Agnes went back down to the laundry room, and Iris returned to the nursery and put the twins on the carpet. She sat in the rocker and watched Langston repeatedly hug his sister and babble at her. For the most part, Ella was unresponsive, but every once in a while, she’d turn away from the window to stare at Langston. When she did this, he beamed at her.
Iris didn’t think Ella was unhappy, just less expressive than Langston, who was bursting with life. She ate when it was time to eat. She slept when it was time for a nap. She was neither too put-out if she didn’t get her way, nor too enthused if she did. She never kicked up much of a fuss. That seemed to be Garvey’s territory.
Iris rocked in the chair and continued to watch the twins. Ella pointed to Langston and leaned over until her finger was touching his chest. She said something Iris couldn’t make out. Langston, however, looked startled. Iris stopped rocking and leaned forward, hoping Ella would say it again. Langston placed his index finger on Ella’s chest, mirroring her action. They leaned toward each other until their foreheads touched. Iris sat stock-still. The twins remained like that for several seconds, hands on chests, foreheads touching.
Langston finally dropped his arm and went back to his blocks. Ella lowered her arm more slowly and watched her brother for a few more seconds. Then she turned back to the window.
Iris chewed on her bottom lip. She felt that something important had just happened, but had no idea what it was.
Several weeks later, Eve walked into the nursery, yawning, with Garvey and Billie in tow. “I need coffee.”
“Another sleepless night?” Iris asked.
Eve watched Billie walk to Ella’s crib. “The bed gets pretty crowded with those two.”
For the last few nights, Garvey insisted on sleeping in the bed with William and Eve, and whatever he did, Billie wanted to do too.
Iris laughed. “You are never going to get any rest unless you make them sleep in their own beds.”
“I know, but it’s just easier than arguing. Garvey can be very persuasive.” Eve handed Iris four garment bags. “Anyway, the photographer will be here at ten.”
Iris nodded. “I will have them ready by then.”
Garvey tugged on his mother’s robe, and she picked him up and kissed him. Iris unzipped one of the bags, exposing a pint-sized, ruffled dress.
“I wanted to ask you something.” Eve’s voice was muffled because Garvey had his hand over her mouth. Eve gently removed it from her lips.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“William and I consider you family.”
Iris smiled. “Thank you.”
“We wondered if you’d be in the picture with us.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you and Agnes. We’ll be taking several pictures. I’ve already picked out a dress for you and put it in your room.”
Iris’s mouth worked, but no sound came out.
“I’ll help you with your hair and makeup,” Eve offered.
“Mrs. Wiseman…”
“Please say you will.”
“Of course.” Iris’s face broke into a wide grin. “Of course, I will. Thank you.”
“No,” Eve said. “Thank you. So, how about I get the boys dressed and you take care of the girls?”
Iris nodded.
When the doorbell rang, Agnes let the photographer in, who set up in the living room. Eve, Iris, Agnes, Billie, and Ella were all in cream dresses. William, Garvey, and Langston wore khaki seersucker. Iris was giddy as the photographer placed her. It took a while to get everyone situated, especially Garvey who insisted on doing things his way. He wanted to stand alone in the foreground. The photographer tried to explain to him that everyone has to sit together in a family portrait. Billie thought his standoff was hilarious.
Iris leaned forward and stole a glance at Agnes, who was sitting on the opposite side. Agnes shrugged in a this-is-our-life kind of way. Iris snickered and leaned back to her proper position.
This is my life, Iris thought. It was weird and fun, and sometimes scary, but she loved it. Families were different in their own ways, right? Every family had some sort of secret. They must. Were the Wisemans really so odd?
Garvey finally relented and sat on the sofa, arms crossed and scowling. Eve tried unsuccessfully to perk him up. The photographer eventually tiptoed through all the light cords, slipped past his reflective umbrella and arrived behind his camera for a test shot. Iris smiled as the flash clicked blindingly.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The corrections officer unlocked Dr. Chang’s door. “Last day, Chang.”
