The TAKEN! Series - Books 13-16 (Taken! Box Set Book 4)

by Remington Kane

  He told them all of it.

  About meeting Sandra when she pretended to be Alice, about the Chandlers and Drake, and he even disclosed his murder of Carl Herman. A murder he committed to keep the woman he loved safe.

  From news reports, they had learned of the attempt to bring down the plane carrying the Speaker, as he flew into Northridge, where he was to make a speech the following day.

  Sandra’s capture had also made headlines, as well as the fact that she was the one responsible for preventing the Speaker’s assassination.

  Drake survived his wounds and, in order to avoid the death penalty, agreed to give testimony about the group of domestic terrorists he belonged to.

  “Where is Sandra being held?” Jessica asked.

  “She’s in the county lock-up for now. It seems that New York and Georgia both want to put her on trial for murder.”

  Jessica noticed the ring on his finger below the cast on his left forearm.

  Rob smiled.

  “We married last night. Whatever happens, we’re in it together.”

  Jessica’s husband spoke up as something occurred to him.

  “They must have put two and two together about Sandra’s connection to Carl Herman. Does that mean you’ll be facing charges as well?”

  “No, they suspect that I killed him to protect her, but no one’s coming after me for it, likely because I played a part in saving the Speaker of the House. However, I no longer have a job as a deputy. It was strongly suggested that I resign.”

  Several minutes later, footsteps sounded on the stairs and Maggie and Chrissie returned, with Chrissie holding a doll that was dressed like a princess.

  “Look what Maggie gave me, Rob, isn’t she beautiful?”

  “Yes she is, and did you thank Maggie?”

  “Um-hum, and now we’re going in the kitchen to get cookies. Are you coming?”

  Rob kissed his new daughter on the forehead.

  “I’ll be in soon, honey, and don’t eat too many cookies.”

  After watching Chrissie walk off with Maggie, Rob looked at his hosts with moist, pleading eyes.

  “Sandra said you helped her once before, and now I’m asking you to please help her again, please?”

  Jessica took Rob’s hands in hers.

  “We’ll see what we can do.”

  ***

  New York City

  Summer Gray smiled at the cameras as she stood beside her Publisher.

  The publisher had pledged to pay her two million dollars for the rights to her story, the courageous true story about the brave woman who risked herself selflessly to help the FBI trap a crazed serial killer.

  The book, tentatively titled, By the Numbers, would actually be written by a ghostwriter, who the publisher would also supply.

  Todd Gray still lived, although the former Olympian’s legs both had to be amputated near mid-thigh, and when the question of their recent divorce came up, Summer simply responded by telling the reporter that she and Todd had agreed to go their separate ways weeks ago, and that she wished him nothing but the best.

  One of the reporters, a man with a deep voice and ruddy complexion, asked Summer that if she had it to do all over again, would she once more dare Numerical to kill her, knowing now that it would lead to the death of two FBI agents and the serious wounding of another agent and her ex-husband.

  Summer frowned at the question.

  Numerical was dead and she was alive and soon to be rich, what else mattered?

  She looked into the cameras and smiled.

  “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  CHAPTER 49

  Alice Johnson, who had been Sandra Jenkins, and recently became Sandra Bolan, had her handcuffs and leg irons removed, before being directed by a female deputy to climb inside a black SUV.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, but the deputy just gave her a shove towards the vehicle.

  Sandra climbed inside and found herself sitting beside a man in a suit and tie. The man was handsome, not movie star handsome, but his face was pleasant and he greeted her with a smile as he offered his hand.

  “My name is Thomas Lawson and I’m a friend of Dr. White and her husband.”

  “Oh, all right, but where are we going?”

  “I’m afraid you’re going to prison.”

  “Where? Please don’t take me far from my daughter.”

  “Don’t worry; your daughter will be living nearby along with your husband. I’ve arranged to have him find work with a private security firm, work that pays well and involves little risk.”

  Sandra stared at him, wondering if what she was hearing was real.

  “Who are you?”

  “Thomas Lawson, but please listen, we’ll be at the airfield soon, and when we reach it, I have to turn you over to federal agents.”

  “How can I be going to prison? I haven’t had a trial yet.”

  “There won’t be a trial. You’ll be taking a plea agreement and be sentenced to life in prison; however, you won’t be spending life in prison. You’ll be released in two years after the President issues you a Presidential pardon before leaving office.”

  “You have that much pull?”

  That question made Lawson smile, but instead of answering it, he relayed more news.

  “It hasn’t been publicized, but the President’s son is dating the daughter of the Speaker of the House, and he was on that plane you saved from being destroyed.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “Only a handful do, for appearances sake, the Secret Service doesn’t want anyone to think that it’s even remotely possible for a member of the First Family to ever suffer harm.”

  “But the President knows, and he’ll pardon me as a way of saying thank you?”

  “Yes, although I believe it was his wife’s idea, you may recall that she’s a strong proponent for tougher penalties against child molesters, and I suspect she’s a fan of yours as well.”

  “Is the pardon in writing?”

  “No, and if it falls through, you will spend the rest of your life in prison, a very nice prison by the way, but a prison nonetheless.”

