"I'm so sorry," Frank says "but I'm going to make it right."

I lightly shake my head and answer stoically as in a routine. "It's not your fault."

I don't even know what we're talking about. Reality still feels numb.

Frank keeps talking. "It somewhat is. I made a promise to keep the truth from you, but it's just not right. You need to know."

I look sideways, at him, while reality slowly slips back into its basic form.

He made a promise? To whom?

I don't know if I feel surprised or angry.

Who is keeping me from knowing this supposed 'truth' and why?

Frank's clearly focussing on the road with great intensity, he simply has to, driving at 80 mph, but at the same time he has put aside some of his attention for me.

"Okay," I cautiously ask "what is it that I need to know?"

Frank talks with breaks in between sentences, that way he manages to explain why I was abducted back in October and at the same time keep an eye on the road. "You know your dad has an influential company."

Uh oh, I really hope my dad isn't mentioned too many times in this story.

"He has his list of economic enemies, but nothing you won't expect from your average big league CEO. Last year unfortunately, a deal crossed the table which contained very bad news for a lot of folks if your dad would sign it. I can't tell you the details, those are confidential."

I give him a 'are you serious'-look. I thought he was going to tell me everything.

Frank picks up on my non-verbal cue. "I'm sorry, but you don't need to know that. Don't worry, it doesn't change anything." He continues. "The deal could make your dad a whole lot richer, but also corrupt. Like I said, a lot of hard-working people would suffer greatly if he had signed."

I jump to the logical conclusion. "Which he didn't."

Frank nods one time. "Exactly."

Of course he didn't. My dad has a good heart. I will always be proud of him because of it. "I guess he made a new enemy because of it."

Frank whistles softly. "He made a couple, you could say. One of those..." He hesitates in search of the right words. When he can't find them, he refrases the sentence. "The people your dad crossed, they had close connections to the organised crime businesses close to home and further away." Frank exhales. "They paid to abduct you, in order to force your dad into signing the deal." He looks over to measure my reaction.

I don't know how to react exactly. It makes sense, so I suppose it is the truth. I can't find a reason why Frank would lie to me now anyway. "He signed the deal and that's why I was returned." I finish the story.

I look down at my hands. They've got some bruises on them, so do my legs and feet. I clap open the sun visor, but immediately regret it. Some of my mascara has been smeared out around my eyes and I've got a big red bruise on my right cheek bone. That's going to turn blue soon. I should inspect if I'm hurt anywhere else when we get home. Are we even driving home?

Frank interrupts my thoughts. "Your dad didn't sign the deal and they didn't return you."

I look sideways at him with probably a confused expression. That's right. A couple of days ago, Lucas waited me up at school and told me it was Frank who got me out of that warehouse. Lucas sounded so delusional, I wasn't sure if I could believe him. "You returned me." I didn't aim my response at Frank in particular, I just corrected myself out loud.

Too late it comes to me that Frank saving me might have been a secret he thought he kept. I sense him being intrigued by my sudden correct leap of reasoning and he stays quiet for awhile, actively figuring out how I might've found out.

I guess his silence confirms it. When my dad let Frank into the house, where I met him for the first time, I didn't really. He has known me before I've known him.

Frank continues to drive onto the highway. Where are we going? This is not the way home. I'm finally processing what has happened, and it is giving me a massive headache almost momentarily. What does tonight have to do with everything he just told me?

Frank takes an exit off the highway. I didn't see whereto exactly.

I open the window just a bit, so I can get some air. It is cold, but that makes it even more desirable. Locks of my long hair tickle my face.

"Lucas told you." He pronounces his name with a taste of grudge to it. "For hell's sake, Elle."

I've placed my elbow on the side of the car door and I let my forehead rest in my hand. I don't look at him. "I'm sorry."

Frank keeps his mouth shut, although I'm sure he has lots more of things he wants to say to me. He's silent for at least fifteen minutes, all the while he gradually calms down.

