by M. T. Pope
Chapter 40
Troy
Moving Forward
I exited Jasmine’s house all smiles two days ago. I wasn’t expecting to find all of the things that I found that day. The evidence in that place was off of the hook. Her obsession for Alex rivaled my own obsession for revenge on the siblings. She was a walking time bomb that already had exploded. I was amazed at all of the crazy that was behind those beautiful eyes and face. You would never know she was that disturbed by the way she carried herself. I simply marveled.
I also went to check on the feisty Diana Black. She was holding up pretty well under the circumstances. Everything was setting up very nicely. I was actually giddy on the inside. Almost hated to see it all end. Almost.
I racked my brain relentlessly trying to figure out a way to find some information on Ashley’s disappearance. Who could have been involved in this?
“Oh, shit. Maybe the chick I bumped into at that restaurant awhile back with Ashley might have something to do with her disappearance.” I didn’t know why that didn’t come across my mind sooner. I was hopeful as I packed up a few of my things and took a trip back to the restaurant.
It took me about forty-five minutes to get to the restaurant because of traffic. I hated Baltimore traffic.
I got out of my car and made my way into the establishment. It was as I remembered it from before. It was moderately busy as I entered and waited to get the attention of the hostess at the front.
“Hello, sir, how can I help you today?” The pretty female greeted me with a smile.
“Hi, I’m Detective Lee. I need to speak to the owner or whoever is in charge at the moment.”
“Sure, hold on for one second,” she said and then turned her back to make a call on the phone that was located behind her. She said a few words that I didn’t pay attention to because there was an attractive young male looking in my direction. He was with someone but he gazed at me for a few seconds and then his attention went back to the person he was here with.
“Sir?” I heard the young lady call out to me breaking me out of my trance. “My boss will be with you shortly. He asked if you could take a seat in the waiting area for a few minutes as he makes himself available.”
“Sure.” I nodded my head. “No problem at all.”
A few minutes passed before a thin white man, maybe about in his late forties, walked up to me. “Detective Lee?
“Yes.” I stood up and reached out to shake his hand. “How are you today?”
“I’m doing well. Is there something that I can help you with?” he asked. He had a concerned look on his face. I was betting he was wondering if this was personal or business related. It was the way most people looked when they were approached by someone of law enforcement. It never changed and it didn’t matter when it came to ethnicity either. The law made people uneasy.
“Yes, but I need to speak to you in a private setting,” I insisted.
“Sure, follow me,” he said as he turned and led the way through the restaurant, through the kitchen, and into a small office located in the back. “Please have a seat.” He pointed to a chair in front of a small desk as he sat down behind it.
“I’m actually here to inquire of an employee of yours.”
“Who might that be?” he asked.
“Well, there was a, I presume, black female chef who works here who I needed to get in contact with.”
“You must be talking about Antoinette,” he said, giving me her name. Information I didn’t have.
“Is she the only female chef that you have on staff here?” I inquired.
“Yes, she was,” he said disheartened.
“Was?” I asked.
“Yes, she gave me her leave notice about a week ago. She said that she needed a change in her life and that she was moving out of state to get a fresh start on life. She apologized for leaving me high and dry. I can’t say I was happy with her decision because she was a great worker and person. She never gave me any problems. It is going to be tough to replace her. Why are you asking about her? Is she in some type of trouble?”
“I am not at liberty to say anything about that. Can you give me her last name?”
“Her name is Antoinette Andrews.”
“I am grateful for your cooperation today. It was very helpful,” I said as I got up out of my chair and reached over the desk to shake his hand.
“It was no problem at all. I hope that everything is okay with her,” he said with a hopeful smile.
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” I said with a smile to ease his mind. Too bad those were not the thoughts I was having in my mind. She was as good as dead in my book.
I exited the establishment, got into my car, and pulled off toward the precinct. Now that I had her name all I had to do was research her information and go looking for her. I was hoping that she hadn’t skipped town like she had told her boss. I was screwed if that was the truth.
I was back at my office desk in about a half hour. Traffic was light because it was so close to noon. I logged on to my search database and keyed in her information and got all the information I needed within a matter of a half hour. I also received the surveillance video from the neighborhood where Ashley had gone missing. It had a good shot of the scene as Ashley was abducted. The person in the video chucked her phone in the water and then grabbed her and stuffed her in the rear of a vehicle. I amazed that no one saw this, but it was late at night in a predominately quiet neighborhood. The person got away without a hitch. I couldn’t have done it better myself.
Everything was falling into place. I was back out of my office by two in the afternoon with a list of previous addresses in hand. This chick lived all over this city. I was up for the task.
I had been through some of the toughest parts of the city looking for Antoinette and Ashley or any sign of the vehicle. It was getting late and I was becoming more and more discouraged as time went on.
