9 Ways to Fall in Love

by Caroline Clemmons

  Agent Woods took notes from his phone call then communicated with the group. “My guys were trying to track the plane but had no luck, seems the kidnappers knew what they were doing in regard to planes. The GPS tracking device has been disabled.”

  Grayson didn’t want to accept what he was saying. “You mean to tell me that I can’t carry a full-sized tube of toothpaste on a plane, but we have crazy people who can access a private jet stored in a secure hangar?” His hands were clinched into fists in frustration. Agent Woods tried to explain.

  “The hijackers could’ve posed as maintenance personnel prior to the flight, which means there is more than one person involved in the operation.”

  Grayson interrupted, “That’s just fucking great. We’re post-9/11 and this shit can still happen.” His words packed such anger, Agent Woods backed up a couple of steps.

  “Look, I understand what you’re saying. At this point, we trust no one outside of this group, speaking only with myself or Agent Barnes. Regarding the text from Alexandra, she left her phone on in the air, so we don’t know yet what tower pinged the data as they traveled. It’ll take some time to trace it. We hope her phone’s on and will give us a quicker turn on where her location is now.”

  The agents took them to a conference room at the airport and informed them that it would be the command center until Mr. Morrison’s plane arrived from the Caribbean.

  Agents Woods and Barnes were all suit and tie, operating by the book and without a great deal of communication. They showed no emotion when they spoke to the family. As they worked through the processes, they were all business.

  “Each of you and your luggage will be cleared as part of protocol, I hope you all understand.” The group nodded in agreement.

  Harrison, taking the lead for the family, said, “Agent Woods, the Morrison’s legal team will be here momentarily. Do we know when to expect Al’s plane?”

  “When Mr. and Mrs. Morrison finally get here, we will process them and inspect their plane for anything unusual. Until then, you folks just have to be patient and let us do our jobs!” Agent Woods spoke in a stern voice and asked everyone to take a seat.

  Grayson slipped off and composed a text to Alexandra, just in case she would find it at some point...

  I love u, I will find u!

  Agent Woods took a detailed account of everyone’s activity leading up to the last couple of weeks and believed the initial intent was to capture Mr. Morrison on the plane, not Alexandra. However, by getting Alexandra, they had Al Morrison where they wanted him. As the interviewing process unfolded, Al and Gretchen Morrison arrived and joined the group.

  “This man called and wanted money. He demanded funds to an account in the Grand Cayman Islands which leads me to believe this is not a business deal, but rather someone that we met or worked with while on our trip to the Caribbean.” He took a pregnant pause for a moment and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He continued to unravel the last few weeks of their trip, and answered the repeating questions from the Agents. “We anchored out in the cove off the Cayman’s like we do every year with our normal group of friends. The second day, there was a new couple who joined up with us. They seemed really nice, very personable.” His voice broke at his thoughts of them. “They asked a lot of questions about our life, our family. We just thought they were being nice.” He bent forward and rested his face in his hands. “How could I’ve been so naïve?”

  Agent Woods continued to peck away at his computer as he input the information into a database. Agent Barnes researched information on her computer regarding the registry of private yachts as well as paid charter services. “Do you remember their names or the yacht registry?”

  Al and Gretchen discussed between themselves, agreeing that their names were Thomas and Georgiana Mancini. They remembered the yacht was commissioned as Georgia Nights.

  After the intense interviews were completed, the authorities allowed the group to communicate with each other. Alexander grabbed Grayson, embracing him as he wept. “We will find her, son. I’ll do anything to get her back.”

  Harrison approached them and pulled Grayson aside. The group stood back and witnessed the brothers suddenly share an emotional embrace. Zoe watched them with swollen eyes and a tear-stained face. Alexander and Gretchen held onto Cooper. He stared at his phone like it was a lifeline, as if he halfway expected Alex to call.

  The time didn’t move, minutes took forever to pass on the clock. The agents flitted back and forth as they busied themselves with phone calls and computers. They kept the media at bay and insisted on privacy at the airport with increased security detail.

