by Britney King
“Goddammit.” Addie felt him kneel beside her. He was watching her to see if she was breathing. She held her breath, trying her best to appear dead. But there was one problem. She didn’t hear the keys rattling. If he didn’t have the keys, she didn’t have a chance.
“Motherfucker.” He spat.
Addie was close to passing out. Maybe close to death, she wasn’t sure. Her life was flashing before her when finally she heard him stand and leave the cage. Addie gasped quietly once she was pretty sure his back was turned. A small amount of air filled her lungs. It wasn’t enough. She gasped again, forcing more air in just as she heard him walking back toward her along with the beautiful sound of keys clanging together.
Scott Hammons kneeled down beside her, searching for the pulse on her wrist. She had mere seconds. Addie sprung up, grabbing for his eyeballs, clawing, digging as hard as she could. He let out a scream as Addie wrapped the chains around his neck, twisting and squeezing as hard as she could. The keys hit the floor with a thud. Scott struggled against the chains, fighting back, until Addie was almost sure he’d break free. She pulled harder, watching his face turn blue. Finally, when he stopped struggling, she let go and frantically grabbed the set of keys lying at his feet. Shaking heavily, she unlocked her ankles first and then freed her wrists. Once free, she bolted for the door.
Once she’d reached the top of the stairs, Addie paused. Shit. The door was locked. She didn’t remember hearing him lock the door. Addie hurriedly tried each of the keys one by one until finally the third key worked. She looked around what appeared to be an old rickety farmhouse searching for the door. Finding it, she noticed it was dark outside. Naked, she realized there wasn’t time. She had to get out. Now. As she turned the handle, she heard a familiar voice call from behind. “Open it and you’re dead.”
Addie turned to see Scott pointing a gun at her. Turning the handle, she heard the first shot right before it grazed her shoulder. Addie fled as she heard the shots ring out behind her. She ran as fast as her bare feet would take her, making sure to zigzag the way she’d once seen on TV, adrenaline coursing through her veins. It was pitch black out, making it impossible to see anything in front of her. Finally, she heard the shots stop ringing out. She continued running, hearing the footsteps closing in behind her. Addie ran and ran until she felt water beneath her feet. She could barely make out what looked like bushes up ahead, and unable to go any further, unable to breathe, she decided to stop. She burrowed herself, trying to become invisible as the branches pierced her skin.
She waited, listening to Scott call out for her. He screamed profanities, telling her she was going to die. Addie could tell that he was close, that he was closing in. She just couldn’t gauge how close. She ducked down further, trying to stay hidden when she felt the fire ants begin to bite. Her skin stung as she held her breath, trying to remain as quiet as possible. After what felt like hours, the pain began to subside and she felt numb. She listened as it sounded as if Scott Hammons was walking away from her. She couldn’t be sure, so she stayed put. She was scared to stay where she knew it was just a matter of time before the sun came up and she’d be found. At the same time she was paralyzed by fear, knowing that she’d have to move soon. Addie knew he’d be waiting for her when she did. He was watching and waiting; she could feel it.
William went against what everyone had told him to do and got in the car parked at the intersection of Monarch and Middle Creek Roads. In the middle of nowhere, he drove until he heard the phone ring. He answered and waited for further instructions. “Turn right onto Mayfield in half a mile. Park a quarter of a mile down on the right hand side.”
William felt the sweat drip from his brow as he made the turn. He knew his team would be close behind, that they were tracking his every move via a device planted in his shoe. He only had to stay alive long enough to close the ten-minute gap. William did as he was instructed and pulled onto Mayfield Road. There was nothing around but trees. He prayed that he was close to Addison and that she could somehow feel it. That’s if she were still alive. William suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Pulling off a quarter mile down, he stopped, and opening the car door, he hurled on the gravel road. After a few minutes, he watched a silver car come into view up ahead. The car slowed, pulling over. In the driver’s seat sat his old friend, Scott Hammons.
