The sun’s gone down leaving it pitch black. There’s no moon tonight, no light to lead the way back to Abby. I’m certain she’s frightened, and that kills me. When there’s not a lot to do about her being scared, it would help to at least have some hope that she feels a tiny bit safe. She doesn’t like the dark. Always keeps a little light on at night. She hasn’t said this, but I think it helps keep the nightmares away. Since we’ve come back from Brazil she’s had so many of them. She wakes up almost every night screaming. I’ve heard her say things in her sleep, but not much of it makes sense. When I ask about them she blows me off changing the subject. That’s my girl, always trying to protect everyone but herself. So selfless.
I admire the way she loves her family. Always placing everyone’s needs above her own. That’s not something you see every day. But that’s who Abigale Young is. I love her for it, but it pisses me the fuck off when being selfless interferes with what she needs. And it does, often.
“What’s the plan?” I don’t answer. I have no idea what the plan is. I just don’t know.
“We’ll start at the fucktard’s house and work our way to his ass,” Michael says popping his hands and neck. “I can’t wait to see the terrified look on his face.”
“His house?” I don’t even think I heard what was said.
“Search it for something that can lead us to Abby,” he responds answering my question.
“Yeah, somethings gotta give. Right? People don’t just disappear without some kind of clue.” Nat taps the head rest of the hummer from the backseat. “My bad, some do, but pfft… I’ve met that asshole. Idiot city, boys and girls.” She’s right, it takes a lot to disappear without a trace, and I don’t think this guy has what it takes.
“Remember Remy Lovato?” Michael cocks his head in my direction.
“Yes!” Nat spits. “Perfect example.”
“He thought he’d left his life free and clear. No way to track him, so he’d thought. Now, that guy was good I’m not gonna lie, but still.” That was one of the first people our team had ever tracked down. Remy was a bad dude. Drugs, girls, anything that was attached to the persona of someone balls deep in the cartel. Hell, anything illegal he’d been a part of it. We tracked him for months coming up empty handed every fucking time. He had a girl that he was kinda tight with. She was the link to his world. He used her till she was dead in the street. Literally.
We’d gotten a call from an informant that he’d been seen in New York. It was a fluke really. Our informant had friends everywhere. He was asking just the right questions, though. Gotta be careful not to ask the wrong thing. That shit can get you killed. But he’d spread the word in just the right way. Sometime later we’d gotten a call from him saying Remy was spotted on camera in a casino. Remy was a gambling addict. At first we didn’t think it was anything. The report was the guy had legit docs and it couldn’t have been him. But facial recognition doesn’t lie. The casinos are operating at a whole other level these days and that facial recognition shit isn’t anything to fuck with. Once we got the word it was a legit sighting, we then also had the name he was using and BAM, we had our man. We turned him over to authorities and he currently sits in prison with four consecutive life sentences not to be served concurrently. This guy had killed anyone that looked in his direction just because he could. He deserves what he got.
Hell, I would’ve ran too if I was facing those kinda charges. “Yeah, I guess he didn’t know what or who he was dealing with, huh?”
“My point is that he couldn’t stay away from the shit that he was used to doing. An addiction to the tables. What would hold Hollister nuts in a bind? What makes him tick?” I tilt my head trying to answer that, but I can’t.
“I don’t know what this guy’s into,” I admit.
“Tits and ass,” Nat says. “Right? Seems that when we’ve seen him at the Hayes’ he was always with a new bimbo.”
“Yeah, but where besides a stripper joint would he go for that? Those chicks weren’t stripers or hookers, they were just dumb as shit.”
“Let’s start at his place, maybe we’ll find their numbers and ask them.” I see Nat shrug from the rear view.
“Sounds like a plan.” I feel helpless and hopeless.
Twenty minutes later we pull up to Hollister’s drive.
“Nice house,” Natalia says sitting forward in her seat.
His house is small from the front. Trees surround the access point and a large iron gate protects the driveway.
