by Lexy Timms
“Follow me,” Jake instructed. “I know an easier way out.”
“I’m not leaving while people are still stuck here,” Simon said.
Heather gasped as he released her hand. “Simon, no!”
“Go with Jake,” he commanded. “He’ll protect you until I find you.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave you behind, sir,” Jake said.
“I’m ordering you to get Heather safely out of here,” Simon said, narrowing his eyes.
Jake frowned before finally nodding. “Okay. I’ll keep her safe.”
“You’d better.” Simon didn’t wait to listen to whatever Heather was shouting at him. No doubt she would be pissed off, but he had a duty to his company.
As the panic in the ballroom seemed to rise Simon raced into the crowd, looking for anyone who needed help. It wasn’t easy to ignore the voice in his head telling him to get to safety. Wasn’t easy to focus on duty while his father had been kidnapped and Heather wasn’t by his side. But his staff was counting on him. Even though security was already around to help Simon stuck around to help anyone who tripped, found stragglers who got so scared they hid under tables, and helped some of the more elderly staff members out of the ballroom and out of the hotel to their cars.
By the time the crowd thinned, he was exhausted. Making his way to the lobby, a wave of grief washed over him. His father was gone. Taken. That masked man on the screen had threatened his life. And he had been so helpless that he had stayed behind to help Dover’s panicked staff. Stayed behind because it was the only thing he could think to do in his shock. Doing something was always better than waiting around for the worst to come, but now, as he wandered through the hotel lobby, he felt totally drained. Drained and numb with a grief that hurt so much, nothing could get in.
He stumbled through the lobby until he was outside, the fresh air doing nothing to ease his troubled mind. His phone rang and he retrieved it from his pocket.
“It’s me,” Jake said on the other end. “I’m waiting with Heather in the parking lot. She refuses to leave without you.”
“Of course she does.” Simon sighed heavily. “I’m on my way. See you in a few.” He hung up and headed for the parking lot.
Heather was leaning against his car, standing beside Jake, her arms folded, her face tear-stained. When she caught sight of him she raced towards him and flung her arms around him. “I got so scared. For a second I thought you had been taken as well. Don’t you ever leave me like that again.”
His arms wrapped around her trembling body, holding her so tight he worried that he might break her. But he couldn’t let go of Heather. Not now that she was the only thing he had left in the world. “If they hurt him—”
“Don’t think like that,” she said fiercely.
When she spoke, her voice sounded so distant. Like he was hovering over the scene unfolding in the parking lot. Not really there, too deep in shock to do anything but disassociate. Detach himself from the horror. They were in the aftermath of the worst moment of his life, and it was all so surreal he could feel himself going even more numb than before.
She slipped out of his grasp to look at him. That was the only way she was going to get out of his embrace. Heather had to be the one to let go, because if it was up to him he’d hold her until the sun came up.
Sirens blared in the distance.
“The cops are on their way,” Jake said as he walked over to them. “They’ll probably want a statement from you. I would advise talking to them. If you cooperate with them, they’re less likely to suspect you of anything.”
“To hell with that,” Simon ground out. “This is my father we’re talking about. It doesn’t matter if I’m not protected or if the cops suspect me. I’m doing whatever it takes to get him back in one piece. If that means we don’t rely on the police, then so be it.”
“It might help to talk to them,” Heather said gently.
“You heard what the kidnapper said,” he reminded her. “The police can’t help us. Besides, I don’t trust them.”
“So, what are you going to do?” she asked. “Wait?”
His jaw clenched as he shook his head. “No. I want these bastards found. If I find them, I’ll get my father back.”
“If you can’t trust the police, who are you going to trust to help you?” she pressed. “Simon, they said to wait for further instructions. Maybe that’s the safest option.” She bit her lip, her brow furrowing as a pensive look settled on her face. “I’m sorry. I’m not much help right now, am I? Forget I said anything.”
“You’re helping. Trust me.” He slid his arm around her waist, desperate to reassure her. Heather might not have all the answers, but she was the only reason he hadn’t started punching and smashing things in a fit of helpless rage. Because the numbness was starting to give way to boiling anger, and only Heather’s presence was keeping that in check. “Look, I don’t trust the police to handle this properly, but I still trust you, Jake.”
“You do?” The security head stared. “I lost your father. This happened on my watch.”
“I know you and the work that Dover’s security team has done all these years,” Simon said. “I overheard you say that the hotel was locked down. That nobody could get in. Do you still believe that?”
Jake nodded. “I do. I believe it so much that security personnel is doing a sweep of the entire hotel as we speak. They’re looking for your father in case he’s still inside somehow.”
“If nobody got in to take Dad, that means you did your job,” Simon said. “That’s why I still trust you to handle this. Plus, you know me. The police don’t know me like you do.”
He knew that his wealth and privilege would make the police work extra hard to rescue his father, but right now he needed people who didn’t have to play by strict rules. He needed the security apparatus that knew him best to solve this. The police had an image to maintain, and even with the advantage of his wealth they’d make decisions based on their public image. Dover security didn’t have to worry about image. They would do what he required to get his father back alive.
