Hold on, babe. Just hold on.
***
Dane parked the car a few blocks from the restaurant. Both men got out and made their way toward the alley that led to the back door.
Carlos liked to work late in his office. The light from a small desk lamp shone through the tiny window. Ben’s pulse quickened, his hand twitched. He saw Carlos through the glass, bent over his desk, going through paperwork. The cool steel of Ben’s 44 against his back brought comfort. Confidence. Carlos was going to pay for even touching a hair on Tess’s head.
Dane grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. “Hey. You sure you’re okay?”
Ben blinked, his anger palpable. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
“You know we’ve got to handle this right or we won’t find Tess. He’s not just gonna hand her over.”
Ben looked at the window then back to his friend. “No worries. I just want to have a little chat with him.”
Dane laughed. “Sure. A chat. This I’ve gotta see.” He let go of his hold on Ben and put out a hand. “Lead the way, my friend.”
Ben marched toward the back of the restaurant. Bam! His boot made contact with wood. The handle busted and the door flew open. His heart pounded in his chest. His fury pacified for the moment, thanks to the door now splintered and hanging on only one hinge.
Carlos jumped from his desk chair. Ben locked eyes with him. The fury returned.
“Geez, Jake. You scared the crap out of me. What in the world are you doing?”
Carlos went to take a seat again. Ben moved around the desk and grabbed him by the shirt collar before his backside got anywhere near the chair. Kicking it out of his way, he shoved Carlos against the wall, the weight of his body pinning him. A head taller than Carlos and twice the size, the man hung helpless from Ben’s grasp.
“What’s going on, Jake?” Carlos’s words came out strained. His eyes moved franticly from Ben to Dane to Ben again.
“You might get more out of him if he can talk, ya know.” Dane stood just inside the doorway, poised to move if Ben needed him.
He was right. Ben wanted to scare Carlos. No, he wanted to hang him upside down and use him as a punching bag. But none of that would get the answers he needed. And he needed them fast.
He just barely loosened his grip on Carlos. He wasn’t about to let the worm wiggle away.
“Where is she?”
Carlos’s dark eyes stared at Ben as if he’d just grown a third ear. “Where’s who?”
“You know exactly who I mean. I want to know what you’ve done with her.”
“Honestly, Jake. I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Sophia? You mean Sophia?”
Ben tightened his grip once more. “No, you slime. Tess. What have you done with Tess?”
“Who in the world is Tess? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Chapter 19
Ben looked into Carlos’ eyes. The same eyes as his sister, only full of greed and filth. Carlos was the worst kind of slime, but something in Ben’s gut told him he was telling the truth. Impossible. He released his hold and tossed Carlos into the chair he’d kicked away moments before. Dane took a step towards the door. A warning to Carlos. Running would be a mistake.
Carlos adjusted his shirt. “What’s gotten into you, Jake?” He looked at Dane. “And who’s this guy?”
“A friend.” Ben breathed in deep. He had to keep his anger in check if he was going to get information from Carlos. He crossed his arms and stared down at Carlos, who rubbed his neck and ran a hand through his slick, black hair.
“I thought we were friends. What’s with you barging in here and attacking me like that?”
“You’re not my friend.”
Carlos looked up at him. “Oh yeah? I’m beginning to see that. First you take off without a word. Now you’re back and full of piss and vinegar. Sheesh. Now you’re ranting about some woman.” He waved a hand at Ben and tried to scoot the chair back to the desk. Ben stepped in his way.
“I told you, Carlos. I want to know where Tess is. I know you took her.”
“I already said it, man. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Ben had known Carlos long enough to know if he was lying or not. He wasn’t a tough man to read. That’s what made Ben believe from the beginning that Carlos wasn’t the head of the operation. He was greedy, but not smooth or smart.
If he didn’t have Tess, then who did? No. He couldn’t go down that path. Not yet. Without Carlos, he had no leads. And that was unacceptable. Panic rose in his throat. He swallowed it down.
“I’m going to give you one last chance, Carlos. Where is she?”
“I swear on my mother’s grave, Jake. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Ben looked at Dane, who shrugged. Code for “It’s your call.”
He could walk away right now and keep his cover. He’d still be able to go after whoever had Tess. Still be able to help Sophia. But if Carlos didn’t have her, Ben had no idea where to start.
“Where is Sophia?”
“Damn it, man. Now I’m my sister’s keeper too?”
That was it. He had one last card to play, and it was time to play it. He leaned down in front of Carlos, his hands on the arms of the chair. “Listen, Carlos. My name isn’t Jake. It’s Ben Russo. Detective Ben Russo.”
Carlos leaned back, his eyes wide. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Good. The exact reaction Ben was looking for.
“You’re a cop?”
“That’s right. And at this point, my patience isn’t wearing thin, it’s completely gone. I have enough on you to put you away for quite some time. And help your sister get out of this destruction you call a business.”
“You’ve got it all wrong, man.” Carlos went to wipe his brow but Ben’s arm was in the way.
Ben stood up again, making sure his body blocked any route Carlos could take to escape. “Explain to me exactly how I’m the one who’s got it wrong.”
