“Good...very good, although nothing will make this situation bearable, we all need to keep our strength up in order to deal with whatever dilemma is placed before us.”.
The ringing doorbell was the perfect distraction for the brothers to return to their seats in front of the computers. Placing the plate and coffee beside him on the desk, Jason once again focused his attention on locating Aviva, zoning out all the sounds around him.
Unaware that Jackson had left the room, he resumed his search. Intellectually, he recognized the possible futility of his actions, but was unable to sit idly while he waited. His concentration was broken by Jackson’s voice requesting his presence in the family room.
“I'm busy, Jackson, just in case it's slipped your notice.”
“I really think you need to hear this, Jason.”
“I repeat, I'm busy. Now leave me alone to get on with what I have to do!” Jason knew he was being rude, but he didn't much care. All he cared about was finding Aviva and bringing her home, safe and sound. Every second, every distraction made his one focus that much more difficult and he refused to put up with it.
“Young man, I will tolerate your last statement only because I realize you are under duress. However, I give you fair warning, don't make the mistake of speaking to me in that tone of voice again!”
Jackson didn't wait for a response from a visibly irked Jason. He knew that this son, whom he was not responsible for raising, would forever push the barriers of their relationship. He may not have raised Jason, but he had raised two other men to maturity, and if there was one thing he knew, it was how to deal with recalcitrance.
“Come with me – now!” Having said all he intended, he turned and left the room with no doubt his directive would be followed.
“Shit!” Jason swore under his breath.
“For God’s sake, Jason, do you honestly think he'd drag you away if this wasn't important!” Jake said, already heading for the door, followed closely by Josh. Although reluctant, Jason rose and followed them, cursing and muttering under his breath about being treated like a child.
Entering a room he had not seen before, Jason saw a young woman seated on a large sofa, looking very uncomfortable, her posture stiff and erect. Surrounding her were lilac bags with white writing emblazoned across them. They looked like the type of bag women carried home after having been on an expensive shopping spree.
As soon as the thought passed through his mind, he dismissed her. Looking at his father, Jason waited for an explanation as to why he was there.
“Jason, this is Miss Hudson. She very kindly agreed to deliver these bags for Aviva after she visited her boutique earlier today.”
Jackson's words immediately snagged his attention, and his green eyes darted towards her, pinning her with his stare. “What’s the name of your establishment?”
“Ah...it's called Bathing in Beauty,” the woman answered, rising to her feet, not wanting to look so far up at the men who had just entered the room.
“Where is this shop located?” Jason fired off another question.
“It's in the West Village.”
“Specifics – be specific!”
“Ah...um...ah...”
“For God sake, do you have a speech impediment, or is there another reason you're having so much difficulty answering, what is in my estimation, a very simple question?” Jason demanded, his impatience on full display.
“Jason!” His brother’s warned in unison.
“That's enough!” Jackson said, speaking at the same time as his sons.
The poor woman looked as though she were going to have a heart attack at Jason's rudeness. He didn't care what any of them thought, so he ignored them. If she had something to say that would shed light on the situation, she had better start answering his questions and the rest of them could go to hell. “Shall we start again? Where is your shop located?”
Taking a visibly deep breath, the young woman attempted to get her nervousness under control to answer his question. “Well, technically, it's not my shop, I just work there on the weekends for my cousin.” As she looked at the big man with the dark blonde hair who had just asked her the question, he raised one eyebrow and waited for her to give an answer to this question. “Horatio Street.”
“Good, see that wasn't so difficult, now was it?” Jason smiled at the woman in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. Those looking at him could see that he failed completely. The expression he wore more resembled a scowl than a look of reassurance.
“Umm...well...it was kinda, you're really big and scary looking. Like honestly, you kinda remind me of when my grandfather gets constipated. His wife says...she's not my grandmother, he married her because she said she was having his baby. Silly old fool, the woman had to be sixty if she was a day.” Looking over at Jackson the young woman didn't even pause for breathe in her nervous chatter. “Sorry, are you married to a younger woman? I know rich old dudes sometimes do that. It's like they want to recapture their youth or something, and you know, they probably want eye candy and all...” Finally realizing what she was saying the young woman stopped talking and snapped her mouth shut, embarrassment burning her face.
Confronted by four stunned looks of amazement, her face heated even more. Before the men could utter a word she began speaking again. “Sorry, like that kinda came out all wrong. Look, Meri just asked me to drop off these bags for the lady who bought these swimsuits and stuff earlier today. She had a date so she couldn't do it herself, Meri that is, she's my cousin – so here I am! Okay then, see ya all later.” That said the young woman took a step backwards then another and another, attempting to make a quick escape from the giants that surrounded her.
“Don't take another step.” Jason ordered through gritted teeth. He still wanted answers, and the silly twit wasn't leaving until he had them. Stunned by his command she came to a dead stop with one foot raised in the air, looking like a stork, her foot bent backwards and her body leaning forward. Blinking as though she had grit in her eyes.
Jackson could see the girl was completely intimidated by the situation and deemed it the right time to intervene before Jason lost his temper with her.
