“You can tell me anything, Mason, you know that?”
He put it in James’ hand and put his hands behind his back. James opened the box and inside it contained a piece of paper with a key. James opened the paper and on it was instructions to opening something with the key and a phone number.
“What’s this, Mason?”
Mason crawled onto the bed, but he kept his head down. He still seemed to not want to break Danny’s trust.
“Mason, if you know what this is, you need to tell me,” James said firmly and when Mason glanced up at him, and James felt terrible for raising his voice. Mason’s lower lip stuck out like it always did when he was about to cry.
“I’m sorry, buddy, I didn’t mean to raise my voice. It’s just this could be really important and I know you promised to keep a secret, but this could help us bring Danny home.”
“Daddy, ‘member when the man took Danny at the park?”
James nodded.
“He gived Danny that box and told him that he needed to find a box with a lock on it that Auntie Marina had and it belonged to the man. He said Danny had to open the box with that key and when he got all the stuff in the box he had to phone him on that number.” James’ mouth hung open as he listened to what his son was telling him.
“Did Danny give him the things in the box?” James was trying to stay calm but the phone number could lead them to Marc and Danny.
“No, ’cause we couldn’t find it. I even helped him but we couldn’t find any box with a lock, and Danny was ’fraid to ask his mommy because the man said she’d be real mad.” Mason huffed out a long breath. “Daddy, did I help?”
James smiled at Mason and kissed the top of his head. “I hope so, buddy. Thanks for telling me, but you need to get some sleep.”
Mason snuggled down in the bed and yawned. He seemed relieved to have it off his chest.
“Goodnight, buddy.”
“You don’t have to sing the tough boy song tonight, Daddy. I’ll wait until Danny’s home.” Mason closed his eyes, and James hurried from the room.
James wasn’t sure if the key and number was going to help find Danny, but at least they had an idea of what Marc wanted. James just wanted to know what was in the box. He bounded down the stairs two at a time, calling out to Marina.
“What’s wrong?” She was still in the kitchen in front of the window.
“I need you to think really hard about this. Do you still have anything belong to Marc? Like a box that this key would unlock?” James held up the key, and Marina stared at it.
“I don’t have anything that belongs to him. When he left I packed everything and he had one of his friends pick it up. Anything that was left, Dad stored for me.” Marina took the key and studied it. “But this key looks familiar. Where did you get it?” James led her to the living room and told her what Mason had said.
“Mason said he and Danny looked for the box but couldn’t find it,” James finished.
“I’ve got no idea what box he’s talking about,” Marina said.
“I’ve got to call Keith and see if he can find out anything from this phone number.” James pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“Maybe you could call Greg and your uncle first and let them know about it.” She stared at the key in her hand as if willing it to tell her something.
Keith arrived not a minute before Kurt and Greg walked into the house. John, Aaron, Nick, Ian, and Mike arrived a few minutes later. Stephanie, Kristy, and Isabelle showed up together and kept Marina company while Keith was on the phone with Sandy, seeing what she could get from the phone number.
James paced the floor and Marina’s phone rang almost every ten minutes because her parents wanted an update. James had stopped answering his phone since Nick started to keep their parents and Nanny Betty up to date. Not that there was much to find out. The phone number they found belonged to a Martin Tapper, but Sandy believed it was an alias Marc was using because the photo ID came up with Marc’s picture. Keith asked her to keep searching for anything and ended the call.
“So the phone number is no help,” Keith said.
“It’s a burner I’m guessing,” John said.
“I’m not sure, but Sandy’s going to do a search on this Martin Tapper alias Marc is using,” Keith said. “She wants me to find out how much Marina knows about Marc’s past. Some of what she can tell us might make the search faster.”
“Is that really necessary?” James knew the answer before he asked the question.
“I’ll try not to upset her,” Keith promised.
James followed Keith out of the kitchen and into the living room where the women were sitting. James didn’t need to look to know that the rest of the men were following as well. Marina met his gaze and he nodded as Keith sat on the coffee table in front of her.
“Marina, I know this is probably going to be hard, but I need to know everything you can tell me about Marc,” Keith said.
“Like what?” Stephanie answered for her.
“Everything you can remember he ever told you about his past.” Keith said. James sat next to her and she immediately leaned into him.
“He didn’t talk much about his past. The only thing I know is his biological parents were killed in a car accident when he was three and he was placed in an orphanage. The O’Reilly’s adopted him when he was four. Mr. O’Reilly was killed in an industrial accident when Marc was eighteen, I think, and Mrs. O’Reilly was so devastated she killed herself just over a year after that. Everything was left to Marc because he was their only child, but they didn’t really have much. He used the money that he got from the sale of their house to put him through chef school. I met him just after that.”
“Do you know the names of his biological parents?” Kurt asked.
“He never told me and I never asked because it was hard for him to talk about.” As hard as Marc had it, James didn’t feel any sympathy for the man because of what he was putting Marina through. A difficult childhood was no excuse to put someone through this turmoil.
“You don’t have any idea what box he’s talking about?” Greg asked.
