by April Thomas
It was after one in the morning when Jason made it to cottage in Wyoming. The cottage was in a perfectly secluded area. He wouldn't have to worry about neighbors, and there was no security guards keeping watch. After his partner and him kidnapped Shelby, they loaded her in the back of a van while his partner Duke was driving to Miami. It was there that they planned to meet with a buyer. If he liked what he saw he would purchase the girls for a very handsome price. Jason and Duke had been doing this for over four years and they had no intention of stopping despite the risk because it paid very well.
Jason walked quietly towards the cottage. As a precaution, he walked all around the house, and through the bedrooms sliding glass door he could see Tobias and Azura's bodies entwined. Jason cursed under his breath. It was going to be harder than he thought. He made it back to the front door then entered in the code that Shelby had given him with the money. The door unlocked and he entered quietly.
He pulled out a hand held dart gun, shooting Tobias first and Azura after. He put his dart gun away, tied Azura's arms and legs and placed duct tape over her mouth. He then wrapped Azura in a blanket and swung her over his shoulder. He took one last look at Tobias to make sure he was not conscious then left the cottage. He dumped her body in the back of the rental van and then drove off into the darkness.
He pulled out his cell phone and called his partner...
"How did it go?" Duke greeted.
"Like stealing candy from a baby," Jason laughed. "This one is a real beauty; we might be able to get more for her. She has that exotic look."
"Good, I just gave Shelby another shot of Heroine, she shouldn't be a problem anymore," Duke said in between a yawn.
"Well, sit tight and see you in two days," Jason replied.
"Keep me posted," Duke insisted. "We can't let our guard down. You have the wife of a billionaire, so we have to stay as low as possible until the deal is made. "
"All right, I got it," Jason replied.
"Talk to you later," Duke said ending the call.
Azura's body lay still on the uncomfortable cold metal floor of the van, the drugs that she was injected with seem to keep her completely paralyzed. All she could think about was Tobias and wonder if she would ever see him again. She didn't know if he was dead or alive or if she would be able to escape and find her way back to him. She fell back into a deep sleep with thoughts of her husband consuming her mind.
♥
Five hours later...
Tobias woke to the smell and sound of bacon being cooked in the kitchen. He remembered Azura's eagerness to cook him breakfast in the morning. He decided he would go and greet her, but as he tried to get up he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and an excruciating headache taking his full attention. He fumbled off the bed and to the bathroom looking confused by the disarray of their bedroom. He looked in the bathroom mirror and gasped. It looked to be like a small dart was sticking out of his arm. He rushed back into the bedroom and realized the blanket was missing. Azura's clothes were still on the floor. He threw on his pajama pants and began calling for Azura.
"Mr. Cavanaugh?" the hired help responded as she stepped out of the kitchen.
"Have you seen my wife?" he asked anxiously.
"No," Debbie, a local woman hired to cook the meals for Tobias and his wife answered.
Tobias ran his fingers through his hair. He ran outside uncaring about the harsh cold weather. He noticed large foot prints by a nearby bush and then more. The cold winter air brought him back to reality and he rushed back inside.
"Call the police!" he orders to the hired help.
She quickly stops what she was doing and called the local police department. Tobias tore through their suit cases and put on warm clothes, he rushed back out to the foyer to put on his coat, gloves, and boots.
"The police are on their way, Sir. Is there anything else you need, anything that I can help you with?" she asked.
"Yes...help me find my wife," Tobias broke down.
"Sir, now is not the time to let your emotions take over. Maybe she went for a walk, check for tracks, and I'll stay by the phone," she said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Tracks!" Tobias jumped to his feet remembering the large foot prints he found out side.
He rushed back outside and made sure to keep a good distance from the tracks he found. He realized they surrounded the house and that whoever it was, lingered for a bit at the sliding glass door leading to their bedroom. He followed the tracks back around to the front door. Whoever did this, knew the security code to their cottage. Tobias froze as he remembered Azura's dream. He wasn't the type to interpret dreams or find any real meaning in things of that nature. He pulled out his cell and called his cousin Tamarius Martinez in Florida. His cousins Tamarius and Maxwell, who are brothers, are also profound spiritual warriors. It was never something that Tobias could really wrap his mind around, but when it came to dreams, and premonitions he knew that it was his cousins’ department. He had to contact them, he knew that they were there for him and they would give him hope in finding Azura before it was too late.
Tamarius didn't answer his phone, so Tobias left a frantic voicemail. He hoped that his cousin would call him back before it was too late. A vision of his wife telling him she was pregnant hit him and he fell to his knees.
I don't give up!
Tamarius and his wife were enjoying a day at Englishman's Bay in Tobago when he noticed a missed call from his cousin Tobias. He listened to the voicemail then sprung into action.
"Baby we have a problem," he said to his wife, Makayla.
"What’s wrong babe?" Makayla asked.
"We have to go; Tobias my cousin thinks that his new bride was kidnapped." Tamarius said standing from the beach towel they were laying on.
"Didn't they just get married?" Makayla asked.
"Yes," Tamarius answered.