  The startling ring of Al’s phone brought the group out of their dismal mood. “He…hello?” He asked slowly.

  “Listen carefully, ol’ man.” A gruff voice vibrated through the phone. Al motioned to the agents that it was the kidnappers on the phone. The agents scurried to activate the high-tech monitoring equipment attached to Al’s phone in hopes garnering the tracking information. Al’s brow beaded in sweat, he staggered and Gretchen grabbed his arm in support. The stress of the situation crushed him.

  The monster continued, “I have your daughter, and I have demands that are clearly defined in a package that has been delivered to your home. Your home is being monitored. Go home alone and follow the packet instructions clearly.” The call ended abruptly.

  Agent Woods reacted quickly, preparing Al with one GPS device attached to his zipper and another attached to his eyeglasses, just in case their plan was thwarted in any way. He gave Al instructions on which way to travel home and reminded him he would see FBI agents posing as a landscaping team. Agent Woods described in slow, meticulous detail how there would be agents that would tail him, but they would be switching in and out with other cars as not to appear suspicious or be picked up by the kidnappers.

  “We don’t know right now how big this outfit is, so we aren’t taking chances. Agent Barnes and our security detail will transport the rest of you by helicopter to Mr. Brooks’ penthouse for your protection until further notice. Don’t use your phones or speak to anyone outside of this group, we don’t know if your phones have been accessed.”

  Agent Woods left with Al while the rest were escorted away to Harrison’s penthouse. On the way to the penthouse, Agent Barnes got a call that Alexandra’s phone had been traced and was still giving a signal that was coming from the Florida Keys. The group heard Agent Barnes mention the word “pirates.”

  Al made his way home with Agent Woods hidden in the trunk. He followed all instructions to the letter given to him by the special agents. His heart raced and his hands shook violently as he applied the gloves to handle and examine the contents of the package. As instructed the disposable phone that the FBI had given him was used to photograph and document the contents. He sent the images to Agent Woods, who was now hiding in the garage. The demands were quite simple.

  Ten million dollars wired to a Grand Cayman Bank, account# AB2011774 by noon Thursday. Once payment is made, your daughter’s whereabouts will be provided to you. If you don’t follow the instructions, your daughter will die.

  Al called Burton, his financial advisor, explaining that he had a dire request and needed him to come to the house immediately. Once Burton arrived, he introduced him to Agent Woods and the FBI took over the instructions for the transaction, requiring a documented wire transfer delay to allow for time to pinpoint the trace from Alexandra’s phone. They set the plan in motion and notified the pirates that the wire transfer would be made.

  ***

  It had been a difficult night, without any answers for the family. Grayson paced the floor, repeatedly checking his phone for some magical ring signaling that his nightmare would be over with a happy ending. From time to time, Harrison reached out to his brother, trying to mend fences.

  “They’re going to find her. Alex is strong, you’ll get through this together.” He embraced his twin, but Grayson’s face was staunch and uninviting, his body stiff.
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  Grayson pulled back and threw his hands in the air. “Everything was perfect. She agreed to marry me and make us a family and now some sick bastard who values money more than her life has her. She’s my soul mate. The love of my life, I’ll be damned if some crazy wacko is going to try and take her away from me!” He clenched his fists from anger, propelled by fear packaged in 220 pounds of frustration, a physical bomb ready to explode.

  “I have confidence is these agents. Do they know she’s pregnant?” Harrison was giving it his best shot at showing brotherly compassion. He made eye contact with Zoe, but she just looked away. A true sign that he had to mend the fence on his own.

  “Yes, they know. I’m scared to death for her and the baby. There’ve been issues already. I’m worried what the stress of this is going to do her. If they hurt her, I’ll...” He didn’t finish his rant but rather drew back his foot and kicked a chair into the wall, the sheetrock crumbling under the force. Zoe jumped to her feet in attempt to console Grayson. The rest of the family just watched in horror and feared that a normally docile man had been stunned in anger.