Nat exits the hummer tinkering with the box that keeps us from entering. “I think I got it… Presto.” The gate opens letting my hummer and the jeep that follows enter.
The driveway is short, winding down a hill to the side of the house. The lights on are in the very front exterior only, leaving this side exterior of the house dark. Nat gets us in and we slowly make our way through.
We’d talked about the fact that he could’ve brought her here. We’d originally thought that he would’ve taken her somewhere else, but this could be a possibility as well. So we tread lightly seeking each room like a combat mission. Knowing at any second the dice could roll snake eyes.
Michael stays close to Nat, always having her back leaving Baldwin, Skits, and Adam with me. We circle the house yelling all clear once we’ve checked every room. The house is dark and perfectly intact. No struggle here.
“He’s gotta be keeping her somewhere else,” Adam speaks while searching the cabinets.
“I found this in his office.” Nat runs into the kitchen handing over a piece of paper with the words ‘Marilyn Montgomery’ written on it. “Who do you think she is? Find anything else?”
Michael shakes his head in frustration. “There was nothing to find. No computer, nothing really. We found this under the desk.” Michael and Nat searched his office and if there was something to find they would’ve.
“Nat…”
“On it,” she responds before I can even ask her to find this woman.
Our group exits Hollister’s house with little info. Nat googled the name she’d found and came up with an address and phone number, but when we try to call it’s been disconnected. We decide driving to the address is our best bet. We’re not sure what we’re going to find or what questions are going to be answered, but right now it’s all we have.
The detective called to let me know there’s no background on this guy. It’s like he doesn’t exist. He has a medical license so I’d like to know how that’s possible. I’d like to know who the hell he really is. So many questions have been left unanswered.
When we arrive at the apartment building the GPS brought, us to we surround the building ready for the worst. Natalia stands to the right side of the door ready to pounce with Michael flanking her. I’m holding steady to the left, leaving Baldwin and Adam on the stairs watching our six. I offer a head nod letting her know we’re in place and ready to get this over with. Our plan is simple; have Nat knock on the door, women feel safer opening the door for another woman, then we jump in the situation.
She nods in return moving forward giving a girly soft knock. She’s smiling openly, waiting for the person on the other side to look out of the peep hole seeing only a sweet girl. I actually laugh just thinking that. No sweetness here. Hell, my little sister is tougher than any man I know. Okay, I admit she’s sweet when she wants to be, but that isn’t often.
Something shuffles on the other side of the door and we still our stances waiting. “Who is it?” Come on, Nat its show time. Lord knows this is her favorite part; if it’s playing anyone other than herself, she’s down.
“Hi, I’m looking for Marilyn.” She continues smiling. The door lock clicks and the voice on the other side appears.
“I’m Marilyn, who are you?” Nat’s smile disappears as quickly as it’s placed. Nat rushes first leaving Michael to follow suit and I turn whistling for the others letting them know we’re in. They guard the door leaving us inside with the mystery girl. “Who the fuck are you?” the tall bru
nette asks.”
“We’ll be asking the questions,” Nat hisses. “Sit!” She motions for the sofa. The scared girl does as she’s told. “We’re looking for someone that you may know.” The poor girl nods her head.
“Yes, anything! Please just don’t hurt me.” As she speaks, I hear someone in the other room. I immediately send my glare in the others’ direction.
“Who else is here with you?” I ask.
“Please don’t hurt him.” She cries, tears pulling in her eyes.
“Is it Hollister?” Nat jumps to her feet pushing Marilyn against the couch.
“What? No. Hell no!” Her face turns from sad to pissed in two seconds. When I turn following the sound, gun drawn, she screams again. “Please don’t hurt my baby!” I still my body as my hand makes contact with the door knob.
A small baby stands in the crib smiling at me. A little boy I’m guessing from the blue PJ’s. I tuck my gun in the leg holster and approach the baby bed seeing that there’s no one else in the room. “Hey, little guy.” I pull him into my arms. So warm and chunky. He grins looking up at me so I make a funny face, and he laughs pulling on my scruff.
