by Unknown
The rush of fresh air hit her in the face. Carla gulped the cold air greedily into her singed lungs. The cool wind soothed her burning eyes, but her throat felt like it was closing as she coughed nasty tasting soot. Her legs buckled as she took the steps one at a time, careful not to drop the woman whose arms were holding her tight around the neck. In the distance, she heard the scream of sirens and knew the fire department was on the way.
Firefighters rushed to the home breaking windows to release the flames leaping inside the house. Carla let EMS tend to Mrs. Neelson first since she was elderly with a host of medical problems. She staggered to a tree in the front yard and sat down. A firefighter came over to where she was sitting. He placed a mask over her face and instructed her to breath deep.
That was the last she remembered before passing out.
“Where the fuck is she!” Zach paced the front of the burning house. Every firefighter he spoke with swore they did not apply any medical treatment to Carla but did admit seeing her sitting under the tree. He was also told how she demanded treatment for the elderly woman before they helped her.
His phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number. He put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“The games have just begun, Agent Murphy.”
He snapped. “I’m sick of this game already. Where is Carla?”
He heard the quick exhalation of breath and then the distorted voice said, “I never get tired of playing with you.”
His heart actually stopped when the man or who he assumed was a man spoke. The voice was disguised using a voice auto tuner device “What do you want in exchange for her?”
“I’ve taken good care of her so far. She had smelled like smoke before I washed her up. I see why you took your time putting lotion on her body; she is a beautiful woman.” He continued talking. “I used vanilla body lotion. The same kind that I saw you rub all over her.”
Zach remembered she did use vanilla lotion. She kept it on the dresser in the bedroom.
“Don’t worry, Agent Murphy, I’m not going to hurt her just yet. I want to make you sweat just a little bit more.”
“So, this is about me? Why not come after me instead of Carla? Be a fucking man and face me and not hide behind a woman.”
The irritating voice laughed in his ear. “It started off with her, but you intervened and made shit worse. And now that I know you have a vested interest in her; she has become your bargaining chip, Murphy. I’ll call back and let you talk to her when she’s awake.”
“Sonofabitch, touch her and you’re dead! I swear I will kill you with my bare hands!” His yelling drew the attention of the firefighter still on the scene. He didn’t care who heard him threatening the person on the phone. He meant every word of it.
“Those are mighty words coming from a man that doesn’t have a clue where she is. But I left you a trinket just in case you don’t believe me. Look near the tree, Agent Murphy; your puny diamond ring should be there if a firefighter didn’t pocket it.”
The line went dead. Zach raced over to the tree dropping down on his hands and knees searching through the grass. He found the ring. He closed his eyes clutching the ring in the palm of his hand. “Baby, hold on; I’m coming.”
Back at Carla’s apartment, Zach dialed the one person he could count on for help. He waited for Rodney to pick up the phone. Knowing the hour, Rodney was either asleep or out on a date.
“Hello.”
His voice was groggy, he was asleep. “Rodney, I hate to wake you, man, but I need your help?”
“What’s up, Zach?”
“Carla’s been kidnaped. Somehow the tables have turned, and now it’s about me. You gotta help me find her and without Lowes getting wind of it.”
“You haven’t heard the latest; Lowes has been relieved of his duties and is on administrative leave until further notice. Zach, the Section Chief is in the process of looking for a new SAC.”
Zach fisted his hair tight in a ball. “Say what? I talked to Lowes a week ago. He ordered me back to Virginia to work a case for friends of his. I flatly refused.”
“Yeah I heard about that too. You are digging yourself in a ditch around here, Zach. Because of that, Lowes had me on lockdown, and I couldn’t fart without him smelling it. With him out of the picture I’m still on limited duty but I’ll do what I can to help you. What do you need me to do?”
“Can you run a trace on a cell number for me? I’m sure it will come back to a disposal phone, but it’s the only lead I have right now.”
“Give me the number and I’ll do it first thing when I get in the office in the morning.”
