by Jill Downey
“You’re telling me you’ve been embezzling from your own law firm?”
“Borrowing, I’ll pay it back. My lucks going to turn. Frank gets paid back first, of course, then I’ll reinvest a little, just enough to cover my ass. No one will be out anything,” he said.
“Anything else you’d like to confess to?”
“That’s it. Frank will get his money, I’ll parlay the rest, pay back Kyle’s father, and no one will be the wiser.”
“Stay put. I’m going to make a quick phone call. Don’t move!” Chaz pulled out a small semi-automatic from the waistband of his jeans and pointed it at Pete before stepping outside. Dave picked up on the first ring. “Yeah I’m over here at the partner’s house. No kid. However, the asshole’s been stealing from the company. He confessed. He thinks I’m his loan shark’s goon coming to collect. What do you want me to do with him?”
“Come on back, we’ve got bigger fish to fry, we’ll deal with him later. Let him think you’re cool with his promise, so he doesn’t spook.”
“Got it. I’ll be on the road in five.”
Chaz went back inside, “Frank says to tell ya you’d better not be fucking with him, he expects the full payment by Tuesday.”
“Yes, he’ll have it. Thank you!”
Chaz slammed the door behind him and headed to meet with his boss.
After the door slammed shut Peter ran to the bathroom and puked his guts out.
38
Dave hung up the phone his forehead furrowed, “That was Chaz, Pete’s clear for the kid but he’s been a very naughty boy.”
Ella’s eyes widened, “As in…?”
“As in stealing from his own firm to pay off gambling debt.”
“That mother fucker!” Kyle growled.
“We’ll deal with him later. Now that we can check him off the list let’s get our heads back in the game.”
Dave pinched the bridge of his nose, “Other than the nanny, no new staff have been hired recently?”
Kyle shook his head, “No.”
“How about at your firm?”
“No. You did the security clearance for Lindsey, she checked out, right?” Kyle asked.
“Yes, clean as Mary Poppins. Great references from her previous employers.”
“I should mention that I did have to come down on Lindsey. After clearly telling her about my guest policy, she ignored my directive. She was told that if she was going to have visitors, they first had to be cleared through security. Richard, you remember her boyfriend coming last week?”
“Yes, I do. He was a bit off putting if I may say so.”
“She didn’t tell anyone that he was arriving to pick her up,” Kyle continued.
“As a matter of fact, he let himself in as if he lived here,” Richard stated. “I assumed Lindsey had instructed him to do so. I just happened to glance at the security camera as he entered and went to meet him.”
Dave jumped on that, “So there’s footage? You mentioned he was odd, in what way?”
“A little too interested in his surroundings, as if he were sizing things up. Unfriendly. He didn’t seem like Lindsey’s type, but I don’t really know her well. A bit old for her, in my opinion,” Richard said.
“He did have a rather aggressive manner, I only saw him from a distance, but he was unabashedly staring. It struck me as odd,” Kyle said.
“Any idea who this character is? Has she ever mentioned him by name?” Dave asked.
“No, not to me,” Kyle said. Both Richard and Ella were shaking their heads as well.
“Do you remember the date and time that he picked her up? I’ll review the security footage from that day.”
“Yes, it was the Friday before last, Finn stayed with my sister and Lindsey had the weekend off.”
“Great, that’s a start.”
The doorbell chimed and Richard went to greet Kyle’s dad.
James Bennett entered the room in his usual commanding style. He exuded power, a true force of nature. “Son tell me what happened. Tell me everything from the beginning.”
“We were at the Marlin festival, Ella, Finn and me. Finn had been playing in the bounce house,” at his fathers puzzled expression he explained, “It’s basically an inflatable playground, the kids go inside and bounce around. He had been in there for about twenty minutes and when I went to grab him to get a bite to eat, he had vanished, no trace of him.”
“Jesus, Kyle,” James face went ashen.