"Maybe she ran away. Didn't your aunt say it was an arranged marriage?" Makayla reminded her husband.
"Well, he's upset and if he didn't care about her he wouldn't call me," Tamarius summed up to his wife.
"You’re right," Makayla replied. "Let's go," she added, pulling up the large towel.
"I'm dropping you home, I don't want you in any danger," Tamarius said pulling his wife close.
"Babe, I can help" Makayla insisted.
"Please baby. I can handle this, but if I have any problems I will call you, I promise." Tamarius pleaded.
"Fine, I guess," Makayla sighed.
Tamarius returned his cousin's phone call. "Tobias, I'm on my way, just give me a few hours to get there. Text me your location and try to keep calm; we are going to get through this," Tamarius encouraged his cousin. They spoke for a bit longer then hung up.
"Baby, don't worry about me. Go on and take care of business. I will be by my parents," Makayla said knowing that he would like to be at his cousin's side as soon as possible.
"I can't just leave you here on the beach, but let me take you to your parents home and then I will take the jet out to my cousin," Tamarius suggested.
"Okay, that's better," Makayla said planting a kiss on his lips.
♥
Tobias looked at his phone to check the time. Azura had been missing for a few hours now, but he had no idea how long. "I won't give up," he said under his breath. He was determined to find his wife no matter what. The police were now there and turned the entire cottage into a crime scene. An officer found tire tracks and foot prints that matched the ones around the cottage. He and another officer followed the tracks until they disappeared into the traffic of the main road. A detective was brought in and a medic to test Tobias' blood to see when the sedative entered his body. The detective hoped that this would give him a better estimate of how long his wife may have been missing.
Tobias tried to call Shelby numerous times, but got no answer. He was quickly losing his patience with her and was even beginning to suspect her of having something to do with his wife's disappearance. The detective conti
nued to ask him repetitive questions and it was quickly beginning to feel more like an interrogation rather than a simple questioning.
"Excuse me, but I need to call my in-laws. They should hear this from me and not over the news," Tobias said abruptly cutting off the detective. He pulled out his cell phone and called Azura's father and told him the difficult news. They ended the call quickly letting him know that they would be flying out there shortly. He tried to call Shelby once more and still no answer. He sighed as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.
"Are you certain your wife was happy in the relationship?" the detective came at him again.
"Yes, we made love and fell asleep holding each other. Does that sound like an unhappy relationship?" Tobias snapped.
"Sir, you should eat something, you haven't eaten all day," Debbie said offering him a plate of food.
"I'm sorry Debbie, but I can't eat right now, maybe just a cup of tea. "Tobias suggested. He knew that it would just sit and get cold, but he knew she was just trying to be helpful.
"Tea sounds good," Debbie replied as she walked back towards the kitchen.
Tobias sighed; this was not what he had intended as their weekend getaway. His cell phone rang and it was his parents. He explained everything to them and they also made arrangements to come as soon as possible. Soon the cottage would be packed.
♥
They had been traveling for eight hours. Jason only made one stop for gas four hours ago and soon he would be making another stop to fill up the tank. Azura was planning her escape. Having the ability to see in the dark, she found a sharp object to help shred the rope that was tied around her wrist. It took a while, but she was finally able to cut them off of her hands. She kept her hands behind her back and faked being asleep any time the van stopped. She thought about sneaking up behind him as he drove, but worried about her unborn child. In the end she realized that she would only have one chance to try and escape and she wasn't sure if she wanted to put her child in any further danger.
Azura decided to wait it out longer for the perfect opportunity or wait for Tobias to come through. Either way she did not want to put her pregnancy in any further danger. She overheard his conversations with his partner and realized he needed her alive rather than dead which gave her hope in getting out of this somehow. She also heard them mention Miami. It would be a long drive, eventually he would have to stop and rest. Azura decided that if the opportunity was right, she would make her escape then.
Jason pulled into a gas station and filled up the tank again. He was determined to put in seventeen hours of driving before he made a rest stop. He needed to distance himself as much as possible from the cottage in Wyoming.
♥
There was now a crowd of news media, reporters and investigators surrounding the barricades that had to be put up near the cottage. The Kidnapping of a billionaire's wife had made nationwide headlines. Tobias had just finished his press release when a limo containing Tamarius and Maxwell arrived. The two men stepped out of the limo; Tamarius was tall with broad shoulders and a well built physic. He had a deep caramel complexion and maintained a bald head. They both had dashing grey eyes and a smile to melt your heart.
Maxwell was also tall with a spice complexion. He had a head fun of soft curls and he was the older of the two. As they made their way to the house, the cameras flashed and reporters did their best to get their attention, but there complete focus was on the grief of their cousin. They were going to use their unique abilities to help him find his wife and bring her back home safely.
Tobias greeted them before they could make it to the front door. "You made it here fast?" Tobias said as the feeling of hope filled him.
"Well our jet is just faster than your jet," Tamarius teased.
