“If he has Montana under lock and key, then he already knows,” Troy reminded her.
Savannah’s hands shook. “Do what you feel is best. I just need to find my sister.”
Troy and Dion left at the same time. While they walked to the car, Troy asked, “Did Montana call you?”
“Yes. We talked briefly. She said she was heading out. We were supposed to meet for lunch,” Dion stated.
Troy was satisfied with his answer. “Man, we can use all of your help. Off the record, though, because if she was taken by who I think she was taken by, we don’t need the cops involved.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help.” Dion’s cell phone vibrated. He looked at the caller ID. “That’s the job. I’m on this. I won’t let her go that easily this time around. So whoever has her will have to deal with me.”
Troy responded, “Thanks, man. Just call me or Savannah if you come across anything that might help.”
Troy waited for Dion to leave. He sat in his vehicle a few more minutes before leaving to go to The Agency.
Troy could tell from the expression on some of the faces that they were just as surprised to see him as he was to see them. When he left The Agency, he had no plans on ever returning to the building. Nothing much had changed. Folks were still running around to their destinations without any concern for what else was going on around them. One thing about The Agency, they were known to be able to program or deprogram many men and women, but a few like him, and like Major, could be tamed but never trained to think in what they termed “one mind.”
What surprised Troy was the fact that he still had clearance to come and to go on the site as he pleased. Apparently, someone higher up, mainly his ex-commander, didn’t think to remove him from the list. Now here he was on an elevator up to visit his ex-boss. He hoped Montana would be sitting in there in a long, drawn-out conversation. He hoped her disappearance was only a small misunderstanding.
Before heading to Raymond’s office, he made a detour. After shooting the breeze with one of his ex-comrades, the former coworker bragged about how he put together the security system that The Agency now used. His ex-comrade was proud to show him some stuff. Troy played on that emotion. “Prove that your updates enhanced my system. Show me everybody who came in and out this morning.”
“Sure,” the ex-colleague replied.
“Man, I know you’re not supposed to, but can I have a copy of that?” Troy asked.
It only took the man a few minutes to copy it. He handed the disc to Troy. “Well, from what I see so far, you did a great job,” Troy said. “If I need any pointers, I’ll definitely be calling you.”
“Anytime, but it’ll cost you,” his ex-comrade joked.
Troy left that floor and headed to his original destination. No one was at the receptionist desk, so he entered Raymond’s office without knocking. Raymond swiveled his chair around at the sound of the door opening. He looked like he had seen a ghost. He reached for his drawer.
“No need. This is a friendly visit. Well, unless you decide not to make it so,” Troy said as he walked to the desk and plopped down in the black leather chair opposite Raymond.
“Have to hand it to you. You got some balls,” Raymond said as he leaned back in his chair.
“I learned from the best.” Troy picked up a cigar out of the box on Raymond’s desk. He smelled the cigar and placed it in his pocket. “This will be good later.”
“What do you want?” Raymond said without cracking a smile.
“First I wanted to let you know that you need to hire new recruits. The ones you sent after me aren’t up to par.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, but maybe you do know what happened to Montana.” Troy sat straight up in his chair and tried to see if Raymond’s gestures would signal that he knew more than what he was saying.
“Montana was here earlier, but that’s none of your business.”
“It is when she’s gone missing.”
“Missing? Where are the other girls?”
“Come on. Stop acting like you care. If you care, you wouldn’t have had Major killed and your ‘girls’ terrorized in their own home.”
“Whoever is behind this will pay.”
Troy stood up. “Your fake concern might work with others, but I know the deal. You better not harm one hair on her head, or else you deal with me. Got it?”
Troy waited for a response. None came. Raymond was sobbing. “All I wanted to do is keep The Agency’s reputation in tact. I worked too hard. We all worked too hard to build it. I told Major to leave it alone, but he wouldn’t listen. Now it’s come to this.”
“You’re good. I have to hand it to you,” Troy stated.
“Montana. My sweet Montana.”
“Look, what do you know about her disappearance?” Troy wasn’t falling for the fake concern.
“We talked about her and her sisters. She told me how disappointed she was. I got called away. When I returned fifteen minutes later, she was gone.”
“And that’s it?” Troy asked.
“I’ve failed them. I’ve failed Major,” Raymond stated.
“You killed him.”
Raymond stood up and slammed his fist down on his desk, knocking some of the files on the floor. “Major got himself killed. I begged him to drop it, to go away quietly into retiring. Did he listen? No. Now things are getting all out of control.” Troy listened to him go on and on. He hoped Raymond would reveal something he didn’t know that would lead Troy to Montana.
“I love them like they were my own. No doubt about it. Why are we going back and forth? We need to find out what happened to Montana. Let’s go look at the security tape.”
Troy didn’t trust Raymond, but he would play along with him until he could figure out what type of game he was playing.
28
Asia handed Savannah the phone. “Whoever it is insists on speaking with you only.”
“Put it on speaker.” Savannah walked closer to the phone so her voice could be heard. “This is Savannah.”
“Back off, or else,” a muffled male voice said.
