Discovered

by E. D. Brady

  Robert stomped out another butt and stood up. He walked over to the wall and rested his hand against it then sighed deeply. He turned his evil glare on Layla once more. “So, on the off-chance that your boyfriend decides to bail on you, I’d like to know where he keeps the stuff.”

  “What stuff?” Layla questioned.

  “Don’t play games with me, Layla. I have ways of making you talk.”

  Layla stiffened. Was this the part where he started torturing her? “I…I’m not playing games,” she stammered. “What do you mean you have ways of making me talk?”

  “You’ll see,” he replied and walked out the door.

  Layla swallowed hard, instinctively aware that whatever Robert was up to, it was evil. The blackness in his eyes was animated as he left the room.

  To Layla’s complete horror, Robert walked through the door a few minutes later, dragging a bound, beaten and bloodied James behind him. He flung James to the floor cruelly. “Jimmy hired me to steal something from your boyfriend,” Robert began, “after Manuel had failed him two years ago. But what Jimmy didn’t know is that he was only a pawn in a much bigger game.” He walked forward and knelt beside her, leaning into her face. “Don’t you just love irony? The one man who could lead me to Vallen turns out to be dating the mother of Vallen’s girlfriend. I mean, what are the odds? So, Layla, where does he keep the stuff?”

  “I have no clue what you’re talking about,” she stammered.

  “Really?” Robert said skeptically. He stood up and walked back across the floor then kicked James full force in the stomach, causing the poor man to cough up blood.

  “STOP IT!” Layla screamed.

  “Then don’t play games with me, Ms. Sparks,” Robert jeered. “I want to know where Arthur keeps the magic water.”

  Behind Robert, James was slowly shaking his head, trying to convey that Layla should tell Robert nothing.

  “What are you talking about?” she squealed. “This is the twenty-first century. People don’t believe in magic anymore.”

  “Is that so—?”

  Whatever Robert was going to say was cut short by Jason. “Boss, I think there is a possibility that Vallen didn’t tell her.”

  Robert pinched his bottom lip for a moment and pondered that. “It’s quite possible,” he agreed. He pulled James into standing position. “In that case, we won’t be needing him anymore.”

  Layla screamed again, watching Robert draw a switchblade from his pocket.

  James’ eyes widened, fear flooding them. He managed to struggle from Robert’s grip, and pushed the hand that held the blade in the other direction, causing Robert to slice his own hand open. Robert looked at his bloodied hand momentarily then turned his evil focus on James. He grabbed James by the back of the head and in one move, shoved the knife into James’ throat.

  Layla felt the room spin, sure that she would faint from the shock and horror of seeing James murdered before her.

  With his last breath, James looked over at her and called her name in a raspy, labored voice, then he shook his head again before falling to the floor.

  “Take him across the hall and sever his head,” Robert said to Sam. “We can’t be sure that a knife wound to the throat can kill him for good.”

  Sam grabbed the shoulder of James’ jacket and dragged him out of the room, leaving a bloody trail behind in his wake.

  Layla was convinced she would collapse from fear and certainly wanted to. Her heart was practically beating out of her chest. She whimpered in horror, too weak from fear to even manage to cry with any enthusiasm.

  “Not pretty, was it?” Robert asked, snickering. “And poor Arthur is currently driving frantically to the same end.”

  Layla moaned, trying to find her voice, shaking uncontrollably. “Why?” she finally managed to blurt out. “Why kill him if he hands over what you want?”

  “It’s really pretty obvious,” Robert replied “Mr. Vallen has a staggering amount of wealth, enough to make him one of the richest people on earth. I can only imagine the resources he could buy to find me again, and to steal back what he’s about to give me.”

  Layla realized that Robert’s assumption was the absolute truth and didn’t doubt that Jay was walking into a trap. She felt bitter, anguished tears well up.

