The Chauffeur

  “You seriously think the Rowes will just hand over that kind of money without you releasing me to them in exchange?” I ask with a scowl. “You aren’t as smart as you think you are.”

  “Oh, trust me, they will. It’s all in the plan, April. It’s all in the plan.”

  “Care to fill me in?” All I get is a deep hearty laugh.

  “You think I’m stupid, don’t you?”

  “Well, I think it’s stupid to devise a plan to kidnap the girlfriend of one of the most powerful men in Chicago, yes.” He jumps out of his seat and storms over to stand in front of me. I think I hit a nerve. Without thinking, my hands automatically cover my abdomen.

  “You will watch your tongue, bitch.” When the back of his hand meets my jaw, I’m certain it’s broken. As I begin to move it, hoping it’s not dislocated, I vow to introduce my foot to his balls at the next opportunity.

  Fear and panic set in when he walks behind me and begins to massage my shoulders and neck. I move to pull away from him, but he jerks me back into my seat and lowers his hands down past the collar of my top, into my bra. I cringe when he cups my breasts twisting my nipples between his fingers and thumbs, pinching them … hard.

  I never thought I would say this, but I thank God the moment Robin walks into the room and sees what James is doing.

  “What the fuck, James!” she yells, storming toward us. “What did I fucking tell you?”

  I nearly laugh and high-five her when she throws the glass of water she's holding into his face.

  “You fucking bitch!” he spews, wiping the water from his eyes.

  “Didn’t I say you’d better not fuck around on me again? I busted your ass once and if you cheat on me with this … this … whore, I will cut you in your sleep,” she threatens. I’m almost convinced she’s serious.

  “And you!” she says, turning her ire on me. “You fuck him, and you’re dead. Jason won’t be able to find enough body parts to put you back together again.”

  “Robin, trust me when I say you won’t ever see me willingly fuck James. If you do, it will be against my will.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, his hand meets the back of my head, and I fly out of my chair and land on the floor. I wrap my arms protectively around my stomach again, praying I live through this, and vow I’ll keep my mouth shut from here on out. Clearly, he’s not above hurting me, and it’s not just about me anymore.

  “James, was that necessary?” Joe says, helping me up and into my chair.

  “I’m sick of her snarky tongue. I had to tolerate it for six years at the office, and I’m not doing it here,” he says, turning to me. “You watch your mouth, cunt. I am not above slicing it out.”

  “You need to cool down, buddy,” Joe says, leaning on the corner of the desk. “Why don’t you and Robin make an appearance in town? You’ve been away from the office for a few days, and if you’re away much longer people will notice. I’ll keep an eye on our prisoner and will let you know if anything comes up.”

  I look from Joe to James hoping his suggestion works because the further he’s away from me, the safer I am. At least Joe doesn’t seem like the sort to hit or rape me. At least not yet, anyway. He could be saving it for when James isn’t around. That thought creeps into my mind, and suddenly I don’t feel so safe.

  “Yeah, he’s right, James,” Robin says flippantly. I’m sure she wants James away from me and, again, I’m grateful to her for the second time today. Who would have thought the bitch would be doing me favors? Unwittingly of course, but favors nonetheless.

  I look straight into James’ eyes, and he doesn’t move. I know the wheels are turning and I pray they turn in the opposite direction of me.

  “Yeah, I need to make sure everything’s okay at the office anyway,” he says, still staring at me.

  Creepy bastard.

  “Joe, you keep your fucking hands off her,” he says, sounding possessive.

  “No problem,” Joe replies, pushing himself off the desk.

  “April, this room is your home for the next few days,” he says, stroking my hair. “Joe, if she moves, kill her.”

  “You got it, boss,” Joe says.

  After they leave the room, I sit back in my chair, letting out a deep sigh of relief. Alone, I can think straight and look around. I bet I could fit through one of the large windows easily enough. When I see a lock at the top and bottom of the door and window, I know then I can easily escape. I begin to plan my next move.