“I’m fighting against time, Rodney.” He scrubbed a hand down his face feeling the scruffy stubble. “Um, I have to tell you something. And I’d rather break the news to you with you hundreds of miles away rather than you standing in front of me.”
“What did you do?”
He swallowed to ease the worry racing through his body. He wasn’t a religious man but was calling on faith for help with this one. At the moment, had to assume Carla and his unborn child were still alive. “Carla’s pregnant.”
“Damn, man you can’t spring something like that on me at this hour and expect me to comprehend. Did you say she’s pregnant? Crap! Zach, are you the father?”
“Yeah, it’s my baby, Rodney. I asked her to marry me and she accepted. Man, I have to find her and my baby before it’s too late.”
“I’m on a plane tonight. I’ll call you when I arrive at the airport.”
Zach hung up the phone and flopped down in a chair. The voice played over in his head but what he said stood out. He had slipped and called him Murphy. Not too many people called him that.
*****
Zach pulled up to the oval at the airport and Rodney jumped in the car. The two had worked together long enough that when it came to business there was no need to exchange pleasant conversation but to get down to work. Six hours had passed since contact was made with the kidnapper. Time was of the essence and they were both aware of it.
Rodney snapped his seatbelt before removing a notepad from his pocket. “Okay, here is what I have so far. The number was a disposal so I couldn’t get any information on the user. However, the call bounced off three cell towers in the vicinity of the Flats. From what I researched about that area, there are a lot of warehouses, some nightclubs, and numerous residential apartments. I say we search abandoned warehouses first.”
Zach eased into the early Friday morning traffic on I-480 East merging to I-71 North to head to downtown Cleveland. “I called in a favor to my CI. I need all the help I can get on this, Rodney. I swear if anything happens to Carla, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“We’re going to find her, Zach. What you need to do is keep a calm head. I’m going on gut instinct, but I believe Carla is alive and will be for the time being. This guy is playing a game of roulette with you for a reason.”
“Yeah, and I don’t know why. If this isn’t connected to Yezhov, then I have no idea who it could be.”
“Any word from your confidential informant?” Rodney asked rubbing tired eyes.
Zach shook his head. “Not yet. What’s happening with her cousins, Rodney? Tyrone hasn’t made a move in almost a year and Phillip hasn’t been seen in weeks either. How did we lose contact with them?”
Rodney sighed. “Phillip is back in the States. He’s in protective custody since he agreed to talk. I have no idea where Tyrone is hiding.”
The car swerved narrowly missing the concrete median wall. Zach corrected the car and slowed down. “What! Why did you keep that shit from me!”
“I’m telling you, they have been keeping all sorts of shit from me, Zach! They are aware we talk. I’m getting info from new agents because the seasoned agents know not to drop confidential information. I can’t even access the database until IA is done with their investigation of me.”
“How did you get away?”
“I told them I had an emergency with a family me
mber and needed time off. They gladly gave it to me.”
“They want you out of the office too. Lowes is behind this, Rodney. I feel it in my bones. That lame shit he brought up about a missing kid was a way to sidetrack us from what he’s really doing.”
“I did do some digging on Lowes. Did you know his grandfather is Senator Longfellow Lowes? It was him that had connections with Yezhov’s family. Yezhov’s grandfather was a Russian diplomat and requested to do business with the United States.”
“That’s how the family gained diplomatic immunity,” Zach groaned.
“Yeah, it was all legit until Leonid Yezhov decided to expand his illegal drug and gun smuggling operation in the United States. He had a small operation in Russia, but the grandfather kept it contained and didn’t allow Leonid in the States. When the grandfather died, that changed and Leonid knew he wouldn’t be touched by the law if caught.”
“Is the family looking for vengeance for his death, Rodney?”
Rodney shook his head. “Not from what I read. They don’t hold the United States responsible for what happened. They consider it a problem dealt with.”