“I told James, I’ve never seen any box.” Marina sighed.
While they were talking to Marina, the front door burst open and Sandy ran in struggling to catch her breath. James didn’t miss the glare she gave Ian, but she hurried by him and right to Keith.
“Why don’t you answer the damn phone?” she snapped at Keith and James couldn’t help but smile.
“It didn’t ring.” Keith stood up and she didn’t back away. She put her hands on her hips and glared up at him.
“I called ten times.” Keith reached in his pocket to pull out his phone but didn’t find it. He hurried into the kitchen and came back with it in his hand.
“Sorry, I left it on the kitchen table. What’s up?” Keith shoved the phone into his pocket and James chuckled when Sandy mumbled something under her breath about brothers being alike.
“Well, if you had not left your phone on the table, I could have told you that I pinged the phone and have a location where to find it.” She held out a tablet in her hand.
“This is in town,” Keith scanned the tablet.
“Not exactly. Shea Heights is kind of in town and out of town but it’s way up in Maddox Cove Road,” Sandy said pointing to something. “It’s like it’s back in the woods.”
“Wait, Marc’s family used to go up there camping when he was a little boy. They even towed an old trailer up there.” Marina stood and looked over Sandy’s shoulder. “I went up there with him once. It was way back in the woods, but you couldn’t drive in there. We had to take a four-wheeler but we only went there once because it was in pretty rough shape.”
“Would you remember exactly where it was?” Keith asked.
“I don’t know. That was when we first started dating.” Marina shook her head. “I do remember there was a big yellow sign at the entrance of the path that said ‘O’Reilly’s get away,’”
While Marina t
ried to give them directions on how to get to the camping spot, Kurt called the station to set up a team to go. James, John and Aaron were only permitted to go if they stayed back and let the others go in first. Keith never agreed and made it clear to their uncle he wasn’t his boss.
“I’m going with you.” Marina was heading out of the living room behind Kurt.
“I’m sorry, Marina. I can’t let you go. I’m already bending the rules by letting James, John and A.J. go.” Kurt was pulling on his jacket.
“He’s my son.” Marina stepped right in front of Kurt with her hands on her hips and her face inches from his uncle.
“That’s why you can’t be there.” Kurt was calm. Probably because Marina was doing a good impression of Nanny Betty at the moment, and Kurt had dealt with his mother’s wrath a time or two.
“Why, because I’m not some big bad cop?” Marina was poking Kurt in the chest with her index finger. “I’ll have you know your daughter has been teaching me a thing or two about self-defence and the way I’m feeling right now I could probably kick your butt.” Kurt’s lips twitched as if he was trying to hold back a grin. James couldn’t hold it back and as he glanced around nobody else was either.
Kurt wasn’t worried about Marina kicking his ass in the least. For one the man was a fourth-degree black belt and taught him and his brothers as well as his own daughters. Jess, Ian, and Keith stuck with the sport over the years. The rest of the brothers and cousins got as far as brown belts.
“Marina, it’s better if you stay here. It would be safer for Danny because if Marc sees you he may do something.” Stephanie had pulled Marina back from Kurt but there was still rage in her eyes. She seemed to be like a caged animal as they all got ready to leave. He had to admit he was pretty proud of her standing up to his uncle the way she did. Kurt was a big man, but his mother always said a mother bear will do anything for her baby. Even if it endangered her own life.
“Marina, I’ll call you as soon as we know something, I promise.” James pulled her aside and held her in his arms.
“Please be careful and find him.” Marina clung to him.
“I’ll do everything I can to bring him home.” James lifted her chin so he could see her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Marina stood on her toes and kissed his lips softly. James hugged her and followed the team of men out of the house.
Chapter 21
He looked around the cold, dark room when the man closed the door. He slowly moved towards the old bed and climbed onto it. It made a scary, creaking sound and he didn’t like it. He was really scared and he wanted to go home to Mommy, Uncle James and Mason. He wrapped his arms around himself and rocked. Mommy always made him feel better when she rocked him. What if he never saw Mommy any more? He couldn’t run away because he didn’t know where he was and the man was so big.
Besides, Mommy said he should never run away because he wasn’t happy. The man said he was his daddy, but how could that be? He was mean and he yelled. Uncle James didn’t yell at Mason. He missed Uncle James and he wanted him to be his daddy, not this mean man. He curled up on the bed and cried until he fell asleep.
He woke up a while later shivering. He was so cold, and it was dark in the room. He jumped down off the bed and ran to the door to open it, but it wouldn’t open. He banged on it and screamed as loud as he could. He didn’t like being locked in the room. He screamed so loud his throat hurt. He was kicking the door when it swung open and knocked him to the floor.
“I want Mommy,” he screamed at the man.
“I don’t want you here anymore than you want to be here, but you need to shut the hell up so I can get your mother on the phone. Now get in that bed and go to sleep before I give you something to scream about.” The man towered over him, and he didn’t like the way he looked at him. He was like a monster.
“I’m cold and thirsty.” He sobbed and hiccupped.
