by T M Kelly
“I’ll be right back.” Tyler made his way to the front of the house.
I walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a six-pack of beer. “This sound good?” I held it up for everyone. There was a collective yes as I passed them around. I leaned my body against the counter and tried to fight back my tears. Every minute that passed made it more difficult to not fear for Stephen’s life.
“Zoe.” Lily touched my shoulder. “Do you want us to leave?”
I leaned up. “No. No. It’s okay.”
“Zoe,” I heard Tyler from the doorway of the kitchen. “I need to talk to you.”
“Why?” His words scared me. His face was clear of emotions. I grabbed Lily’s hand and took two steps back. “What is it, Ty? He’s not? He can’t—” My body fell to the floor.
“Jesus, Zoe.” Tyler knelt in front of me. “There’s no word on Stephen yet. They had some evidence they needed to ask about.”
My uncontrollable sobs started up again. “This is all my fault. Oh, God, what have I done?”
Tyler picked me up into his arms. “Zoe, no, no, this is not your fault.” My head fell into the crook of his neck, and I found it difficult to breathe. To think. If I was the reason for Stephen’s abduction, I couldn’t live with myself. “Let’s have you rest for a while.” He laid me down on his bed and covered me up with the duvet full of memories. I pulled it close to my nose and inhaled the scent. He bent down and kissed my forehead. “Close your eyes and sleep. I’ll be right down the hall in the library. I need to talk to my brothers.”
“Talk to them? As in?”
He knew what I meant by my cryptic message. “I don’t know about that yet. Soon.”
“Ty.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. “I’m sorry.”
“Close your eyes, Zoe.”
I watched as he left the room. A part of me wanted to climb out the window and go search for Stephen, but fatigue was overtaking my body.
“Wait, don’t take him,” I pleaded and reached for Stephen’s hand, but he slipped from my grasp. I felt my body fall to the concrete floor as a man dragged Stephen’s body farther away from me. I tried to get up and run after him, but my legs were locked down by chains. “No, I need to save him. You have to let me go.”
“I’m okay, Zoe,” I heard Stephen yell.
“I’ll find you. I’m so sorry I left you alone. I’m sorry I forced you to go.” The chains were cutting through my ankles as I struggled to remove them. Even with my fighting skills, my strength was not going to free me. I had to find another way. “Let me go,” I started to repeat at the top of my lungs. Someone would show their face eventually. I needed to see who took Stephen. I had to be the one who saved him, but could I do that?
“Zoe.” I felt my shoulders shake. “Zoe, wake up.”
I could hear someone talking to me, but I was all alone. I shook the chains, fearful what was going to happen next.
“Zoe, I need you to wake up.”
“No, bring him back,” I cried out and opened my eyes.
“I’m here,” Tyler said and lifted me up into his arms. “It was a dream. You’re okay.”
“He’s chained up somewhere,” I blurted out and knew I sounded crazy.
“What?” He turned his head to the side, and the crinkle in between his eyebrows lifted. “What did you just say?”
“I saw him in a room and chained.” I freed myself from his hold and stood up from the bed. “Well, I was chained up actually.” I turned on my heel to face him. “I’m not crazy.”
He placed his hands on either side of my face and bent to be eye level. “I know you’re not crazy, but honey, it was just a dream.”
I lifted my arms up in between his and threw them down. “It’s not a dream.” I tried to turn but strong arms quickly wrapped around my body. “Let me go.”
“Go ahead and give it to her.” It was Charlie’s voice beside my ear.
“Give me what? No.” I struggled to release myself from her hold. “Don’t let me sleep. I don’t want to be chained up anymore. I need to find Stephen.” There was a prick on my bicep and a stinging feeling. “No.” I continued to fight against her hold. “Please—”
Charlie whispered in my ear. “We’re going to find him. I promise, my sweet friend. You need to rest. This isn’t your fault, Zoe.”
I tried to say it was my fault but my body felt weak, numb, and unable to move.
What if my dream came back?
I needed to free myself from the chains this time.
22
Tyler
“Fuck.” I rubbed my hands up and down my face. “We can’t keep drugging her up.” Earlier Charlie had let me know she brought something to relax Zoe. Our trainer, Moe at the gym had it stored away in case there were any issues during a fight.
Julian was standing next to me. I watched as Charlie tucked Zoe into bed and bent to kiss her check. The morning started so perfectly. What happened? Then Zoe left with Stephen and I knew I fucked up.
“We need to find some answers. She needs answers.” Charlie walked over to where everyone was standing by the doorway.
Answers. Were there answers? The case had recently been labeled serial killer because three people had been taken. Now four. The media was labeling him or her The Silencer. It was hard to think about all the details of the case. I watched the news and knew what was going on. Never in a million years did I think my life would be affected by this sick person who needed help, obviously.
“Ty.” Brooks touched my arm. “I’m confused.”
“Let’s get something to eat,” Charlie piped up and tried to push Brooks toward the door.