  “Don’t think about it,” Joe says behind me. “He has them booby-trapped. Anyone opening or breaking in sets off an alarm. Dogs are released, and escape is not possible. You will be mauled and die a slow and painful death. Trust me.”

  “All right,” I whisper, resolving that I don’t feel like being mauled today.

  Think April, think. Come up with a plan. You shouldn’t rely solely upon Jason.

  “James won’t be around for a few days, so you have the use of this room. There’s a bathroom behind that door. The window in there is rigged, too. Trust me, he’s planned all this out. You can read any of the books you want. The computer is off limits.” He reaches toward me, handing me a black notebook. “Here. Use this to write in if you want,” he says. “I’m hungry. I’m making myself a sandwich. Do you want one?”

  I take a good long look at him. He’s about my age, with long black hair and striking facial features. He appears to be someone easy to befriend. This might be my first plan of attack.

  I reply by nodding. The sudden display of kindness is confusing. When the tears begin to burn my eyes, I blink them away. I refuse to break in front of anyone. It will have to wait. Once Joe leaves to make lunch, I get up and peruse the rows of books. When my gaze falls upon a copy of Great Expectations, my hand is drawn to it. Raising the book to my nose, I take a deep breath, loving the smell of old leather.

  I make my way to the couch against the far wall and tuck myself into the corner. I open the book and read the front cover, squinting at a faint inscription.

  To Carolyn, from your adoring husband...A.J.D.

  I smile at the sweet dedication and begin to read the story I must have read a thousand times before.

  Before long, Joe comes back with a tray laden with sandwiches, fruit and various cheeses. When he sees me eyeing the bottled water, hands that to me first, and I gulp it greedily before taking the thick sandwich into my mouth.

  “Mmm, this is excellent. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one of these,” I say, eyeing the layers of cheese, meat, onion and everything else he has on it.

  But when I taste the spicy sauce, I’m stunned enough to quit chewing.

  “What is it? You don’t like it?” Joe asks through a full mouth.

  “This sauce? How do you make it?” I ask curiously.

  “Oh, it’s my uncle’s recipe. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” he replies, quoting the over-used movie line.

  “Y-your uncle?” I ask, afraid of what he might say next.

  There’s only one other person that makes this sauce, and he told me it’s handed down to family members only.

  “Yes,” he answers taking another big bite of his concoction.

  “I’ve tasted this before, Joe. Many times.”

  “Not possible. It’s a recipe that only my family knows.”

  “Oh, my god! I do know you!” I exclaim, frozen in my seat while holding my sandwich. Seeing the changed look on his face, I place it on my plate, pushing it away from me. “You’re Max’s nephew, aren’t you?” I shout, jumping to my feet. “You aren’t Joe Smith, you’re Matt White!”

  “What the fuck? How do you know that? Wait, are you my uncle’s April? You’re the one that moved out of the apartment I moved into, aren’t you?” When I slowly nod, he jumps up, burying his hands in his long hair and begins to pace the room.

  “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. My uncle is going to kill me,” he repeats over and over.

  “Yeah, well, not before Jason does, I’m sure,” I say
sitting back down. What are the odds? I’m stunned, and by the look on Matt’s face, so is he. This answers the question of where I’ve seen him before. It’s in the pictures Max has in his home of the two of them fishing and at Christmas.

  “Okay, we need to think about this,” he says, stopping in front of me. “You can’t say anything to James or Robin. If they find out we know each other, we’re both as good as dead.” I nod my head rapidly because he’s right. James would turn on Matt as fast as he turned on me.

  Well, I guess I am getting that alliance I was hoping for. Six degrees of separation and all that.

  “Plus, I’m the only protection you have right now. They plan on killing you, April,” he says, confirming my biggest fear.

  “Then why don’t you just let me go? Let me call Jason to come get me.”

  “Because, as much as I would like to, I need my share of the money I’m getting out of this deal. I am in a world of deep shit to some nasty people, and I need to get them paid. They’ve threatened to kill Max,” he sadly explains, looking down at his feet.

