Prince Charming (Behind the Screen, #1) by Iris Deorre Page A

you.’
    ‘Or else what? We both know I’m not getting out of here. If I do, you’ll face jail time.’
    She laughed. In that moment she had the urge to end his life, but instead, she left him with his thoughts.
    ‘Hey,’ she said.
    ‘Something wrong?’ asked Misty.
    ‘You need to call this in.’
    ‘You mean notify the police he’s missing.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Has he – ’
    ‘Nothing. It’s something else. He has two women hostage in his home. They could die with no food or water.’
    ‘Dam it! That bastard!’
    ‘I know. We both know it.’
    ‘Yes. What about you? It could lead to you.’
    ‘Don’t worry about me. I’ll deal with it.’
    ‘Okay, if you’re sure.’
    ‘I am. Those women need to be rescued as soon as possible.’
    ‘Okay. I’m on it.’
    ‘Thanks Misty.’
    ‘Be careful.’
    ‘I will be.’ She hung up and got ready for work.
    ****
    D erek and Yasmina pulled up at the luxurious house. And so did two other police cars.
    ‘Why are we here again?’ he asked.
    The chief asked us to check it out. Some fancy pants guy has gone missing.’
    ‘So he’s become a priority?’ he asked. ‘What about the women?’
    ‘We haven’t stopped that, we’re just trying to find out what’s happened.’
    ‘What’s his name again?’
    ‘Boy you’re not on the ball today.’
    He laughed. Harmony was on his mind.
    ‘I am. I just don’t understand why other detectives couldn’t take this.’
    ‘Everyone deserves equal treatment whether they’re some fancy pants gallery owner or a homeless man.’
    ‘You’re right.’
    ‘He’s name is Marcus Rees.’
    ‘I see.’
    They stepped out of the car.
    ‘Do we have a right to enter his home?’
    ‘The man is missing.’ She nodded at the officers who had come along to break down the door.
    It clicked opened. The alarm went off.
    ‘You take the ground floor, I’ll go upstairs,’ said Derek.
    ‘Okay.’
    Yasmina searched the living-room in search for any clues why Marcus had gone missing. Derek climbed the staircase, Harmony still on his mind. He couldn’t help himself. The night they’d had together was unforgettable. He tried one of the room doors. It was locked.
    ‘Break it down,’ he told the officer who had followed him.
    It took a while, but finally the door opened.
    ‘Oh my god! Call an ambulance!’ He rushed over to Rose who lay weak with dry lips. ‘Hey,’ he shook her gently. ‘It’s okay. Everything will be okay.’
    ‘Derek!’ Yasmina ran into the room. ‘Oh god!’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Is that?’
    ‘Rose, it looks like Rose,’ said Derek.
    ‘Oh god, we found her...do you think...’ she left the room and tried the others. ‘Open this door,’ she told an officer.
    The door was broken down. She ran towards Zara, who was half asleep.
    ‘Can you tell me your name?’ asked Yasmina.
    ‘Zara.’
    ‘You’re safe now. An ambulance is on the way.’
    The sirens were heard in the distance. Everything happened fast. The detectives couldn’t believe their luck.
    ‘To think a missing man would lead us to this.’
    ‘Yes. This house will be swept, it’s under investigation now,’ said Derek.
    ‘I can only imagine what we’ll find.’
    ‘Do I want to know? And what the hell happened to him?’
    ‘God only knows. We still need to find him.’
    ‘Yes we do. I’ll ride with the women. See if I can get any answers. Meet you back at the station,’ said Derek.
    ‘Sure thing.’
    He hopped into the back of the ambulance.
    ****
    T he A&E was busy as usual. Harmony tried to resuscitate a patient.
    ‘Don’t die me now!’ She worked as did the other medical staff. ‘Come on, come on.’ The defibrillator was placed on his chest again. ‘Clear!’ she shouted and the staff members stepped back. The electric current shot through his body to start his heart.
    Again they worked on him, and again she shouted, ‘Clear!’ so the medical staff could step away! But nothing helped. The man was gone!
    ‘God dam it!’ She