  “Why don’t they tell us anything? I wish they would tell me how Al is holding up.” Gretchen said in tears as she paced the floor.

  “The waiting is unbearable. Preggers or not, when she gets home, I’m going to tie her to chair until she agrees to behave. I might even just kick her ass for being so stubborn,” Cooper blurted in frustration. He slammed down his bottle of water, spilling it everywhere.

  The hours passed slowly, with the night fading into early morning without any news. Grayson paced the floor, tight with tension. His eyes were red and painfully swollen from stress and lack of sleep.

  Just before dawn and as the final details of the wire transfer were going through, Agent Woods received a call from his team that they had pinpointed Alexandra’s phone and it was still showing traceability. The phone was traced to a warehouse in the Florida Keys. The FBI and local SWAT team had the building surrounded. He passed the information to Agent Barnes. The transfer would be stalled long enough to allow the SWAT team to storm the building.

  “Dr. Brooks, we’ve located her in a warehouse in Florida. We’ll be taking possession of the building momentarily and I’ll know more in a few minutes.” Agent Barnes turned and spoke quietly into the microphone on her wrist in a cryptic message.

  Grayson sat down on the sofa, leaned forward, and put his face in his hands and wept. At that moment, he felt his life hung in the balance between good and evil. The rest of the group surrounded him, silent in their own prayers.

  ***

  Time crept slowly, but sleep was not on my agenda. I managed to get into a sitting position and off my painful knees. I tried to do some yoga moves to work out the aches of my body and instill some form of calmness and control. My attempt at the Lotus Pose did nothing for my fear, but how could it, with hands tied behind my back and my face still covered? Anxiety was on the verge of surpassing me. I wanted to fight, if not for myself, for my baby. Talking to my baby seemed to bring calmness with its quiet whisperings.

  “Your daddy loves us and he will find us. I love you, pumpkin. Keep safe in there.” I choked on my own pleading whispers.

  The quietness of my surroundings was interrupted by quick footsteps and the distinct voices of a man and woman. The voices were getting closer and I could hear the metal on metal sound again. The woman spoke from behind me in a strong Jamaican accent. “I’m going to remove your hood and untie you. Don’t turn around, bitch, or he’ll kill you. I’ve got some food here. Enjoy it, it’ll be all you get today.”

  Eat? Who could eat in a time like this?

  The woman removed my hood, but I didn’t move. I heard what sounded like a chair scraping across the floor. She untied my hands from behind my back before I heard the metal again and the disappearing of the footsteps. After a few minutes, I turned around to examine where I was.

  Oh god, they put me in a cell! The table in front of me held a bowl of soup and bread. Beside me, a sleeping bag lay crumpled on the concrete floor. I had to crawl up to a standing position. My painful and disoriented body made moving and walking difficult. I held onto the chair and took a good look around me. Fading light shone above me through a skylight. It was like my four foot cell was on display in the warehouse. While I couldn’t see anyone else, I could make out a van parked at the end of the building but nothing past that from the darkness.

  The knowledge of my phone still in my underwear tempted me. I wanted to take it out and call 911, but the fear of them watching me kept me from giving away the secret that I had the phone. I wondered if it was even still powered up or if my texts managed to make it out. I just stared at the food. Eat? No way. What if it had poison in it?

  The silence was broken by a rush of loud noises and an explosion in the distance. Men were yelling, “Get on the ground!” but I wasn’t certain if it was meant for me or my kidnappers. I grabbed the sleeping bag and dove under the table, crunching up as tightly as I could.

  I heard gunshots around me and voices yelling back and forth. I remembered the line from Forest Gump: “God make me a bird so that I can fly far, far away.” I prayed for my baby’s safety.

  My body began to shake violently and I felt a horrible pain in my leg. It was dark, too shadowy for me to tell what was going on, when I made myself peek out through the opening in the sleeping bag. I heard the metal sounds again.

  “She’s over here! I need an ambulance!” a man shouted from beside me. He lifted the sleeping back and lifted the table off me, but he didn’t move me.