“The first thing we need to do is get you out of here,” Jake said. “I can get you safely back home and increase security at your residence. If these people came after your father, there’s a good chance they could come after you. Our next plan of action after that is to go through the hotel’s surveillance footage from tonight and probably even earlier. Security personnel is already on that, so we should get access to it by the time we get you both home. Does that sound all right?”
“I...” His guts started to burn, as if his insides were on fire. “If I leave, I’ll be leaving my father behind.”
“If you leave, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance to get to safety so you can find your dad.” Heather’s soft, gentle voice soothed the ache that had been welling up inside him. “And I’ll be with you every step of the way until we get your dad back. I promise.”
He rubbed his eyes, frustrated at being so utterly incapable of fixing their problems immediately. “Okay. Let’s get out of here. Heather has been staying at my place these past few days, so you only have to make one trip.”
If Jake was surprised by the fact that he and Heather were pretty much living together, he didn’t show it. “I’ll drive,” he offered.
Simon nodded, and tossed his keys to the security head. With his mind still swimming, he was in no state to get behind the wheel and drive all the way back to his apartment.
He didn’t remember a single detail about the ride back home as he walked into his apartment, Heather and Jake trailing in after him.
“Is it okay if I go tell my parents what happened?” Heather asked. “It’s probably breaking news by now thought.”
“Sure,” he said. “Go talk to them.” He reached for her hand as she turned back towards the door. “Just don’t tell Finn all the gory details. He’s so young.”
She gave him a sad smile that cast a shadow over her ey
es. “I won’t tell him.”
As she walked back out of the apartment, part of him felt like she was taking his heart with her. He stumbled into the living room, barely noticing if Jake followed after him. The bow tie around his neck was restricting his air supply. Gripping the fabric, he tore it off and tossed it onto one of the chairs before he slumped down onto the sofa.
His adrenaline was suddenly working overtime. All night, since the kidnapping, he had oscillated between suppressing some volcanic emotion and feeling shell-shocked.
“How about a drink, Jake?” Simon got to his feet, walked over to the wine rack, and pulled out a bottle of brandy. He rarely drank the stuff, but this was one hell of an emergency.
Jake nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
With the bottle of brandy still in his hand he crossed over to the kitchen, grabbed two glasses, and poured the golden liquid. He knocked back his drink in seconds, the liquid having all the intensity and taste of engine oil.
With a grimace, Simon slid Jake’s glass across the island over to the security head and then poured himself another glass. One drink wasn’t going to do it. Not tonight.
He drained the glass again and set the glass back down on the island’s granite top. “Now what?”
“Let’s wait until Heather gets back before we start dealing with tonight’s footage,” Jake said firmly. “This is obviously messing you up and I need one of you to stay sober.”
Ignoring the judgment in Jake’s tone, Simon headed back into the living room and sat down. He sure as hell didn’t like the judgment, but deep down he knew that Jake was right. Not only did they need someone with a clear head, but there really was no one he trusted more than Heather.
It was then that his phone rang and Simon answered it reluctantly. Maybe a member of Dover’s security staff was calling with news.
“Hello, Simon.” It was the same mocking voice from the video that had played in the ballroom.
“Who the hell are you?” Simon’s entire body stiffened as a blinding, hot rage coursed through him. “What have you done with my father? Where is he?”
“He’s safe,” the man answered. “For now. Very smart of you to avoid the police.”
“You want me to avoid the police?” Simon hated conceding anything to these people, but he had to put aside his rage and ego if he wanted to protect his father. His father meant more to him than his ridiculous pride. If he could choose, he would switch places with his father in a heartbeat. They had spent all these years apart after the fight, and the regret Simon felt over that was almost unbearable. If his father had been part of his life all these years, he might have been able to protect him better.
“No. Talk to the police all you want,” the voice said. “We know that this will make the news. Though, the police can’t help you.”
Something told him that the kidnappers loved the attention they were getting. That was probably why they were so theatrical. They wanted to have an audience for their mayhem.
“What do you want?” Simon demanded as he put the call on speaker phone for Jake to listen in. “What do I have to do to get him back?”
“That’s simple,” the man muttered. “If you want to get your father back in one piece all you have to do is pay the price.”
Chapter 14
Heather slipped back into Simon’s apartment. Talking to her parents hadn’t been easy, but at least now they knew about the kidnapping and would be extra careful. For the time being, they’d stay with Finn while she stayed to support Simon—who seemed to need it from the sound of his raised voice filling the apartment.
She followed the sound of his agitated voice until she found him in the living room, holding his phone. “Prove to me my father’s safe,” Simon was saying, his face red with rage.
Seeing him so out of control made her heart ache for him. Despite his constant need to protect her, Simon was almost always calm and level-headed. His father’s kidnapping was already wearing him down. She could see it in his bloodshot eyes and the sweat forming on his brow. Just the thought of someone taking one of her parents from her sent an icy ripple of fear down her spine. Simon’s pain must have been immeasurable.