“Please, what do you want?” Marilyn begs as I walk back to the others. I hand the little guy over to his mommy and nod for the others to chill out in front of the baby.
“We’re not here to hurt you or your baby.” Nat’s a vicious woman, but none of us would ever hurt a mother and her child. “Hollister Carlson? Do you know him?”
Her eyes meet mine in question then fall to the little boy wrapped tightly in her arms. “Yes,” she whispers turning back to me. “Why are you looking for him?”
“He’s taken my wife.” I want to kill that mother fucker. Just saying those words turns my blood into acid.
Her eyes widen in horror. She glances around the room “Shit,” she hisses. “Yeah, umm what do you need to know?”
“You could start by telling us how you know him.” Nat sits on the table in front of the sofa.
Marilyn nods her head. “Yeah, anything.” She stands walking to a corner that holds several toys and sits the baby down to play. When she returns, she sits taking a deep breath. “I met Hollister a few years ago. I was working as a nurse at the hospital. He…” She takes another deep breath. “He was really nice and… well, what girl doesn’t dream about marrying a doctor one day, right?” She smiles looking up with big eyes. “He’s the father of my baby.” Her eyes wonder to the corner the little guy’s in. There’s so much other shit she could’ve hit us with, but that’s pretty much the biggest. She turns to us, I’m assuming to wait for a shocked response, and she gets it.
“My wife Abigale is pregnant with our twin girls,” I say walking in her direction. When I sit across from her I take her trembling hands into mine. I need to connect with her, and the babies are going to be the way to do that, she’s a mother. “Less than twenty-four hours ago he walked into our hotel room, killed her guard, and took her. Do you know where he would go?”
Her eyes are huge, she’s shocked by what I’ve just confessed to her. “He did what?” she asks, her eyes bouncing from each of us and then back to her baby. “He’s not the guy I thought he was, that’s about all I know.” -00
“Listen, he took my sister and we’ve got to find her before something horrible happens, tell us anything.” Nat’s becoming impatient. I can see that this poor girl wants to be helpful, but doesn’t know how to be.
“Anything you can tell us would help.” I offer her an apologetic smile.
Nodding her head, her lips part leaving her eyes are hard on mine. She’s gonna spill it. “I haven’t spoken to him in a while. He’s a liar and a cheater. He promised me the world, but he was always so focused on something else. Someone else.” Nat turns to me when Marilyn says this. She continues speaking while twisting her fingers in my hold. She knows something, she has to. “I don’t know where he would’ve taken her. I know that he spends a lot of time in Vegas. That’s where he meets most of the hookers he parades around L.A.” She laughs. “Of all the people in the world he could get he chooses hookers.” She shakes her head. Tears rush down her face. She’s heartbroken for that loser.
“Does he help with his beautiful son?” I ask turning my gaze to the beautiful baby boy. So innocent and full of magical promises.
“No, he hasn’t seen Kaden since he was just a few weeks old.” She pulls her hand from mine wiping away a falling tear. “He denied him at first. Telling me that he needed a DNA test to prove he was the father. My parents helped me pay for that and he still refused to accept him.” Her head falls into her hands, and she cries. I imagine she’s crying for the future of her son. I don’t blame her. But I damn sure wouldn’t let that sick son of a bitch near my child if I were her. “I really don’t know where he could’ve taken her, but there’s someone that may be able to help you. She’s a dancer at Staged in Vegas. I was so rudely introduced to her once when we were dating. She approached us and they had a ‘moment’ of sorts. I think that’s when I really knew nothing would ever come of us. I could see then what he was, but I was pregnant and only found out one week later.”
“What’s her name?”
“Becky.” She shrugs. “Honestly though, she seemed pretty into him, so unless he dicked her over too, she might not be a willing participant in giving up any information up to you guys.”
“Thank you so much.” I feel really bad for this girl. “Are you still working at the hospital?”
She shakes her head. “No, Hollister was sure to get me fired from there once he realized I was serious about child support.”