Carlos looked at Dane. “Is he a cop too?” He wiped his brow with his sleeve.
“Yep.” Dane grinned.
Carlos shook his head. “I don’t believe this. I’m so done with this.”
Ben cocked his head. “Done with what?”
“All of this.” He waved his arms around. “I never wanted any of this. I want out. I’ve wanted out but couldn’t…”
“What are you talking about, Carlos?” Ben’s thoughts spun. Carlos wanted out? That didn’t make any sense. He was the head of the family, the one with all the money and power. Wasn’t he?
“You serious about using the dirt you have on me?”
“Dead serious. However, if you help me out, I might be able to get the judge to go a little easy on you.” A judge might be lenient, but Ben knew with Carlos’s rap sheet, he’d still be behind bars most of his life. Right now Ben’s only focus was on what Carlos knew that could help find Tess. He needed to know and he needed to know it hours ago.
Sirens wailed in the distance. All color drained from Carlos’s face.
Dane turned toward the window. “Looks like the cavalry’s almost here. You wanna do less time or not? All you’ve gotta do is talk.”
“All right. All right. I’ll talk. It’s not me. I don’t call the shots. She does.”
***
Tess’s stomach tossed with each turn of the vehicle. Head pounding, she tried again to wriggle loose from her bindings. The tape all but glued her wrists together. Her shoulders ached from the strain. How long had she been stuck in the car trunk? The stiffness in her muscles said hours. The farther away from home they drove, the more her hope dwindled.
Who would want to kidnap her? She shivered. Dressed in just her scrubs, the thin fabric did nothing to protect her from the cool air. Hopelessness seeped into her soul. When Ben left her before their wedding, she thought then that her life was hopeless. But she trusted in God and put her faith in His plans for her. Could she do the same now? Could she put her hope in God under su
ch circumstances?
The sound of waves pulled her from her thoughts. They were near the ocean. But where? They could be anywhere along the California coastline. The car slowed and the tires moved from asphalt to gravel. The brake lights shone bright red. She closed her eyes tight. Car doors slammed. Footsteps shuffled closer to the trunk.
Afraid to open her eyes she did the only thing she knew to do. She prayed.
***
Did Carlos say “she”?
“Tell me something I don’t know, Carlos.” Ben towered over the man, his arms crossed over his chest. “I’ve known for a while you aren’t the brains of this operation. But whoever you work for is brilliant at staying hidden.”
“She always has been.” Carlos looked down. His guilt no doubt weighing on him for giving up his friends.
“She. Why do you keep saying she?”
Carlos looked up at Ben and laughed. The thug actually had the nerve to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Dane asked from his perch near the door.
“I can’t believe you didn’t figure that part out, Jake. Ben. Whoever you are. You two being so close and all.”
Ben’s head spun. The time they’d spent together. The trust built between them. The whole time, he was being used. Instead of playing those inside the family for information, he was the one being played.
As if reading his mind, Carlos said, “That’s right, man. It’s never been me. It’s always been her.”
***
The trunk popped open. Fresh air caressed Tess’s face. She blinked. Two large men loomed over her. Men she didn’t recognize. One was bald. The other had cropped dark hair.
“Come on, lady. The boss wants to see you.”
The boss? What in the world was he talking about? The bald guy lifted her from the trunk like a rag doll and set her on her feet. The dark-haired man held her up while the other cut the ties around her ankles. Her arms remained bound behind her back.
Her eyes darted around. The instinct to run itched through her blood. Waves crashed not far from where they stood. Gravel stretched another few yards then grass and brush led to darkness beyond. Small whitecaps cut through the black, the only evidence of vast ocean.
The cliffs. She knew them well. A place she and Ben loved to hang out, surf sometimes. They’d driven all the way to San Diego. But why? Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
“Let’s go.” Baldy grabbed her upper arm. “And don’t even think about trying to run.” He pulled his jacket back to reveal a large handgun on his belt.
She took a step but fell to her knees, her legs like Jell-O. The dark-haired man fell in step beside her and swept up her other arm. Hanging between the two men like a child, her feet barely grazed the ground. One of her shoes fell off. They kept walking.
As they approached the edge of the cliff, a form came into view. Tess squinted. In the dark she could only make out a shape, but no face. The wind blew, and long dark hair flowed from behind the ghost. A woman?
The woman turned. A cloud moved. The moon peeked from behind, shedding light on her face. Tess’s throat clenched.
Sophia.
***
“What are you talking about, Carlos?” Ben’s shout bounced off the walls of the small office. Arms at his sides, fists clenched, it took everything in him to control his rage.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. My dear, sweet sister isn’t the person you thought she was.”
Ben shook his head, paced the room. “No. That can’t be right. There’s no way Sophia could be the one to do this…to run all this.” He waved his arms around, pacing. He was flailing now, he knew, but he didn’t care. Sophia? How could Sophia be responsible for everything?
Memories of them hanging out, conversations they had floated through his mind. Never once did he suspect her of anything other than being an innocent who wanted out of her situation.
“This is all wrong. You’re lying just to give me information so I’ll help you get a shorter sentence.”