Well, I’ll be damned was the last thought William remembered before the stun gun pierced his skin. As he lay there, face down in the gravel, he was grateful, certain he could hear the familiar sound of a helicopter closing in overhead.
William’s security team was on the scene within a matter of minutes as he turned onto Mayfield Road, making sure to stay far enough behind so as not to be seen. They closed in as Scott Hammons was attempting but failing to load William into the trunk of his car. The FBI arrived on scene moments after Carl planted Scott Hammons face into the pavement. “Where is she, Scott?” When there was no answer, Carl landed a crushing blow to Scott’s right temple.
An hour later, the FBI raided the old hellhole of a farmhouse only to find Addie not there. “She’s not there,” Carl explained to William, who after refusing medical treatment was recovering in a makeshift trailer that had been set up by the FBI. “They’re searching the place now, pretty certain that’s where he’s been holding her.
William jumped up. “Where is the bastard? Let me interrogate him.”
“I didn’t mess him up too bad, so he should be able to answer questions. They’re doing everything they can to get answers, William.” Carl lowered his voice as he put his hand on William’s shoulder.
“How far is the house?”
“About two miles.”
William stood. “Good. Then let’s go.”
Carl sighed, stepping in front of the trailer door. “I’m afraid we can’t. The Feds have the place sealed off. It’s a crime scene, William.”
William sat back down and placed his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he began to sob. It was something that he hadn’t done in a very long time—not since he was a little boy, the last time he’d found his life at the mercy of a madman.
Patrick Greyer was holding his boys, anxiously waiting on word on his missing wife. It all seemed so surreal. How could this be happening? If anything happened to her, he didn’t know what he would do.
Luckily for Patrick, he hadn’t received the papers his wife had sent asking that the two be legally separated. If he had, he would’ve started asking questions a lot sooner. Questions like why in the world William Hartman seemed so interested in his wife’s case or why he was throwing so much money towards the investigation. These were questions that would come eventually, in time, but, for now, Patrick was consumed with getting his wife home safely. He swore to God that if she returned home alive he would see to it that nothing, neither jobs nor people, ever separated the two of them again.
Nineteen
Addison Greyer heard the helicopters circling overhead, but she wouldn’t come out. It wasn’t safe, yet. She had to stay put. Dehydrated, weak, and eaten by fire ants, she wasn’t sure how long she could wait it out. She drifted off and found herself watching the boys play in the backyard as Max chased them while barking. It wasn’t until much later that Addie would realize that it was likely the search dogs that found her that had been barking. She was near death and hypothermic. It was the heat imaging sensors on the helicopter circling overhead that ultimately saved her life. Search and rescue dogs were then sent in, and they, along with a team of FBI agents, found her unconscious in the bushes.
Doctors later explained that she was lucky she was found when she was, that she had been within hours of death. Addie finally woke in the ICU with William standing over her. Opening just one eye, she peeked at him and smiled just a little. He looked almost unrecognizable, a different version of the William she knew, just older with worry lines.
William stroked her face. “Hey there, kid.”
Addie tried to speak, but her mouth was too dry to get anythi
ng out.
“Shh. Don’t talk. Just rest, ok? Let me do all of the talking.”
Addie was too weak to do anything else and simply nodded.
“Listen, I only have a minute. Your husband is on his way up. But I need to tell you I’m going to be back: later today, tomorrow, and every day after that. I love you, Addison. I love you more than anything. And I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for so many things, but most of all for not fighting for you. I promise . . . I swear to you it won’t ever happen again.”
Addie dozed off, and when she woke again, she wondered if she’d dreamed it all, if William had ever really been there at all. She glanced around the room until her eyes landed on Patrick. “Hi. I’ve been waiting for hours. They said not to wake you.”
Addie tried to talk, only managing to get out one word. “Boys?”
Patrick smiled. “They’re fine. They know doctors are checking out Mommy but that she is ok and will be home soon. The doctors said that once we get you moved out of the ICU they can come visit. We need to get you looking better first, of course.”