“I want you to take this.” I reach into my wallet for a check writing it in the amount of one-hundred-thousand dollars. I know that I have the money just sitting there. No better way to do something good with the blood money, and if this was my child and I wasn’t around to care for him, I’d hope someone would help Abby. I know that Hollister doesn’t give a shit, but I’m nothing like Hollister. I fold it, slipping it into her palm, and close her fingers around it.
When she opens her palm and unfolds the paper seeing the amount it’s written, for tears flood her eyes. Looking up she says, “Thank you so much.” Most people would’ve immediately tried to give that amount back, but she doesn’t because she needs it, probably desperate and a mother’s love is stronger than all pride.
My mother’s love was.
I take a deep breath and reposition my face realizing quickly it’s stuck to the pillow case. Dried blood connecting me to it. Hollister hasn’t been in here for hours. He had come back in last night taunting me, telling me Evan was never going to find me and that he doesn’t love me. When I spit in his face, he punched me. My right eye feels the size of a baseball. My wrists are on fire. I spent most of the night trying to get them free from the plastic ties. They’re so tight, digging into my flesh that it’s impossible to break the restraint.
I’m lying on my side with my arms behind me. Curling myself into a ball is the only way I feel like I’m able to keep the babies safe. I haven’t felt them move for a few hours. I imagine they’re sleeping in their safe, warm home. My eyes have bounced around the room all night. I guess it’s night. I really don’t know what it is.
The room I’m in is made from concrete. An ugly yellow paint drapes the walls along with the BDSM shit lined up across from me. Every time he’s come in to torture me with his bullshit antics, he finds his way there first. Once he’s made me wonder what the hell he’s doing his beady little eyes look me over, preying on me like an animal. He’s done this three times since I’ve been here. I’ve never wanted to rip someone’s eyes out like I do his. If my hands were free, that’s exactly what I’d do. I want to watch him die.
I’m certain Evan has been searching for me. The clock reads 10:30 am when Hollister pulled me from the hotel suite. I know he didn’t hurt Evan. Hollister has already let that slip. But I know Brent’s gone and that tears me up. Brent was a good guy. I knew he really liked me, but alw
ays respected me. Never made me feel uncomfortable being around him. Anyone that knows me knows I love Evan to the depths of my existence. I’m bound to him forever and he is to me. I close my eyes seeing Evan, he’s all I want to see.
I’m jolted from the darkness when Hollister barges through the door. “Miss me?” his voice brings my hairs to attention.
If I’m going to have a chance I have to play nice. Oh, God, I don’t want to play nice. “Hollister, I need to use the ladies room.” I do. I have two little angels laying on my bladder and he hasn’t taken me since I got here. “Please untie me, my wrist are going to fall off.” His eyes lift question my sincerity. Yes, you prick! Question it and then believe me!
His body leans against the wall near the bed. “Why the fuck would I help you?” Are you kidding me? Oh God!
“Please, I’m going to pee myself. What could I possibly do?” Asshole!
His brows lift presenting with an evil thought bouncing around his lunatic mind no doubt. “Oh sweet Abigale, there are so many things you can do.” He pulls on my arm jolting my face from the pillow case. “You’re still so very beautiful, Abigale.” My eyes close knowing his hand is reaching for my cheek. When his cold touch comes I swallow, pushing the bile down.
He stands over my body pulling my chin up to him. My eyes open wishing I could get away. “Please untie me.” You bastard.
Hollister’s hands sweep gently through my tangled hair. I’m playing you asshole. I smile. His hands begin to gripping tightly. “If you run I’ll kill you.” I nod leaving him unaware that I’ll do what I need to.
After having pulled a large knife from his pocket, he opens it. He pulls my body forward leaving my face in his crotch. Disgusting! The knife trails my skin from shoulder to wrists. Feeling one of the babies kick in my belly gives me the courage that I need. I’ll do what I have to do to keep them safe. I’ll fight for them, I’ll live for them, and I’ll die for them.
Our Sins Page 13