Saving Katie by HollyS (books for 9th graders txt) 📖

the van to Karl he too seemed deep in thought, she wondered what was passing his mind "Maybe he's realized how crazy he is" She smiled at the thought. She knew her daddy was going to be cross when he realized she wasn't there and had defied what he had told her last night. It was certain that Mrs Higgins would know she was gone by now and had more then likely contacted her daddy at his office.

Karl stopped out side the 4 story high block of flats, he shot out of the van and round to Katie's side and opened the door for her. She gave him her best smile, and he returned it. Getting out of the van Katie looked up at the building.
Turning to Karl she asked "Which is yours?"
"The ground floor one there" and he pointed to the flat at the bottom with silver blinds at the two visible windows.
Katie followed behind Karl as he led the way into the block and too his front door, as he opened it he stated that it wasn't much but it was home. Guiding her into the front room holding her rucksack, Katie looked around it was indeed small she took in the old worn leather sofa the coffee table sitting at a slight angle in the middle of the floor, the silver blind she had just seen from outside. There was a television and bookshelf sitting on the far wall opposite the door she had come in.
"It's homely" she turned and smiled at Karl.
Resting his hand on her shoulder he gave it a slight squeeze, "It will do us for now have a seat I have to call my boss and I'll make us a coffee".
"Tea please, I don't like coffee that much"
Laughing Karl said "Opposites attract I guess we have a lot to learn about each other still".
He left the room then and chuckled at how his day was turning out, so far today he had technically committed a kidnapping, even if it was consented to and of course picking a lock. Filling his kettle up then flicking the switch to boil Karl pulled his phone from his pocket.

***

Dialing the number for Jack, he lent against the side and waited while the phone on the other end started to ring, after the fifth ring the voice he knew so well answered, this man will know what to do he thought.
"Well if it isn't the thorn in my backside checking in, whats wrong son?"
Karl took a deep breathe "Well.." and he began to relay to jack what happened when he went to the house and about Katie and how he found her in the basement and picked the lock. Silence greeted him when he finished, Karl waited a moment or two and there was still no reply.
"Jack?" He asked.
"I'm here boy, I don't really know what to say. I mean your in trouble, deep trouble. I know the father he's a rich guy Karl. Influences in high places, if they catch you your gonna do time buddy" Jack's voice with deep with concern for Karl, and to a degree Katie.
Karl shuddered "What do I do?"
"I'm guessing you have both fallen for each other, you could go back to the house with her talk to her father, see if that comes to anything explain that you'd like to see each other, or you can run...I'll help you with a little money boy but I wont take the wrap for you". This was all Jack could come up with to help the boy, he cared for him, had taken him under his wing when he was nothing but a young rebellious teen. Jack provided for him gave him a job and put him back on the straight and narrow, but he could tell from Karl's voice that this girl meant something, and that Karl was concerned for her that something was right in her own home.
Cutting into Jack's thoughts, "I'll go speak to Katie see what she wants to do. I'll call you later Jack".
"Bye son, be careful OK"
"Bye Jack" and Karl hung up.
Grabbing the two mugs he made his way back into the front room and placed them on the coffee table in front of Katie...

***

Katie looked up as Karl entered with the cups he looked stressed and she was concerned, he still managed to look unbelievably handsome. Karl settled himself next to Katie on the sofa and gave her crooked smile.
"So we have to make a decision here Katie, what are going to do next?".
Katie shrugged not entirely sure what he meant by the do next it. Guessing by the hesitation Karl decided he should elaborate a little more.
"Technically I have broken into someone's property, and kidnapped their daughter. That kind of leaves me in a lot of trouble" he ran his fingers through his hair and looked at her. Again he reminded her of a child and his heart beat faster at the sight of her sitting looking so fragile. He felt like he might explode with the rate it was going.
"Do you want go back and face your father?"
A shake of the head followed his question her hair fell in front of her eyes, and he fought the urge to move it away.
"why?" He asked her.
"He'll put me back in the basement again. I'm not allowed to leave the house at all daddy is going to be so cross by now." Tears welled in her eyes.
"He makes you stay in the basement?" The anger was rising in him.
"Daddy says I'm "crazy" and I'm not sure why... do you think I'm crazy Karl?"
Did he think he she was crazy... no he thought he was crazy, but not Katie.
"If you don't want to face him then we won't I cant make you do anything you don't want to do", and I don't fancy facing him either he added silently.
"I feel I'll be OK as long as I'm with you Karl", she surprised not only herself but Karl with that statement and she started to laugh watching the surprise cross his face.
"Guess that just leaves us with one more problem Katie"
"What's that?"
"It's lunchtime and I'm hungry and I don't have much in for food so where do you fancy going for lunch?" He asked her.
Smiling she shrugged again "I'm easy"
That your not Katie he thought your certainly not easy.

