Cameron nods. “I think so, otherwise she would have screamed.”
Ben stands. “You were asleep before I even left the boat.”
I frown. “I don’t remember going to bed,” I murmur as I try to remember through the hazy fog.
Ben shakes his head. “You lost your shit at the weddin
g and then when you were getting into the boat you appeared drunk.” He pauses while he thinks of something. “Natasha and I thought you were drunk.”
“Where is Max? Did he do this?” I snap.
“No!” Ben snaps. “The photos weren’t even real—you were set up.”
I put my hand on my forehead in shame. The doctor walks in with three of his registrars.
“Hello Mr Stanton.” He smiles sympathetically.
I nod.
“We understand you are under a lot of stress, sir. How are you feeling today?” he asks.
“A lot better, thanks.”
He takes out his stethoscope and listens to my chest. “How are you emotionally?”
I drop my head. “I’m ok.”
“We will be discharging you today but we are putting you into the care of your brother and if any time he feels you are becoming unstable we would like to see you again.”
I nod again. Just shut the fuck up and let me out of here.
The doctor’s eyes meet Cameron’s. “I think that perhaps Mr Stanton may need to go on some anti-anxiety medication for a while.”
Cameron’s eyes flick to me and he nods. “Ok,” he replies as he opens the door. He then follows the doctor out of the room, obviously so they can talk about me without me hearing them.
Ben stands. “I will find her Stan. If it’s the last fucking thing I do. I will find her.”
I nod as my eyesight becomes blurry through the tears.
“Who do you think did this?” he asks.
“The sick fuck from Australia,” I whisper as my eyes close in pain. If he has her she’s probably being tortured right now.
Ben shakes his head. “It’s not him. He doesn’t have her.”
I frown. “What makes you so sure?”
“Serial killers have a pattern and I have studied his. This is too elaborate, too easy to get caught. They drugged you both. Got out to a boat. We don’t even know if that blood is Natasha’s. It wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t get a ransom note sometime over the next week. This isn’t the pattern of a sex offender.”
I stare straight ahead.
“Stan, I take full responsibility for this and as soon as we find her I will be handing in my resignation,” Ben replies quietly.
I nod again, unable to speak.
“Just find her, Ben,” I murmur as I stare straight ahead. He nods and exits the room. Cameron walks back into the room with an overnight bag of clothes. “Get dressed. We are going,” he murmurs.
My eyes glance at the bag on the bed. “Where are the clothes I was brought in here in?” I ask.