Chapter 324 - The last one left (1)

Jeff and JoAnna were chatting during their late dinner at an Italian restaurant when Jeff's phone rang. He checked and it was Aiden. As soon as Jeff picked up, Aiden started speaking very fast: "Can you get me a jet to Seattle? I called, but they said nothing is available. Pull some strings, can you?"

"Slow down. What is going on?", Jeff was confused.

"I can't reach Sarah. I think she decided to go by herself to deal with Ed.", Aiden sounded desperate.

"Wasn't she supposed to go back home?", Jeff glanced at JoAnna. Two of them were together. Sarah was supposed to return at the same time as JoAnna.

"Yes. But it seems she changed her mind. I know she is still in Seattle."

"I will see what I can do. You head for the airport." Jeff hang up the call.

JoAnna looked at Jeff and asked, "What is going on?"

She noticed that he glanced at her during the call.

Jeff was looking at his phone. "Sarah decided to go after Ed instead heading home... Just a minute.", Jeff made a phone call and talked with someone about getting a jet ready from Fairfield to Seattle. When he finished, he texted Aiden the information.

"OK. That is settled." Jeff looked at JoAnna, "Why did Sarah change the plan?"

"She didn't."

"What?" Jeff was surprised that JoAnna is not fazed by this. Knowing her, she should be worried about her sister.

"When she came to Seattle, she told me that she will go after Ed." JoAnna explained.

"By herself?" Jeff could not believe this. JoAnna was in on the plan? It seems that all Hill sisters are reckless. "And you didn't stop her? Aiden is out of his mind now." Jeff frowned thinking how he would feel if JoAnna goes like this by herself into danger. And then he remembered how she did go by herself into danger with her mentor and his frown deepened.

"She wants to do this herself." JoAnna saw Jeff shaking his head in disapproval and explained. "What Ed did was horrible..." JoAnna told Jeff what she heard from Sarah.

While listening to grim details, Jeff cringed. "No wonder she wants to punish him by herself. But she should not go alone. Aren't you worried about her?"

"Of course, I'm worried. But I know that she is capable. I believe in her." JoAnna patted Jeff's hands assuring him that it will all be OK. "I know that there is a reason why she didn't include Aiden in this."

'If Sarah can't pull this off, no one can.' JoAnna was confident.

~Seattle~

Sophia is on the phone with Aiden.

"I'm on my way to the airport... I will be there in about two hours. Is there any way you can get to Sarah and stop her, or help her? Her phone is off." There was panic and desperation in his voice.

"We don't know where she is. So, unless you want us to go around and alert everyone what she is doing, we should just stay put. She will contact us when she is ready." Sophia was calm.

Aiden noticed that Sophia is not anxious about Sarah's situation, and was suspicious. "Do you know something I don't?"

"Earlier today she came and got some things from Felix." Sophia admitted.

"You knew that she will do this, and you let her go?!" Aiden's voice was rising.

"Yes." Sophia answered calmly. "She planned for this. She will not get herself recklessly into danger."

Aiden let out a frustrated grunt.

"Aiden, I really appreciate that you want to be next to Sarah. You should have more confidence in her." Sophia ended the call.

Of course, that Sophia wanted to go to Sarah and help her out. But Sarah wants to do this by herself. That afternoon, Sarah told her not to get involved, and to stay put in case they need to create an alibi.

…

Villa of Peterson family has all lights on. In the background, some shouts could be heard.

Sarah is throwing pebbles on the second floor window. After third pebble hit the glass surface, window opened, and Ed peeked out. His eyes widened when he saw Sarah waving at him from below. He glanced left and right and was even more surprised to see that she is alone. He closed the window and rushed outside through the back door.

He stopped few steps away from Sarah and observed her. She was wearing light, summer clothes, and a small girly backpack on her back. Ed was overwhelmed with a mix of excitement, disbelief and caution. "You are here, because...?"

Sarah's melodious voice dazed him. "I heard that your family business hit a rough patch. I thought you might like some company." Sarah didn't see any visible reaction from him. She looked at his window and smiled while playing with a pebble in her hand. "Remember? You used to throw pebbles like this in my window to get my attention in high school."

Ed relaxed. At that time two of them spent a lot of time together. "Well, you were in high school. I was still in middle school." Ed remembered that Sarah skipped grades and went to high school before him, even though he is one year older than Sarah.

Sarah giggled. "Walk?" She gestured down the driveway.

He nodded and walked next to her.

Sarah internally sneered at him, but her expression showed concern. "How is your family doing?"

"My dad is going crazy. I'm happy that I got out of the house." He answered truthfully.

Sarah turned to him, "Aren't you worried?"

Her eyes enchanted him. Ed would never admit to her any weakness. "I don't understand, what can be so bad that it can't be fixed?" He was confident.

Ed looked at Sarah's profile, dimly lit by small lights lining up the driveway and felt his heart race. 'When was the last time we walked like this? It's been years...'

As kids, they spent a lot of time together. But as soon as Sarah suspected that he is romantically interested in her, she started avoiding him.

They walked and chatted for some time before taking a turn to a side narrow path through the greenbelt that separated their two properties. After a short walk, they entered back of the Hill family property. In that area, surrounded by large bushes and trees is a shed and a greenhouse which Stella uses to grow plants originating from tropical climate.

Sarah knows that they entered area where Eve has access. There are sensors and cameras placed around, covering the area. Sarah touched her earpiece, "Eve, send video feed of this area to Aiden."

Sarah wants to do this by herself. But she also knows that Aiden must be worried. By giving him a live video of what is going on, he can see that she is OK.

"With whom are you talking?" Ed looked around, but again, he didn't see anyone.

Sarah feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"

"I heard you... I'm not imagining things." He was still nervously glancing around. He didn't see anyone, but it was dark. There is always a possibility that someone is hiding in those bushes, or in the shed. Suddenly, Ed had a bad feeling while looking at the greenhouse.

Sarah's friendly expression was replaced by a cold one. "The only thing you imagined is that I'm happy to walk next to you."

"So, that's how it is… You got me here... Why?" Ed was confused. Why would she bring him here if she does not want to be alone with him? What's the point?

"I know what you did... got me followed, drugged." Sarah was cringing while trying to keep unpleasant memories from resurfacing.

"Since you know, why are we talking here?" He saw her as a weak girl. What can she do?

"I want to negotiate." Sarah put on an icy smile.

"Negotiate?" The more she spoke, the less sense it made to him.

Sarah smirked seeing that he is underestimating her. "I know you are training kick box for a long time, and you even have some results. How about this: if you can defeat me, I'm yours."