The Chauffeur

  Today I am going to try to talk Joe into helping me escape. James will never let him or Robin walk away from this. I need to convince him that Jason would give him the money to save our child.

  Please, Lord, please guide Jason to me. Please help me stay strong.

  “That motherfucker. He’s dead, Mom.”

  She stuffs the black notebook into the waistband of her jeans, making sure it’s secure. “Come on, let’s search upstairs.”

  I fall into step behind her and my phone pings a text from an unknown number.

  She’s inside the panic room.

  That’s all it says. I can only assume it’s from Joe Smith since we have the remaining four players in this fucked up mess in our custody.

  “Dad! Mom!” I run up the stairs taking the steps two steps at a time. “I just got a text that says April’s hidden inside a panic room somewhere.”

  “Let me see,” Dad says, taking my phone from me.

  He runs his hands through his hair looking at the message and then begins to pace the room.

  “Hmm." I take the phone from him and send a reply text asking where but receive a message that the user has blocked my number.

  “Jason, you check the attic. Grace, you check the closets and for any hidden doors and traps. I’m going to check to see if there’s a basement or cellar.”

  We all disperse to search our respective areas. I locate the attic easy enough and find nothing, so I join my mother looking through closets and pantries and find no hidden doors. Frustrated, we join my father back in the library where he’s instructing Sector to locate blueprints of the house.

  When I look up, I see an elaborate bookshelf. The kind you see in the movies filled to the brim with books. There’s always a secret compartment.

  “Over here!” I shout across the room, and he and my mother rush to my side. “She’s behind here!”

  We all begin running our hands over the unit hoping to find a hidden handle or lever that will open the door. Dad and I take Mom’s lead and start pulling the books off the shelf, tossing them over our shoulders, looking for anything to open the door. It was the book entitled The Secret Garden that wouldn’t come off the shelf, but when it was pulled down, the wall opens revealing an elaborate panic room. As soon as it opens far enough, I step in, and that’s when I find her and feel for a pulse.

  Oh, thank, God!

  “April! Baby, wake up.” Scooping her into my arms, I hurry out of the hot and stuffy room.

  “Mom, call an ambulance! Dad, would you get me some water?” They scurry away to do as I ask.

  She’s been battered. Her eyes are blackened, and her nose is bloodied. Her hair is a tangled mess with dried blood in it. I can tell it’s been pulled by the way half of her hair is free from the elastic band. Running my hands over her to check for anything broken, I lower my hand under the waistband of her gray sweatpants, feeling her flat stomach, and kiss my growing baby.

  “Hello, there,” I whisper against her skin, praying that my son or daughter is all right. I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear the ambulance.

  “Jason, they’re going to ask questions at the hospital, so we need to come up with an explanation. Tell them James is April’s ex-boyfriend; that she agreed to meet him here to recover some of her property, and he became violent with her. When we arrived, James was already gone.”

  “Okay, that sounds good,” I say, trying to put a little water in her mouth, but before I can, the EMT’s are here and ask me to move away so they can take over.

  They ask me questions like what’s her name, age, what happened, any allergies to drugs.

  “She’s pregnant.” The pride I feel inside my chest when I say it to someone other than my family warms me.

  “How far along is she?” the EMT asks.

  “Not far—about two to three months.”

  I watch as they run her vitals and prepare her to be transported to the nearest hospital.

  “May I ride with her? Please?” My heart bursts when he nods, and I follow the gurney out the door.

  “Jason, dear, your father and I will drive with Paul to pick up a car and bring it to you so that you have it to use while you’re here. You’ll stay at the cabin while we deal with the mess at home, all right?”

  “Thanks, mom,” I say, appreciating the way she organizes our lives for us. “See you soon. Dad, don’t forget, I want to talk to him.”

  “We aren’t even going to see him until you get home, Jason. He can rot where he is until we’re ready.”