“Who is this?” Savannah asked. She wrote on a piece of paper for Asia: Call Troy.
“Who I am isn’t important. I have something you want.”
Savannah was barely able to say her sister’s name. She said, “Montana?”
“I heard you were smart.”
Savannah was trying to remain cool, but she was on the verge of losing it. “Let me speak to her.”
She heard what sounded like scuffling. “Vanna, I’m okay. It’s—”
Before she could finish, the line went dead. Savannah released her breath and collapsed on the sofa. Asia walked back in. “Troy is on his way . . . with Uncle Raymond.”
“What? I can’t believe this. Montana’s missing, and Troy’s bringing the enemy into our house. Am I cursed?” Savannah wailed.
Asia ran to Savannah’s side and they rocked in each other’s arms. Savannah kept glancing at the phone, hoping the kidnapper would call back. Before long, the doorbell rang. Asia drew her gun. “Stay behind me,” Savannah said.
Savannah motioned Asia to put her gun down. “It’s Troy.” She swung open the door.
“Any word?” he asked.
“No.”
Uncle Raymond walked in behind Troy. He reached to embrace her; Savannah stepped back. His arms flew to his side. “It’s been a misunderstanding, dear, and we need to talk.”
Savannah fumed with anger. “How dare you? First you killed my dad, and now Montana.”
Troy placed his arms around Savannah. “Breathe in and out. He’s here to help.”
Savannah jerked out of Troy’s arms. “Traitor. How dare you side with him? After everything he’s done.”
Asia stood and watched the exchange. She didn’t say a word. She stood with her arms folded.
They all stood at a standstill in the foyer in front of the front door. “Right now, everybody i
s a little emotional, so let’s calm down so we can find Montana,” Uncle Raymond said.
Troy said, “He’s right. Let’s all go sit down so we can figure out where Montana is.” Troy reached out to touch Savannah’s arm. She jerked it and strode into the living room.
Addressing Troy, Savannah pressed the button on the recorder. She watched her uncle as the kidnapper’s voice played. He didn’t flinch. She didn’t expect him to. He was a master manipulator. She refused to fall for his show of kindness ever again. He was behind her dad’s death, and he would go down with the rest of the people on the list.
Troy asked, “What do you think?”
Savannah couldn’t believe Troy was asking Uncle Raymond for his advice. She felt like throwing the lamp at him.
Raymond said, “Whoever has her isn’t going to harm her. Not right now, so that gives us some time.”
Asia spoke up. “Of course you know that, because you know who has her.”
Raymond looked between Asia and Savannah. “I am at a loss, just like you are. You girls mean everything to me.”
“Tell that to someone who cares to hear the lies,” Savannah snapped. She looked at Troy. “Although I’m pissed at you, I do value your opinion. What do you think about Montana’s safety right now?”
“She’s safe for the time being. But time might not be something we have on our hands. She was trying to tell you something, but the kidnapper disconnected the call. It sounds like she knows her abductor.”
“He’s sitting right here,” Savannah stated with conviction.
“Vanna, I know you don’t believe me, but you must trust me if we’re going to get Montana back,” Raymond said.
“You must think I’m crazy. There’s no way in hell I’m going to trust you.”
Raymond squirmed in his chair. “What I’m about to tell you is going to jeopardize everything, I know, but I’m willing to risk it if it means saving Montana,” Raymond said.
Savannah crossed her arms. “Good ol’ Unc.”
Asia said, “Hush. I want to hear what he has to say.”
“Fine,” Savannah responded.
“It started a year before Major died. He confronted me right here. I tried denying it at first, but, of course, Major did his homework. He had dates and events that would not look too good if I went in front of a U.S. Senate committee . . .” Raymond’s voice had trailed off as he told the chain of events that led up to Savannah’s dad’s death.
“So many of the crooks we’re after were getting away free. My men were risking their lives to bring them in, and the courts were setting them free. I couldn’t have it. I set up a unit whose sole purpose was to get to the enemy before the other division and eliminate them. Unfortunately, during the process innocent folks sometimes might have gotten hurt. Major didn’t like the fact that we were twisting the law, but we’ve always done it. Maybe not with the intent of killing, but Bridges here could tell you how we always got our target, and by any means necessary.”
“That doesn’t explain why you had my dad killed,” Savannah said, barely above a whisper.
All eyes went from her back to Raymond. “I warned Major that if it leaked that he knew more about this other unit, that it could jeopardize his life. I did my best to convince him to enjoy his retirement and to leave everything to me. But you know Major. Once he got an idea in his head, he wouldn’t stop until . . . well, until I got a call from you all that someone had killed him.” He paused before continuing. “I loved Major like a brother, and I did not have him killed. I know you don’t believe me, but I didn’t. I do know why it happened, but I haven’t been able to figure out who. That’s another reason why I didn’t want you girls snooping. Whoever killed Major could be coming after you, if they think you know more than you’ve let on.”
Savannah clapped her hands. “You’re so good. Asia, hand him his Oscar.”
Raymond stood up. “I guess the only way to prove to you that I didn’t have anything to do with Major is to help you find Montana.”
“That’ll be a step in the right direction,” Asia said.