“Then someone close to Yezhov wants to even the score and that’s where I come in. I took down their leader so I have to be dealt with.”
“Actually, I took down their leader, Zach. But, no threats have been made against me.” Rodney said scratching his head.
Zach glanced over at his friend who appeared tired. Lines of gray hair streaked through his hair and he’d lost some weight. Zach was putting him in a position to lose everything he’d worked for if this backfired. He put his eyes back on the road. “You aren’t personally involved with Carla. Look, Rodney, you can back out of this and I won’t blame you. If this doesn’t work out as I expect, you stand to lose everything. I don’t want that to happen.”
“I’m in too deep to back out now, Zach. Plus, I want to know what Lowes is hiding too. But, I do have a question. Have you been in Cleveland since I told you about Phillip?”
“That information gave me an excuse to see her again. Then she told me she was pregnant. I’ve been staying with her and I don’t want to leave.”
“She’s pregnant and you’re getting married. Those would be words I’d never expect to hear come from you.”
“She’s an amazing woman that managed to capture my heart. I couldn’t keep lying to myself, Rodney. I knew I was in love with her when I couldn’t stop thinking about her and didn’t desire to mess around with other women,” Zach said keeping his emotions in check.
Rodney grinned. “Yeah, man, you’re hooked and ain’t nothing wrong with that. Love and marriage are great with the right person.”
“Carla is the only one for me. I don’t know any woman besides my sister that can talk to me the way she does and get away with it.”
“Congratulations and stay confident that you’ll see your kid born and live happily ever after with Carla. I’m going to make sure of that.”
Zach steered the car with one hand and rubbed his forehead. “Then why do I feel so damn helpless?”
“Simple, because you are wearing those shoes, Zach. You get to see how the families of the victims feel. It’s not a good feeling, but at least you have the experience to bring Carla home.”
“That house fire was bad, Rodney. I don’t know a damn thing about pregnancy, but I do know Carla had to swallow a lot of smoke getting herself and that woman to safety. What if she suffered a miscarriage? I’m not there to help her with anything and she’s going through hell alone.”
Rodney frowned and pounded his fist on the dash of the car. “Look, get that negative shit out of your head! Negativity never solved a damn thing it only hampers what we’re trying to do. You gotta stay positive and positive results will occur.”
The knuckles on Zach’s hand turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. His brows creased and his voice deepened. “I am positive that I’m going to kill the motherfucker that did this. He has chosen the wrong one to mess with today.”
chapter twenty six
One side of Carla’s head throbbed with a dull pain as she opened her eyes. Dazed and confused she had no idea where she was. She lifted her head up to look around; the large room was cold and dark except for the glow from a lamp sitting on a small round table.
Flimsy wood sang from under her body when she moved. She was lying on a narrow cot covered by a smelly blanket that smelled like vanilla and mildew. Carla tried to move and realized her wrists were crossed and bound together by a thick rope. Her ankles were tied in the same fashion. Panic filled her. Where was she and how long had she been there?
Carla turned her head and saw a figure sitting in a chair. She gasped, and his head popped up. “Finally, you’re awake,” the man said leaving his chair to walk over to her.
She tried to speak, but nothing came from her mouth. Her throat was sore and raw. It was painful when she tried to swallow, which didn’t matter since her mouth lacked moisture.
He knelt down on one knee and passed a hand over her forehead. “You had me worried when you didn’t wake up. The drugs you were administered aren’t supposed have a long-lasting effect like that. Do want something to drink?”
Her eyes widened. Drugs! She was pregnant what drugs did he give her that could affect her baby. Carla squirmed on the cot almost tipping it over. He steadied her with his hand. “Be still, pretty lady. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. From the looks of that tiny pouch you’re sporting on your otherwise flat stomach, I suspect you’re pregnant?”
Carla nodded her head quickly intensifying the pain throbbing in her left temple. “Yes, I am,” she managed to say. “Please don’t hurt my baby, please.”