  Sandra looked down at her hands, and then into Lawson’s eyes.

  “I’ll take the deal, but can I talk to my husband? This involves him too.”

  “We’ve spoken and he’s willing to move and take the job, and he asked me to tell you that he loves you. He’ll also be visiting you tomorrow along with your daughter.”

  Sandra gulped in air, as a weight lifted off her shoulders.

  “Thank you Mr. Lawson, and tell Jessica and her husband that I owe them once again.”

  Lawson smiled.

  “I’ll relay the message.”

  They soon reached the airfield, where Sandra was shackled again, but before the federal marshals led her over to the plane, she gave Lawson a kiss on the cheek.

  “You’ve given me hope for the future, Mr. Lawson; hope that maybe someday I’ll live a normal life again.”

  Lawson gazed back at her.

  “I wouldn’t even know what that is,”

  CHAPTER 50

  When he found them, it pleased him greatly to see the light of recognition in their eyes.

  He’d been hoping to come across them again, while not knowing if he ever would, but hoping for it, the way another man might hope to run into a girl he’d only met once at a party.

  While out on an errand, he spotted the red, white, and blue motorcycles in a parking lot, and it gladdened his heart.

  The place was a Mom-and-Pop eatery nestled amid pines on a country road. The type that served only breakfast and lunch,

  When he entered, he saw that Pop was wearing a pie tin atop his head, as if someone had arranged it there like a hat. Cherries were sliding down the old man’s cheeks like pregnant red tears, and in his eyes, there was a sorrowful look of helplessness.

  Mom, tearful, huddled in a corner behind the counter, and on the floor beside her was a cell phone, which someo
ne had crushed beneath the heel of a boot.

  There were only three customers, a family from the look of them, and one of the American Rebels was talking to the teenage daughter while his hand rested on her sweater, atop the budding breasts.

  The father, a thin man with a kind intelligent face, had apparently attempted to intervene, and the kind intelligent face wore a puffy lip, while blood dripped from his nose.

  The mother, an attractive woman, was sitting in a chair, hugging herself, as another American Rebel circled her.

  An electronic chime had announced his arrival when he walked in, causing everyone to look his way, and that’s when he saw that they remembered him, particularly the big man with the broad shoulders, who he saw mouth the word, “Limpy,”

  He went to them, and this time there was no limp, no weakness, no lack of vigor and vitality. This time they were seeing him as he truly was.

  The big man swaggered over to stand before him; however, the swagger lost its insolence as he drew near.

  They were the same height, although he would guess the man outweighed him by thirty pounds, and that all of it was muscle.

  The man looked into his eyes as he gazed back, and he observed what he had seen in others’ eyes since he was a child.

  It was recognition, an awareness, but of what, he was never quite sure, but he knew others saw it, identified it as danger, and usually fled before it could bring about their end.

  He had read news accounts over the years about animals fleeing an area before an earthquake or a tsunami later ravaged that same region, and it was theorized that they sensed something that humans couldn’t.

  The animal standing before him sensed disaster as well, sensed it, and swallowed a cold lump of fear down his throat.

  When the big man broke eye contact, his intense gaze found the other three road warriors, and they too perceived what their leader had glimpsed.

  They stepped away from the hapless family, glanced at each other nervously, and slowly, oh so slowly, eased their way past him and towards the door.

  He followed them outside, watched them straddle their motorcycles, start their engines, and ride away, with each man giving a nervous glance backward.

  He stood there, savoring the moment with predatory pride, knowing that once again, he was feared.

  TAKEN! - VACATION

  By

  REMINGTON KANE

  CHAPTER 1

  Miami, Florida

  Keri Taylor stapled another poster of her missing daughter, Rachel, to a utility pole outside the 7-Eleven, and sighed in despair.

  The eighteen-year-old college dropout had been missing since New Year’s Day, over two months ago, and Keri was about to go mad with worry over her daughter’s disappearance.

  She’d gone to the police and filed a Missing Person’s report, but she could tell by the way the officer looked at her that the cops weren’t taking it seriously. At eighteen, Rachel was an adult, and they had argued before she left the house Christmas night.

  Keri had gone ballistic when she learned that Rachel was leaving college to follow her no-good boyfriend to Florida, a kid named Richie Ryan.

  Keri had sacrificed much over the years so that Rachel would have a college fund, and three months into her freshman year at Rutgers University, the girl informed her over Christmas dinner that she was leaving school.

  Keri lost it. She knew it was a mistake even as it was happening, but she let her true feelings for Richie be known, while also scolding her daughter for her lack of judgment.

  Rachel left the house with Richie at her side, and a week later, Keri received a call from her daughter on New Year’s Day and learned that she and Richie were in Miami.

  “How are you going to live, baby?”

  “We’ll get jobs, Mom, and... I took out the money from my college fund.”

  Keri had to bite her bottom lip to keep from screaming at that news, and thanked God that she had enough sense to keep most of Rachel’s college fund in a separate account. All Rachel had access to was the money needed for the current year, still, it was a substantial sum.

  “Money only lasts so long, Rachel. What you need is an education and a bit more maturity. Please come home, baby, you and Richie both, and we’ll sit down and talk things over.”