  I run out the front door to the ambulance and watch them secure April’s gurney inside the vehicle. I spot the Alpha Team standing down on the side of the house, out of sight of the EMTs and nosy neighbors. Once they have April ready to travel, I sit in the vacant seat by her shoulders, and gently begin to stroke her forehead, getting a closer look at her bruised eye. I also note her broken nails, the scratches on her forearm and the rip in her shirt.

  She fought him. I knew she would, and I pray like crazy that he didn’t touch her. I clench my eyes shut trying to keep that vision out of my head when I hear her sweet voice.

  “Where … am I?” she breathes.

  “You’re with me, baby,” I say against her forehead. I watch as her eyes seek mine and she lets out a gentle sob.

  “I knew you’d find me. I knew you’d come,” she manages to say before she sinks back into unconsciousness.

  “Is she going to be all right?” I ask the emergency technician.

  “I think so. Her nose has been broken, but someone reset it. They did a pretty decent job of it. She’s severely dehydrated—that’s what this drip is for.”

  “Why is she unconscious?” I ask, worried that it might be an indicator that something more serious is wrong.

  “Well, because she’s dehydrated and that room didn’t provide an ample amount of oxygen either. Coupled with the fact she’s pregnant, it’s taken quite a toll on her already small frame. She’s trying to heal herself.”

  Once we arrive at the hospital’s emergency room, they whisk her inside, and I run to keep up with the medical team. Standing off to the side, I lean against the wall while they check her vitals, and do an ultrasound.

  When I hear the swooshing sound of my child’s heartbeat, my back slides down the length of the wall and sitting on my heels, I silently thank God.

  Chapter 27

  ~Jason~

  Looking at the new bruises as well as the faded ones, I still see her beauty shine through. Although it’s only been a few days since she was taken, it feels like an eternity. I bend over her still body and place a kiss on her warm lips, receiving no response. I don’t care, though; she’s here, and she’s alive.

  Thankfully, April was moved to a private room not long after arriving in the ER. I thank God that the rape kit turned up negative. I’m impatient for the nurse to finish taking her vitals, so I pull my chair up close to her and smooth one hand over her forehead while holding hers in the other. She looks so peaceful in sleep as if nothing had ever happened to her.

  I reach to kiss her lips once more and make the decision to call her parents. I know her father is going to be pissed and doubt he’ll give his approval for me to marry his daughter now. My personal feelings aside, I think she’d like to wake up seeing her parents here. With that said, I dig my cell phone out of my pocket and dial the number Emily gave me when this whole thing started. Taking a deep breath, I hit send.

  “Hello,” a deep male voice answers.

  “Mr. Sanders?” I ask with obvious hesitation.

  “Yes, who’s this?”

  “This is Jason Rowe, sir.” I’m not sure if April’s told them about our relationship. I don’t want to take any chances. “I’m April’s employer.”

  “Yes, Mr. Rowe. Is something wrong with April?”

  “She’s all right, and I’m with her now, but I regret to tell you that she’s in the hospital. I thought you might want to come to see her.”

  “What? What happened?
Just tell me,” he asks through a shaky breath, seemingly anticipating the worst.

  “About four days ago, April was kidnapped by her ex-employer, James Devereaux. She was coming out of her doctor’s office when she was abducted while getting into her car. My family and I have spent the last four days searching for her and found her this morning. Don’t’ be alarmed, she’s safe.” My nerves are strung tight as a drum, and I wipe sweat from my brow, knowing there’s so much more to tell him. I hear the rush of his gasp and then what sounds like a sob.

  “First and foremost, Mr. Sanders, know that she's well taken care of and she’s safe. Other than some bruising to her face, a broken nose and dehydration, she suffered no other physical harm.”

  “This is going to kill her mother,” he says through a deep breath. “Has a police report been filed? Where did this happen? What hospital?” He rattles off question after question. Not only am I speaking with a concerned and distraught father, but also a cop.

