Sink or Swim

Chapter 11 - Lost and Manipulated

As Juliette ran over she could see David starting to get to his feet but Aaron lay still on the grass. Abi and Jo had joined Leanne and were standing over Aaron and had started to tend his wounds, "C'mon girls it just a flesh wound." He said starting to sit up. "Did we get the bastard?"

"We, or more precisely Rick and Theo got him." Juliette informed Aaron "He is being taken away by the L.A.P.D. now. But I think the important thing now is to get you to an ambulance."

Aaron was helped to a golf buggy by Juliette as Naomi and Caroline Fortune, the Fox News journalist came staggering out of the trees. "He killed him," Naomi said, "He killed Wesley."

Caroline spoke up, "Don't think she is an innocent party in this, she involved too...Where are the police?"

An L.A.P.D. detective, Samantha Quick, had arrived at the scene and came over. Caroline spoke to her, "I've all the evidence you need - uploaded to my cloud account. I am getting an exclusive on this right? I've got the whole story right here."

The detective arrested Naomi and then sent two of her officers to the woodland but they reported back that they found blood but no body.

Detective Quick radioed HQ and asked for a squad car to visit the Wells residence as they would be needing to speak to Robert Wells.

The party had broken up and the guests were being released in small groups once they had provided contact details and witness statements to the police. Leanne was stood next to Paul and after giving their statements to the police they decided it best to go inside and reflect on the events of the day.

Jessica was talking to Abi, Joanne, Martin and Anthony when she spotted Leanne and Paul going toward the morning room.

"Hey are you ok?" Abi asked Jess seeing her distracted.

"Yeah fine." Jess replied still watching Paul and Leanne over Abi's shoulder.

"Leanne, you wanted to talk to me about something earlier. Is now a good time?" Paul suggested as they entered the morning room.

"Sure, I guess so, if today hasn't been crazy enough already." Leanne responded, ensuring that the couple were not being followed and the door closed and locked.

"Oh, it must be important," said Paul "I see you've closed and locked the door - you don't want us to be disturbed."

"No," said Leanne, "We need to talk, I have some news I want to share."

There was a lengthy pause as Leanne thought the best way to tell Paul that the were related.

"I guess I better just tell you," Leanne said cautiously, "I've kind of just found out that you are my half-brother. Your, I mean, our dad just confirmed it to me today."

Paul was stunned for a moment, "I can't believe it! I knew there was something the day we met at the leisure centre."

Leanne smiled, "Just think about that for a moment, I was all over you!"

Paul burst out laughing, "Yeah - can you imagine where that could have gone if I'd taken up that flirting!"

"Eww!" Leanne laughed too, "That's disgusting. We could have - urgghh - with my own brother!"

"Remember you started it!" He responded, laughing harder. "You would not believe how hard we had worked trying to find you. You were in plain sight the whole time!"

Leanne leant into Paul and gave him a huge hug. "I'm glad you're my brother." she whispered, "just make sure you treat my best friend right. You know she has fallen for you?"

"Yeah, I know, I think I'm falling for her her too. She is very special" He admitted.

Leanne leant forward and kissed Paul gently on the cheek.