  “We did enough talking at Christmas and I know you hate Richie. I’m staying in Florida, Mom. I’m a grown woman now and I’m going to live my own life.”

  “Oh baby, I know that you think you know it all, but honey, it’s a dangerous world when you’re on your own.”

  “I’m not alone; I have Richie.”

  “He’s just a boy, honey, and—”“I have to go, Mom, but I’ll call soon, okay?”

  “I love you, baby.”

  “I love you too, and I’ll be okay, really.”

  “Call me soon.”

  “I will, bye.”

  That call was over two months ago, and no one had heard from Rachel or Richie in all that time.

  Keri had been in Florida since mid-January, searching for her daughter, as despair ate at her heart.

  She was forty-two, and looked it in the face, while her body had stayed young, and her dark hair had yet to see a strand of gray. It had been just her and Rachel since the divorce ten years earlier, while her ex-husband lived in Phoenix with a new wife, and hadn’t made contact in years. When Keri called him on the off chance that Rachel had gone to see him, he said he hadn’t seen her and seemed indifferent over the fact that she was missing.

  That last part sealed his fate, and as far as Keri was concerned, her ex could go to hell.

  Keri dated occasionally, but had no serious relationship with anyone. Her father died years ago, but her mother only passed away last summer, and it had been so long since she’d seen or heard from her older brother, that she wasn’t even sure he was still alive.

  Rachel had been the focus of her life, and finding her had become her only purpose.

  “I know her.”

  Keri spun around at the sound of the voice behind her and found a teenage girl pointing at the poster of her daughter.

  The girl was thin, with horrible acne marking her sunken cheeks, and her brown hair looked greasy and uncombed as it floated about in the breeze.

  “You’ve seen Rachel? You know my daughter?”

  The girl nodded.

  “She’s been hanging out with me and some friends. I can take you to see her.”

  Keri let out a big sigh of relief as she laid a hand atop her chest.

  “Oh God, oh yes, take me to her. Is she okay?”

  “Oh yeah, but she’s a little drunk, ya know, me and my friends, we like to party.”

  Keri checked her watch and saw that it wasn’t yet ten a.m.

  “Was she drinking all night?”

  “Ah, yeah, but it’s cool, I mean she ain’t wasted or nuthin’.”

  “What’s your name, honey?”

  “Angel.”

  “I’m Mrs. Taylor, but I guess you know that, since you know Rachel.”

  “Uh-huh,” the girl said, and then made a gesture for Keri to follow her into the alley that ran between the 7-Eleven, which sat on a corner, and the building next to it, which once housed a gas station, but was now a rotting hulk.

  “How old are you, honey?”

  “Eighteen,” the girl said. She was actually only sixteen, but had been answering eighteen since her first arrest for prostitution three years earlier.

  Once through the alley, the girl hung a right towards the defunct gas station, to then bend over and duck beneath a bay door that was sitting open, about four feet off the ground.

  “Come on in!” the girl called, but Keri hesitated, as she got a hint that something wasn’t right,

  The only weapon she carried was a stun gun, and she was about to take it from her purse when she spotted something through the grimy glass of the bay door.

  It was long blond hair, hair the exact shade and length of her daughter’s, and Keri threw all caution
aside, as she slipped beneath the bay door with a wide smile on her face.

  The smile disappeared the instant the girl turned around.

  It wasn’t Rachel. It was another young girl, and like Angel, she was stick-thin with a face marked by acne. She also had sores all over her arms, and there was a large scab over her left eye.

  Not acne, Keri thought.

  She was an RN, and had seen the effects that heavy meth use had on the skin.

  The bay door slammed shut, causing her to jump in fright, and when she looked back, she saw two boys standing there. They were young, white, and no more than sixteen, but they were both muscular, and one of them had a knife hanging from his belt.

  Angel rushed over to the taller of the boys.

  “I told you I could get her back here. Now give me and Celia the rock you promised.”

  The boy tossed a baggie onto the oily bay floor and Angel squealed with delight, as she dropped to her knees to retrieve it.

  The other boy, who had dull gray eyes, ripped Keri’s purse away, even as she had been slipping a hand inside to grab the stun gun. The boy tossed the purse into a corner, beside an empty rack of metal shelving, as the tall boy slid up the bay door.

  Angel and the other girl left without a backward glance, and then the tall boy released the door and let it slam shut. He looked at the other boy.

  “You hold her down. I want to fuck her first.”

  An instant later, Keri was knocked to the floor and the tall boy climbed atop her.

  CHAPTER 2

  Kitamura Key, Florida

  Jessica gaped at their vacation home, as she and her husband climbed out of their rented car.

  “Oh my God, it’s so beautiful,”

  The house she was looking at was coral pink and covered nearly six thousand square feet. The sprawling single-story dwelling had cathedral ceilings, an in-ground heated pool, six bedrooms and six and a ½ baths.

  Her husband smiled.

  “We have the week to decide if we want to buy it.”

  They entered the home. The large sunken living room could be seen from the entryway, and beyond that sat a dining room with a table that could seat twelve.