  “When I’m finished with him, I already have a plan in motion to get my hands on Orton and his cute little wife, along with her brother. All I have to do is to tell them where their beloved Arthur is being held captive, and they’ll come running for him.”

  Layla felt sure that she was about to lose any ounce of composure she had left. She had to swallow to hold down the bile that was rising up her throat.

  She would never know how long she sat in mind-boggling fear before she saw Robert glance at his watch. “Ah, Lover-boy should be arriving right about now,” he finally announced. “I’ll just go let him in.”

  Jay

  Chapter 26

  Jay crossed the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge doing everything in his power to bury every horrific scenario that played out in his mind. His insides were churning, his composure ripped apart by taunting images of all the ways Robert could be hurting Layla.

  This was doing him no good. He needed to focus on the job at hand and not let his imagination run rough-shot. He tried to still his mind, knowing that whatever was happening to her, he would have to face that when the time came. But as God was his witness, Robert would be torn into a thousand tiny pieces if he’d laid one hand on her.

  He turned onto Northern Boulevard, pulled the car to the side of the road and threw the shift stick to park. He ran both hands through his hair and breathed deep until he felt confident that he had his emotions under control. With one more deep sigh, he put the shifter to drive and pulled out into traffic.

  After circling the block twice, Jay parked the Mercedes in the vicinity that Robert had instructed. He jumped out of the car and took a large, quart-sized crystal bottle from the back seat. Cradling it in his arm, he shut the door and leaned up against the car to wait.

  A frosty nip in the air caused him to shudder inside his leather jacket. With his free hand, he turned up the collar of his jacket for what little comfort the tiny gesture could offer. He looked up at the stars, asking Lucia for help, feeling confident that his prayer would be answered.

  Robert approached from the left holding a gun down at his hip inconspicuously.

  ‘Show time,’ Jay thought, walking calmly forward.

  “You don’t mind if I just give you a little pat down, do you?” Robert asked.

  “Don’t bother,” Jay answered, taking the gun from his pocket and handing it to Robert.

  “Nice weapon,” Robert said, looking over the gun with appreciation. He stuck it into the waist of his jeans.

  “So is yours,” Jay responded. “But haven’t we already established the fact that it’s useless?”

  “Useless in killing you maybe, but not useless in slowing you down long enough for me to inflict some real damage.”

  “True,” Jay said, nodding.

  “May I?” Robert asked, making a move to put his hands on Jay’s waist.

  Jay held his arms out and allowed Robert to pat his waist then on down his legs to his ankles.

  Satisfied that Jay had no other firearm concealed, Robert stood up straight. “Why did you bother with a weapon?” he asked. “You could have shot me before I reached you.”

  “And you could have shot me back?” Jay responded. “The gun was a knee-jerk reaction. As of now, I don’t know where Layla is or who is holding her, or what arrangements you’ve made in the event that you don’t return.”

  Robert nodded. “Where’s the stuff?” he questioned.

  Jay pointed to his Mercedes then watched as Robert walked over and looked at the barrels through the back window.

  Seeming satisfied, Robert sauntered back over and gestured for Jay to follow him. “You must really like that little girl to hand over something so precious,” he said as he led
Jay toward the stones steps.

  “Only love is precious,” Jay replied casually, following Robert down to the heavy door. “All the money in the world added to an unnaturally long life is meaningless without it. Trust me, Robert; the only thing that has kept me going for so long is my family. If you don’t have people worth living for, this will be a hell on earth for you, after a while.”

  “We’ll see,” Robert replied gleefully. “It’s funny, I explained to Layla earlier that showing weakness to an enemy is a major mistake, that it could be used against you. Layla is innocent, I know, but I thought you’d be aware of that. Yet, you paraded your weakness around for all to see.”

  Jay laughed and shook his head. “You consider her my weakness?”

  “Isn’t she?”

  “No, Robert, she’s the very opposite. She’s my greatest strength.”