Savannah couldn’t believe Asia was falling for his lies. “Look, we need you to call whoever you have to call and get us our sister back here, alive and well. Pronto.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Raymond said.
“That’s not good enough. You need to promise me you’ll get Montana back,” Savannah snapped.
Troy attempted to calm her. “Savannah, he says he doesn’t know where she is.”
“Bull.”
Troy turned to Raymond. “Do what you can on your end, and I’ll use my contacts on my end. Call me on this number.” Troy wrote down a number and handed it to him.
“Girls, it’s going to be okay. Montana will be back, safe and sound.”
Troy walked Raymond out.
Savannah was furious. “Can you believe the nerve of that man?” She cursed. “I bet you he planned this whole thing. Just so he could get back into our good graces.”
Troy returned. “Savannah, I don’t think he’s behind Montana’s disappearance. I looked at the tapes and she did get back in her car around eight fifty-nine. Alone.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. He could have called someone. I’m not buying it,” Savannah said.
“I’m not ruling him out completely, but for now, we’re working on the same team. For now, I won’t have to worry about anybody trying to kill me, which means I can concentrate on you three.”
Asia said, “Thanks, Troy, for your help. We really do appreciate you.”
Savannah didn’t say anything else. She walked away. She heard Asia say, “I don’t trust Uncle Raymond either, but I do trust you. I just pray we don’t live to regret it.”
“You and I both,” Savannah said as she headed upstairs to lie across her bed.
She needed to rest her nerves. Every time she closed her eyes, her thoughts replayed the conversation with the kidnapper. It replayed what Raymond had said. She cried out for her dad.
Troy heard her cries, and when he entered the room, without saying a word, he lay across the bed with her and cradled her in his arms. They stayed that way until the phone rang.
29
“That might be the kidnapper,” Savannah said as she grabbed the phone and sat up on the side of the bed.
“I hooked up a tracing device on the phone, so keep them talking,” Troy said. He raced downstairs so he could work the device, which was hooked up to his laptop.
Asia was viewing the computer screen. She moved out of the way when she heard him come in. “It says it’s not connected,” Asia said.
“She needs to keep him on for at least five minutes. If she does, we can lock it in.”
Asia said, “I’ll go make sure.”
Troy placed his headphones on and listened in on the conversation as he watched the monitor. “Come on, you can do it,” Troy cheered Savannah on.
The voice on the phone was muffled. He would need to take the tape home to see if he could remove the noises. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day?” the kidnapper asked.
Savannah responded, “All I care about is Montana. Whatever you want, we’ll get it to you.”
“You can’t give it to me. Can you give me back my life?”
“Sir, if it’s money you need, we can get it. Just tell us how much and where to bring it.”
Troy’s computer beeped. The alert locked in on a location. He zoomed in. He wrote down the address. “Asia,” he yelled.
Asia ran back down the stairs. “Did you get it?”
Troy scribbled the address down. “Call Raymond. Tell him to meet me there.”
“What do I tell Savannah? She’s still on the phone with him.”
“Good. Don’t say a word until she’s off the phone. Tell her I said that she did a good job.”
Troy rushed out and almost ran over one of the neighbors as he rushed down the street. He called Dion. He could tell he was on the phone because of the way the phone beeped.
“Pick up. Hurry up,” Troy said.
“Any news?” Dion asked.
“I think I know where she is. I’m on my way there now. Can you meet me there?” he asked.
“What’s the address?”
Troy gave Dion the address and sped to his destination. Dion must have been nearby because he was there before Troy arrived. Raymond was nowhere in sight. Dion was wearing plainclothes attire. He must have been working outside was Troy’s first thought.
“I didn’t go in, just in case there’s more than one.”
“Good thinking,” Troy responded as he drew his weapon. “You back me up. If I’m not out in, say, fifteen.”
“Gotcha.”
Troy went around the building to see if he could locate any other vehicles. The only two vehicles were his and Dion’s. He found an opening in one of the windows and slipped through, undetected. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he went from room to room in what looked to be an abandoned warehouse. One of the rooms looked like it was being used for office space. “Doggone it,” he said. He realized he was only minutes away from locating the kidnapper. The phone the culprit had used had been yanked out of the wall. He picked up a locket that he recalled seeing around Montana’s neck.
He called Dion. “All’s secure. We just missed them.”
“Man, my boss just called. I hate to run.”
“No, go, man. Thanks. We’ll be in touch,” Troy said as he dialed Savannah.
“You did a great job. I don’t know what happened, but it’s as if he knew we were onto him.”
Savannah said, “Had to be Uncle Raymond. He’s the only other person besides us, who knew.”
Troy saw Raymond and a few other people come his way. “Speaking of the Devil. Let me call you back. Call me if they call back. Okay, sweetheart?”
He didn’t mean to use the term of endearment, but he couldn’t take it back. In fact, he didn’t want to take it back.
“Looks like they got away,” Raymond said.
“Looks that way,” Troy responded. He wasn’t 100 percent sure about Raymond and Montana’s kidnapping. He said, “I see you brought some backup.”
Savannah's Curse Page 14
