by Ciana Stone
She checked the time on her dashboard as she braked for the stoplight. With the afternoon traffic, she would be lucky to make it by seven. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed for directory assistance and asked to be connected to Nolan’s hotel.
She was put though to his room and the phone rang half a dozen times before she was switched back to the front desk. She left a message that she might be a little late then hung up.
Her thoughts turned to her lunch with Ryan, which led her to thinking about Konnor. Even thoughts of him made her excited and anxious. She honestly didn’t know how she was going to put him and the night they had spent together out of her mind. But it looked like she would have to find a way. He still hadn’t called. Had he?
She quickly called her home phone and listened to her messages. There was one from Minora saying that Walter’s attorney had been in touch with her and that he had left everything to her and Senna. There was a crate of books and personal belongings due to be delivered tomorrow that Walter specifically requested Senna go through personally.
Sadness washed over Senna as she thought about Walter. It was so tragic and unfair. He had been a good man, so gentle and caring. To have been killed in so horrible a way made her sick at the injustice. She hoped that Ryan would find the guilty party and make sure he went to prison forever.
She almost swerved into the next lane as Konnor’s voice sounded in the phone. He had left a message apologizing for taking so long to call. Some things had come up he had to take care of. He asked if they could get together that evening after his last class.
She fumbled for a pen in her purse and jotted down his home and office numbers on the front of a file folder on the car seat, then ended her messages and rang his home phone. There was no answer. She called his school.
“Konnor Chase,” he answered on the second ring.
“Hi, it’s Senna.” She wished her heart wasn’t beating so fast. She felt like a love-struck teenager. “I just got your message.”
“Sorry for the short notice, but I hoped I could see you,” he said.
“I’d like that,” she replied immediately.
“How about meeting me here after the last class?”
“What time is that?”
“Nine-thirty, ten.”
She mentally calculated. If she met Nolan for dinner at seven and left by eight she could run by and see Ian and be at the martial arts school by then. “Okay,” she agreed. “But I may be a little late. I’m on my way to the airport hotel. A colleague from Chicago is in town for the night and we’re supposed to have dinner. After that I have an appointment with my psy—”
“You’re doing what?” he asked then spoke to someone else,” I’ll work with you in a minute.”
“Sorry,” he said into the phone. “I didn’t catch that last part.”
“I said I have to see my psychiatrist, Ian Drake.” She decided it was best not to lie or evade.
“Okay.” He didn’t seem the least affected. “I’ll wait.”
“Great. I’ll see you later. Bye.”
As soon as she hung up she let out her breath. Suddenly she wished she hadn’t made all the plans she had, because all she wanted to do was to get to Konnor. But she reminded herself that just because he had called didn’t mean he felt the same. She tried to focus her attention on something else. A few minutes later she exited off the highway and headed toward the airport.
The parking lot of the hotel was crowded when she arrived. She couldn’t find a place to park in front of the building, so she circled around back. At last she found an empty slot.
“Crap!” She had almost reached the hotel entrance when she realized she had left her purse in the car. All she had in her hand were her car keys.
She hurried back to get it. As she drew near, she pressed the remote. She heard the latch release at the same time a noise behind her made her stop and turn. A man was getting out of a car parked one space over.
She quickly got her purse, locked the car, and headed for the hotel. The man was right in front of her. He stopped and looked back at her. “Hi. Are you checking in?”
“No.” She had always been a little wary of strangers.
“I’m here on business,” he said with a smile. “Name’s Pete Lester, pharmaceutical sales and dad missing his wife and boys.”
The mention of his family made Senna more at ease. “How old are your children?”
“Three and five,” he answered as he opened the door for her.
“Thanks,” she gave him a grateful smile.
“Have a nice night.”
“You too,” she said. “I hope you get to go home to your family soon.”
“You and me both,” he said as he headed for the elevator.
Senna went to the deck and asked for Nolan’s room number. The clerk checked the computer then informed her that Dr. Weston was in room 302. She thanked him and took the elevator to the third floor.
She found the room and knocked on the door. As soon as her knuckles met the door, it gave way. She thought it odd that the door would have been open, but never looked to see what held it open. She pushed it open wider and called out, “Nolan?”
There was no reply. She entered and looked around. The room was empty.
“That’s strange,” she murmured to herself.
She didn’t know what else to do, so she went back to her car. She had just tossed her purse in the car and started to get in when something rammed her in the back. Her breath whooshed out. Almost immediately something hit her in the back of the head hard enough to make her see stars. Dizzy from the blow, she staggered. A hand covered her mouth at the same time an arm wrapped around her throat. Before she could break free, her abductor had been joined by another man. Between the two of them they bullied her toward the open side door of an old faded green van.
“Hey!” A voice came from across the parking lot. “Hey! What’s going on?”
The men holding her froze momentarily and she screamed as loud as she could. “Help! Ple—”
In the split second before her abductors shoved her into the van she caught a glimpse of the man who had called out. It looked like the same man she had walked with into the hotel. She thrashed around as her captor shoved her closer to another man wearing a ski mask who was just getting out of the van. She punched the man coming from the van, catching him in the face.