  Robert stopped short and looked at Jay with perplexity written on his face. “You would willingly die for that girl?” he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

  “I’ve lived too long without her,” Jay responded. “To endure more years that way would be a fate worse than death. But you have all those hard lessons before you,” he added, smiling confidently. “And you don’t strike me as a man who would be willing to listen to the wisdom of those who have lived many years longer than you.”

  “I prefer to find things out for myself…yes,” Robert agreed cordially.

  “Arrogance is a weakness, Robert. Didn’t your mama teach you that?”

  “I didn’t know my mama, and my dad was a drunk and a drug abuser,” he answered.

  “Explains a lot,” Jay replied.

  They walked down the hallway in silence for a few moments until Robert turned left and gestured with his hand for his guest to enter the room before him.

  Jay stopped short.

  Layla looked nearly demented from fear. He had to fight the urge to run to her and gather her into his arms. Instead, he walked casually over to her and put his finger on her lips. He looked deep into her eyes and shook his head slightly; just enough that only she would notice, trying to communicate a vague warning that she should let him do all the talking. He took a deep breath and kept his eyes locked with hers until he saw her expression soften ever so minutely, content for the moment that his presence was giving her minor comfort. She nodded once, letting him know that she understood the warning. ‘That’s my girl,’ he thought, smiling down at her.

  “He brought all of it?” Sam asked Robert.

  “There are six barrels in the back of his Mercedes,” Robert replied, nodding.

  Jay witnessed Layla’s eyes fill with horror at Robert’s reply. Her lip quivered. Jay placed his finger on her lip again and narrowed his eyes. “So can I take my girl and go home?” he asked, turning to face Robert.

  “Not so fast,” Robert replied. “How do we know that you brought us the real stuff?”

  “I brought a sample,” Jay answered, nodding to the bottle he held in his arms. “Let me demonstrate.” He walked over to the table and set the bottle down. He took the switchblade from his inside pocket, opened it and ran it across the palm of his hand, cutting the skin wide open. Blood dripped down his wrist. “Watch, gentlemen,” he urged, holding his bloodied hand out, palm facing forward.

  Jason gasped as he watched the skin on Jay’s hand knit back together before his eyes.

  Jay gestured to the wound on Robert’s hand and nodded. “Drink some and see what happens to that cut on your hand,” he urged.

  Sam dug into his bag and pulled out a bundle of small paper cups then lined them up on the table.

  Jay raised his eyebrows. “You came prepared?” he asked incredulously.

  “We’ve waited a long time to get our hands on that stuff. Why risk getting it and not taking it right away, then you pull something stupid like trying to shoot us?” Sam answered.

  “A fair point,” Jay responded, nodding his approval. “Although, Robert took my gun, so…” He heard Layla moan painfully behind him.

  He opened the bottle and poured the liquid into the three cups. He held one up to Robert.

  “Just a minute,” Robert said. “How do I know that’s not poison?”

  Jay rolled his eyes impatiently. “Layla and I will drink first then.” He walked over to Layla and cut the ties behind her back with the switchblade then helped her to her feet.

  Robert made a move forward, ready to pounce at any second.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Jay moaned. He walked forward and threw the knife unto the table and raised his hands. “I’m just freeing her arms.”

  “No funny business,” Robert warned, pulling the gun from his waist. “I’d hate to have to hurt Layla.”

  Jay swallowed his fury and smiled falsely.

  “Go on,” Robert urged, nodding toward the cups.

  Jay picked up two of the cups and walked back to Layla. He handed her one, nodding his encouragement. He took her free hand in his and tapped his paper cup to hers. “To us,” he said, staring into her eyes.

  He hoped that she could feel the love emanating from his eyes as he gazed longingly at her.

  Keeping her eyes locked with his, she threw her head back and swallowed the contents in one mouthful.

  Jay drank his back and turned the cup upside down, showing the men that it was empty. “Are we good now?” he asked.

