I drove over to the cottage, now less than worried about the press. It was a mess, it had been searched, thankfully, they weren't vandals, so whilst they ripped out the back of wardobes and things, they didn't rip up the clothing. I took several more items down to the car. I didn't think I'd be coming back for a while.

I tidied up Stella and Simon's clothes, but left everything else. The young copper on the door was bored stiff, but he had his job to do, so after making him a cuppa and some sandwiches, I left.

Easy As Falling Off A Bike
by Angharad
part:182

"Tom, do not go in until the police get there?" I said loudly down the phone.

"Wassup?" asked Simon.

I waved him to be quiet. "Tom where are you?"

"It's a bit of a mess, stuff all over the place?"

"The cottage has been broken into, no sign of Stella so far?" I said to Simon, who paled visibly.

He went on muttering something, but I was listening to Tom who was calling Stella and saying who he was. Then I could hear police sirens from the phone so presumed the cavalry had arrived.

"I have to go Cathy, the police are here, I'll call you later."

"Jeez, what more can happen?" said Simon. He looked very angry.

"Look Si, neither of us has had much sleep, go and shower while I call room service and have something sent up."

"I'm not too hungry," he said.

"Neither am I, but I have a feeling this could be a long day." I put my arm around his waist. "We can call the hospital later and see if she's turned up for work. She might have stayed with John?"

"Yeah okay, order me some coffee and a bit of toast." he said and went off to the shower.

I called room service and ordered two full English breakfasts plus tea and coffee. I also asked them to be as quick as they could.

The food arrived while I was showering, Simon tipped the waiter and was busy pouring tea and coffee when I emerged in the towelling robe.

He seemd to eat with gusto, I had to force mine down. I don't like big breakfasts but I had this feeling that food would not be a priority for the rest of the day.

"Where else could she be?" I asked Simon who was busy on his fourth piece of toast and marmalade.

"Search me?" he shrugged and reached for another slice of toast. I'd had one and left half my bacon and egg. The tea was good.

"What happens next?" I asked with regard to going home.

"A car is supposed to arrive about nine, to avoid the M5 rush hour."

"Oh, so we won't be there until lunch time," It wasn't even eight yet.

"Sod it, I'm gonna hire a chopper." He picked up his mobile.

"Can't we do fixed wing?" I asked not wanting to get in another helicoter for a while, not longer than say, a lifetime.

"No, you come down by car, I'll meet you later." He picked up the service phone, "This is Lord Cameron, get me a motorbike taxi, I need to be at the airport in half an hour."

"A what taxi?"

"It's a motorbike not a car, gets through the traffic easier."

"Oh!" I didn't even know they existed. "Please be careful," I hugged and kissed him. "I don't want to be widdowed before I'm married."

"They can't hurt me, I'm an aristocrat," he smiled.

"Erm, what do I do about the bill for this place?"

"Oh that's taken care of, just sign out, it automatically goes to the bank."

"I can't sign it, I don't work for the bank."

"Yes you do, Environmental consultant."

"But I haven't agreed to that yet!"

"No but I have, your first paycheque should be in the bank by now."

"What!" I was about to argue with him, when my mobile rang and so did the service phone.

"Yes?" I snapped into my phone.

"Hey don't take that tone of voice with me?"

"Sorry Tom, getting a bit tense."

"Okay I'll forgive you. The good news is no Stella, the bad is, they trashed the house."

"Well thank goodness for small mercies." I was relieved there was no body.

Simon mouthed, 'Tom?'.

I held the phone to my chest, "Yes no sign of Stella and the place has been trashed."

"Fuck that, I've gotta go, bring my bag with you?"

"Course I will," I kissed him goodbye and he grabbed his coat and was gone. He would be quite cold before he go to the airport.

"Okay Tom, do they know what happened?"

"No idea. Can't say she was or wasn't here."

"Damn, there's a car supposedly bringing me back later this morning."

"You have a key to get in?"

"Yes in my bag."

"Good, I'll see you later. If you dash off somewhere, tell me."

"Okay Tom, I'm not likely to do that, that's boy stuff."

"Yeah yeah, I remember Emma Peel and her bike leathers, how do I know the updated version isn't a lycra ladette?"

"Erm..." before I could reply he was gone. I went back to dress, 'John Steed' had packed his bag and left it on the bed.

I took my time and called Stella several times. She wasn't at the hospital, for some reason she didn't have a clinic booked today. It gave me a little hope that she was simply away somewhere, but why didn't she tell anyone?

The phone rang, it was my driver. A bell boy came up for the bags and took me down to the reception desk. "If you could sign here please, Lady Cameron." I was going to protest but thought, 'what the hell'. "I trust everything was to your satisfaction?"

"Yes it was fine thank you, I was quite impressed with the room service last night and again this morning."

"You're very kind, but if you could relay that to Lord Stanebury, we'd be most grateful."

"But of course. Did you want to inspect the kitchens or anywhere else?"

"No thank you, I have to dash off."

"Thank you for staying with us."

I nodded, or was going to be here all day.

I made a little small talk with the driver but he seemed more interested in the radio, so I found myself nodding off. I'd asked him to drop me off at the town centre, where I gave him a fiver and walked round the corner to a taxi rank. From there I went to Tom's house.

Once in a pair of jeans and trainers, I felt more action minded. I again tried Stella. No answer, even her voice mail was off, which puzzled me.

I drove over to the cottage, now less than worried about the press. It was a mess, it had been searched, thankfully, they weren't vandals, so whilst they ripped out the back of wardobes and things, they didn't rip up the clothing. I took several more items down to the car. I didn't think I'd be coming back for a while.

I tidied up Stella and Simon's clothes, but left everything else. The young copper on the door was bored stiff, but he had his job to do, so after making him a cuppa and some sandwiches, I left.

My phone received a text as I was driving back to Tom's. I pulled over as soon as I could. It was from Stella, or at least from her phone.

'Wot is goin on?
Stel.'

I called back her phone. This time she answered it. We talked for a few minutes, when she heard about the attack on her dad and the house break in, she was shocked and then cried. She asked me to come and get her. She was at a private clinic on the outskirts of the city. I knew where it was because I sometimes cycled out there going to the downs. I was puzzled to say the least.

I drove there as quickly as I could. She was sat inside talking on her mobile. I waited, picking up the overnight case she had with her. She looked the same, well she looked pale and drawn, so she hadn't had any plastic surgery as far as I could tell, I mean she didn't look like Jordan or Anne Robinson, the former with basket balls for boobs and the latter with a face like botoxed ferret.

"I think you'd better come back to Tom's. They're waiting for a locksmith to secure the house, new front door etc."

"Oh, did Simon authorise that?"

"No I did on your behalf, I hope that's okay."

"Sure, I'll need more clothes."

"I'll drop you off at Tom's and go get some for you."

"No let's go to the cottage now, sort it in one go." She paused as if getting her breath. "You won't tell Simon where you found me will you?"

"Where did I pick you up then?"

"John's house."

"Okay, but I don't understand the need for secrecy between us. I mean it's not as if you just had an abor...., oh shit! You didn't did you?"

I glanced at her, she was nodding and the tears were streaming down her face.