Kidnapped Hearts

by Cait Jarrod

  “It makes sense now why she would kidnap Pamela.” Jake rested his head in his hands. He clenched his jaw and pushed away his emotions. He was no good to her if he started getting soft. He cleared his throat. “She must have started to refuse his orders, explains why he—”

  “Took the boy,” Steve agreed. “That’s one way to get control over her.”

  Wilson came into the room, cutting off Jake’s thought pattern. “I have names of men recently linked to Jameson.”

  Their eyebrows rose.

  “Jameson has four Black Scorpions who do his dirty work. Spike, a twenty-six year old Hispanic male, name Jose Lumis. He has a scar across the right side of his face.”

  “Spike’s out of the picture,” Steve uttered.

  “Mort, an African American male, name Bernard Hayes, age twenty-nine. He’s missing several teeth.” Wilson paused.

  “He’s alive,” Jake said, grabbing a sandwich.

  “Guido, the acting leader of the Black Scorpions and close friend of Sanjar’s, a twenty-eight year old white male, name Thomas Brooks.”

  “Alive.” Steve took a bite of food.

  “Last, but not least, Jaws.”

  “Jaws went down with Spike,” Steve said, leaning back in his chair.

  Agent Dennis barged into the room. “The local police ID’d Charlene Smith’s Oldsmobile, near SagTopMountain. The car was swerving, and he noted the license number, preparing to pull her over when a more urgent call came in. The mountain is being searched now.”

  Jake nodded. “So the car had been moved when it was found on 29.”

  “That’s my thoughts,” Wilson agreed.

  There was finally some hope. Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “Has there been a ransom on the boy?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.” Steve stood, jabbing his hands on his hips. “Jake, do you want a Wine double?”

  Dennis shoved back from the table and leaned back in his chair, his hands folded.

  Jake braced his knuckles against the table and looked at Dennis and Steve. “What are you two thinking?”

  “We need to handle this ourselves, the four of us. Include Larry.” Steve sat on the table. “There’s no need to have a lot of agents involved. It’ll just cause more havoc. The Director would think the same, if it didn’t involve his best friend’s daughter.”

  “I’m IA, guys.” Dennis rose. “I can’t hear a plot with the intention of disobeying orders.”

  Jake and Steve tilted their head, eyeing the agent.

  “Don’t recall receiving any orders to disobey,” Steve informed.

  “Just the same. I’m out of here.” Dennis left the room.

  “Larry’s on one, Jake,” Missy said through the intercom.

  Steve activated the speaker. “Larry, it’s Steve, Jake is here.”

  “Get your asses to Sag Top.”

  “Did you locate them?”

  “Closing in.”

  The phone went silent.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “Arrogant SOB!” Jake snapped on his shoulder holster.

  At an abandoned gas station, Steve and Jake dug into the trunk of Jake’s Chevelle as Larry pulled in to the parking lot. Pamela, Charlene, and possibly Charlene’s son were being held on SagTopMountain, just minutes away. They loaded up their gear, as they awaited word from Agent Wilson as to the hostages’ exact location.

  “I can’t believe the audacity of that asshole!” Jake stuffed a gun in the back of his waistband. “Just who in the hell does Jameson think he is demanding me to bring him the bonds?”

  Larry smacked Jake on the back. “You know how it is, Warrior. Past cases often catch up. Sounds like Jameson is doing some dirty work for Sanjar and the Black Scorpions.” He checked the bullets in his ankle holster, then looked to the sky. “Fortunately, the rain stopped.”

  “The chicken shit wouldn’t even call me. He had to call the FBI secretary.” Jake pulled on his FBI issued raincoat, covering the gear. He stretched his neck and tugged on his t-shirt, trying to relieve the tension.

  “I don’t like Missy having to talk to men like him,” Larry voiced, sticking a gun in its holster.

  Steve raised a brow. “Really?”

  Larry slid his arms into his jacket and shot Steve a look. “It’s not like that.”

  “Well, the dumb fuck all but told us his position by using his cell phone.” Jake’s hands fisted, unaware of the Steve and Larry’s conversation. He met their eyes. “What?”