  “There’s no report yet. We’ve only just arrived at the hospital, but I’m sure the police will take her statement soon, and a report will be filed. She’s been asleep since we got here, so they’re waiting for her to wake up.”

  “We’ll be on the next flight out.”

  “If you can wait until you hear from me, it would save a lot of time and expense. We’re currently in a hospital in Michigan, near my family’s summer home. I’m going to arrange to move her closer to my family in Chicago, which is approximately five hours away. It could take several hours since they have to arrange for emergency vehicle transport. I’ll call you back as soon as the hospital makes the arrangements,” I say, pacing the floor, and pulling my hair.

  “All right. I’ll give you an hour. If I don’t hear from you, we’re coming whether she’s moved or not.”

  “This could take several hours since they have to arrange for emergency vehicle transport. When you land in Chicago, I’ll have a car pick you up, and you can stay at my parent’s home since that’s where April will be when she’s discharged,” I explain. “But sir, please understand that April is receiving the very best care. I’m making sure of that, so don’t worry. She’ll be all right, I assure you.”

  “I’ll wait for your call, and the name’s Tom. Just hurry.”

  As soon as the call ends, I ask to have April transported to Northwestern Memorial by an independent care flight organization. The doctor agrees she can be moved only after he does another examination. April has no internal injuries, the baby is safe, and she has no head trauma, so he believes there won’t be any problems, but she also needs to give her statement to the police before she’s transferred to Northwestern.

  With everything in order, I call April’s father to let him know that she’ll be moved tomorrow afternoon, and it would be senseless for him and his wife to travel to Michigan then turn around to drive to Chicago.

  “Hey, baby,” my mother says, strolling into the room with Paul, who is now wearing some of my clothes.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “How is she?” Paul asks, sidling up to the bed. He lays his hand on her shoulder, giving it a tender squeeze.

  “Same.”

  After explaining that April will be transferred to Northwestern, I tell my mother that I called April’s parents.

  “They’ll be arriving tomorrow sometime. I told them they could stay at the house. I hope you don’t mind. I think April will want to have them close, you know?”

  “That’s a good idea, Son.” She lays a set of keys in my hand. “To the Range Rover.”

  “Thanks. I’ll figure out a way to get it back here later. I don’t think I’ll be permitted to ride in the air ambulance with April tomorrow.”

  “What are the doctors saying?” Paul asks.

  “That she’s all right—considering. She’s just exhausted, I think,” I tuck her hair behind her ear.

  “Okay, sweetie, we’re going to head home. See you tomorrow then,” Mom says, tucking her purse under her arm. She bends and places a gentle kiss on April’s forehead.

  “Mom, the care flight will get to Northwestern before me, do you think you could meet her, so she’s not alone?”

  “Of course, dear,” she answers quietly. “Call me when you know what time she’s due to arrive and we’ll all be there.”

  “Thanks,” I say, still watching over April.

  After a few moments of silence, I look up at Paul. “You did good, man. Thanks for your help. I owe you.” We both feel the impact of what he did and the outcome.

  “I did it for Roger and for April.” They stay for another ten minutes then leave for Chicago.

  Mentally exhausted, I take my seat next to April and resume my vigil. Holding her arm in my hands, I rest my head on the side of her bed. It seems as though I’ve just closed my eyes when I feel fingers weave through my hair and gently tugging. I open my eyes blearily and feel it again. My head jerks up, and when I see the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen staring back at me, my emotions overwhelm me. I pull her into my arms with a sob.

  “Oh, baby,” I whisper into her ear. “I love you so fucking much.” I feel her arm wrap around me, and we both are reduced to tears filled with love, longing, and relief.

  “Is it over?”

  I pull away from her and cup her face between my hands, then lower my lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “Yes. We have James and Robin at Sector One. You cannot tell anyone, April. We need to let my father handle this. But trust me, it will be handled. When the police come to question you, tell them the facts about the abduction and leave out the details of motive and the involvement of Sector One.” I go on to explain in further detail of what she needs to say before the police arrive.