“Charlie.” Brooks grabbed her shoulders. “Stop.” He turned to me. “What’s going on here?”
“Someone has taken our friend,” I said and walked out of the room. “I thought it was pretty obvious?”
I wasn’t ready to tell my brothers the truth. They deserved it, but I was worried about Zoe. I needed the support system more now than ever. What if I told them and they left? I had to wait.
Brooks grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. “I love you, brother, but you were always weak at lying. You tried to hate Zoe for the longest time. Now, it feels like you both are a couple. More than that.”
“In love,” Julian said from behind me.
“Yeah, that.” Brooks nodded and dropped his hand. “What changed, and how did this Stephen guy come into the picture?”
“You do realize he has a life away from the gym, right?” Charlie grabbed my hand and tugged me down the stairs. “Stop being a dick and support your brother when he needs you most.”
“Nice,” Brooks said and followed behind me. “The conversation is not over.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said and walked into the kitchen. “The investigator that just stopped by, he said they may be able to get face recognition of the suspect.” That’s what I wanted to tell Zoe before she had her breakdown. “They said there are no promises, but they are several steps closer in finding the asshole.”
“Shit.” Charlie sat down on one of the barstools. “Are they sure it’s the same guy? Why would he suddenly show his face somewhere?”
That was my question, too. I had asked the investigator, Alan, why the guy would change what he normally did with each capture. His answer sent chills up my spine. “He’s desperate. He needs something.” The words were working around in my brain. Why did he have to change shit up with my boyfriend? I leaned my elbows on the counter and dropped my head. As I closed my eyes, Stephen’s face came into focus. His smile caused my breath to hitch. I wanted to reach out and grab his body close to protect him.
“Ty.” I felt someone rubbing my back.
I stepped away from the feeling. “I’m fine.” That was clearly a lie. I was far from okay. After almost nine months of hiding my relationship with the most amazing man I had ever met, I was regretting my decision. “I was wrong. I need to be alone.” My body felt weak. I had failed S
tephen. “Help yourself to anything.” I waved my hand and stumbled up the stairs.
I closed the door and leaned my body against the wood surface. Fuck. I slid down to the floor. How could we make this right? I got up on all fours and crawled over to my bed. Zoe was twitching in her sleep. I slid under the covers and pulled her body close to me. We needed to find the one person who somehow in a short time brought us all together.
“Tyler,” Zoe whispered.
“I’m here.”
“Don’t leave me again.”
“Never again.”
“I’m sorry.”
I pushed her hair away from her face. “Please don’t apologize. If anyone should be sorry, it’s me.”
“I would turn and protest but I don’t have it in me right now.”
“Good, because I’m right, so we don’t need to protest a thing.”
“You suck.”
“And you’re amazing.”
My phone was still in my back pocket. Taking my clothes off seemed like too much effort, which included removing any electronics. I felt it vibrate. It took me a moment to reach down and retrieve it from my back pocket. Zoe was plastered up against my side, and I could tell by her breathing she had fallen back asleep. When I was able to pull it up and look at who was bothering me, my body stilled at the message on my screen.
It couldn’t be. Could it?
23
Stephen
“Are you okay?” I said to a man lying next to me. He had blood all over his face. The guy lifted his eyes to me. “You look familiar.” I racked my brain trying to place him. Then it dawned on me—the missing guy from the gym. “Are you, Andy?”
The guy nodded but very slowly.
“Shut up down there.” My capturer had left me in what felt like a basement. Well, more like a dungeon. The walls were brick, the place was dark, and I could only see a foot in front of me. “Ask your friend what happens when you talk too much.”
I looked down at Andy. That’s why his face was covered in blood. This was the guy that silenced his victims by cutting out their tongue. Oh, God, no. I had to get out of here. My legs were chained up to some contraption. There was no way out of here. I couldn’t see a window in the place.
“Andy, I’ll find a way to get us out.” The guy looked dead already. The amount of blood around his body was hard to stomach.
I started to pat down my shirt and pants. What if my phone was still in my secret pocket? I had on dress cargos that had two pockets on each side. One was for my hands, but the other could hold my phone perfectly. I carefully brought it out trying not to make a sound. There was twenty-three percent battery left. Not enough. Or would it be just enough?
I turned the screen light down to low and quickly brought up Tyler’s name.
This had to work.
It was my only option.
Pretty soon I would be lying in the same position as Andy and begging to die.
I wasn’t ready to leave yet.
Zoe had just invaded my life.
I still needed to convince Tyler to share his secret.
My fingers were shaking as I typed, My phone is almost out of battery and Andy is hanging on. I’ll leave my phone on. Send help.
24
Tyler
You’re okay? I typed to Stephen. I’ll get help now. Hold on.
I’ll try. This man’s crazy. Hurry, Stephen wrote back.
