“Wait a minute!” Santiago edged forward. “What about my money?”
The boss stopped. “Zako, deal with it.” He didn’t bark out the order, but said it with so much cold authority that Santiago took a step back.
Zenna could see from Santiago’s expression he didn’t like the way things were turning out.
Santiago lifted his hands. “This wasn’t the plan.”
As Santiago turned to Zako, Zenna saw the gun in the other man’s hand.
“Shit,” Santiago said.
Zako fired. The shot hit him straight between the eyes. Zenna watched in horror as Santiago’s body stood motionless for a second before it fell back against the wall, slid down, and then slumped to a halt, a trickle of blood filtering down between his wide open eyes.
She opened her mouth, but Zako turned the gun on her. “Don’t scream,” he said coolly.
Then, everything blacked out around her.
Chapter Twelve
It took Rico three minutes to get from the elevator where he left Santiago and Zenna to the hotel reception hall. It took another two minutes to locate Etán where he was sitting at the back of the reception area reviewing his speech for the evening’s event. It took him one minute to explain what had happened. Both men sprinted through the hall to the elevator at the end of the hallway. Rico pushed the number for Zenna’s floor, and it took another three minutes to stop at the tenth floor.
Etán’s heart sunk when he saw the guard posted in front of her door, sitting calmly on a chair, reading a book. He already knew the answer before he spoke. “Are Santiago and senorita Rambling in her room?”
The guard looked confused.
“Shit.” Etán ran his fingers through his hair. “Check the room, anyway,” he barked at Rico, removing the spare electronic card he had for Zenna’s room, and holding it out to Rico who looked even more baffled than the guard in the chair. Rico took the card and moved briskly to the room. He swiped the electronic key, pushed the door open, and entered.
Etán checked his watch. He noted the time, then pulled his mobile from his pocket, and punched the speed dial for his father’s private number.
Rico left the room, shaking his head. “They’re not here. I checked everything. The balcony door is locked from the inside and no windows are open.”
While Etán waited for his father’s reply, he looked at the other guard who stood lost next to the door. “Did you see anything?”
The man shook his head. “No one passed through here for at least two hours. The last person who left this room, was senora Rambling.”
Etán read the name on the guard’s badge. “Salvado, secure the exits. Get me the head of the hotel security. Tell him to meet me in the hotel reception hall. Now. Inform your men to search the hotel. Every nook and cranny.”
As the guard ran to follow out his orders, already talking into the cordless mouthpiece of his communication system, Etán heard Pedro’s greeting on the other end of the line.
“Hello, Dad. Hold on.” He held his hand over the receiver. “Rico, check the lifts, all of them. Tell your chief I want Santiago’s file, and all the information he has on him. Meet me back in the hall when you’ve got the info.”
With his heart in his throat, he waited until the young guard was out of earshot. “Dad, we have a situation.”
Pedro didn’t have to ask. “Zenna.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Etán looked at his watch again. “Couldn’t have been more than ten minutes ago.”
A short silence followed. “Ten minutes are too long.”
“I know,” Etán said, exasperated. “I suspect one of the guards was bought.”
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“Two guards tailed her. According to the one who came to alarm me, she fainted in the lift, and, while he came to inform me, the other one was supposed to take her to her room. Only, now there’s no sign of her.”
“Do you have that guard identified?”
“My men are working on it as we speak. We’re searching the hotel, and I’ve asked for a lockdown.” He lowered his voice. “I don’t have to tell you what’s going to happen if they got away with her.” He closed his eyes.
“I know.” Pedro’s voice was sympathetic. “Can you sense anything?”
“Her smell is strong in the room, and in the hallway, but I don’t sense another’s smell here. I’m going to backtrack her steps and see what I can find.”
“You have to keep a lid on this. You know you cannot involve the police or alarm anyone who may inform the government in return. We don’t know who’s behind this.”
“I know.” Pain filled Etán’s voice. “I need as much help as I can get. I can’t do this alone.” It wasn’t an easy thing for him to admit, but he couldn’t risk Zenna in any way.
“We’re on our way,” Pedro said without hesitation, “and I’ll call Luca.”
“I’ll get Emmie to arrange a charter flight. It will be quicker that way. I’ve already thought it through. We’ll say you came for the wine launch.”
They discussed some details, then Etán hung up and took the lift back to the ground floor where the head of the hotel security, Maximiliano Medina, was already waiting for him. The man in his late fifties was competent and trustworthy. Etán had a lot of time for him. His quiet, efficient manner of handling affairs had won Etán’s respect, even years before, when he came to the same hotel for business the very first time. They walked briskly toward the reception hall as they talked.
“My staff has informed you of the situation, I presume?” Etán said, his voice tight.
“Yes. All exits are secured. Right now my staff is searching the hotel. We’re going through every hidden corner and checking in all the rooms as you have asked.”
He laid a hand on Etán’s arm, forcing him to stop. “Senor Perez-Cruz, I cannot hold the hotel under lockdown for an unlimited period of time without a sufficient explanation. The manager demands a reason. Actions like these are normally coordinated at the board level. On top of that, there are the guests to consider...”