***

Climbing back in the van they decided leaving the town would be the better option Katie was positive that her daddy would have all sorts of people out looking for her by now. Being a small town it wouldn't take them long to be found. They drove out into the country side, five or six miles from the town, finding a small and quiet pub they ate their lunch in companionable silence then both drank a beer out in the pub garden enjoying the afternoon sunshine. Neither were in a rush to return to the flat, they enjoyed learning new things about each other their dislikes and their likes.

Karl felt himself falling for Katie more and more everything he learned about her surprised him and made him feel fuzzy inside. Despite his bad boy looks Katie was shocked to find he had a love of books as she did they discussed their particular favorites they then moved onto music and though they differed somewhat they agreed to disagree, the afternoon passed so fast and before they knew it, evening was closing in on them fast and they made the decision to leave the pub and head for home, they both smiled as Karl suggested it.
Home, Katie thought it sounded like heaven, Home with Karl.
Home, Karl smiled, I'm going home with the most beautiful girl I've ever met.
Karl opened the van door and helped Katie climbed in her check was so close to his face and he hesitated a moment not wanting to scare her away. He kissed her gently on it as she got in, her cheek was amazingly soft, and though it was an awkward peck on the cheek rather then the lusty kiss he longed to give her, it was enough to have Katie blushing as her hand rose up to the cheek.
"Our first kiss" she teased.
"I was hoping for a slightly better one then that" Karl retorted.
"Give me time Karl, it's all so new to me" and she stroked his cheek gently, obviously not as smooth as her own.
Taking her hand and kissing the back of it. "I know Katie".
Before anything else could be said Karl's mobile sprung into life again. Making them both jump he searched around til he found the offending object and looked at the display screen. It was Jack..


Chapter Five

Looking from Jack's name on the display screen to the time, 5:45pm, He frowned knowing this couldn't be a good call and the urge to ignore it was there but wasn't enough. If it has something to do with his and Katie's safety then he had to answer. There was no there reason for Jack to call unless something had happened.
"I have to take this Katie, it's my boss".
Without needing to know more she nodded she understood that something may well have happened.

Karl walked away from the van and kept his back turned on her while he answered his phone.
"Hello"
Jack's voice was urgent on the other end."Son your ok?"
"I am Jack"
"And Katie?" he asked.
"She's fine too".
"That's good that's OK then". The relief in his voice was clear. "I sent one of the other lads around to your flat to check on your. They told me there was no one there but the front door was open. Your place has been trashed".
Damn thought Karl, he wouldn't turn around to look at Katie but he knew she was watching could feel it.
"You there Karl?"
"I'm here... any idea who's involved although I'm guessing its to do with Katie and her father"
Jack sighed "I don't have a clue".
"What do I do Jack?"
"I've put some money into your account, it's not a lot mind but it's enough. Get back to mine as quick as you can, take all back roads around town. Take the spare care I have. I'll not be in but the key is under the pot by the back gate. Take it and get the hell out of here as far as you can go and buckle down in a hotel somewhere for a couple of days til I can think of something. I'll ring you when I can".
Realizing he was nodding rather then using his voice Karl snapped into life. "OK, I'll come now, thank you Jack"
"Your OK boy, I'll make sure it's OK. I know your a good lad, you've done it out of love, I'm sure of it"