“What's your first name my dear?”
“Ah...It's Haphilda, but everyone calls me Hapë, you know, like Zoë, with an accent over the e.”
“I see, how very charming, Meri and Hapë, yes, most charming indeed.” Jackson drawled, the names tickling his funny bone although his thoughts remained absent from his expression.
“Please Hapë, take a seat. My son just has a few more questions for you and then you can be on your way.”
Reluctance written all over her face, Hapë retook her seat and waited. A potentially disastrous situation averted, at least for the moment, Jackson gave Jason a warning look and took a step back. “In fact why don't we all take seats, I'm sure we'll all be more comfortable that way.” With an almost imperceptible movement of his head by way of a command, all his sons took seats.
“Jason, I believe you have further questions for Hapë.
“At last,” Jason mumbled under his breath, impatient with her ridiculous ramblings.
“Now...ah...Hapë, could you tell me where the woman who purchased these garments went after she left your cousin's establishment?”
“Yes,” Hapë said and then remained silent.
Jason closed his eyes, willing himself to patience. His brothers and father were all leaning forward in their seats, hands over their mouths, spellbound at the pace of the conversation unfolding before them, each wondering how long it would take for him to blow.
Through with the nonsense, Jason somehow managed to keep control of his temper. He had no time for her college girl departures into the realms of, as far as he was concerned, who gives a damn. The longer she gave her monosyllabic responses to his questions, the longer it would take to locate Aviva, and he wasn't prepared to let that happen. He also knew he had to make sure he didn't frighten her again.
He had to ad
mit, he was more than a little peeved with her. Women normally liked him, responded to him, yet this young woman was acting as though he were some form of monster. Then it hit him. He actually didn't care what she thought of him. The only woman he was interested in was the one who had been snatched away. Hapë was in possession of information that would take him one step closer to finding Aviva and that was his only concern.
Taking a deep breath, Jason resolved to get the answers he needed, and that meant making nice with Hapë. “Please tell me where the car took Aviva.”
“To the hair salon.”
“And...?”
“She wanted to get her hair done.”
One, two, three, Jason counted off in his mind. “Please tell me where this hair salon is located.”
“I don't know…I can’t think.”
“You don't know? You don't know!” Jason shouted.
Hapë burst into tears at his exasperated outburst, wringing her hands in agitation.
“Jason,” Josh interrupted, “why don't you and Jake go back to what you were both doing before our visitor arrived. Dad and I will continue the conversation and get as much information as we can.”
About to assure his brother he was more than capable of extracting the necessary information, he had second thoughts. Josh was right. He wasn't getting anywhere with her. “Okay, I’ll leave you both to deal with our guest. Miss Hudson, it’s been...stymieing.”
Not understanding what he meant, Hapë gave him a shaky smile, relieved he was leaving. Although his twin hadn’t said a word to her, the two looked enough alike for her to feel an equal portion of relief that he was also vacating the room.
“You could have been gentler with her, Jason. The poor girl nearly had a heart attack every time you looked at her, let alone spoke to her,” Jake said once the door was closed behind them.
“I’m really not bothered by what she thinks of me.”
“Maybe you should be bothered, Jason. You can't go around frightening young women.”
Having reached the office, Jason stood back, folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow at his twin. “Are you going to stand there and tell me the girl wasn't a fool, and that you didn't want to pry open her head to see if there was an empty space where her brain should have been?”
“Well, I suppose something along those lines did cross my mind,” Jake said with a wry smile.
“For the record, I do care, Jake. More than any of you realize, about many things.”
Jake watched his brother walk back to the computer, his head bent in sadness, and he saw something in his twin. He saw his deepest fear, that they wouldn't get Aviva back alive. The expression was so fleeting, he knew he had just been given a glimpse of an emotion his brother rarely allowed anyone to see.
“We're going to get her back, Jason. And the people who took her...well, they will have to pay the price for their actions.”
Jason didn't bother to respond. His look said it all. Steely eyes, surrounded by determination and retribution.
Chapter 22
Josh returned to the office less than ten minutes later with the news they had been waiting for.
“The car took her to a salon called Tresses. It's about two miles from the boutique. I have the address. Actually, the driver and the salon owner are also cousins of the young lady that Dad is still attempting to placate. Jason, you really need to do something about...”
“Whatever. I've already been lectured by him,” Jason said, tossing his head in Jake's direction. “What I need from you are details so I can find Aviva.”
Josh gave him the address and they both started trolling through the CCTV images in an attempt to locate Aviva. They were out of luck. Having to rely on proprietors installing surveillance equipment in order to keep their establishments safe, no cameras were located close enough to the salon to be of any use to them.
“Please tell me you got the phone number of the owner.”
“Of course, I did. I was hoping we wouldn't have to contact him. The fewer people that know about what's going on, the better. No loose ends. Plus, I don't know about you two, but I was hoping I wouldn't need to deal with any more of that family. How two of them ended up running a business is beyond me.”
“Joshua, shut the hell up and give me the phone number!”