When we approach a city, he talks again. His voice is collected, yet I've known him long enough to sense when it's carefully manufactured. "Your dad wouldn't sign the deal and the opposition wanted to use you as leverage. You escaped the criminals that captured you, twice. It enraged them even further and they put a price onto your head. Any freelance criminal with access to the dark web or knew others who did, now had the opportunity to make a fair amount of money if they could get to the daughter of Jean Paques. 'Unharmed, if possible', the description contained."

This is getting to me. All this time I was walking around with a target on my back? "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Your dad was working on it alongside the police. You were safe enough to focus on getting your life back on tracks."

I can't believe my father kept this from me. Maybe that's why he was absent for this long: he felt ashamed he put me in danger and that he lied to me. "You had no right to keep this from me, neither did my father." I sound strong.

Frank answers composedly. "We know."

I press my back into my seat and close the window and my eyes. Do I feel relieved or even more scared? With truth comes power, but also increased responsibility.

Frank drives into the streets of the unknown city. I don't pay a lot of attention to my surroundings until he finally parks the car beside a sidewalk.

He turns off the engine and sudden silence drops into the atmosphere. For a moment or two, we just sit next to each other. I'm sure we're both wondering we're we are now. Not physically: Frank surely knows where he drove to. I meant in relation to each other and the events that occurred involving ourselves.

To be honest, I don't know and I'm tired of thinking. "What now?" We look at each other, before Frank's gaze descends from my eyes to my ripped dress, and from the bruises on my arms to my bare feet. Instead of answering, he orders me to get out the car.

Frank leaves the keys in the car and walks to the back of it. He takes a sports bag out of the trunk, before walking up to me. "Give me your phone."

I comply and upon handing it over, Frank opens the sports bag and hands me a sweater. "There must be some sneakers in there as well." He says, handing over the bag.

Hm that's oddly convenient. Has that bag always been laying around in the trunk?

Frank takes out the battery of my phone, just as the sim-card, and smashes my phone to the ground.

What.

For a split second, and out of mere instinct, I'm stunned. Lucas has broken my phone just days ago and now this again. I'm officially out of spare phones. But the reflex faded away just as quickly as my phone screen split. Frank knows what he's doing.

I put on the sweater and sneakers and watch how Frank performs the same routine on his own phone. He only keeps the sim-cards. "Let's go." He finally says and we begin to walk.

The sound of our echoing steps in the abandoned streets create a hypnotising effect. The light of glaring street lamps contrast against the normal tranquility of night. Yet there is nothing normal about it. Frank takes back the sports bag and hangs it over his shoulder, so it doesn't obstruct any movement.

I think about Vicky and my dad. By now, they both must suspect I'm not where I was supposed to be. I didn't show to go on stage, like I promised I would. I hope they can connect the dots and assume I'm with Frank.

With Frank I'm safe.

Right?

Just before we turn into a street onto our right, Frank takes my hand.

Perhaps it's just meant as a warning I have to keep up the pace, or maybe to comfort me. I choose to believe both.

We keep walking for at least another fifteen minutes, until Frank slows down and eventually stops. He thoroughly looks around. As a reflex, a slight panic arises within me. "What is it?" I copy his gaze so I can determine what it is he's searching for, or looking at.

"Nothing's wrong." Frank says. He lets go of my hand and reaches for the sports bag. "Stand back." He takes out a crowbar and pushes it between a random car's window and door. In a matter of seconds the car unlocks. Frank turns to me. "Get in."

I hesitatingly step towards the Nissan Frank just broke into. "The people who own this car may really need it."

Frank already sits behind the wheel and is working on some wires. When the engine starts, he leans over the passenger's seat and opens the door. "We really need it. Get in."

I get into the car and look out for my long red dress, so doesn't get stuck when I close the door. Meh, why do I even bother? The piece of clothing is ruined anyway, all thanks to Jabari.

Frank drives off into the same direction we came from. The rest of the drive, my thoughts wander off until I fall asleep.

What had Jabari to do with all of this?

Does my father know where I am?

What happens next?