Dr. Chang slid down from his top bunk and followed the guard. After a lengthy discharge process, he was given some clothes, his wallet, and his dead cell phone.
“Where’s my transportation ticket?”
“Davis said you didn’t need one.”
Why would his attorney say he didn’t need a ticket? “How am I supposed to get home?”
The officer shrugged. “Wanna stick around here and find out?”
Dr. Chang took the hint and left. The fact that he was getting out at all was a miracle. When his attorney told him he’d be released, Dr. Chang thought he was joking, but he wasn’t. A judge actually overturned the sentence.
He walked to the bus stop, checking his wallet for a few dollars.
Empty.
He sat on the dilapidated wooden bench, and tried to figure out his next step. It was hot and he wanted something to drink. He’d heard there was a gas station a couple miles away and started walking. He hadn’t gotten far when a black sedan pulled alongside him.
The passenger window lowered a few inches and Dr. Chang heard a man’s voice. “Get in, cupcake.”
Dr. Chang squinted against the bright sunlight, trying to see inside the car.
“I said get in.”
“You’ve got the wrong person.”
“I know exactly who you are. Now get in the car.”
“No.”
The window rolled up and the driver’s door opened. A tall, muscular black man got out and rounded the front of the car.
The man grabbed Dr. Chang by the neck. He yanked up and Dr. Chang felt the toes of his shoes scraping along the ground a few inches. “Didn’t my partner tell you to get your ass in the car?”
Dr. Chang tried to pry the man’s hand off. He took a swing, but only landed a feeble punch before the man slapped him hard with his other hand. “Stop being a little bitch and get in the car, Chang.”
The man released him roughly and Dr. Chang fell to his knees. He scrambled to his feet, did an about-face, and ran.
“Oh, no you don’t,” the man said.
Dr. Chang, gasping for air, only got a few feet away before the man caught up and wrestled him into the backseat of the car. Dr. Chang immediately tried to get out, but the door wouldn’t open. The man got back in the car, floored the gas pedal and peeled away from the shoulder of the road.
A white man in the passenger seat turned around. “Relax, cupcake.”
Dr. Chang tugged harder on the handle. When that didn’t work, he banged his fists against the window.
“Bitch!” the driver barked. “If you jack up my ride, I’ll black your eye!”
The white man chuckled. “The child safety locks are on, dumbass.”
Dr. Chang let out a war cry and thrust his foot into the back of the driver’s seat. He lurched forward as the car came to a sudden stop. The driver turned around and punched Dr. Chang so hard he fell back into the seat.
By the time the ceiling of the car came into focus, the car was moving again. Dr. Chang blinked several times and propped himself up on an elbow. That’s when he noticed the soothing sounds of a saxophone filling the car. What the…?
He squinted at the rearview mirror where he could see the driver’s eyes. “What are you listening to?”
The driver glanced in the mirror. “You’ve never heard of Kenny G?”
“Yeah… I’ve heard of”
“Well, shut up then.”
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The man in the passenger seat hummed to the music for a while. Dr. Chang sighed and slumped against the door. He was having a seriously hard time processing this bizarre ride. “Who are you? Where are you taking me?”
The driver looked at the passenger. “Why is he still talking?”
“Let me handle this,” the passenger said. He turned around and grinned sardonically. “We forgot our manners. Let me introduce myself. I’m Armstrong.” He indicated the driver. “This here is Sledge.” He pointed at Dr. Chang. “Now it’s your turn.”
“What?”
“Since you insist on having this conversation, it’s your turn,” Armstrong said. “You are…?”
Dr. Chang’s head was pulsating. “Fai Chang.”
“Very good,” Armstrong said as if he were speaking to a child. “We listen to Kenny G because he’s a nice man who plays pretty music. Do you like pretty music, cupcake?”
Dr. Chang stared at Armstrong. “I guess.”
“Good. Now, we are taking a nice ride to see our boss, Soto. He got you out of the big house and he wants to talk to you, okay?”
Dr. Chang spoke slowly. “Okay.”