He cursed and grabbed her. Between him pulling and the man behind pushing, they shoved her into the van. Her head hit the side of the van hard enough to make lights dance in front of her eyes.
One man jumped into the back with her while the other ran around and got into the driver’s seat. Senna kicked the man who got into the back with her, catching him in the chest and sending him ramming into the side wall. He cursed and dived at her. She fell back, hitting her head again with the metal of the bare floor. Dark spots mingled with lights, distorting her vision. A wave of dizziness swept over her and the last thing she remembered was one of the men laughing and saying they should find a quite place to park and watch the planes come in.
When Senna woke she was lying on her back on the floor of the van. One man was sitting beside her and the other was watching from the driver’s seat.
“She’s awake, so let’s get this over with,” the driver said. “Jesus, you should’ve just fucked her while she was unconscious.”
“Fuck no,” the man in the back argued. “I want this bitch to feel every goddamn minute of it.” He reached for Senna but she scooted back and kicked at him.
“Fucking bitch!” he shouted and dived on top of her.
“No!” She punched and kicked with everything she had. He struggled, trying to hold her still and rip off her clothes. She got one leg crooked between them with her foot planted against his stomach. As he tried to ward off her fists, she pushed with her foot.
The man was propelled backward and landed between the two front seats. Turning over, Senna scrambled to her hands and knees and went for the back door. The
man grabbed one foot and tried to yank her back.
She kicked and screamed, making it impossible for him. “Be still, you fucking bitch!” he shouted. “You fucking prick teaser. I’m gonna teach you, you cunt!”
Beneath the fear, she recognized the voice. It did her little good. She could not stop fighting to try and reason with him. He meant to harm her and she didn’t think he would listen, no matter what she said.
“Fuck!” the driver suddenly shouted. “Fucking cop’s headed this way. We gotta get the fuck outta Dodge!”
The van bumped and jostled around for a few seconds before it smoothed out, making Senna think they had parked alongside a road.
“Fucking cop’s still back there!” the driver yelled.
The man struggling with Senna stiffened. “Well, lose him!”
The van accelerated and the man fighting with Senna returned to trying to tear her clothes off. The van swerved sharply as the driver made a sudden right turn. Senna clawed frantically for something to hold on to, something to keep her from being slung around. There was nothing but slick metal. She was thrown into the side wall of the van with her attacker still hanging on.
“We’ve gotta dump the bitch!” the driver shouter. “Throw her ass out!”
“Not ‘til I’m done,” her attacker yelled back.
“Kiss her ass out, man!” The driver sounded desperate. “Now, man! The cops are on our ass!”
There was moment’s hesitation before the attacker grabbed the side door and slid it open. Senna didn’t know which she was more afraid of—being in the van and being raped or getting thrown from the van.
The decision was not hers to make. There was a moment in which she felt the air rushing around her and the next moment all she was aware of was jarring pain. Immediately following was blackness, total and complete.
Southeast Charlotte
Konnor looked outside as the students filed out of the school after the second class. He rebuked himself for being overeager. It was only half past eight and Senna was not supposed to be there until ten or so.
Ryan and Paige emerged at nearly the same time from the locker rooms, dressed and ready for class. “Ready to do it?” Paige asked in her usual flirtatious manner. “I want to see some more of those awesome moves, Konnor.”
He didn’t comment, but waited for them to go into the class.
“Thanks for the extra help last time,” Ryan said as he passed by. “I appreciate it.”
“No problem,” Konnor said. “You’re doing very well.”
“Thanks.” Ryan grinned then looked at Paige. “How’d you get here?”
“Aaron dropped me off.”
“You need a ride home or is he picking you up?”
“Actually I do need a ride,” she smiled up at him. “If you don’t mind.”
“No problem,” he grinned. His pager went off and he stopped long enough to look at it. “Can I use your phone?” he asked Konnor.
Konnor nodded and took another look outside. He was going to try and hurry the class along. Maybe they could finish early tonight. He didn’t relish the idea of Senna arriving with Ryan and Paige there. That was an uncomfortable moment he would just as soon miss.
“Ryan Dalton,” he heard Ryan speak into the phone. “Justin? Hi, what’s up?… What?… I’m on my way.”
He slammed down the phone and turned to Paige. “It’s Senna. She was just taken to Carolina’s Medical Center.”
“What happened?” Konnor demanded.
“All I know is that she was tossed out of a van over on Wilkinson, not far from the airport,” Ryan said as he hurried toward the locker room.
“I’m coming with you,” Paige announced.
Konnor didn’t say a word, but ran down the hall, gave one of the senior students directions to take over, then ran outside to his car. He was out of the parking lot and half a block down the road by the time Ryan and Paige walked out of the school.
Carolina’s Medical Center
“Dr. Senna Laserian?” Konnor asked the nurse at the desk in emergency.
“Mr. Laserian?” The woman looked up at him for a split second.
“Where is she?” Konnor didn’t respond to the question. “Is she all right?”
“One moment, sir.” The nurse turned to speak with another nurse who walked up to the desk. “Could you show Mr. Laserian to his wife?”