“I understand your dilemma. Believe me, if I could, I would have put you in the picture, but I can’t. All I can say right now, is one of my staff members is missing, and I have to be sure she is not being detained, lost, or ... kept ... somewhere in the hotel.”
“You mean, kidnapped?” Max corrected with emphasis. “She has been gone for...” He checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes? Under normal circumstances, one is not considered missing in fifteen minutes.”
Etán hesitated. “These are not normal circumstances. This is someone important. We had an agreement. She wouldn’t have taken off without notifying me, if that’s what you’re hinting at. In addition, I have reason to believe someone within my private security company conspired to ... remove her.”
“I received that feedback. I admit, it does not sound good. I’ll do what I can for as long as I can, but it will help if I know what I’m up against.”
Etán shook his head. “That’s all I can say for now. Thanks for the good work. You’ll keep me posted? Under the circumstances, I’d prefer all information to come directly to me. I have to treat everyone in the private security company with suspicion. You understand?”
Max nodded. “Of course. What do you want me to say to my manager?”
“Can you hold him off just until the hotel has been searched?”
“It’s a big hotel.” He pondered for a few seconds. “If I can use all of your men, too, it will go faster.”
“You’ve got it. I’ll give instruction to the chief of my team to report to your office immediately.”
The two men nodded at each other before Etán rushed to the reception hall. There, Francisco Toro, the head of his security team, was waiting for him.
Etán got straight to the point. “What do we know about Santiago Castillo?”
Francisco handed him a file. “We hired him three months ago. I personally checked
his background information. Military training. Spent ten years working as a military official, but got sacked when the government had their cutbacks early last year. Was without a job for a few months before we hired him. No criminal records. No psychological history. Single. Lives alone. His family is from La Serena. Mother, two sisters. His father died when he was twelve. No special family problems. Some debt. A bank loan. Nothing major.”
Etán flicked through the pages and fingered the photo of the man who had allegedly disappeared with Zenna. “Listen, Franc, I’m not a security expert. That’s why I hired you. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary on his profile, but why would he have taken one of my staff members? The very one we were trying to protect?”
“It’s hard to say, but I’ve learned through my years of experience to never underestimate anyone, and no one is above suspicion. We haven’t established if Miss Rambling has been kidnapped yet. Let’s take the worst-case scenario and assume she has. We have two possibilities. Either Santiago kidnapped her or they were both taken.”
Etán rubbed his chin. “Go on.”
“Rico said the lady fainted. It was an involuntary action. If someone wanted to kidnap her, it would have been the ideal diversion. However, it would have gone against any plan that might have been in place, and thus, should have caught her kidnappers off guard. If we act fast and are lucky, we may catch them with their pants down.”
Etán handed back the file and tugged at his hair. “No traces whatsoever?”
Franc shook his head, his face solemn. “Rico said he left them in the lift. They’ve vanished into thin air, which means there’s a good chance they left the hotel.
“I respect the fact there are things you cannot reveal. That’s why you hired me. It would help if we knew what we were up against. The local police force has a better forensic department than us. I advise you to consider a collaboration.”
Etán’s chest tightened. He couldn’t tell the police what Zenna was or why the men were after her. It could further endanger her life. Even some governmental organizations were after individuals like her. It was up to him to find her. Frustration welled inside of him. What if something happened to her? Would he be able to live with himself? He knew the answer to that question. Finally, he looked at Franc.
“For the moment, I cannot involve the police. It is not because either of us is involved in anything illegal. I can’t explain. Do the best you can. I want regular updates.”
Franc nodded. “Very well. You’re the client. Right now we’re treating everyone in my service as a potential suspect. I’m having everyone undergo a lie detector test. Other than that, we asked the hotel security’s cooperation in screening all security camera recordings that may shed light on our problem.”
“Good. I’ve promised Max you’ll make your men available to help search the hotel with the immediate effort.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“Thank you, Franc. I’ll be here, if anything comes up.”
After Franc left, Etán glanced at his watch again. He had only three hours before the launch was supposed to take place. It would attract too much attention to cancel it on such short notice. He would have to proceed with the event, but inside a fire of helplessness consumed him.
Only the head of the hotel security and his private security company knew Zenna was under special protection. He didn’t tell them why. He told them she had to be tailed by bodyguards, every minute of every hour.
He looked around him. Staff members of the hotel were scurrying around, tying up the last, loose ends in preparation for the evening’s gala event. No one knew the desperation he felt or the steadily rising anger inside him.
Walking up and down the back of the reception hall, he forced himself to breathe, to focus, to think. Something had happened to Zenna in the lift. She fainted or had one of her flashes. Santiago sent Rico to fetch him. Then Santiago seized the opportunity to snatch Zenna. Then what?
What were the possibilities? Would he have hidden her somewhere in the hotel? Unlikely. He couldn’t have dragged her screaming or unconscious through any of the main entrances, which meant he would have opted for a backdoor or the parking area. Leaving by car would have been the most viable option. He scratched his head.