I had gotten several calls from members of the Black family asking me if there was any progress going on in the search with Ashley or Diana. I sorrowfully replied with the lack of any progress in either disappearance. I was sure this family was breaking apart at the seams with the things going on. Any family would be on edge waiting for any news of hope. I wasn’t going to be delivering hope. I was going after my own justice and they would have to suffer as the justice I’d deliver became apparent in the end. The dead bodies and memories would be all that they had left.
It was getting late and the last house I was going to was in the suburbs. I drove down the street slowly as I approached the residence. This was a neighborhood of detached houses. Perfect for doing the unthinkable, namely kidnapping and killing. I drove past once and noticed a vehicle that looked similar to the one in the video surveillance footage.
I parked my vehicle a few cars down, got out of the car with my silencer-enhanced gun on my person, and casually walked back to the residence. I didn’t know what was going to happen but I hoped that Ashley and this chick were still in here and Ashley was unharmed.
I walked up to the door with my gun in hand and knocked. There was silence for a few seconds. I knocked again but harder than before.
“Who is it?” The person who sounded like a woman answered the door.
“I’m looking for my son. He said this is where he was going to be with a friend of his,” I lied.
“Don’t no kids live here,” she replied.
“Well, this is where he said he would be and I’m not leaving until I am sure he’s not here. I’m about to call the police because I don’t play when comes to my children,” I threatened. There was a click or two and the door popped open enough for someone to pop their head out. I didn’t hesitate once I knew that it was Antoinette. I quickly pulled my gun out and put my foot in the door preventing it from being closed.
“Back up and let me in or I will kill you,” I threatened through clenched teeth. I didn’t want to draw any attention in this direction.
She didn’t he
sitate as she pulled back and let me in. I closed the door. I didn’t hesitate to aim the gun at her head and shoot before she could even get out another word, leaving her dead where she stood.
Chapter 41
Ashley
Rescued?
There was a knock on the door that both Antoinette and I heard. She put a finger up to her mouth signaling me to be quiet.
“Make any noise and I will not hesitate to end that noise with a bullet to the head,” she threatened, as she retrieved her gun from the dresser drawer where she stored it and then placed it in the back of her pants. She left the room and made her way down the steps. I heard her say something but I didn’t know what it was. I was hoping that it was someone here looking for me. There was another knock and then silence. I didn’t hear anything else for a few seconds and I began to get nervous. I heard footsteps coming back up the stairs. The hope that I was feeling quickly dissipated. That was until I saw the face of Troy peek into the room with his gun in hand.
“Baby, I’m so glad to see you.” I smiled and cried at the same time.
“I’m much gladder to see you,” he said with a smile as bright as my own. “I didn’t think I was going to find you,” he said as he rubbed my face with the back of his hand ever so gently.
“I can’t wait to see my family. Untie me, Troy, so we can get out of here. Where’s Antoinette?” I asked. I didn’t really care. I wanted to be sure she was no longer a threat.
“She’s downstairs. She’s no longer a threat.”
“You knocked her out?”
“Permanently.” He smiled. I didn’t feel as happy as he did. I wanted her out of my life again, but not dead.
“Really?” I asked, shocked.
“I had to do it. She was in the way of my plans for you. For us,” he said as he smiled. I couldn’t help but feel special for someone to go to that length to get me back in their life.
“Well, you had to do what you had to do,” I said as I pulled on the rope that Antoinette had me tied up to. “Baby, untie me so I can get dressed.”
“Not yet,” he said. “I have to do something first.”
“What is that?” I said with an attitude.
“This.” He raised the butt of the gun in the direction of my head. It didn’t take me long to realize what was going to happen next. I had been here before.
I awoke tied up in a room and the muffled moans of another person caused me to focus my eyes. I had a splitting headache, but my heart fluttered with joy as I saw my slightly malnourished-looking sister Diana tied up in the same manner that I was. I was so glad that she was alive, but I was more curious as to why we both were tied up like we were. I know Troy was behind this but I didn’t know why.
There is always someone looking for payback, always someone hunting for blood. Always! That was the only thought I could think right now. It was the only reason why we were here.
I heard footsteps once more, getting closer and closer to the room we were located in. The person entered the room. It was Troy. He had on a smug smile on his face. If the look in my eyes could have killed him he would have been dead.
“I guess you are wondering why you are here?” He laughed a little before he spoke again. It was a weird laugh. Like he was a lunatic or something. “Well right now is not the time to let you know the reason. I have one more piece to the puzzle to get together and then I will direct the final scene of your lives. I bet you didn’t see this one coming.”
I lunged toward him in the chair with all of my strength but I did get anywhere at all. He had us bound really well. I couldn’t believe that I was freed from one captor only to be placed in captivity once more. This was the third time that I had been in a tied up chair situation and as the saying goes, three strikes and you’re out.