“Sure, this way,” the second nurse replied.
Konnor followed her down the hall and into one of the examination rooms. Senna was sitting on the bed, wearing a hospital gown. Her arms were abraded and bruised and there was a large bruise on her jaw near her left ear. She looked pale and scared. A policewoman was in the room with her, along with a doctor who was cleaning a cut above her knee.
“Konnor!” She jumped off the bed the moment she saw him and rushed into his arms.
He could feel the rapid beat of her heart. “Are you all right?”
She nodded and clung to him. After a few moments he held her back at arm’s length. “What happened?”
“Mr. Laserian?” The doctor stepped forward. “I’m Dr. Marshall.”
Senna frowned in confusion as Konnor took the doctor’s hand. “Konnor Chase, sir.”
“But I thought…” The doctor looked at the policewoman then at Konnor. “I’m sorry, sir, but only family is allowed—”
“I want him here!” Senna insisted. “Please,” she added when the doctor frowned at her.
He hesitated for a moment then gave in. “Very well, but I need to finish dressing your wounds.”
She sat back down but held fast to Konnor’s hand as he stood beside her. The doctor finished and made a note on her chart. “Okay, Dr. Laserian, all done. Considering what you’ve been through, you’re a lucky woman.”
She nodded mutely then extended her hand to him. “Thank you. Can I leave?”
“I don’t see any reason to keep you.” Dr. Marshall shook her hand then left the room. The policewoman walked over to the bed. “Do you have anything to add to your statement, Dr. Laserian?”
“No,” Senna answered. “I’ve told you everything I know. Can I leave now?”
“I’ll need to get this typed up and have you sign it,” the officer replied.
“Can’t that wait?” Konnor asked.
The woman hesitated then nodded. “I suppose you could come in to the department in the morning and sign it.”
“Good.” Konnor looked around the room. “Where are your clothes?”
“They took them,” Senna said.
Konnor took off his jacket and helped her put it on. Just as they started out of the room, Ryan and Paige rushed in.
“What’re you doing here?” Ryan asked Konnor.
Senna and Konnor looked at one another then Senna responded. “He’s taking me home.”
“Well, well,” Paige said in a snide tone. “What have we here?”
“Shut up!” Senna turned on her with a snarl.
Paige raised her eyebrows but before she could say anything Ryan interjected. “Why did you come?” he asked Konnor.
“To help.”
“Help?” Ryan asked. “Help who?”
“Me,” Senna answered. “And right now I want to go home.”
“I’ll take you.” Ryan reached for her arm.
“No.” She moved out of his reach.
“Come on.” He reached for her again. “Paige and I will take you home and make sure—”
“No!” she spoke sharply, and then lowered her voice. “Konnor will take me home.”
Ryan started to argue but Paige nudged him. “Let them go.”
He looked from her to Senna and after a moment stepped aside. “I want to talk to you,” he said as Senna passed by him.
She stopped to look at him and he leaned closer. “Tomorrow,” he whispered and cut a look at Konnor, “privately.”
She didn’t comment and Konnor led her outside.
“What the fuck was that?” Ryan asked as soon as Senna and
Konnor left.
Paige raised her eyebrows and made a face. “Honey, you cannot be that dumb.”
Ryan looked at her in disbelief. She opened her mouth and in that moment his pager went off. Without a word he pulled out his cell phone to call in.
Paige waited as he made the call. He did little more than give his name and listen for a few seconds. “We’re on our way,” he said and hung up.
“What?” she asked as he headed out of the room and for the exit.
“There’s been another murder.”
Paige didn’t question him further. Together they ran to the car. Moments later they were on their way.
Myers Park, Charlotte NC
Senna gave Konnor directions to her home. He didn’t question her about what had happened, he only asked if she was sure she felt all right. She assured him that she was fine.
He turned into the drive leading to Minora’s house. Tall, stately oaks lined the long drive through which the grounds could be seen. Massive magnolias and flowering pear trees dotted the lawn. The drive curved and the house became visible. Reminiscent of days gone by, it stood as a testimony to the past, its rounded three-story columns supporting wide porches that wrapped around the enormous structure. The white siding shone brightly in the moonlight, the dark gray shutters like patches of shadow against the brightness.
“This is your house?” He looked at her in surprise.
“No.” She pointed to a smaller building behind the main house and off to one side. “Right there. The gatehouse. My aunt Minora lives in the main house.”
He didn’t comment but pulled over to the smaller house. Senna opened the door as he turned off the car. “Damn!” She looked over at him. “My keys.”
He walked around to her. “Doesn’t your aunt have a set?”
“Yes,” she replied hesitantly then looked up at him. “But if I go up there like this she’ll know something happened and I don’t want to upset her. She’s had enough lately without me adding to it.”
After a moment he nodded and took her hand. “Come on. I may be able to help.”
They went to the door and Konnor reached over to take a small leather case from the inner pocket of his jacket that Senna still wore. He withdrew a thin metal object and knelt down in front of the door. A moment later he turned the knob and the door opened.