The man was the typical villain-looking individual with a grandfatherly twist. He had hard gray eyes and a small gray pencil moustache that stretched the length of his mouth. His graying hair receded to the crown of his head. He voice was a soft tenor but then again, he was close to her and speaking normally.
Who was he? Was he a part of Yezhov’s organization? He didn’t have an accent and appeared to be American. The cardigan sweater he wore was a style that white men born in the late 1930s or early 1940s would wear. This man was older. The wrinkles on his forehead and crow’s feet around his eyes suggested he was over the age of 60.
He stroked her hair with a thick finger. “I like babies and wouldn’t hurt them. It’s sad that any harm has to come to your baby. I guess they can’t afford to leave anything behind. What a shame the baby will be collateral damage. There is no way to save the baby once they kill you.”
A tear slid from the corner of Carla’s eye. “Why do you have to kill me? I’m not involved with my cousins and haven’t seen them in about a year. I rented the storage space, but I had no idea what they were doing with it.”
He patted her on the shoulder, and the blanket slid down. Her bare shoulder indicated that her clothes had been removed. Wiggling her fingers, she felt skin. However, she did have on panties.
“I don’t kill anymore or know anything about that. I’m retired. I think they are after that FBI agent Murphy. I could be wrong though.”
Zach. She blinked the tears dangling off her lashes. Zach would find her soon, and the nightmare would be over for good. “Zach will kill you. You know that, right?”
He stood up and brushed off his sweater. “We all have to go someday.”
He apparently wasn’t afraid to die and this wasn’t his first abduction. “Where are my clothes?”
“Oh, those had to go. They smelled liked smoke and irritated my sinuses. Are you hungry?”
She wasn’t hungry but nauseated. But if eating got her untied then she would eat. She had to know how many others were with him. The way he spoke meant there were others somewhere in the building. If it was only him, once she got on her feet to test her strength, she knew she’d be able to outrun him. It was the others that were in hiding she had to worry about.
“I have to use the bathroom. And I want my clot
hes or at least my smock to cover myself and not this nasty blanket.”
He sighed. “If you insist on wearing that filthy thing, I will get it for you.”
He tossed the smock on top of her and the scent of the smoke overpowered the mildewed blanket. “I can’t put it on unless you untie me.”
The old man groaned giving in to her. “Oh, alright. I wasn’t told you couldn’t use the restroom. I’d prefer you use the toilet instead of soiling yourself.” He picked up the smock and frowned. “What is this in the pocket?” Carla's heart started to pump faster when he stuck his hand in the pocket. “Just a tube of lipstick; you can keep that.”
“Well, can I have my pants then? Show me a little dignity since I’m pregnant for Pete’s sake.”
He tossed her the pants and untied her wrists and ankles keeping the blanket over her as she slipped on her clothes. She stood up feeling woozy and lightheaded. The blood began to flow through her body and the wooziness passed within minutes. She didn’t want to pepper spray him until she was sure she could stand without assistance.
“Which way to the bathroom?” she asked taking a step forward. The cement floor was cold on her bare feet and sent chills up the back of her legs.
His face scowled, and the grandfather voice changed to a wicked growl. He poked a gun to her side and pressed hard. “Don’t try any funny stuff. I might be old, but my shooting skills are sharp as ever.”
“I just want to use the bathroom.”
He walked with her, stuck to her side like glue. Carla was able to take note of her surroundings. The place appeared to be an abandoned nightclub. She believed it was the building that housed the Mirage. It was once a popular nightclub where ambitious and successful African Americans went to socialize and party with music and sports celebrities. It wasn’t long before crime and gangs took over forcing the club to shut its doors forever.
Carla partied at the club with Tonya on occasion and was familiar with the layout. However, the walls were stripped of paint, the floors ripped up and corroded wires hung from the ceiling where flashing lights once where. A warped and water damaged bar was the only thing still standing on the second floor where jazz musicians had a nightly set.