  Steve and Larry shook their heads and finished putting their gear on.

  “Was it dumb or a setup?” Steve asked as Jake’s cell beeped.

  After checking ID, Jake answered, “Talk to me.”

  “Ms. Young’s cell signal came from in between two broken down cabins. An old ranger road leads up to them. You’ll see the road on your right when you round the bend.”

  “Meet you there.” Jake stowed away his cell. “Let’s roll.”

  Jake climbed behind the wheel and Steve into the backseat. Larry barely closed his door before Jake spun wheels out of the lot.

  “Geez, Jake,” Larry complained, holding on to the dashboard.

  Jake stared straight ahead, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.

  Five miles and the Chevelle drove up a winding mountain road in four minutes, pulling beside Wilson. Larry hopped out of the car, marched to Wilson’s car, and climbed in.

  “I think someone’s pissed,” Steve stated.

  Jake had forgotten about Larry’s phobia. “He can’t stand mountain roads. He knows I know this, so he’s bitch pouting. He’ll get over it.”

  Wilson knocked on Jake’s window. “The cabins are half mile up the road. How do you want to proceed?”

  Jake opened his door, and Wilson stepped aside. “On foot.”

  Steve crossed to Larry’s window and knocked. “Come on, pansy ass.”

  Larry grunted and joined them.

  They jogged on the gravel road until the cabins came into view. Hiding behind trees, Jake gave the orders.

  He tapped Larry’s shoulder and motioned for him to go check out the far cabin. Larry left, and Wilson followed.

  He then gestured Steve to the first cabin. Steve headed for the barred up window.

  ****

  Pamela’s eyes widened. Steve was eyeballing her through the small window. She wanted to run to him, but she held still. Charlene sat beside her with her head buried in her hands. Jameson and Guido stood near the door, bickering. They were talking so fast, she couldn’t make out their words. She did hear mention of the bearer bonds and The Warrior.

  Jake was here. They were going to be rescued. Without moving, her eyes shifted toward the window again. Steve was gone.

  “What the hell are you looking at?”

  Pamela’s lips smashed together. She prayed she didn’t give them away.

  Jameson walked to the window and peered out.

  Charlene gasped, and Pamela looked away from Jameson and saw Guido storming toward them.

  He grabbed Pamela by her hair and jerked her to her feet. Tears slid down her face. How much more could she take before this ended?

  ****

  Jake waited behind a tree off to the side of the cabin for the other agents to explore and report in. Wilson peeked in the window of the far cabin while Larry stood near the door with his back pressed against the outer wall.

  Wilson lifted his hand waist high and gave him a thumbs up. He had found Charlene’s son. Then, he lifted one finger, followed by laying his head against his palm. Only one man watched the child, and he was asleep.

  Now, Jake needed to know what Steve saw. At the window, in the cabin in front of him, Steve lifted two fingers then jabbed his fingers horizontally in the air. The women were on the far wall. Then, he tapped his gun with the same two fingers and made a walking motion. Two men were guarding them as they paced the room.

  Jake nodded to the agents, first pointing at his eyes, then at theirs and holding up three fingers, inf
orming them to move on the count of three.

  Jake scooted to the door of the cabin with Pamela while Larry took position at the door on the other cabin. Steve was armed and ready at the window, while Wilson was pointing his gun through the other cabin’s window. Looking inside, Wilson slid his finger to his lips, cautioning someone inside, then grabbed the gun with both hands.

  Charlene’s son must have seen him.

  Jake raised the first finger. His eyes darted at Larry and Wilson. Steve was now out of sight. Steve would have to rely on Larry’s movements before acting.

  The second finger lifted, then the third. Larry busted the door on the far cabin, and a gunshot pierced the air.

  Simultaneously, Jake threw his body against the door. The door fell in, and Jake stumbled. The blow to his shoulder hurt like hell. He righted himself.

  Guido hauled Pamela to her feet and linked his arm around her neck, using her as a human shield. “The Warrior.”

  Glass shattered then Steve yelled, “Don’t move!”

  From behind Guido, Jameson raised his hands, surrendering, but not the dark-eyed man ready to kill. His eyes bored into Jake’s, despite the gun Jake aimed at his forehead.