Addie nodded. Satisfied, she let herself drift off to the place where she dreamed of William.
Later when she woke, he was there with her, almost as if he’d manifested from her dream.
Sensing Addie’s confusion, he spoke. “Hey beautiful. It’s late. Or early depending on how you look at it. Patrick went home to be with the kids. Sondra tells me they’re doing great in spite of everything. Just anxious to come see you. I tried to pull some strings to get them in here. It just hasn’t panned out yet. They tell me rules are rules.”
Addie licked her lips, although it did nothing for her. Everything was so dry. William reached down, kissing her gently. She felt the wetness from where he’d been. Holding a straw up to her lips, he ordered her to drink. “I told them this is for me. I knew you’d need it.” William grinned. ‘It’s our secret, ok?”
After draining the Styrofoam cup, unable to stop herself she drifted off again.
Next time when she awoke, it was Patrick and Penny she heard standing over her. They whispered in hushed tones, and it took Addie a moment to make out what they were saying. She opened her eyes and prepared herself for what was about to come.
It was Penny who spoke first. “We’re so disappointed in you, Addison. What could’ve possibly gotten into that head of yours?”
Patrick followed. “We know what you’ve been up to, Addison. Just tell me what were you thinking? Look at the shape you’re in. Look where you’ve gotten yourself.”
Addie didn’t speak. Penny continued. “We know about your relationship with William Hartman, Addison. I must say I warned my son. I knew that you were up to something, but this . . . Well, this is so disappointing You’ve hurt your husband and your children. How could you?”
All at once, Addie found her voice. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Penny. Get out. I don’t recall you being on the visitor’s list.”
Penny scoffed. “I didn’t realize there was such a thing.”
“Well, there is now.” Addie replied, flashing the best grin she could muster.
Patrick interrupted. “The FBI is waiting to interview you about all of this. So they asked us not to speak of it until you’re well enough for them to get in here, but I will say this: Mr. Hammons’ defense is that you were his Dominatrix in what he calls a session gone badly. He says you were on drugs and sleeping with William Hartman. Now, ordinarily I’d assume that this was all false, simply accusations made up by a madman, but then William Hartman went and hired a legal team to represent you when this thing goes to trial. Tell me, Addison, what’s that all about?”
“Well, since you guys certainly already have it all figured out, I think it’d be best if you both leave. Now.”
Penny chimed in. “Here’s the thing, Addison. Your stupid, pathetic actions are going to tarnish my family’s name. Your husband and children are going to be the laughing stock of this town. Now, clearly you’ve made your bed, and, by the looks of things, you’re lying in it. But my husband and I are well prepared to save our son and our grandchildren. And make no mistake: we intend to do just that.”
Addie pushed the call button for a nurse as Penny waved her away. “Don’t bother. I was just leaving. Patrick, I’ll see you back at the house.”
Addie nodded toward the door. “No, you should go too.”
Patrick hesitated. “Mother, wait for me outside for a moment, would you?”
Patrick turned to Addie, although she refused to look at him. “Don’t do this, Addison. We can save this. We can turn it around. Let your rich little lover boy pay for a defense. I don’t care. But you and I, we need to work this out for the boys.”
Addie looked him straight in the eye. “I’m sorry, Patrick, but you made your choice months ago when you checked out—actually, come to think of it, maybe even years ago. Other than logistics, I don’t see that there is anything left to work out.”
Patrick’s jaw tightened. “I’m warning you, Addie. Don’t do this. I’ll take the boys. I’ll fight for custody. I’ll take everything. And from where I’m standing, it doesn’t appear that you have a leg to stand on.”
Feeling the blow she knew was coming, Addie did her best to keep a straight face. “You should go now, Patrick. Your mother is waiting. We can discuss this later.”
“That’s the girl I love. I knew, with a little explanation, you’d begin to see things my way.”