“No, man. I’m serious.”
Ben stopped pacing and looked Carlos in the eye. He wanted to read every facial expression, every movement. Know for a fact he was telling the truth.
“Listen,” Carlos continued. “Like you said, I’m not the smartest guy, I know. Believe me, I know. My father told me that every day up until the day he died. Sophia was always his favorite. She was the golden child. Smart, cunning, always quick on her feet. He groomed her to take over the family business when he died. And she loved it. All of it.”
“If you’re so stupid, why do you get to claim the power?” Dane crossed his arms and stared down Carlos.
“Because that’s how she wants it. Sophia knows men will never listen to her, because she’s a woman. They’ll never take her seriously. She set it up for things to look like I control them, but she pulls all the strings.”
“Why did she tell me she wanted out? Why the sob story with me?” Ben’s anger subsided, replaced by dread.
“That was her game. She got close to any newcomers, pretended to be the sweet, naïve sister, to get info. Make sure they were clean. Apparently, she got you figured out.”
Ben’s mind raced. How long had Sophia known he was a cop? Long enough to follow him and find out about Tess? At the pier he’d lied to her, told her there was no one else. She was baiting him then, trying to see if he was lying.
“Where is Sophia now?”
Carlos shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Ben grabbed him by the shirt collar again. “That’s not the right answer, Carlos.”
“I don’t know, man! All she said when she left was she had to say good-bye to an old friend.”
Ben tightened his grasp.
“The cliffs! She said she was going down to the cliffs!”
Ben let him go. The conversation with Sophia on the pier ran through his mind like a movie reel. He’d said he’d left to say good-bye to an old friend. Then she’d asked if there was someone else and he’d told her no. It all came together like pieces of a puzzle.
He looked at Dane. “We’ve gotta go.”
***
The two men let go of her arms. Her legs now able to hold her, Tess stood between them, facing Sophia. Her thoughts raced. If Sophia was simply some other woman who cared about Ben, why would she kidnap Tess and bring her here? Confusion intertwined with her panic.
Baldy reached over and yanked the tape off Tess’s mouth. Fire licked across her skin, and she cried out. Half the skin on her face had to be on that tape.
“So, you are the infamous other woman.” Sophia looked Tess up and down, inspecting her.
Tess shivered.
“You’re kind of a scrawny thing. Not nearly enough woman for Jake. I’m sorry - Ben.”
Jake? How did she know about Ben being called Jake? Tess breathed in deep. Stay calm. Stay focused.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She coughed. Her throat dry from the tape.
“Of course you don’t.” Sophia walked around her in a slow circle, flipping a piece of Tess’s hair as she went.
Tess’s stomach curled.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about, because you aren’t special to him. Not like I am.”
This woman was crazy. Certifiably insane. Sophia came back around and stood in front of Tess. Tess hoped the fear in her heart didn’t reach her eyes.
“How are you special to him?” Keep her talking. Focus on that. More time to think of an escape plan.
“Well, you see, he left your sorry little backside at the altar, and all because he wanted to be with me.”
What was this woman ranting about? Ben said Sophia had nothing to do with why he left. She was angry with him, yes, but she’d believe Ben over this woman any day.
“He left because he needed space after his parents’ death.” Her voice sounded even, confident. The polar opposite of the tornado of emotions going on inside.
Sophia clicked her tongue. “Yes, his parents’ dea
th. I was truly sorry about that. They were merely caught in the crossfire.” She shrugged. “But that’s part of the business sometimes.”
Business? Sophia was sorry for their deaths. Nothing was making sense. Her words floated around Tess like vultures. Pecking at her, trying to eat her. Fatigue pulled at her shoulders.
“You see, your sweet Ben left you because he thought he could go after the person responsible for what happened. But he foolishly thought my idiot brother, Carlos, was the one with all the power.” She cackled. “Such a fool. I have all the power. I’ve always had all the power.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sophia.”
Sophia’s eyebrows raised. “You know my name. Then he must have told you all about me.”
“Not really.” Telling this psycho woman Ben claimed her merely as a friend would only make her mad. Something best for Sophia not to be at the moment.
“Did he tell you that he was working undercover as a man named Jake?” She shook her head. “Probably not. I’m sure in his noble heart he thought he was protecting you. But you see, I have ways of knowing things. I know where you live, I know you like to go running on the beach as well as in the hills. I know that Jake is really Detective Ben Russo with the San Diego Police Department. I… know…everything.”
Aimee was right. Ben was working undercover.
“And I know he snuck away to check on you.”
“You were the one who had me thrown when I was running. You sent someone into my house.” Anger boiled through Tess’s veins.
“Yes, yes. Mere attempts at your life. Nothing serious.” Sophia put her hands in the pockets of her jeans and strolled closer to the cliff’s edge. “I needed to know how serious Jake…Ben was about you. It was obvious he still had silly feelings for you, so when he came back I asked him flat-out about you.”
“You asked him about me?”
“I asked if there was someone else.” She walked up to Tess again, looked her in the eyes. “He said no.”
Remember Me (Men of Honor Series Book 1) Page 15