At that point, Etán saw Max coming toward him. He tensed in anticipation. “Max?”
“We’ve pulled the security tapes.” Max lowered his voice substantially. “You’re right. It was your guard, Santiago who took her. He didn’t try to eliminate the cameras so he must be pretty sure he isn’t going to get caught. That means he’s heading out of the country.”
Etán froze. “Where? Where did he take her?”
“We don’t have a camera in the lift so we cannot be sure what happened, but it looked like he dragged an unconscious senorita Rambling from the lift on the underground level to the parking. There he threw this over the camera.” Max showed Etán a cap with the private security force logo in a plastic bag.
“We compared the tapes from before to after he had covered the camera. A dark van, Chevrolet, is the only vehicle missing from the parking lot.”
Etán’s heartbeat quickened. “Registration number?”
Max shook his head. “Couldn’t get it from the camera. It was parked behind another car.”
“What about the old tapes when it was parked?”
“We’re searching those as we speak.”
Etán patted him on the back. “Good work. Thank you.”
Max nodded before walking off.
Etán pulled out his mobile phone and dialed his father’s private number again. “Where are you?”
“On our way to the airport.” Pedro’s voice sounded strained.
“How long before you’ll get here?”
“Pilot said we have immediate clearance. It will take us roughly two hours to get there. Anything new?”
“Hotel security pulled a tape. It was one of the private company guards who took her. She appeared to be unconscious. We’re assuming he escaped with a van from the parking. This makes it more complicated.”
“I know.”
Etán wiped a hand over his face. “Can I speak to Mom?”
“Hold on.”
“Etán?” His mother’s voice sounded confident.
“Mom, do you see anything?”
“No, nothing. I’ll have a better chance of using my ability once I’m closer to the scene. Try to keep other investigators away for as long as possible. I’ll have a better chance at picking something up in an undisturbed environment.”
He felt his strength wavering. If something had to happen to Zenna... If those bastards hurt her... Helplessness engulfed him. They had a better chance at tracing her if the investigators could get all the forensic evidence from the kidnapping scene as quickly as possible. On the other hand, maybe they had a better chance with his mother’s unnatural ability. He wanted to do what was best for Zenna, but he didn’t know which choice was best.
“I am not sure what to do. I’m a winemaker for God’s sake, not a detective.”
“Etán,” his mother’s voice was firm, “you have to remain calm. We will find her.”
He couldn’t bear to consider the opposite. “I wish I had your certainty,” he said, feeling lost and sick.
Etán hung up, told one of the security guards in the reception hall he could be reached on his mobile if anyone was looking for him, and headed back to the lift. He went inside and pushed the button for the parking level. Closing his eyes, he tried to settle his nerves enough to focus only on his sense of smell, but there was nothing of her.
He did the same as he followed the path from the lift to the underground parking. He walked around the parking area, but the only scents he could detect were one of exhaust fumes and laundry detergent. He stood at the car park exit until he realized he was shaking.
He checked the bars on his phone. None. There was no mobile phone reception underground. He’d better return to the hall. Quietly, he made his way b
ack upstairs. He prayed it wouldn’t end this way. Not again. At the top of the stairs, he had to stop to grab at his chest. The mental pain was so severe he felt it in his body. He couldn’t be too late. He loosened his tie, and prayed with every step he took.
* * * *
When Zenna regained consciousness, she was being dragged by her feet, her arms stretched out behind her, her head bobbing every now and then over some uneven part of a rough concrete floor. Even if her heart felt like it was going to stop, she was careful not to open her eyes. Instead, she peered through her lashes. The fat man called Zako, the one who had shot Santiago, was dragging her by her feet. They were outside. She could make out petrol pumps as they passed them. She also spotted a black van a little way ahead of them. She had no idea how long she had been out, but the traffic had died down, and the street was quiet now.
Without moving as much as a finger, she tried to even her erratic breathing and to control her fear. Every now and then Zako glanced back, contemplating the path to the van. When he did, Zenna moved only her eyes to scan the area.
She didn’t see anyone else. Unless someone was waiting in the van, they appeared to be alone. Quickly, she took stock of her situation. Once he had her in the van, her chances of escaping were slim. If she wanted to get away, it was now. It was now or maybe never.
Zako, considering the man’s fat belly and grunts as he battled pulling her weight, wasn’t in top form. Maybe she could outrun him. She wasn’t in top shape, either, but she had been a good athlete at school. Besides, she had adrenalin on her side. She needed to take him by surprise. It was the only chance she had.
She almost uttered a small cry of pain as her body was dragged over a sharp pebble. Instead, she bit her tongue. They were in front of the van. Zako was going to have to let go of her ankles to open the sliding door on the side of the van. She prayed there was no one else in the vehicle and for Zako to let go of her for a few seconds. That was her only hope.
When he did exactly as she hoped and dropped her feet to the ground, she acted without hesitation. Before he could turn away from her toward the closed door of the van, she pulled back her knees and kicked with all the strength and speed she could muster. She aimed straight for his crotch. The heels of her boots hit the target spot.
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