This was kidnapping situation number three for me. The first two escapes/rescues were good. But I need a sure enough miracle right now. We both did. So I closed my eyes and began to pray like never before. I didn’t know how long I was praying but I did it loudly and I guessed it pushed Troy out of the room or house for all that matters, because when I finished and opened my eyes he was no longer in the room. I looked at Diana who was crying and it looked like she had been crying the whole time she was in here because her eye sockets were very swollen. I could only imagine the thoughts and feeling she went through all of this time here all by herself. It had to be pure hell. Damn near insanity.
It grew dark in the room and the realization that Troy had left us alone brought no consolation to me. No one knew we were out here. We were left to see how this was going to play out. Fear set in as the minutes ticked past. Dread and wonder of what was to come invaded my every thought.
Chapter 42
Alex
Clueless
A day or two went past and once again I was sitting in my parents’ living room waiting for a word from somebody, anybody, on my sisters’ disappearances.
Presently, I had two sisters missing, a mother very close to losing her sanity, a father who was too quiet, and a younger brother and sister looking to me for answers. Wallace was deep in thought as well. He was sitting in the corner of the room with his hand on his chin and his eyes closed. Troy had stopped through yesterday with no good news and Jasmine was missing in action.
“I’m going to step outside for a moment,” I said to no one in particular. Everyone’s eyes shot toward me. I focused on the look of my mother’s eyes the most. It was filled with tears.
“Mom, I’m going to step right outside the door for a breath of fresh air,” I said as I walked over to reassure her. I kneeled down, cupped her hands into mine, and kissed her on the forehead. “I won’t go any farther.” She pulled me in for a tight hug and I looked at my father before I walked out of the room.
If I were a cigarette smoker, right now would have been the time that I would have inhaled a few of them back to back. The tension was so thick in the room. The police were no help to us right now. They were as clueless as we were. There weren’t a lot of clues to go on anyway. Troy had been out on the prowl looking for Ashley with no hope.
I wasn’t standing outside but a few minutes before Wallace came outside to join me. “How are you holding up?” he said as he stood next to me a few seconds before he started to talk.
“Man, this is some wild mess here.” I shook my head. “Wilder than California.”
“I don’t know about that, but this situation is running neck and neck in the ‘what in the hell is going on’ category.” He let out a slight chuckle. He was trying to lighten the mood I guessed. It was a nice try since the statement was true.
“Yes, that is true.” I wanted to smile, but it wasn’t happening. “We had a crazy time in Cali early on. Drama.” I huffed. “It seemed like all we come up against is drama. We go to school in another state and drama is there. We move back home and now some more drama has popped off here. What is it with this family and drama?” I rambled on.
“Every family has drama. It’s a part of life.” Wallace shook his head. “You know I know all about it.”
“Yes, but damn, man. Can’t we get a break? This is some heavy things going on. I feel like death is looming around and is getting ready to rear its ugly head.” My voice trembled. The thought terrified me. “I’m not built for all of this. Nobody is. Somebody has it out for this family and I don’t know why. This is not random. And the reasons could be anything,” I said as I looked at him in fear and panic.
“That’s why if you have to go anywhere you don’t go alone and never deviate without letting someone know. We have to keep everyone close and keep an eye out for anything. Whoever’s involved will slip up eventually. We have to be focused.” He always sounded so grounded and confident. It was definitely needed right now.
“Wallace, all of what you are saying is true. I don’t know if I’m coming or going right now. I don’t know who’s who and what’s what. I’m clueless. I’m the nosey one and I’m clueless. That is not a good look right now.”
<
br /> “Nobody has it all any of the time. Only God. You are not alone in this. Even though it is tough right now your family is tough as nails and you all will make it through this. I know you will,” he said as he patted me on my shoulder. I felt a slight relief. I was wondering how long it would last.
“You are right. We have some tough blood running through our veins. We are survivors.” I nodded my head in confidence.
“Alex, I really have to say that I am proud of the way you are holding things down right now. I have seen stronger men fall under lighter pressures.” We looked at each other as he spoke. I could feel the authenticity of his words. Again, they lifted my spirits a bit.
“Thanks, I can’t take the credit. God got me.” I smiled. “We will survive this.” I smiled even harder. But my mind was saying, I hope so.
“You will. I can feel it.”
“Great.” I turned to go back in the house. “Let’s get back in here and look for some more clues on Ashley’s laptop and get something to eat. I am starving.”
“Cool. I’ll order some pizza for the whole house,” Wallace said as he walked into the house with me.
Chapter 43
Jasmine
Gone Fishing
I was sitting in my bedroom with the lights off. It was completely dark in my room. I was deep in thought. All of my plans fell through with the exception of the one growing in my body. I sobbed uncontrollably at the fact that my fate was in the hands of another man. One whose was more incoherent than my own. I didn’t know what Troy had cooked up but I was now an instrument in his plans. I was going down one way or the other. I didn’t plan for this.
Out of nowhere I began to hear the maniacal laughter of my mother’s voice all over the room.