“Come out here, you pain in the ass.” The man grabbed his arm and it hurt. He sat him at the table and put a can of root beer in front of him. “Drink that and here’s a blanket.” He tossed the blanket on the floor and sat on the couch.
“I need to pee.” He pulled back when the man jumped up and lunged at him.
“Jesus Christ, kids are a fucking pain.” He opened up another door and pointed. He really had to pee badly but he was afraid the man would lock him in the bathroom. He slid off the chair and walked slowly to the open door. At least there was a light.
“Hurry the fuck up, kid.”
After he used the dirty toilet he walked out of the bathroom. The man was standing with the blanket in his hand and pointing to the dark room. He really hated the dark, but he knew the man would get mad if he asked to leave the door open.
“Get in there and go to sleep.” He pushed him into the room and threw the blanket at him then closed the door, leaving him in the dark again. He climbed up on the noisy bed and curled up under the blanket. It smelled funny but he was warm. He started to cry until he was too tired to stay awake.
*************************
The sign Marina told them about was still there but faded. James thanked their lucky stars, because without the sign, they’d never find the entrance. Like he promised, James stayed back and let the others go ahead of them. The pathway was rough and full of debris, almost as if nobody had been through there in a long time. It made his heart sink.
“I don’t know how anyone would get through here with a kid in tow,” Aaron said as if he was reading James’ mind.
“I don’t think any vehicles have been up this way, but maybe there’s another way to get there that we don’t know about,” John said.
“This snow is not making it any easier to find the fucking thing either,” Aaron complained. James knew his brother was getting frustrated because he’d been cursing Marc the whole way into town. Aaron didn’t get angry often but it seemed Marc was bringing the worst out in all of them.
The snow had slowed a bit but it was still making it difficult to find the trailer Marina had described. Kurt had turned around several times and the look on his face said Kurt was thinking the same as everyone else. They probably wouldn’t find their way to the place in the dark with it snowing, even with the flood lights.
James was ready to give Kurt the word to stop the search, when he heard Greg’s voice up ahead.
“Newfoundland Police Department, open the door.” Greg’s voice boomed through the woods and by the time James got through the opening, one of the other officers had pulled open the door. The trailer had broken windows and it was rusted badly. His heart sank at the sight. There was no way they’d find Danny and Marc in there. Greg and Cory came out through the door of the trailer. Their faces showed nothing as they walked up to Kurt and Keith. James wasn’t staying back any longer and jogged up to the group.
“Nobody’s been in that trailer in a long time,” Greg said.
“I’ll call the coroner.” Kurt turned from the group and put the phone to his ear.
“Wait? Coroner?” James legs almost gave out.
“James, it’s not Danny,” Cory grabbed James before he went to his knees.
“Then why are you calling the coroner?” John had joined the group.
“We found human remains inside but they’ve been there for a while.” Greg said. “The remains are chained to a chair.” All the air whooshed out of him and he went to his knees. Aaron and John knelt next to him and listened as Greg explained what they found inside. “It looks like whoever it is was kept there against their will. I think it’s a male, but the remains are badly decomposed.”
“So Marc and Danny haven’t been here?” Aaron sighed.
“I’m not going to say no, but I really don’t think so,” Greg said.
“So now what do we do? Sandy said the phone signal came from up this way,” Keith said.
“We have to wait for forensics to go through there, but if the phone is here at least we know Marc has been here.” Kurt had rejoined
them.
James stood up again and glanced around the clearing. He just wanted to scream and run at the same time. He’d have to go home and tell Marina they didn’t find Danny and she was going to be devastated. He turned and headed back to the main road because he just wanted to get away from everyone so he could catch his breath.
“We’ll find him, bro.” Keith was behind him, and James nodded but didn’t speak. He wouldn’t be able to control his emotions if he spoke at that moment.
He managed to find his way back to the main road alone, but the road was pitch black. Not unusual around the area because there were very few street lights. Not many people lived out that far. James just wanted to get back to Hopedale and see Marina. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to John and Keith telling them he was heading home. There were enough vehicles so he didn’t worry about anybody not having a way home, and besides, he just wanted some solitary time to figure out what he was going to say to Marina.
By the time he got into Hopedale, the snow had almost stopped but the roads were completely covered and he had to take his time once he turned onto his road. He managed to get his truck into the driveway without much trouble, but getting out of the truck seemed to take everything he had. Going into the house and telling the woman he loved that he didn’t find her son was tearing him apart. As much as he had promised himself he wouldn’t get his hopes up, he had and the disappointment was gut wrenching.
The front door opened before he made it up the steps, and Isabelle stood there with a sombre look on her face. For a moment she just stared at him but then she walked out and closed the door behind her. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
“John called and told us what happened,” she said when she stepped back. “Uncle Sean came by and gave Marina a sedative. Mostly because she kept saying she can feel how afraid he is. I don’t know how true that is but Nan seemed to believe her.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” James hissed through his teeth.
“Nan managed to get her to go to bed and told her we would send you up as soon as you got back.”
Dangerous Abduction (O'Connor Brothers Book 2) Page 20