“While Ella was circling the area, a kid thrust an envelope at me and then took off. Inside was a note stating they had Finn and for me to not contact authorities and go home and wait for instructions.”
Ella stood up abruptly, agitated, “Dave, I just remembered something. I thought I saw Lindsey at the festival a few minutes before this all happened. I had mentioned it to Kyle, but she had disappeared in the crowd before he could catch a glimpse.”
Dave held up his hand, “Hold on to that thought. Here’s the footage, a little grainy but clear enough.”
They all peered over Dave’s shoulder and Ella sucked in her breath sharply.
“I’ve seen that guy before. A few weeks ago, Kyle you remember, the day Finn and I brought home the fish, he was there!”
“Where?”
“I’m sorry, in the dollar store. He creeped me out because he was staring at us and then he called us by our names when I hustled Finn away to the checkout counter. I couldn’t get away fast enough. There was something familiar about him, but I was sure I’d never met him before.”
James had remained quiet but now he began to talk, “I have a confession to make. I told everyone I was back here on business, which is only part of the story. I am being blackmailed for five million dollars. I refused to give in to the demands and now I’m wondering if this is all my fault. Maybe, since I wouldn’t pay up, they went for my grandson.”
“That’s what they are demanding of me, five million,” Kyle said grimly.
“That would be a pretty big coincidence for those two demands to not be connected,” Dave said.
“What are you being blackmailed for?” Kyle asked suspiciously.
“An old accusation from thirty-five years ago which was completely unfounded then and remains a preposterous work of fiction today.”
“Do you know who is blackmailing you? With your security and connections, I’m sure you’ve had someone looking into it,” Kyle said.
“Yes, I do, and I have a name. Marcus Anderson. I also have an address. I hired a private investigator to find him. He has no idea that I know who he is, or that I know where to find him.”
“Thank God!” Ella said. “That will give us a good head start and we’ll have an advantage because he won’t be expecting us.”
“Let’s go,” Kyle said standing abruptly, his body coiled tight and ready for action.
“Wait slow down. We have to come up with a plan first,” Dave said.
“We can’t waste any more time,” Kyle said impatiently.
“We can’t be impulsive—the cost is too high,” Dave countered.
Kyle’s readiness deflated as if he suddenly remembered the danger Finn was in. “Dave you’re the leader here. Tell us what we should do.”
“We google the address. Then we do a reconnaissance of the area, then stake out the address. We wait until after dark then we go in. We have no proof that he is the one who took your son, but it’s the only lead we have at this point and a pretty solid one. And no guarantee he has your son there. He could be holding him anywhere.”
Kyle began to pace, his energy practically bouncing off the walls. “Were you ever going to fill your family in on this blackmail attempt?” Kyle asked his father.
James didn’t reply.
“Did it ever occur to you that your decision to keep this information hidden from your family could put us in danger? We could have taken extra steps to keep ourselves safe.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched as he replied, “I never even considered tha
t my silence could harm my family.”
Kyle’s lips drew back in a snarl, “Of course you didn’t. You’re the king of our dynasty, why would you even think to include us in any decisions?”
“Enough!” his father rebuked Kyle vehemently.
“Fuck you! You’re no longer the ruler, I will say whatever I damn well please in my own house. Your selfishness may have just cost my son his life!” Kyle’s voice broke and he buried his face in his hands.
Ella had to force herself not to go to him. She knew it wouldn’t be welcome, he had to handle this in his own way. She respected him enough to give him the space that he needed, but her heart broke for him.
39
Dave was calling the shots and currently he along with Kyle, Ella, and Chaz, were parked down the road from the suspect’s house, waiting for the cover of darkness. The house was isolated, the closest neighbor a half mile down the road. Kyle lowered his binoculars for the thousandth time and leaned his head back against the seat. He reached for Ella’s hand and held it; she squeezed in silent support.