  Sam placed two more cups on the table and filled all three with the healing liquid. He handed one to Robert and one to Jason. “This is it,” he said excitedly and drank the contents back.

  “Wait!” Robert bellowed a split second later. “How do we even know if poison can kill you? Bullets can’t.”

  Jay turned to Layla and stared into her eyes again. “Bullets are not made from organic material,” he replied, never taking his eyes of her, “but since most poisons are…” he trailed off.

  Robert and Jason drank down the liquid in their cups.

  Robert held his injured hand out in front of him, eager to watch the miracle of the healing.

  Jay turned back to Layla and smiled. “I love you,” he mouth silently, gazing at her.

  And then he noticed her eyes swell as she looked past him. He turned just in time to see Sam keel over onto the ground, clutching his stomach.

  Robert’s eyes bulged as he grabbed his throat and barked out a loud gargling noise.

  “…they can’t kill us either,” Jay said, finishing his sentence. A wide smile spread across his face.

  Layla stood aghast as the three men flailed around, undoubtedly in agony as the poison spread through them. “How did you know?” she stuttered, turning to Jay, shock rattling through her.

  “I didn’t,” he confessed, “but I had a feeling.” He turned to look at Robert who was laboring to breathe. “You see, Robert, a few years back, my brother and best friend, Joey, decided to eat some rancid pork.” Jay laughed suddenly. “He is one crazy dude at times. Anyway, Joey threw up violently, but other than that, he didn’t really get sick.”

  Robert pointed to Layla, unable to get enough air to ask the obvious question.

  “That’s partially thanks to you, man,” Jay answered his unspoken words. “When you shot in the glass wall of my lobby, a piece of flying glass cut into her neck and through her artery. I had a choice; I either gave her the liquid or watched her die. And, like I told you before, I’m just not willing to live without her.”

  Robert fell to the ground, his face turning blue.

  Jay put his hand on the side of Layla’s face. “Don’t watch,” he warned. “This is about to get ugly. Just keep your eyes on me, okay?”

  She nodded, trembling.

  He continued to watch the scene before him, shielding Layla’s eyes until he was confident that no one would be following them. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, turning to her. “Rabidomente, mi amor.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the door quickly.

  Before walking through, he went over to Robert and snatched his gun back. He looked down
at a dying Robert flailing on the ground. “Pudrete en el infierno!” he said with disgust before turning his back and walking out of the room.

  Layla

  Chapter 27

  Layla held onto Jay’s hand as they rushed back up the hallway. “They killed James,” she moaned. “They killed him right in front of me.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Jay replied. “But truth be told, I’m actually surprised James was still alive.”

  Her heart still pounding in her chest, Layla almost ran to get out of the vile hallway as quickly as possible, feeling her back exposed to the evil she’d just left behind.

  When they burst out into the cold night, she let go of Jay’s hand and stumbled over to the brick wall beside the staircase, panting heavily. She slid down the wall and sat on the ground, putting her hands up to her head.

  Jay knelt before her and put his hand on her shoulder. “Layla…” he said softly.

  And then the floodgate opened. She cried bitterly, holding her head in her hands, the image of James’ face burned into her memory.

  “Layla, they can’t hurt us now,” Jay uttered, trying to comfort her. “It’s over now.”

  She was an array of emotions. She was grieved over the death of James, but somewhere inside, something else started to surface, another feeling. Was it relief?

  Before she knew what was happening, the bitter tears turned into laughter. She was well aware that her emotions were not stable at the moment, but went with the turbulence anyway. She looked up to see Jay glaring at her with a worried expression on his face as she laughed almost hysterically.

  After a long while, she felt her composure return. She looked up at Jay and put her hand on his perfect cheek. “I’m sorry,” she said. “My head is all over the place.”

  “No, that’s alright,” he said kindly. He helped her to her feet and put his arm around her shoulder, leading her in the direction of the car.