  “Put the gun down, Warrior.” Guido pushed the gun into Pamela’s temple.

  Larry ran behind the cabin as Jake watched the first tear slide down her pretty face.

  “Let her go. Your beef is with me.”

  “An eye for an eye,” Guido sneered.

  “The hell it is.”

  A loud crash at the back of the cabin and Guido flinched. His gun moved off Pamela. Wood bounced across the floor.

  The butt of Jake’s gun connected with Guido’s forehead. Guido stumbled, dropping his gun and losing his grip. Pamela ran in the opposite direction.

  Jake rushed him, forcing the big man to the floor, then flipped him over hard. Jake reached for his handcuffs as he twisted one of Guido’s hands behind his back, using more force than necessary.

  “Get the fuck off me!” Guido yelled.

  Steve escorted Jameson through the opening Larry created. Larry nodded at Jake then followed Steve.

  Guido bucked, catching Jake off guard. He dropped the cuffs and saw the blade appear in Guido’s hand from his shirtsleeve.

  Jake flinched, but the blade nicked his arm as he moved out of reach.

  Guido jumped to his feet, the knife at his side. He lunged.

  A gun fired.

  Guido crumbled to the ground.

  Jake expected another agent, anyone other than the person he saw standing at the door, holding a gun with one hand.

  Steve barreled around the corner, his expression mirroring Jake’s, one of utter surprise. “You did it again?” Steve shot Jake a look. “When are you going to stop having your woman fight your battles?”

  Jake ignored him and moved closer to Pamela. “Sweetie.” He slid the gun out of her grasp. “Are you okay?”

  Something moving behind Pamela caught his eye. Charlene carried her boy as she walked away with Agent Wilson. Jake sighed. The boy was okay. He focused back on Pamela who seemed to have frozen in the spot. She blinked, and her eyes shifted off the dead man to Jake. Slowly her face relaxed. “Call me Rambo.”

  Jake tugged her away from the cabin, away from the chaos, and pulled her to him. “Nah, I’ll call you Mrs. Gibson,” he whispered in her ear.

  ****

  His words drifted over her like a warm blanket, and she snuggled against his chest, as his arms reached around her, holding her close. She felt his strength to her bones and knew if it hadn’t been for him being her rock these last several days, she would not have been able to do what had to be done. The encouragement, the love, no man compared to Jake.

  She eased her head back, looked into his baby blues, and her heart ached. The pull of his gaze was so strong she wanted to touch him, but in front of people, she could only place the palms of her hands on his face. A yearning strong enough to knock the mightiest over, washed over her and tears stung. “Okay.”

  A tear trickled down his face a second before he claimed her lips.

  ****

  From her place on her favorite rock, Pamela pitched a stick into the RappahannockRiver for Willis then placed her hand on her side. Her rib still hurt from fracturing it that awful day.

  She watched the black Labrador playing in the water, as she had done every day for the last two months.

  Willis climbed out of the water and shook, spraying her. She smiled, bent, and wrapped her arms around the dog, not caring she’d be wet with river muck and dog hair.

  Her cell rang, interrupting her moment.

  “Hello.”

  "Pamela, it’s Mom.” Ever since the kidnapping, Vivian Wine called Pamela every couple of days, different from previous years. Their relationship was on its way to mending, but Pamela wanted to take it slow.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Are you ready for the party?”

  “Yes, I’m leaving in a few minutes.” She sighed. “I hope Jake makes it. The last I heard, his plane would be arriving late.”

  Pamela rested her palm on the rock and leaned backward. Willis joined her and stretched across her stomach, his tongue drooping while he panted. “Phew, dog breath.”

  “Pardon?”

  “No, not you, Mom.” Pamela giggled. “Willis has bad breath.”

  “Why do you sound so down?”

  Pamela shrugged. “I’m afraid Jake won’t make it to his own engagement party. I haven’t seen him, since a few days after the kidnapping.”

  “Why did he leave, dear? I know you’ve mentioned it, but you never gave me details.”

  “He had to resolve a couple of FBI cases. I hope this isn’t a habit. I like him home with me.”