“If you’re good, we might even stop for ice cream.” Armstrong dropped the smile and the pseudo-sweet voice. “Now shut the fuck up.”
They drove to a remote area and pulled into a driveway. Armstrong took the items Dr. Chang was given at discharge.
“That’s my wallet!”
Armstrong backhanded him. “When are you going to learn to keep your mouth shut?”
He grabbed Dr. Chang by his shirt, yanked him into a house, and shoved him into a room. A well-dressed man and a very pale woman entered behind him. The woman stood in the doorway and Dr. Chang sized her up. She was tall, but slim. He could take her. He just had to figure out a way to avoid the two Neanderthals outside.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the man said.
“Do what?”
“What you’re thinking about doing. I assure you, Fiona won’t like it.”
The woman in the doorway smirked.
“I wasn’t thinking about”
“Please don’t insult my intelligence, Dr. Chang. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough as it is.” The man clasped his hands together. “I’m a very busy man, so let’s get to it. I’m Soto. Klahan used to work for me. Surely, you remember him.”
Dr. Chang made a weak gesture of assent.
“Unfortunately, as a result of your indiscretion, gross negligence, and outright stupidity, I no longer have Klahan and that is a pity… for you. I expect full reimbursement and I expect it soon.”
“Money? I just got out of prison. I don’t have anything to give you.”
Fiona shifted her weight.
“It wasn’t a request,” Soto said. “You will pay. Voluntarily. Involuntarily. Makes no difference to me.”
“How much?”
“With interest, you owe me four hundred.”
Dr. Chang did a mental calculation of his bank accounts, which had been hit severely with legal fees. “I might be able to get you four hundred dollars in a few days.”
Soto looked amused. “Four hundred thousand, Dr. Chang.”
“Are you insane? I don’t have that type of money.”
“Dr. Chang”
“Listen, no offense, but Klahan never struck me as the sharpest tack. Did it ever occur to you that he’s to blame, not me?”
“No.”
“Well.” Dr. Chang threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know what to say, except you’re not getting the money.”
Dr. Chang heard a loud bang and momentarily wondered what it was until he felt the burning sensation in his leg. When he looked down, he saw a hole in his pant leg. Fiona’s gun was still pointing at him, her pallid face devoid of any emotion.
“Holy shit!” He stumbled backward and fell. “She shot me!”
“I think I already said it wasn’t a request,” Soto said.
Dr. Chang writhed. “Ow!”
“When will you have my money?”
“I’m telling you I don’t have it.”
“I figured you’d make this difficult.” Soto shoved his hands in his pockets. “Very well then. You’ll come back with us.”
Dr. Chang curled into a ball on his side. “My leg!”
“Armstrong!”
Dr. Chang heard Armstrong answer from just outside the door. “Yeah, boss?”
“Let’s make arrangements to take Dr. Chang here back with us to Thailand.”
Armstrong walked in and pulled Dr. Chang into a standing position. “You got it, boss.”
Dr. Chang grabbed the doorframe, panting, as Armstrong tried to push him out into the hallway. “Thailand?”
“Yes,” Soto said. “Congratulations, you’re my new manager of operations.”
Klahan’s old job.
Dr. Chang dug his short nails into the wooden frame, resisting Armstrong. “I can’t go to Thailand.”
“Yes, you can,” Soto pried Dr. Chang’s fingers, one by one, away from the doorframe, “and you will work for me until your debt is paid.”
Dr. Chang hobbled down the hallway at Armstrong’s prodding. “It’s not my fault!”
“Of course, it’s your fault,” Soto said.
“No!” Dr. Chang crouched down in an attempt to stop Armstrong from inching him down the hall. “I was a scapegoat.”
Fiona rolled her eyes and turned to Soto. “Do you want me to shut him up?”
Dr. Chang was surprised at her sharp British accent, but didn’t have time to dwell on it.
“I’m serious. Just hear me out. Please!” Soto looked annoyed, but Dr. Chang continued. “I was working with William Wiseman. You’ve heard of him, right?” His voice rose in desperation. “He was the one who claimed he found those girls in my basement.”