Addie flinched as he bent down to kiss her cheek and watched him walk to the door, turn just inside the doorframe, and smile. “Oh, and tell that bastard William Hartman that if he comes around here again, I’ll personally see to it that our kids are in China by Sunday.”
And there it was: the final blow. Addie had dozens of battery marks, scratches, and even sutures, but the physical wounds she suffered paled in comparison to this. For this was the blow that would most certainly do her in.
Patrick Greyer had underestimated his wife. Never in a million years could he have imagined that his Addie had it in her to beat up on rich men and earn a living while doing it. He also never imagined that a guy as wealthy and powerful as William Hartman would fall in love with her and attempt to steal her from him right under his very nose. But somehow that was exactly what happened, which left Patrick to sort through the mess.
For one thing, he wasn’t letting her go. He had worked long and hard at their marriage and wasn't giving up what was rightfully and legally his for anything. Not until he found the money, anyway. Patrick knew his wife had been earning a pretty penny for what she was doing behind his back, but he’d also underestimated how adept she could be at hiding that money.
Patrick saw the look in his wife’s eyes when he confronted her. She knew that he knew. He had expected her to lie and hoped she'd continue trying to deceive him. But when she didn’t, it told him everything that he needed to know—that his wife was no longer in love with him. But he’d be damned if he’d give up that easily. He’d be damned if he let her just up and leave with his children. There was no way that he could ever compete with William Hartman and come out on top, so Patrick did the only thing he knew to do to save his marriage and keep from losing his family: he used his children as pawns. Sure, maybe his wife wasn’t in love with him right now, but he would change that. He’d make her see that it was possible to have once again what they’d once had.
He just had to keep his mistress out of the way if he had any chance at all. Patrick knew he was running on borrowed time, that once she realized he never intended on coming back she would be quick to let the cat out of the bag. Michele would only buy his lies for so long. Even still, he had his plan, and he wouldn’t allow her or anyone else to stop him from seeing it through.
Sondra Sheehan was absolutely glowing the day that Addie woke up and found her sitting next to her hospital bed. She was finally starting to show, and Addie had never seen her more radiant.
As Sondra stood, Addie placed her hand on Sondra’s bell
y, and for a moment, time stood still.
Finally Sondra spoke. “It’s a boy. What in the world am I going to with a little boy?”
Addie smiled weakly “You’re going to love him with everything you have.”
Sondra grinned and placed her hand on Addie’s. “You know . . . I never wanted this, but somehow I think I already do. I love him more than I ever thought possible, I’ve never been more worried about anything in my whole life.”
Addie shifted in the bed, wincing in pain as she attempted to sit up. “Welcome to motherhood.”
“Addison, I’m incredibly sorry for putting you in this position. I only hope that when you’re fully recovered that you’ll come back to the agency. Because of what happened, we’ve made huge changes to policy. Also, I know this may not be the time, but we’d like to offer you a settlement of sorts.”
Addie studied Sondra’s face. “You’re nothing if not a businesswoman, huh? And just when I was beginning to like you, too.”
“It’s a huge settlement, Addison. You’re entitled to it.” Sondra’s voice broke as she continued. “But that’s not why I’m here. I just wanted you to know, in case you’re lying here worried. Actually, I came to ask you a favor.”
Addie cocked her head slightly. “Oh?”
“It’s about William. Obviously, he knows everything, and he’s not speaking to me. I understand why, but I want to ask you if you’ll promise me something? Promise me that you’ll keep an eye on him—that you’ll let him love you and that you’ll love him back. I know it’s complicated, Addison, but promise me you’ll try.”
Addie stared at the floor, unable to meet Sondra’s eye. “I can’t.”
“Seriously, Addison, look around! Can’t you see that this man is in love with you? He fills your room with flowers, hires an armed guard to sit outside your door twenty-four seven, provides you with the best legal team there is, and is currently sleeping in a room down the hall just so he never has to leave your side. All the while, he waits with the most pained expression I’ve ever seen for your husband to come and go.”