  “You’re safe, Alexandra. I’m Officer Jason Knox, from SWAT. We’re getting you to the hospital. It’s over, you’re safe with us. Just hold still for me.” He moved my hair out of my face and I saw that he had blood on his hands. Was it my blood?

  Moments passed before they rolled the stretcher in. Several people began to work with me while they stuck me with needles and asked me lots of questions. All I could think about was my little baby. The paramedic informed me that I’d been shot in the hip and he thought the bullet had traveled down and out my thigh. There was a lot of bleeding.

  “Ma’am, were you beaten?” one of the paramedics asked while he made notes on the back of his hand.

  “Yes, but I’m okay, I’m pregnant and just need to know my baby is okay. I want to call my fiancé. My phone’s right here.” I pointed inside my pants.

  The SWAT officer and the paramedic retrieved the phone and held it up for me to see. It came apart in a couple of pieces, the bullet having ripped through the screen. The phone had deflected the gunshot.

  “Seems as though by hiding your phone there, we were able to track you. The phone probably saved your life, since it took the shot first. It’s busted. Let’s use mine, I’ve got some folks wanting to hear from you.” He smiled at me.

  It was the first time I actually felt a bit of relief. Once they got me in the ambulance, the officer called Grayson.

  Chapter 2

  “Honey, I’m okay. God, I love you. It’s so good to hear your voice.” My voice trembled with emotion. I couldn’t hold back my tears. I spoke through hysterics and sobs, not able to hold my composure even a minute longer. My teeth chattered together, my body shook, and I gasped for air. The officer had to hold the phone.

  “Thank god you’re okay, baby. I’m on my way to you, I love you so much. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I heard the despair in his voice and knew that he was riveted with anger.

  “I’ve been shot, they’re taking me to the hospital now.” He cut me off as he yelled.

  “What?! Let me speak with them now! Hand the phone to them.”

  “Jason,” I began quietly, “this is Dr. Grayson Brooks, my fiancé’. He wants to speak with you.” I handed the phone over. I knew that Grayson would dictate a million instructions with his business-like routine.

  “Dr. Brooks, I’m SWAT Officer Jason Knox riding with her to St. Clair’s Hospital. The paramedics tell me she’
s stable, with a shot to the hip and leg.” His eyes gave his in-ear interrogation away, giving me the clues that the good doctor was asking a million questions and barking a slew of orders.

  “Yes sir, we’ll have the team work with the pilot and keep you updated on your way here.” They hung up just in time for the ambulance to stop.

  The hospital team swarmed around me, with a faceless female voice barking orders. Finally, she leaned in over me so that I could see her. “Hi, Alexandra, I’m Dr. Jenny Mason. While the nurse applies a pressure bandage to your leg, we’re gonna quickly confirm everything’s okay with your baby, then we’ll need to take you to the operating room and patch up this leg, okay?”

  “Please tell me my baby is okay.” Tears fell freely. I couldn’t hold them back any longer. My body shook, and self-control was no longer an option.

  The gel was cold on my skin, but the goose bumps and panic were choking me. While Dr. Mason looked at the ultrasound screen, her lips were tight and her expression turned to a grimace. She took her time scanning both through my tummy and from the inside of my vagina, looking for my little baby before she finally turned her face to me. It was the look I couldn’t bear to see. Sad eyes.

  No please, please, don’t say it, I pleaded silently.

  “Alexandra, I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but there’s no heartbeat on either of these ultrasounds. I just don’t see a viable pregnancy. Your blood work doesn’t show high hormone levels either. We’ll use a fetal monitor for a double check, but I don’t think your pregnancy was able to survive the trauma that you have been through. I’m so sorry, sweetie. It’s not fair. While it’s not what you want to hear, you’ll be able to try again very soon, I promise.” She leaned in to me, encircling me with her arms.

  The nurse fitted me with the fetal monitor, but there were no sounds of a heartbeat. She shook her head no. I asked for some privacy to say goodbye to my baby.