  “What if I get the money from Jason? He’ll give it to you for saving me,” I suggest, hopeful for the first time I might get out of this mess.

  “I can’t take that chance. He couldn’t care less what happens to me after what we did to you. What I’ve done to you. I’m the one that put the knife in your door and ran you off the road. I’m sorry about that, by the way. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt,” he apologizes. I gape at him.

  “That was you?” He slowly nods with a bit of remorse.

  “Listen, we need to come up with a plan before they get back. We need to act like nothing is wrong. I’ll continue to do as I’m told, and when the Rowes are contacted in two days, your man had better have that money together. If he doesn’t, someone is going to get hurt,” Matt explains. “James plans on videotaping it and sending it to Jason. If he doesn’t have the money to him within a certain amount of time, then it’s over.”

  God, I want to tell him about my baby, but I don’t want anyone to know before Jason does. Then it hits me. He’s going to find out by either Emily or Rita anyway.

  “Matt, I need to tell you something.” He looks at me, waiting for me to continue. “I’m pregnant.” With that, he drops onto the couch next to me.

  “Fuck!” he says. “You can’t let James know.”

  “Oh, trust me, I have no intention of telling him. Jason doesn’t even know. I was at the doctor’s office getting the results of my pregnancy test when you took me.”

  “Fuck!” he says again. “Uncle Max is really going to kill me. You are one of his favorite people, April. He talks about you all the time. He even fancied you and I hooking up, did you know that?” He snickers when I open my eyes wide and shake my head.

  “Yep. He said that you’re a good girl and that he’d die a happy man if you and I were to get married.” I bust out laughing.

  “If he only knew,” I say more to myself than to anyone else.

  “You can say that again!”

  “He always told me about when you would make him cookies.” He puts his face in hands as his elbows rest on his knees. “I’m so dead.”

  I find it rather ironic that this big bruiser who threatened to kill me fears his Uncle Max.

  “Well, Matt—”

  “Call me Joe. I don’t need you fucking up my name in front of James and Robin.”

  “Okay, Joe. If you don’t mind, I’m going to read a little bit and take a nap.” He nods and moves to clean up our lunch mess.

  “Maybe we can watch a movie tonight after dinner?”

  “Okay, sounds good,” I say, pulling my feet under me. Opening my book again, I look up at him as he walks out of the room. I cringe when I hear the door lock behind him.

  When my eyelids become heavy while reading, I set the book down and stretch out on the couch to take a short nap. But when Jason invades my dream, I cry for want of him.

  “Don’t cry, baby,” he says to me. His voice sounds distant, but near at the same time.

  “I’m scared, Jason,” I say as we reach for each other but are unable to touch.

  “I know, but know that I’m with you. You’re in my heart, and I’m in yours. We’ll get through this. I’m coming for you. I am coming.”

  “No! Don’t go, Jason! Please, don’t go!”

  “Don’t worry baby. I’m coming.”

  I wake myself up crying, only to find Matt sitting in a chair next to me, nervously rubbing his hands together. When he sees my eyes open, he sits up straight.

  “You were crying,” he says, sympathetically. I can only nod. “Jason?” I nod again.

  “I’ll do my best to make sure you get home safe, April.” I close my eyes trying to stave off another flood of tears, but it doesn’t work.

  I know for certain that Jason’s coming for me, and that’s when I remember. Like a flash, I sit up and hold out my arm in front of me.

  “It’s gone!” I cry, running my hand over my wrist for the first time. It’s gone. My bracelet is gone! My mind searches its memory trying to think where it might be. I know I had it on! I never take it off ever since Jason asked me to wear it at all times. Did James take it? The hope that Jason will find me is gone in a flash.

  ~.~

  It’s been two days of incarceration if you can call it that. It’s more like I’m in a luxury apartment with fine furniture and good food, I’m just not allowed to go anywhere.

  “Here’s a change of clothes for you. I found these upstairs and thought you’d like to take a shower and wash your hair,” Matt says, handing me a pile of clothing and bath supplies.

