The smell of fear, old sweat, alcohol and vomit vie for supremacy. It's enough to make me want to gag. I look to Mr. Wallace and see that he's back to hiding behind his dour facade once more. But I do detect the tiniest bit of sweat starting to bead around his hair line.

Shit if he doesn't cool down he won't be walking out of here.

"Grant," I wait for him to face me and do something that shocks us both. I kiss him. There are some cat calls and whistles as Grant over comes his shock and kisses me back.

I end the kiss as the need for air becomes paramount. "Calm down or your going to give yourself away." My words seem to act like cold water because his face closes off.

"Thank you, Miss Weeks." His words are formal and cold. That's okay, the kiss wasn't an invitation. The last thing I need is to get involved with Grant Wallace.

"Can I help you?" The bored voice of the police receptionist pulls me to attention.

"Yes, my name is Keri Weeks. This gentleman is Grant Wallace. We read in the paper that there is a police investigation into my disappearance. I've been sick and this is the first I've been able to come in." We decided to stick to the truth the best that we could.

The receptionist looks at us with disbelief. "Right, well I'll need to see some ID."

Grant is able to give her his, "I have no idea where my identification is. I had it with me before the car crashed. When I woke up I was in some sort of cell and all my things, including clothes were missing. You can contact Mr. Shane Smith of Smith, Whyte and Nichols and he'll verify my identity. He's my lawyer." I just hope this works.

"Take a seat." The receptionist still looks like she doesn't believe our story, but she goes to talk to someone behind the wall. She's gone so long that I'm actually starting to fall asleep on Grant.

"Keri," A shake and a repeat of my name. Slowly I wake up. Embarrassed I sit up as quickly as I can and that almost makes me pass out once more.

Gentle hands hold me steady as my body finds its equilibrium. Finally things settle down and I look at Grant. "We are being called back now."

I nod to show that I understood. Grant holds me upright as we stand and keeps his arm around me as we walk. I'm grateful because I don't think I would've remained upright otherwise.

A police officer wearing a suit comes up to us. "My name is detective Young. Officer Smith says that you are Mr. Grant Wallace and you are the missing heiress Miss Keri Weeks." Again the disbelief is evident in his voice. I thought the police were supposed to have better poker faces than this?

"You sound like you don't believe us detective. Might I ask why?" My voice is cold and sharp.

"The Wallaces are more likely to do the kidnapping rather than bring in a kidnapped Weeks." The detective says. I shrug.

"I don't know how, but he found me and took me to his home. Once I was well enough, he brought me here. It wasn't until he read the paper that he realized that I was being looked for by the police." This will be the hardest part to sell to the police.

The detective takes us to a small office. The smell of stale cigarettes makes my stomach turn. "Detective, can we have a room that doesn't reek of cigarette? The smell is making me," I have to put my hand over my mouth. I look around the office frantically. 

Seeing my distress Grant grabs the garbage can next to the desk and gives it to me just in time.

"Shit." I hear Grant say as I lose all the lovely food I'd been given. 

"She's been starved and hasn't eaten much until I found her. She was just starting to actually eat more than a couple pieces of toast." This hadn't been rehearsed, but perhaps that's for the best.

Once I finish losing everything and could calm the dry heaving, I'm all but unconscious again.

I feel myself being picked up and carried. Soon the smell of cigarettes is gone and I start breathing easier. I'm placed on something soft and shortly after a cold paper towel is placed on my forehead. Once I feel up to it I open my eyes and find Grant and the detective both in the new room with me.

"Forgive me. The smell of cigarettes always makes me sick. Usually there isn't much for me to lose. I hope I didn't make too much of a mess?" My voice isn't very strong and my mouth taste horrible. If I can't get that out then I'll be dry heaving again.

Grant helps me sit up but won't let me do anything else. I close my eyes against the dizziness that strikes with just that much movement.

Detective Young hands me a bottle of water and another garbage can. Thankful I take some water and rinse my mouth spitting the fouled liquid into the new garbage can. "Thank you."

"You didn't make any mess, Miss Weeks. When you are feeling better I'll take your statement. My partner will be back soon and will take Mr. Wallace and take his statement. Is there any thing else I can get you?"

"Just my lawyer, Mr. Shane Smith if you could." I state faintly. Things start going black when the cool paper towel is replaced with another one. Immediately I feel better.

"Thank you, Grant."  I hadn't planned on being so informal, but right now I just couldn't give a damn.

He hands me something that crinkles.

I look down at my hand and give a half smile. A packet of crackers like they give with soup in cafes. I open the packet and eat one in relief. Slowly my stomach settles. I hadn't realized that they had been trying to get my attention.

Once Grant touches me, I blush, "Apologies, detective. My hearing was damaged years ago."

"From the accident correct?" The detective says as he reads something.

"No, that's what my uncle told people, but my hearing was perfectly fine after the accident. I lost the hearing when my uncle hit me so hard that I fell and landed on the cement floor of the basement where I'd been moved to." My words make the detective stop still in shock.

"Keri Weeks, what the hell are you talking about?" My lawyer, the one and only, outspoken Mr. Shane Smith bellows from the doorway of the room.

"Hello, Uncle Shane. It's time for some truths to be made known." I tell the man. He comes forward and engulfs me in a hug. He's a large man in height and girth, but a good man.