Kyle appreciated Ella’s quiet strength and calm demeanor more than she would ever know. Zero drama, he felt bathed in her love and didn’t think he could have kept his sanity thus far without her. His entire world had turned on a dime and he felt stranded in the middle of the ocean. Finn. Please let us find him safe and sound.
Shortly after dusk Dave said, “Everyone ready to rock and roll?”
“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Kyle said. The plan was that Chaz, Dave and Kyle would do a preliminary exploration of the property and see if they could gain access inside. They were hoping they’d get lucky and be able to see inside the house and locate Finn. Dave and Chaz were armed, and they were counting on the surprise element working in their favor.
Ella was a nervous wreck as she watched the three men in their black clothes disappear from her sight. She turned on the radio, anything to distract herself. Kyle had left his cell with her in case the kidnapper tried to reach out again. Everything that she loved the most was on the line. She didn’t think she could go on if she lost those two Bennett boys.
Dave silently motioned Kyle over to where he was standing. He had a clear view of what appeared to be the living room. There was a big screen television on with a cartoon playing. Dave pointed at the TV then gave a thumbs up sign and Kyle nodded. Kyle closed his eyes in relief. Now he was certain that Finn was in there. He jerked his head toward the back of the house and Dave knew to follow him.
There was a walk out cellar door that had been padlocked, but they had come prepared. Chaz pulled out a pair of wire cutters and snapped the rusty lock. Now they had to open the old metal door silently, without giving themselves away. It creaked loudly when Kyle tried it, Dave held up his hand for him to stop. Kyle’s heart was racing, and his hands were clammy, terrified of making a fatal mistake. Kyle signaled to Chaz to try lifting one end at the same time as he lifted the other to minimize the noise. Every sound was magnified but it was a definite improvement.
Dave pointed to himself and Chaz and indicated that they were going to enter through the cellar and that Kyle should stay outside. Kyle nodded his understanding. They slid through the opening and disappeared. Kyle, not about to sit it out, went to explore other entry options. By standing on an air conditioning unit he was able to see into a room at the back of the house. It was a bedroom. He saw Lindsey bent over, reaching for something from inside a closet. His heart pounded.
He heard Finn before he saw him, calling out for Lindsey as he entered the room. Kyle almost collapsed with relief. Finn appeared to be fine. He was smiling at Lindsey, although he looked tired, he didn’t appear to be frightened.
Lindsey apparently finding what she had come for, straightened then took ahold of Finn’s hand and led him out of the room. She glanced back in and Kyle froze, then she turned the light out and shut the door behind her. Fate had just smiled upon him.
The screen was latched but Kyle’s pocketknife cut easily across it. He pulled himself up and through the window dangling halfway in and out. It was a tight fit and he wiggled himself slowly through the opening. There was a slight thud when he hit the floor and he cringed. Crouching down behind the bed he stayed there until enough time had passed that he was sure he hadn’t given himself away.
He put his ear to the door straining to hear anything. He could make out the sound of the TV and a male voice talking, but not the actual conversation. He cracked the door and silently inched his way down the long hallway. When he was halfway there, he stopped when the living room came into view. He could see Lindsey; she was sitting on a sectional sofa facing the television set with her back to him. He assumed Finn was sitting next to her, hidden by the couch. He wished that he could communicate his location to Dave but unfortunately, he was on his own.
Finn jumped up from the couch and rubbed his eyes with balled up fists, his exhaustion obvious. This enraged Kyle and made him want to kill. His adrenalin was making him feel twitchy and he knew it could lead to him fucking up if he wasn’t careful. Taking several deep steadying breaths, he prayed that Finn wouldn’t spot him. He dared not move to bring any attention to himself. It was damn near impossible to remain still with his heart pounding out of his chest, but he willed himself into submission.
“I want to go home now Lindsey,” Finn said. Kyle could hear him clearly.
“I know but your dad asked me to keep you overnight remember?”
“But why?”