"Oh we will have to see about that," Tobias chuckled lightly. It was the first time he laughed since the whole disaster started. "Let’s go inside." he said "There isn't much room, and there are a lot of cops running in and out. So privacy doesn't exist right now."
"It's okay," Maxwell replied.
The three men walked into the home. Tobias introduced them to the lead detective and then they were all seated around the dining room table. Tobias told his cousins everything, including the pregnancy. Tamarius and Maxwell leaned back in there chair and thought quietly for a moment. Tamarius was the first to speak.
"One thing that I have learned is that when your wife has a dream or a premonition, you got to listen. Women are very perceptive. That's just how God made them."
"I didn't know," Tobias defended.
"Of course not," Tamarius replied. "How could you, technically you two are still getting to learn the basics of each other. It takes time and wisdom to see if her insights are correct. Just keep a mental note of all this."
"I will now," Tobias said with a sigh.
"Don't lose hope, she will be found." Maxwell added.
"Who is Shelby?" Tamarius asked.
"How do you..."
"He has incredible insight," Maxwell said cutting off Tobias.
"Shelby is my assistant," Tobias answered feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Tamarius sensed that there was more to that, but didn't want to put his cousin on the spot with so many people listening in on their conversation. Just as Tamarius was preparing to ask another question. Tobias' cell phone rang.
"Excuse me," Tobias said lifting one finger to his cousin, while answering the call. It was his father-in-law. Tobias could hear his mother-in-law sobbing in the background.
Albert cleared his throat and began to speak. "There is something I should have told you when I last called. It was the purpose of my call, but I heard Azura laughing in the background. She was so happy; we hardly ever experienced that side of her. What I wanted to tell you was that a friend of Azura's named Morgan came by the other day and he gave my wife a warning. He said that a red headed woman came into Jason's office and was trying to hire him to put a hit out on Azura."
"What?!" Tobias said instantly boiling with rage. "A red head!" Tobias got everyone's full attention.
"Is Shelby the red head?" Maxwell asked his brother, who nodded right away.
Tobias ended the call with his in-laws, and turned his attention to the detective standing close by. He told him all what his father-in-law had told him and the detective left while putting out an APB on Shelby Meade. Tamarius rushed out to the limo driver and they searched for a map, he found one in the glove compartment. Tamarius rushed back into the cottage as he opened the map and spread it out on the table.
"I'm estimating that the kidnapper has been on the road for about ten or more hours. So where will that put him. What is ten hours south of Wyoming heading towards Florida?" Tamarius question out load.
"That could turn out tricky, because we don't know if he will take alternate routes," Maxwell replied.
"Well, the other suggestion is to find this Morgan guy, see what else we can learn from him. We should fly back to Florida now," Tamarius suggested.
"I can't sit here and wait around for the cops to figure things out," Tobias spoke under his breath.
"Do you have anyone who can stay here and manage things while the three of us take a ride? I think I know where they may be headed," Tamarius said to his cousin.
"Well I don't, oh wait, Debbie!" Tobias called out.
"Yes Sir," Debbie answered quickly.
"You are in charge, I'm going to forward my calls to the cottage phone. I'm going to take a drive with my cousins and see if we see anything," Tobias informed her.
"Not a problem Sir. Good luck, I hope your wife is brought back home safely," Debbie replied.
The three men placed back on their winter coats and protective wear then walked pass the shouting reporters, got in the limo and slowly fought pass the horde of people camped out around the cottage.
"The kidnapper has a good head start on us. We are hoping to catch up with him before he reached his destination," Tamarius said then continuing to fill him in on what h
e picked up on psychically. "Shelby is behind this, but right now I think even her, is in trouble."
"Well, she put herself in that situation," Tobias grumbled.
"Yes, but this is very bad," Tamarius replied.
Tobias leaned back in his seat. He now regretted the day he ever met Shelby.
Prowess
It was late Saturday night when they landed at a private airstrip in Orlando, Florida. Tobias, Maxwell, and Tamarius meet up with Azura's parents at their home, before they left for Wyoming. Tobias greeted both his in-laws with a hug. They all sat down in the living room, discussing Azura's Disappearance. Tobias was finally able to tell them the full story and why they were there. He however left out the part about Tamarius and Maxwell's special gifts
"I'm sorry for all of this," Tobias said as he leaned forward on the couch placing his for arms to rest on his knees.
"No sweetie, we should have listened to Morgan," Albert returned leaning forward also.
"Where is Morgan?" Tamarius asked.
"We don't really know, and I'm not sure where he works in town. We never really paid much attention to him, but you’re more than welcome to search Azura's room for any information you can find," Amelia replied.
"Where is her room?" Tobias asked immediately.
"Follow me," Albert said standing up from the couch and walking towards the large staircase.
The group all stood and followed Albert to Azura's room. It was at the end of the hall. On the door was a sign that read: Enter at your own risk. Tobias was eager to see what was behind that closed door in his wife's life. Albert opened the door and led them into the lavish bedroom. There was a full size bed at one end and the other looked like an inviting lounge area. On the walls was a full mural of a family of wolves in the snow. And everything in her decor reflected her love for wolves.