  “Doesn’t sound like he’s retired.”

  Pamela’s thoughts exactly. Could she marry a man who was being shot at all the time? She cleared her throat, pushing away the lump. “Ah, Mom, how are you doing?”

  “I’m okay. I’ve joined another club, keeping busy. I’m a widow at a young age. A widow of a thief no less. Pamela, I wish I could be there today for you, but … will your father’s new bride attend?”

  “You can say her name, Mom, and of course she will.”

  “Marge didn’t care for me.”

  “That’s not true. She didn’t appreciate it when you left Dad and me. Nobody did.” Pamela’s voice raised a decibel.

  “Let’s change the subject.”

  Pamela blew out a breath. “Yes, that’s best. Bye, Mom.”

  “Bye, honey. I love you.”

  Pamela disconnected the call and scooted to the ground toward Willis who had jumped back in the water. “Come on, boy. Get in your dog pen.”

  Willis’ sad eyes looked at her. “See you shortly.” She patted his head and locked the gate.

  ****

  An hour later, a freshly clean Pamela stood in front of The Memory Café’s bar staring at a figurine, a Lladro, a man and woman standing next to a tree. She looked around the café. It was eerily quiet.

  “That’s beautiful.”

  Pamela turned toward the voice. “Sue? Where is everyone?”

  Sue shrugged. The cat that ate the canary expression crossed her waitress’ face.

  Pamela’s stomach tightened. She prayed this wasn’t bad news and slid onto a barstool. “Okay, what’s up?”

  “How are you doing, boss? Are you processing the kidnapping ordeal okay?”

  Her eyebrows scrunched. “Haven’t we talked about this?”

  “Yes, but you’ve seemed preoccupied lately. I wondered if you were having flashbacks.”

  Pamela’s fingers gripped the edge of the bar. She had some, but her concern was if Jake was okay. “I’m good. Thank you, Sue.”

  Sue tapped her fingers on the bar. “How’s Charlene?”

  “She and Henry are doing much better. Henry, Charlene, and her mother went on a much needed vacation.”

  “I’m so glad.” Sue searched the interior
of the café. “Did you know a group gathered the day of your kidnapping?”

  “Dad told me. He didn’t give me any details.”

  “While we waited for word, I pulled the tables together in a circle. So everyone could see one another.” Sue pointed to the center of the dining room. “Marge and your Dad ran about like chickens with their heads cut off.” Sue’s face turned thoughtful. “You know, I never seen such a large man shake before that awful day.”

  “Shake?”

  “Oh … I … uh … shouldn’t have mentioned it, but your Dad kept reassuring everyone by telling them Jake and Steve would bring you home safe. He tried to persuade himself more than anyone else.”

  Not able to speak past the lump in her throat, Pamela nodded.

  Sue stood and placed her hand on her shoulder. “I better head to the kitchen.”

  “Sue—”

  The kitchen doors swung closed behind her. What is going on?

  “The man’s name is Jake, and the woman’s name is Pamela,” a deep familiar voice said behind her.

  Pamela’s heart raced, and she twisted. The man she longed to see for the last two months stood in front of her. Baby blues flashing, a wide grin, and a rose in his hand.

  Her hand touched her chest, words escaping her along with tears.

  “Pamela.”

  He handed her the rose, lifted her off the barstool by her waist, and held her to him. “I’ve missed you.”

  His scent drifted under her nose, and she shut her eyes. “Jake,” she whimpered.

  Lips touched hers, and she never felt so hungry, so alive. He was back, but would he stay? She eased away. “Jake, will you leave me again?”

  He lowered her to the floor and pulled an envelope out of his suit jacket. She hadn’t even realized how good he looked in a suit and tie, and her eyes drifted, taking in the hard body covered in fancy material.

  “You look gorgeous yourself.” He grinned. “I’ll like it better when that black dress that shows your curves so well is in the corner of my bedroom, but first I need you to open this.”

  She took the envelope from him and pulled out a piece of paper. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes grew wide. “It’s a bearer bond.”

  “The bond is your reward. The people who owned the stolen bonds specifically requested you receive this. It’s yours. You’ve earned it.”