Chapter 81

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Ace's POV:

I told sheriff Bates about my escape from the ranch and how I survived and was helped by uncle Victor. Most importantly, I gave him the reason why I'd escaped. I just told him about maltreatment. To my surprise, he wasn't surprised.

"I ain't surprised about that Christina side of the story. Sorry Heather, but I'd always told your father that his wife was a snake."

"No need to be sorry sheriff, I've always known."

I decided to take a chance.

"What are you doing here in California, sheriff? Why aren't you at home in Blueville?" I asked him.

"I was on a murder case in Blueville, son. And had a connection to another murder here. So, I was called over to come investigate with the FBI department here. It turned out to be the same murderer. We caught him."

"So the case is closed?"

"Yes."

"When are you leaving?"

"Wednesday."

I looked at Heather and we had the same idea.

"Sheriff? Do you remember the closed cases of my father and uncle Ken? They're closed, right?"

"Yes, son. Why?"

"I would love to reopen them."

He looked at me, lost.

"Why?"

"Because I know who killed them both."

His eyes widened.

"Who?"

"Christina."

"Hm! Do you know the accusations you are making?"

"I am aware. Can you ask the files of their murders to be sent here to Los Angeles?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Because the murderers are here. And you can ask for the FBI's help."

"Sheridan, my boy, are you listening to yourself?"

"He's saying the truth, sheriff," Heather stated. He looked at me.

I told him everything! From Christina's confessions to her greed for money. I told him of how uncle Victor helped me change my identity. I told him about Christina stealing my inheritance and how I worked for her without her knowing who I really was. The sheriff was shocked.

"Do you have proof of all this?"

"I have better. I have recorded videos of her confessions."

He looked at me silently.

"Sheriff, please. Do it for your friendship with late uncle Ken. Do it for justice."

He looked at Heather.

"Please, sheriff. You're our final help now. My mother needs to pay."

I prayed silently for him to agree.

"Like I'd said before, Christina has always been a snake. Today itself I'll ask for the files to be sent so I present them to the police. I'll call you so you bring the videos on Tuesday. that'll be enough for an arrestation. "

"Oh thank you, thank you so much," I shook his hand happily.

"You're welcome, son. It's a pleasure. We're gonna get those murderers in prison."

"One has disappeared though."

"We'll take care of him later. Let's get the head of all this, first."

I was so happy. God had literally put Sheriff Bates on my way. We exchanged numbers and I thanked him once again before leaving with Heather.

We got into the car and I sat down thinking for a moment, a broad smile on my face.

"This is it. The end is near for her," Heather smiled.

"Yeah, baby. It is. Finally," I smiled at her and we shared a kiss, "Still got that headache?" I asked.

"Nope. I'm so happy that it's gone," she giggled.

"Great. Now let's go home so you can fill your stomach," I chuckled.

"A wonderful idea," she giggled.

Heather's POV:

Sheridan was so happy. And if he was happy, so was I. Everything was carefully coming to an end. Positively. I was so glad for him. He was going to succeed in his plans without having to dirty his hands or stain them with blood. I preferred my mother to go to jail than to be killed. She was still my mother after all. The only parent I had left, though she deserved hell for all the innocent lives she took.

*
Ace's POV:

We reached the mansion and I parked. I got the plastic bag and we entered the house, my queen in front of me. We were heading for the kitchen when all of a sudden, Heather collapsed in front of me. The plastic bag dropped from my hand as I panicked and knelt down to hold her. What was wrong with her?

"Heather?? Heather??" I shook her in complete in fear. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me.

"W– what happened?"

"You fell. Heather, what's wrong? You're not okay."

She tried to stand and I helped her up.

"N– no it's okay, love. Guess I need a good rest and a meal," she murmured, holding her head.

"Go upstairs and lay down. I'll bring the food up with a glass of water so you drink the aspirin. You scared me."

"No, I'll be fine," she walked past me and went upstairs.

What's was this? I hoped she wasn't ill.

Heather's POV:

Something was wrong somewhere. My body had strange reactions lately but I refused to believe it was something serious. Maybe I was just tired.

I entered the bedroom and quickly got under the sheets.

Minutes later, Ace brought the food up in a tray. I sat up. He sat down by me and watched me eat. I was just so hungry that it surprised me.

I finished the fries and chicken laps in a jiffy. I drank the coke all at once too.
When I dropped the huge plastic cup down on the tray, I noticed Ace staring at me in amusement.

"Wow," he chuckled, "That was quick."
I smiled shyly, blushing. He smiled back and got the glass of aspirin.

"Here," he gave it to me and I drank it.  The taste was awful.

"Ugh! Eew!" I said, twisting my face. He laughed and collected the glass.

"Sorry."

"Eurk!"

"It'll make you feel better," he put the tray on the floor. I motioned him to come sit at the top of the bed so I could put my head on his lap. He did so.

"Remember when I gave you my teddy bear? So you could sleep with it?" I said in a low voice while he caressed my head. He smiled.

"Yeah, how can I forget."

"It was that awfully rainy night when you, dad and uncle Paul had returned from a bad hunt."

"Yeah."

"I'd been so worried. When I heard your voices downstairs and heard you come up to your room, I couldn't resist coming to see you."

He smiled and when I looked up at him, he'd reddened a little.

"And I slept very well that night. The teddy had that sweet peppermint smell, you had as a kid."

Ace's POV:

She giggled.

"It was the body lotion I used to wear. Can you..." she yawned, "Can you believe that I'd intentionally applied a little quantity on the teddy? " she giggled again, " I had planned to give it to you. I–" she reddened, "I'd hoped you would think of me as you slept," she admitted.

My heart skipped a beat when I looked down as her. What would I have become if she wasn't there, after my father's death? Or worse, where would I have been?

"I always had you on my mind, even a kid."

"Really?" she asked in a soft voice, her eyes closed.

"Yeah. And yes, I thought of you that night. I slept very well. Though the next morning, there was a frowning Sawyer by me," I chuckled, "She'd make me scream immediately I woke up," I laughed but Heather didn't.

"Heather?" I caressed her cheek softly and smiled to myself. Sleeping beauty.
She'd fallen asleep on my lap while I spoke. I carefully adjusted and put her head on the pillow. I kissed her forehead and left the room.