Soto looked a little more interested now. “What about him?”
“He called the police and got me arrested to cover his own ass. He was the one who asked me for the girls.”
“How come Klahan only mentioned you?”
“William didn’t want to get his hands dirty. He was the one who contacted Klahan first… used my name. Then later, William blackmailed me and said that if I didn’t keep the girls, he was going to blow the whistle on me. He said Klahan already knew my name and everything. I had no choice.”
“Dr. Chang, I don’t have time for you to point fingers. It was your name I was given, and it’s you who has to get my money.”
“I can get it!”
“You just said you didn’t have it.”
“I know.” Dr. Chang could feel perspiration beading on his forehead, as his heart pounded in his chest. “But William does. He’s got enough money for three lifetimes.”
Fiona smiled. It was horrific. “Oh, so now we’ll just ask William for the money?” She cackled.
Dr. Chang shook his head. “That’s not what I’m saying.” He felt hot all over, like his insides were on fire. “You’ll have to make him give you the money. He’ll never own up to what he did.” He licked his dry lips. “I heard William has a kid now. You can kidnap it and demand a ransom.”
In prison, Dr. Chang had overhead another inmate mention that William had a child. He’d wondered then, as he wondered now, if the pod had been successful, or if Eve finally had decided to adopt.
Soto rolled his shoulders back and looked at Fiona thoughtfully. She shook her head.
Dr. Chang had to get out of this. If they took him to Thailand, he’d be enslaved to Soto for God knows how long. “I know where he lives! Go to his house. Take the kid. I swear his wife will make him give you anything. You’ll have your money tonight!”
Fiona frowned when Soto appeared to consider this.
“Tonight?” Soto asked.
“Tonight. Then you’ll have your money and you’ll let me go, right?”
Soto motioned toward the room and Armstrong led Dr. Chang back inside. Just before the door closed, Dr. Chang hear
d Soto.
“Get Sledge. There’s been a change of plans.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After some discussion, Soto decided the kidnapping would take place the next day to ensure William would be at Biltmore and away from the house.
Dr. Chang hardly slept. His leg had been bandaged, but his thigh had throbbed through the night with no reprieve. He hadn’t been able to get comfortable on the bare mattress Armstrong had thrown on the dusty wooden floorboards, and whenever he’d come close to drifting off, the thought of something going wrong with the kidnapping sent him into a fresh panic.
He’d ridden in the car the evening before, showing Soto and Fiona the exact location of William’s house. Fiona had glowered the entire time. He clearly repulsed her. She was a pallid woman with nocturnal pupils that never seemed to constrict. Her eyes were two black holes that bore into him every time she looked at him. It chilled him to the bone.
Now it was morning and Dr. Chang was back in the car, sitting in the drivewaySledge at the wheel, Armstrong in the passenger seatand he was beginning to feel woozy.
“Wha… what did you give me?”
Armstrong’s laugh was deep and throaty. “A little something to make you feel better.”
Feel? Dr. Chang poked at his bandage through his pant leg. He poked it harder. Nothing. “I thought you said it was ibuprofen.”
“I figured I’d get you something a little stronger since you wouldn’t stop bitching.”
Armstrong propped his elbow on the console. He had a trompe l’oeil tattoo of the endoskeleton from The Terminator along his arm, and when he flexed, the 3D tattoo seemed to jump out at him. Dr. Chang kept staring at the back of Armstrong’s head, waiting for him to turn around with glowing red eyes, until he noticed that Sledge was watching him in the rearview mirror.
Dr. Chang looked away, out of the window. “It’s getting cloudy.”
“Thanks for the weather report.” Sledge looked at Armstrong. “Is he tripping?”
Armstrong smirked. “Yep.”
Dr. Chang watched Soto, Fiona, and two men get into an SUV beside them. “Where are they going?”
“To get the kid,” Armstrong said. “You’re coming with us to the school. Soto wants William to see you, and know we mean business.”
Mark of the Wiseman (The Wiseman Series Book 1) Page 14