“He is safe.” The eerie voice from earlier only amplified her fear.
“I’m Jake Perry, the security head at Dover Inc. I’ll be helping to facilitate this until both parties get what they want. How does that sound?”
“As long as you don’t get in the way of what we want, you’re welcome to stick around, Jake Perry,” the man snarled.
“We want proof,” Jake said firmly. “Solid, irrefutable proof that Onslow is safe. Prove it, then we can talk about a price.”
A pause.
Her heart sank. Damn, she hoped that silence didn’t mean the kidnappers were planning to hurt Onslow. Or worse, already had.
“Fine,” the man muttered. “We’re going to set up a video conference call. Then you can see your father’s still alive.”
The line went dead and a moment later video footage filled the phone screen. Heather inched closer to Simon and peered at the screen as grainy footage of his father played. She gasped when she saw the bloody gash on Onslow’s forehead. A lump formed in her throat as she realized the kidnappers had already hurt him.
“Dad? Can you hear me?” Simon asked. “Are you okay?”
“I...I can hear you,” Onslow choked out. “I’m safe.”
“Where have they taken you?” Jake asked. “Can you figure out where you are?”
“I’m in some kind of basement,” Onslow replied in a thin voice. “I don’t know where it is.”
“How did they get you?” Jake demanded.
Suddenly Onslow let out a terrified grunt as the flash of a blade glinted against his cheek.
“Enough with the questions,” the angry voice sounded off screen. “You have your proof.”
Tears stung her eyes, and no matter how hard she tried to blink them away they rolled down her cheek. She and Onslow hadn’t gotten along, but this was the last thing she had wanted. Seeing him in so much danger was destroying her. Which meant that this was agonizing for Simon.
“No. Damn it, don’t hurt him,” Simon growled. “I’ll get you whatever you want.”
“Is this proof enough for you?” the kidnapper pressed again. “Or do you need me to mail you his fingers?”
“It’s enough,” Jake said. “Now tell us, what’s your price?”
“Simon needs to pay to get his father back,” the man answered. “Money is the price. One million dollars. That’s what we want.”
That kind of money would have been far out of reach for her, but that must have been nothing to Simon.
“Fine. You’ll have it,” Simon growled. “It’s... I’ll get it, fine.”
“Good. We’ll be in touch later and we’ll give you a time and location for the exchange,” the man said. “We want the million in cash.”
“It takes time to get that much money in cash,” Simon said.
“You have three days. If you try to stiff us, your father starts to lose body parts,” the voice warned. “We’ll get in touch with you closer to the time, so that you’ll know where to leave the cash.”
“And you’ll hand over my father?”
“Cross our hearts.” Cold, maniacal laughter filled the apartment and then the screen turned black.
“Dad?” Simon stared at the phone screen, anguish and rage darkening his blue eyes.
“I know this is hard, but we need to come up with a plan,” Jake said, motioning for them to sit down.
She took the phone from Simon’s hand, afraid that he might do something rash in his moment of anger. Making sure to link her arm with his, she walked over to the sofa and sat down beside him.
Jake sat down on the arm of one of the chairs, his expression grave. “I assume you can get that kind of money in three days?”
Simon nodded. “I can. It isn’t a lot of money.”
“A million dollars is no small thing,” Jake
said. “It might not be much to you, but to the average person it’s a lot.”
“Average person...” She chewed her lip, lost in thought as something nagged at her. “But the money isn’t for one person, is it? The kidnapper kept saying things like ‘we’ and ‘us’.”
“You’re right,” Jake said, sounding impressed. “This is a group of people. There’s at least two people involved with the kidnapping.”
“A million dollars split between two or more people isn’t a lot of money.” Simon frowned and turned to her, brow furrowed in concentration. “I know that to an average person it’s a lot of money, but these guys have gone through a hell of a lot of trouble for a measly half-million apiece at most.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” she said. “Why do all this if they won’t be paid much? Unless...” She squeezed her eyes shut. Just entertaining the idea terrified her. What if they planned on reneging on their promise by keeping Simon’s father to just force more money out of Simon in the future? What if they were lying about releasing Simon’s father, and planned on killing him after he no longer served a purpose? The image of the knife pressed against his skin flashed in her mind and she shuddered. They could be hurting Onslow right now and there was nothing they could do to stop it.
“Unless what?” Simon pressed.
“Unless they plan on trying to extort more money out of you later on,” she finally said.
Jake crossed his arms. “You think they might keep Simon’s father for much longer, so that they can keep getting money out of him.”
“It’s probably absurd,” she said. “I don’t have experience with this kind of thing.”
“True, but you’ve had to deal with some pretty shady characters in your time at Dover,” Jake pointed out. “That experience could be valuable right now.”
“If they keep my father even after I’ve paid them, what’s the point of paying them?” Simon asked. “Paying these people even one dime is enabling their crimes.”
“In situations like this, it’s better to pay the kidnappers,” Jake said.