“Maybe I should talk to him,” Josh said.
“No.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You losing your hearing? I said no. I'll speak to him.”
“Jason, maybe it would be better to let Josh speak with this guy.”
Ignoring them both, Jason reached for his cell phone and waited in silence for Josh to recite the number. Seeing no way out, Josh relented and gave Jason the number.
Phone to his ear, Jason listened as it rang for the sixth time without an answer. Frustrated, he had a strong urge to hurl the handset across the room when finally someone answered.
“Hello. Am I speaking with...” Jason looked over at Josh, waiting for him to tell him the name of the man with whom he spoke. Raising an eyebrow in a, you have got to be kidding me look, Jason recited the name into the mouthpiece. “…Tottie?” Jason's temples started pounding. Did everyone in this family have dumb-ass names?
“Speaking. Who is this?” a deep voice asked.
“My name is Jason. I understand from your cousin, Hapë, that my wife visited your salon earlier today...”
“Your wife, you say. And who might that be?”
“Her name is Aviva Johnson, which I would have informed you had you given me an opportunity to do so.”
“Oh, I don't think so, honey. That little lady is not married to you. Ya see, we got to talking, and she told me she wasn't married, that would mean to you, or anyone. Therefore, you have ten seconds to tell me why you're calling my personal number and asking me questions about her. I better like what I hear or I'm hanging up on your ass.”
“I assure you she is my wife, regardless of whether we have a piece of paper stating that fact.”
“Your time's running out, my man, and I remain unconvinced.”
“How's this for conviction? You have ten seconds to tell me what I want to know or I'll come and extract the information in person. If you never believe another thing in your life, believe me when I say, you will not like it if I have to waste my time coming to you. The choice is yours, phone or in person. Your time's running out, my man. What's it gonna be? Your choice.”
“Man, get the hell outta here. I ain't telling you a damn thing!”
“I'm not sure what's caused you to be in such a foul mood and I really don't care. I will tell you this, however, I know what's got me riled...you. I don't know you, and yet I dislike you. I dislike you so much that it will take me...” Jason looked over at Jake, who had already used the number Jason called to gather an address, “twenty minutes to get to you. Oh, and by the way, Hapë is still here. Your call.”
“You leave my cousin out of this.”
“Sorry to say, your cousin is already in this. That's it. Your time’s up. I'm on my way.”
“Now hold on a minute. Let me speak to my cousin. I need to know she's alright.”
“I'm insulted, Tottie. Of course, Hapë's alright. What do you take me for, a thug? My brother is getting her even as we speak,” he said as Josh left the room to fetch Hapë.
“If you hurt her, I'll...”
“You'll what? Before you answer that question, I'd like to give you a word of warning. Don't threaten me. Don't ever threaten me,” Jason spoke with a deadly quiet that sent chills racing along Jake's spine. His words must have also had the same effect on Tottie, as there was no rejoinder.
“Ah, here's your cousin now.” Jason handed her the phone without further comment and stood back, folding his arms. He waited for their conversation to get underway.
“This is Hapë.”
“Are you okay, sweetie? Have they hurt you?”
“I'm fine. Nobody's hurt me.” Lowering her voice, Hapë wh
ispered into the mouthpiece as though unaware that everyone in the room could clearly hear her conversation. “A couple of them are a bit frightening though.”
“Alright, sweets. Put that guy back on the phone.”
Handing the phone back to Jason, Hapë turned and walked to Jackson's side, a clear indication that she felt he would protect her if the need arose.
“What do you want to know?”
“Thank you, I appreciate your help. Do you know where Aviva went after she left your establishment?”
“She said she was going to do some more shopping for her vacation. When one of the other ladies in the salon found out she was going to the Caribbean, she suggested Aviva check out a new boutique that just opened on Fifth Avenue. I wasn't paying all that much attention. I think the address was somewhere in the early seventies.”
“Did she leave by foot or did you call her a taxi? What time did she leave?”
“She left about 4:30 and my receptionist called her a cab.”
“The name of the taxi company?”
“Come on, man, I don't know!”
Jason took a deep breath. He knew he was being demanding but he had too much at stake to be otherwise. “I appreciate your help, and would consider it a personal favor if you would contact your receptionist and gather as much information as you can about the taxi service she used. I assure you I will not contact you again unless it becomes absolutely necessary.”
There was a slight hesitation on the end of the line as Jason waited for an answer. He imagined the cogs of Tottie's mind grinding around to exact some kind of payment for his request. “Okay, I'll do it. In exchange, I want Hapë out of there.”
“Of course, she is free to go whenever she chooses.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don't, but I am a man of my word. My wife is missing, and at this point, your establishment is her last known whereabouts. I will do almost anything to get her back. One thing I will not do, however, is hurt your cousin. I can assure you, I do not hurt women. Therefore, as I already said, she is free to go whenever she pleases.”
“Okay, I'll call my receptionist and get the details. But I'll wait to hear from Hapë before I give you any more information. Put her in her car and once she's on her way home, I'll text you whatever information I gather.”
For Love and Vengeance Page 17