When I sent him another message, he didn’t respond. I had to get help. Before I jumped out of bed, I kissed Zoe’s forehead. “He’s alive, Zo,” I whispered and ran out of the room down the hallway to the library that was also my office. The investigator had given me his information if we needed to contact him. I pulled out my wallet and grabbed the business card.
I read his messages again. Stephen was fucking alive.
I dialed the number and someone picked up on the second ring. After the woman on the other end finished her greeting, I quickly asked for the detective. She told me he had just left for the night.
“No, I need him now. The man who was abducted tonight just contacted me. I need him now.” I sounded desperate.
“Hold on, sir,” she said and then I heard a click as she put me on hold.
I sat there tapping my fingers on the desk. “Hello,” I heard a man say.
“Is this Alan, the detective for the missing person’s case?”
“Yes. Who am I speaking with?” I shared with him what had just happened. “I’m coming over now.” I gave him my address and hung up the phone.
I leaned back in my chair and stretched my arms out behind my head. My phone pinged. I swung forward and looked at the screen. I think Andy died.
I’m working on finding you now.
I’m not ready to die. You. Zoe. Us.
I know. We’re going to find you. Conserve your battery.
Shit, I had to call my brothers and let them know what was going on. Which also meant I had to call my parents. This seemed like a situation where you needed family for support. If I called them now, I would have to tell them the truth finally. The funny part: I felt ready to let this secret out. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
I quickly pulled up Julian’s number. It was late so it took a few rings before he picked up. “You okay, Tyler?”
“Yeah, I think so. My friend Stephen contacted me from his phone. The investigator is on his way over.”
“I’ll call Brooks and we’ll all be there soon.”
“Julian.”
“Yeah?”
“We should call Mom and Dad, too.”
“I’ll do it now.”
He never questioned me. Maybe he knew already. That seemed impossible, though.
I walked back down the hallway to my bedroom. I leaned on the door frame and watched Zoe as her chest rose up and down. If I didn’t wake her up now, she would never forgive me. Quietly, I made my way over to the bed and lifted one knee up to lean over and brush hair away from her face. “Zoe. Zoe, baby.” I brushed my hands down the side of her face, trying to not to scare her.
She slowly opened her eyes. “Ty. Is it Stephen?”
“Yeah, it is.”
She lifted up so fast. “What? Is he okay?”
“He sent me a text message from his phone.”
“His phone? What? How?” She looked so tired. I felt awful waking her up.
“You can sleep this relaxant off. Then we can update you later.”
“No.” She stretched and pushed back the duvet. “I want to help.”
I reached out my hand for her to take. “The investigator should be here any minute.” I pulled her into my arms, and we walked down the stairs together. “Let’s get you some coffee.”
“Maybe even a double espresso.”
“I’m sorry we gave you that injection.”
“Where the hell did you get it?”
“We take care of a lot fighters. Moe provided a small dose for us just in case.”
“Charlie knows me too well.”
As we reached the bottom step, the doorbell rang. Lucky barked and walked over to the door with us. “She does know you very well.” I kissed her nose. “Are you ready?”
“For everything.”
“My parents are coming over, too.”
I watched as she lifted her head. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
25
Zoe
I felt like a mac truck had slammed against the side of my head about five times, maybe more. Tyler swung the door open and the investigator nodded. He looked exhausted just like us. “You need coffee as much as I do.”
“That would be great,” he said and stepped inside.
We all walked into the kitchen together. Tyler and the detective sat down at the kitchen table. I started to busy myself by grabbing the coffee from the cabinet. As I poured the grounds into the filter, I listened to Tyler tell the detective what had happened. I couldn’t believe Stephen had his phone.
Once the coffee was
done, I carried three mugs and the coffee pot over to the table. “Cream and sugar?”
“Black is fine.” The detective reached for his mug.
“Sir, I’m confused.”
“You can call me, Alan.”
“Alan. Why would Stephen still have his phone? That seems sloppy on the suspect’s part.” I poured coffee for Tyler and me and sat down.
“The suspect seems desperate from what we can tell, but we’re not sure why,” Alan said and took a drink. “It is sloppy. I have seen this before and there is always a reason. We just need to find his reason.” Just as I was about to say something else, the doorbell rang. “That may be my team. We need to use your phone and try to locate where Stephen is being held.”
We all walked together to the front room. When I opened the door, we were greeted with a crowd of people. Tyler’s family was off to the side, and the detective’s team had arrived. Tyler guided the detectives into the front sitting room. There were ten people total. One of the workers started setting up a few computers on the coffee table.
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the doorway. My life had not been great before, but I was content. There was this back and forth with Tyler that I had grown tired of after two years. My rematch fight had been canceled, and then a new date created a few days later. That had happened twice already. So things were up and down, which caused my emotions to feel like a black hole after a while.
This. Stephen. What was happening now made all my past complaints seem so minuscule.
Someone touched my arm, and I spun around to come face to face with Tyler’s mom. “Oh, hi, Mrs. Moore.”