  “Thanks.” I take the supplies from him and turn toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

  After stepping under the hot water, I close my eyes and sigh, smiling at how much pleasure the simple task of taking a shower provides. I take the liquid soap and squeeze more than I would normally use onto the loofah that Matt provided me. After soaping my body, I run my hand over my flat abdomen and wonder how long it will be before a bump starts so show.

  “Whether you’re a little boy or a little girl, you’re very lucky to have him as your daddy,” I quietly say to myself.

  My heart beats out of my chest when the bathroom door flies open, and I see Matt through the rippled glass shower door.

  “Hurry, James is here,” he says nervously. I quickly rinse myself and jump out of the shower as fast as I can. I appreciate that Matt’s made it safe for me, so James doesn’t find me naked. I’m sure we both know what would happen to me if he had.

  I slip into the jeans and t-shirt and wonder whose clothing this is because it’s clear that they’re for a woman not much larger than I am. I hurry and run the brush through my wet hair and slip out the door to the library, jumping onto the couch and opening my book as if I’ve been reading for the past hour.

  “Has she been behaving?” James asks Matt from the other side of the door.

  “Yep. No problems,” Matt answers.

  “April,” James says in a hello.

  “Snake,” I say in reply. That gets me a quick backhand across the side of my face, bloodying my nose. I gasp at the sudden pain, feeling the pain in my sinus cavity.

  “Fuck, James. Did you have to do that? Now I have to clean up the mess,” Matt says, looking at me and silently asking me if I’m okay.

  I reach up and wipe my bloody nose, and as soon as I sit up, blood runs down onto my clean clothes.

  “I’m not in the mood for your smart mouth, April. The sooner you learn to shut your trap, the better off you’ll be,” James snarls.

  “I’m going to see if it’s broken,” Matt murmurs, placing his thumbs on each side of the bridge of my nose. After shaking his head, he pushes hard sending sharp and piercing pain into my eyes. He then places a damp towel across my mouth to absorb the flow of blood.

  “You’re going to have a nasty black eye … be prepared,” he says.

  “Hurry up, April, I
want you to call the Rowes.”

  Matt helps me up and guides me over the chair in front of the desk, handing me my phone.

  “You don’t say anything but what’s on this paper, do you hear me?” James hisses, tossing the paper to me. “You’ll be on speaker, so I’ll hear everything.” I nod in understanding.

  With shaking hands, I pick up my cell phone and dial Jason’s number, eager to hear his voice. When he answers, I break into a gasping cry.

  “April?” he cries out when he answers. “April, are you all right? Where are you?”

  “Ja-Jason,” I begin to read through a plugged up nose. I sniff to stop the blood. “Do you have the money?” I ask, waiting for his answer.

  “April, where are you?” I look at James, and he tells me to ask him again.

  “Jason, do you have the money?” I say in a monotone voice. I want him to know it’s not me asking this.

  “April, are you alone?” I don’t answer, and James indicates he wants me to continue.

  “At nine o’clock tomorrow night, you’re to take the money to 4345 Industrial Road. Place the bag at the third beam to the left of the entrance. If you don’t do as instructed, I will be killed,” I say, my voice breaking. “If you are followed, I will be killed. If you call the police, I will be killed. I already need medical attention but will not receive any.” I read every word, my voice cracking. I hear Jason’s howl through the phone.

  “April, I love you, baby. I need you to know that before you go on. I love you, and I know you love me. I love you so much.”

  Just as he’s speaking, a loud horn from a passing yacht sounds with the tune of The Love Boat, preventing me from clearly hearing what he’s saying.

  When I hear his voice crack, I can’t help it when I let out a sob. I look at James and make the decision to suffer the consequences.

  “I love you too, Jason,” and that’s when the back of his hand knocks me off my chair again, ending the phone call.

  This time my eye feels like it’s about to burst out of its socket, and when I try to focus on Matt, my eye swells so quickly, that I can’t see.

  And for the second time in just a matter of four days, I succumb to the darkness, and again Jason is the last person I see.