“Because he had an emergency at work. We’ve already been over this.”
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t go home.”
“This is my day off and I’m doing your dad a favor. I want to be here with my boyfriend. He gets lonely here without me.”
Kyle could see Finn look behind them, his expression doubtful. “But Mr. Drake could watch me or Ella.”
He heard a loud male voice coming from the direction Finn had just glanced, “Stop complaining. Here are your choices, shut up or go to bed.”
Finn’s lips quivered, Kyle was sure he didn’t know what to think, since he had never been talked to that way. Kyle wanted to roar at the top of his lungs! He knew he needed to duck into a room just in case they made Finn go to bed. As he started to creep backward Finn must have caught the movement because his eyes suddenly widened. Kyle shook his head franticly and placed his finger against his lips to silence him. Finn glanced toward that same corner and back at his dad, then sat down next to Lindsey. Kyle was drenched in nervous sweat. Thank God his kid was so damn smart. That could have had deadly consequences.
Kyle knew he had one shot at it. He had to risk it sooner or later, so he stealthily continued down the hall. When he reached the end, he charged full speed toward the adjoining room. Marcus had his back to Kyle, so he easily tackled him to the floor. Marcus recovered quickly and began fighting back. Kyle was on top of him pummeling his face, “You son of a bitch! No one fucks with my son; I’m going to kill you with my bare hands.”
Marcus managed to grab Kyle’s fist on the next swing bending his wrist back painfully. Since it was the same arm that had been injured in his accident, he was at a disadvantage. Marcus kicked at Kyle as they both struggled for the upper hand.
Dave and Chaz burst through the basement door and hurled themselves into the fray, quickly subduing Marcus and twisting his arms behind his back to cuff him.
Kyle stood and immediately sought out Finn. The front door was wide open, and he could see Lindsey running toward her vehicle pulling a resisting Finn along behind her. Suddenly Ella appeared out of nowhere and threw herself at Lindsey. Screaming like a banshee she wrapped her arm around Lindsey’s neck putting her in a choke hold.
“Run Finn, go get in that white SUV over there! Lock the door.” Finn ran as fast as he could then climbed into the vehicle an locked the door. Chaz ran out to help Ella while Dave phoned the police leaving Kyle to guard their prisoner until the police arrived.
40
Marcus had b
lood pouring out of his nose and his lip was split wide open. He still managed to sneer at Kyle as they stood facing one another. Kyle’s jaw was clenched, eyes blazing with fury.
As he stared into the eyes of his enemy, he suddenly had a sick realization about why this stranger had looked so familiar. It was like he was looking at a different version of himself. He was looking into the vacant eyes of a brother from a different mother. It all came together in an instant, the blackmail attempt on his father, when that hadn’t worked out, plan B, the kidnapping. The resemblance was uncanny. He couldn’t be mistaken.
“I see the light bulb going off Brother,” his lips twisted bitterly. Turning to Dave he said, “Which one of us is better looking?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Dave said. Marcus winced as Dave jerked his cuffed arms sharply.
“Why?” Kyle asked.
“Why…really you have to ask?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Why don’t you ask dear old dad?” He smiled but his eyes remained void of emotion.
“I’m asking you.”
“Our dear father fucked his maid, my mother, when she was seventeen years old. She got pregnant with me, then instead of doing the right thing he fired her. Told her she was lying that it couldn’t be his baby.”
Kyle just stood there, arms hanging down by his sides.
“She begged him to let her keep her job. She was poor with no family, nowhere to turn. You have no idea what it was like growing up watching my mother struggle to raise me alone, poor, sacrificing herself for her only son. Barely getting by from paycheck to paycheck.”
“Why didn’t she sue him…make him take a paternity test?”
“David and Goliath—surely you’re not that insulated from reality. But then again you probably are. How do you think that would have ended? The domestic help takes on the billionaire…and all the power and connections that go with it.”
