Stan wasn't mad at her, but he knew this wasn't funny anymore. She didn't act this way the last time they were out. 'Maybe she just needs a little rest' He thought.
He took the tissue that was on the table and wiped his face. Kevin and Ian rushed to him when they saw what Karen had done.
"Let me, boss." Kevin said and without waiting for permission from Stan, he took another tissue and wiped off the yoghurt on Stan's chest.
"Okay Karen, I think it's time we wrapped this up. Let's get you home. I think a little rest would do you some good." Stan stood up and held Karen's hand, but Karen pulled away and started crying, thereby attracting attention from other people in the restaurant.
"The hell... Why are you crying?" Asked Stan, being embarrassed at the way people were staring at them.
"Where's my yoghurt?!" Asked Karen, crying louder by the seconds.
"You ate some and smeared my body with the rest." Stan was already getting frustrated.
"Uhm.. boss, I think she's having mood swings. My late grandma, may her soul rest In Peace... She had dementia, which is not too different from what Karen is suffering from, except that Karen's was caused by an accident which led to a concussion. My grandma used to have mood swings almost all the time." Ian explained.
"That's the more reason we have to get her home." Stan held Karen's hand again, but held it tight this time around that Karen couldn't get her hand free and went out of the restaurant.
"Leave me! You said you are my friend. Liar!" She cried harder and hit him continuously on his chest, trying to get her hand free.
"Kevin, go turn the car around. Ian, help me out here." Stan ordered and Kevin quickly did as told.
Ian helped Stan by holding Karen's free arm, while Stan swiftly carried her on his shoulder and held her legs to prevent her from kicking. Everyone were surprised at this and if they hadn't seen them walking into the restaurant together, they would have thought Stan was kidnapping the poor lady.
Stan hurriedly got her into the car and shut the door. He panted after doing that and looked at Ian. "Do we have ropes in the car?"
Ian squinted a bit at the question Stan threw at him and instead of answering, he cautiously asked "What do we need ropes for?"
....
The officers the commissioner sent over to Lauren finally found where Lauren was. They all got down from their patrol car and Lauren did same.
"Good afternoon, ma'am." The officers greeted.
"There would be nothing good about this afternoon if my baby is not found." Replied Lauren.
"I understand your plight madam, but we might need some info." Said one of the officers.
Lauren nodded and said "Go on."
"Do you have any idea where she could be at? Maybe like a friend's..."
Lauren cut the officer off. "She's not okay at the moment. She remembers nothing and no one. In the footage we watched from the cctv I installed at my house, we saw that she had accidentally hit her on the wall and I believe that might have triggered her condition. I'm afraid that.. that she might not be okay if we don't find her on time." She couldn't hold back her tears any longer and started sobbing.
Mrs Wilson got down from the car on seeing that Lauren already broke into tears. She gave Lauren a kerchief and patted her back.
"Please do try to calm yourself down, madam. Tears won't solve anything at this point." He paused with his questioning, hoping to continue when she gets a hold of herself.
A car drove to where they were and parked. Hendrick came out of the car and with a worried look on his face, he quickly went to join them.
His hair was a little messy and his clothes were rumpled. One could tell that he had rushed down there without caring about how he looked or what he wore.
He faced the officers. "Thank God you guys are here. So how do you plan on looking for her?" He wasted no time in asking about the issue, but didn't get a response.
One of the officers looked at the women. "Who's he?"
"I'm a friend to.." Hendrick wanted to answer the question but was interrupted by Mrs Wilson.
"He is my granddaughter's fiancé, so you can go on with your questions." She answered.
"Okay. We have to acknowledge the fact that she could be anywhere by now, but we would like to know if there are any persons you think she is likely to visit or any person you suspect could have taken her."
Hendrick and Lauren looked at each other as if they were speaking telepathically then Lauren looked at the officers. "The only person I can think of is Stanley Rodriguez."
The officer nodded, "I see... so do you know where he could be? And is he of any relation to you."
"Yes, I might have an idea about where he could be at." Hendrick answered and the officers gave him a look. "He's my brother." He added.
....
Karen's hands and legs were tied to prevent her from being aggressive, but there was no duct tape to put a stop to her wailing which seemed not be stopping anytime soon.
Stan leaned against the seat tiredly and covered his face with his palms. He was getting a headache from the noise Karen was making.
"Please stop crying already." He begged her. "Have you really completely lost it?"
Karen's wailing slowly came to a stop. Her face was already stained with tears and she had snots dropping from her nostrils.
Stan sighed in relief. "Thank you... you would be home soon. That's what you want right?" He asked but Karen ignored him.
"Such a shame that this is how you say goodbye to me. I don't know when next we would see each other again, since your family is against it." Stan pouted.
"My leg" Karen said and struggled to get her legs free.
"Wait, I'll untie your legs for you, just promise me you won't throw any tantrums. Do you promise?" He asked and Karen nodded.
Stan proceeded to untie her legs even when he didn't trust her, especially since she had been acting weird. He untied her legs and slowly let go of her legs while watching her facial expression.
"Oh shit!" Ian cursed loudly.
Stan squinted. "What is it?"
"The Wilson's are here with the cops and so is your brother." Ian panicked.
"They are all looking directly at us. I think they know it's yours, boss. Your brother might have told them." Kevin added.
Stan looked shocked when he heard it and saw it for himself, but then he smiled. "Turn the car around, but don't drive away yet. Only drive when I give you the order."
Ian swiftly turned the car around.
"Stop that car, Karen might be in there." Lauren shouted at the officers.
They all ran towards the car, but before they got to the car, Stan already got off from the car, leaving the door open. "Good afternoon everyone." He waved at them while smiling.
Karen also got down from the car when she saw that the door was open. Her hands were still tied and it was still obvious that she had been crying.
"Karen! My baby!" Lauren ran to Karen and hugged her. Then in the next second, Lauren looked at Stan and slapped him hard across his face. "What did you do to her?!" She yelled.
Stan touched his slightly sore face. He couldn't remember the last time he got hit. "What do you think?" He asked her instead of answering her question. "You think I kidnapped her, right? Well, you might be right, but then what am I doing back here on the same road that leads to your house, when I could have been long gone from here?"
Kevin got off from the car too. "Sorry Mrs Wilson, but Mr Stan can sometimes be bad at explaining himself. We were actually heading to your house to return Karen."
"Return her? Why was she taken in the first place?" Lauren became more infuriated.
Mrs Wilson came forward. "I tolerated your sneaking out with my granddaughter yesterday, considering the fact that you are the son to my son's best friend and the fact that I watched you grow up, but you have crossed the line today. You even tied her hands and I don't want to think about the possible things you could have done to her… Officers! Arrest them!" She ordered.
Stan kicked the car and Kevin quickly got in as Ian drove off.
"They are innocent, just take me." Said Stan and without waiting for the officers, he went to the patrol car. "What are you waiting for? Let's go, I still cant believe this would be my first time in a cell." He sounded excited, making everyone look at him like he was crazy - everyone except Hendrick.
"You think this is funny? I'm going to make sure you stay there for a very long time." Lauren threatened him and the officers went and joined Stan by the car, one of them opened the back seat for Stan.
"That's awesome. I'm really looking forward to that." He chuckled then he looked at Hendrick, "Hey Hendrick. Long time no see." He winked at him and entered the car.
The officers also entered and drove off.