yes. I just called a private investigator I know. He's going to take care of everything."
• "I brought you coffee." Adam dropped the tray on the table and Fernando reached for a mug.
• "Thanks."
• "Now I see why you didn't fly off to some honeymoon spot somewhere." Adam commented laughing and Fernando joined him.
• "Yeah."
• "Hold on, can't you just move on with your life?"
• Fernando looked up with a confused look on his face. "What do you mean?"
• "What I mean is you're already married so why don't you just live with your wife? She's a beautiful woman and I mean you can grow to love her or at least care for her."
• Fernando thought about it for a second. "I don't know about that. I just want to find Janet, I have to find her."
• ***
• "Something smells really good."
• Amelia looked up and smiled at him. "You came just in time Liam. I hope you brought an appetite."
• Liam didn't reply as he walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter studying her.
• Amelia pretended not to feel his gaze on her but she just couldn't, he was right there staring at her so intensely.
• "You're going to bore a hole in my head if you keep staring like that."
• Liam laughed and looked away blushing furiously. "I'm sorry, Mrs. James. I apologize."
• Amelia frowned and shook her head. "Don't be silly, Liam. There's nothing to apologize for, I'm only teasing you."
• "Okay." Lia smiled at him and he relaxed "It smells good." He commented after awhile changing the subject and she clapped her hands in glee.
• "I hope it'll taste just as good."
• "It's even better." Fernando commented as he walked into the kitchen.
• Amelia froze, the spoon hanging in midair. Why did he come and how long had he been standing there? Was she in trouble?
• "Relax, I don't bite." Fernando shrugged, reaching for the spoon and she released it without a second thought.
• He frowned but didn't say anything as he dropped the spoon and reached for her.
• Lia blushed as he placed a kiss on her forehead and tucked her hair behind her ear. Why was he being so sweet? Was this all an act for Liam?
• Raising her head, she searched for Liam. "Oh." Liam wasn't even in the room anymore.
• "What are you doing?" She asked pulling away and he let her. Was she even allowed to raise her voice at him?
• "I'm just greeting my wife. Is there a problem?" He asked so casually as if they were a real couple.
• Lia huffed but didn't say anything not sure what to even say or do. What was he hoping to achieve now?
• "I'm not putting on an act if that's what you're thinking and I'm not going to force you into anything either." He sighed and Lia noticed the bags under his eyes.
• She itched to touch his face but she forced her hands to remain at her side. "So what are you doing?" She croaked not believing she had just asked him that. "What I mean is.."
• "It's okay Lia, you can ask me anything." He assured her reaching for her hands that were balled into fists by her side.
• Lia gulped but didn't pull away, she couldn't. "Why are you doing this? What has changed?"
• "I just want to live my life. I can't remain stuck in the past. Things didn't work out with your mother and I can't do anything to change that but I can change my current situation." He placed a kiss on the inside of her hand and Lia gasped.
• There were a million butterflies in her stomach recently and she didn't know what that meant. She wasn't even sure she wanted to find out.
• "You don't have to decide anything right now. Take your time and let me know what you want. Whatever you decide, I am willing to go along with it."
• Lia nodded and thought about it for a while. She couldn't process anything unless she was far away from him. "Actually there is something I need."
• His face lit up like a Christmas tree and Lia wished she could keep seeing him like that. It was too bad that light would dim once she told him what she wanted. "What is it?"
• "Can I stay at my friend's place for the night? I.. this is a lot to take in and I just need some time to.." she gulped and shut up as she stared into his eyes. They were fixed on her face, studying her.
• "I will have Liam drop you off." He dropped her hand and Lia forced herself to remain in her spot and not reach for his hands again.
• "Thank you." She said to his retreating back and held her breath until the door closed behind him.
• *****
• "Call me if you need anything ma'am, I'll be here as soon as you call." Liam opened the door for her and she thanked him.
• "There'll be no need for that. I'm going to be fine here."
• "Lia? What are you doing here?" Jane asked, walking out of her house. Lia gave her a smile and turned back to face Liam.
• "Go on. Drive safely."
• **
• "Are you going to sat anything?" Jane asked for the second time since Lia walked into the house.
• Lia rolled her eyes at her impatience and dropped the spoon she had been holding. "You lack patience yunno. How are you going to survive in this world?"
• It was Jane's turn to roll her eyes. "Don't exaggerate. Why are you in my house at this time of the night? What's going on?"
• "I just wanted to see my best friend, that's all." Lia shrugged and picked up the plate. "Come on, help me set the table."
• "Uhn, sure." Jane didn't look convinced but she was willing to play along until Lia was ready to talk. She was sure something was up. If it was good or bad, she didn't know but she was going to find out.
• "Put that over there. Yes, like that." Lia instructed and Jane did as she was told.
• "When did you make this?"
• "This night before Fernando got home." Lia took her seat and picked up a plate. "Sit and have some."
• "Don't mind if I do." Jane picked up a plate and a spoon and scooped some of the rice into the plate. She added some of the vegetables and took a piece of chicken.
• "Don't put too much in your mouth Austin Jane, you're not in kindergarten." Lia took a bite and watched as Jane took hers. "Well?"
• Jane closed her eyes as she chewed, savoring it. "It's really good." Lia was a wizard in the kitchen. If Fernando wanted a woman for her cooking then he had hit the jackpot with Lia.
• "Fernando wants to give our marriage a chance." Lia announced breaking the silence and Jane choked.
• Jane glared at her as she tapped her chest. "Did you do that on purpose?" She asked as she reached for her glass of water.
• Lia shrugged and waited for Jane to speak. She knew Jane would have a lot to say.
• "What do you mean give your marriage a chance? The marriage is fake."
• 'My thoughts exactly.' Lia thought but said instead. "It's all so strange." She narrated the scene in the kitchen, first with Liam and then with Fernando.
• Jane gasped, holding her chest. "I think someone has a crush."
• "Don't be silly, Liam is just being good to his boss's wife. As for Fernando, I don't know what has gotten into him."
• "Do you think he's telling the truth?"
• Lia didn't say anything for a while as she chewed. After she was done, she spoke again. "I don't know Jane. What do you think?"
• A broad smile took over her friend's face and Lia narrowed her eyes. "I'm happy for you. Things are finally looking up."
• "Indeed. I don't know if I should believe Fernando, I don't want to. He is obviously up to something and he needs to be in my good graces to get it."
• "He didn't need to be in your good graces when he asked you to marry him. He just threatened you. I think he could do it again since it got the job done the first time."
• As much as she hates to admit it, Jane was right. Fernando didn't owe her anything. He could do whatever he wanted to do. Or was this a different strategy he was trying?