  “Okay.”

  “How are you feeling? Are you hurting anywhere? Let me get the doctor,” I babble, pulling away.

  “No, not yet. I need to tell you something, Jason,” she begins. I know what she’s going to say, and I’m not going to spoil this for her.

  “The day I was taken, I was at the doctor’s office for an appointment, remember?” I nod in answer to her question. “Well, I—um—well—”

  “What is it?”

  “It seems I’m pregnant,” she says, whispering that last word.

  “You’re what? I didn’t hear you.” I want to hear her say it again, only louder.

  “I’m pregnant, Jason.”

  I hold back my elation because I want to scoop her into my arms and hold on and never let her go.

  “W-what do you want to do?”

  “I want to marry my baby’s mother.” I reach into my pants pocket and take out a velvet box that I pulled from the family safe when I learned April was pregnant.

  “Jason, don’t.”

  “Why not? Don’t you know how much I love you? When you were taken, I went out of my mind. I promised myself that when I got you back, I would never let you out of my sight again. And now, knowing you’re carrying my child, I didn’t think it would be possible, but I’m even more in love with you. How can I not ask you to marry me under those conditions?”

  “You want to marry me? And if I wasn’t pregnant, would you still want to?”

  “I do, and yes, I would still want to marry you,” I say, bending down to kiss her again.

  “Well, in that case, I want to marry you, too.” She whips her left hand in my face so I can put the ring on it. I chuckle and slowly push the ring over her knuckle.

  “Perfect fit.”

  “It’s so beautiful, Jason,” she says, admiring the ring on her hand. “You say it’s your grandmother’s?”

  “Yes. Each of us got a personal memento from her, and I’d always admired her wedding set, so she left it to me.” I smooth my thumb over the hand wearing it. “I have something else for you,” I say, standing to dig into my pocket. I wrap my fist around the jewel and gently lay it in the palm of her hand, and when she sees it, she lets out a soft cry.

  “I knew you would find it,” she says through tears, turning the navel
ring, admiring it as if it’s the first time she’s seen it.

  “And I knew you left it so I would know not to give up.”

  We both look up when someone knocks on the doorframe.

  “Ms. Sanders? I’m Special Agent Derrick Arnette with the FBI. I hope I’m not interrupting, but I wonder if you’re feeling up to answering some questions?” He puts his badge back in his breast pocket and flips his little notepad open before she’s even answered him.

  “FBI?” she asks.

  “Yes. Due to your kidnapping and abduction across state lines, this investigation falls under our jurisdiction.”

  “April, you should try to answer the questions because I’ve made arrangements to move you to Northwest Memorial Hospital in Chicago tomorrow. And just so you know, I phoned your parents; they’ll be flying in tomorrow as well.” The light in her eyes is priceless when she hears that information.

  She smiles at Special Agent Arnett. “I’m feeling up to it. Ask away.”

  Hearing the story in her words makes me nauseous. With each revelation, my breathing increases and my heart races, and I swallow the bile that rises into my throat. That fucker James groped her. She said Robin put a stop to it before he could do worse. I notice she didn’t tell him about Joe.

  After an hour of questions, Special Agent Arnette ends the interview. “I think I have enough information. Please take my card, and give me a call if you have anything to add.”

  “Sir, if you have any additional questions, you can contact us at home.” I hand him one of my business cards.

  “Okay, Ms. Sanders, I’ll be in touch. I hope you recover quickly, and I’m glad you’re doing well. You were one of the lucky ones.”

  “Thank you.” She looks up at me as soon as he’s gone. “Did I do okay?”

  “You did great, sweetheart. Now, I’m hungry and know you have to be starving. I’m going to check with the nurse and see if you’re on any diet restrictions. If not, then I’m going to get us a big thick pizza. Does that sound okay?”

  “You have no idea. I didn’t get to eat much, so I’m starving.”