There was a knock at the door. “Hello, anybody home?” a voice rang out.
Octavia took the opening when it came. “Yes, come on in, we’re in the kitchen.”
Jonathon gave her a sideways glance and released her, taking long strides through the kitchen to the front door. Jonathon held out his hand, and a lanky tall Caucasian man accepted it for a shake.
“I’m Adam Fletcher,” the man said. Officer Davis opened the door and moved in behind him.
“I see you’ve met Adam,” Officer Davis said.
“Briefly,” Jonathon retorted.
“Can I call you Jonathon, or do you prefer Rose?”
“Jonathon will do.”
“Good.” Officer Davis turned to Adam. “Adam here will be your door man. We’re calling this stop station three. There’s a clipboard here with the names of all our volunteers. That includes anyone who’s working with us to find Ayana Bradwell.”
Octavia bent the corner with a long tray of warm bagels with crème cheese on a side dish.
“Ms. Davenport,” Officer Davis called. Octavia sat the tray down on her dining room table and made her way over to the men. “Do you mind if I call you Octavia?”
“Not at all.”
“Thank you, miss,” the officer said. “I was just telling Jonathon here that Adam will be your door man. He has all the names of the volunteers on this clipboard. Whenever someone enters, they should have a badge like this.” Officer Davis tugged at the badge Adam wore. It was a simple recyclable badge that said, ‘Hello my name is,’ with the recipient’s name written across it with a dry erase marker. “The badge will be stamped with Chicago PD’s seal on it. It lets you know that someone didn’t just walk into your home without clearance. Although our volunteers will be wearing this, Adam will also be checking their names off a list as a second line of defense, so to speak.”
“That’s good,” Octavia chirped with a warm smile.
“We have to cover all areas when it comes to safety. Don’t want anything happening out of order. We’ve got big fish to fry.” Officer Davis looked to Jonathon. “What time do you think your guys will be here?”
Jonathon flipped his wrists and checked his time. The squeal of breaks outside drew everyone’s attention. Jonathon stepped past the officer to peer out the screen door.
“Looks like them now,” Jonathon said.
“I didn’t expect them to get here so fast,” the officer said.
“It’s been a few hours, that’s all the time we need. What you’ll find out about Rose Security Group is the men are efficient, timely, and thorough. We move as a unit, and we see everything.”
“Sounds like the government,” Adam said with a flaky laugh.
“The men that makeup Rose Security come from a variety of backgrounds,” Jonathon informed. “Military being one of them.”
Six black stretch hummers with tinted windows pulled to a stop in front of Octavia’s house. The vehicles were so large they took up space in front of Octavia’s neighbors’ homes across the street and on the side of her house.
“We may have to have them park around the corner,” Officer Davis advised.
The doors opened, and the men stepped out, mostly dressed in camouflage gear with combat boots that covered their feet up to their ankles. Jonathon left the porch to meet the men as they gathered around Octavia’s yard. Officer Davis and Adam followed closely.
“Listen up,” Jonathon spoke. “This is a search and rescue mission. The same rules apply here as with every job. Officer Davis will break you up into groups of ten and give you an area to search. You stay together, keep an eye out on everything, including each other. I don’t have to tell you to keep your weapons locked and loaded. You know the rules of engagement. Keep your earpiece on the same channel. If you begin to spread apart, always send your location. Every twenty seconds that you’re out of eye shot from your comrade, send in your position.”
From the porch, Octavia looked on with admiration as Jonathon spoke.
“If you haven’t heard from a team member, and you’re in the same group, radio him. We don’t have time for mishaps. Let’s find Ayana Bradwell and bring her home safely.” Jonathon turned to Officer Davis. “I’ll let you take the floor, officer.”
“Thank you, Jonathon.” Officer Davis tugged at his belt buckle, pulling his pants to rise over his protruding stomach. “Hold this for me, Adam.” Officer Davis sat the briefcase in Adam’s outstretched arms and opened it. He pulled out a stack of folded maps and handed a load to Jonathon to pass out to the men on his left, as Officer Davis passed them out to the men on his right.
“This is our current area. The red marks are where we’ll be searching. I’ve separated you into color groups so that it will be easy for you to keep up with the members of your team, and it will help us with which party tagged what.”
The men opened the map, and they all stood tall and strong, silently accessing the blueprint. Officer Davis handed out blue, white, red, yellow, and green pads. He handed a few to Jonathon.
“These are your tags. If I could get you to all form groups of twenty, I’ll assign you a color.”
The men moved in order and quickly got into groups. Officer Davis watched with approval. There was no fighting, fussing, or trying to get in groups with people you know, like with his volunteers. Instead, the men were well organized, tapering off into segments as if they’d been previously assigned.
“You’ll each need a leader of your group.” Officer Davis walked to the edge of the lawn to the men standing in position waiting for further orders. “Who’s the leader of this group?”
A man in every group stepped forward in sync. Officer Davis continued to be in awe at their organization. He gave a tag to each of the group’s leaders as he walked down the line.
“If you see something suspicious, tag it. Don’t move it, or touch it unless it’s Ayana herself. Mark the area with your color-coded tags so we’ll know where to look or find the activity you found.” Officer Davis moved to stand in front of the men, and Jonathon stepped to his side.
“The areas circled with your color is the area you’ll search,” Jonathon said.
“As of right now, we have no plans to stop this pursuit when it gets dark. That doesn’t mean we won’t call it off at that time, but just in case, take flashlights,” Officer Davis said. He waved Adam over and pulled more items out of the case. “These glow sticks will be your markers at night should you come across suspicious activity. They are also color coordinated with your groups.”
Officer Davis and Jonathon handed out the glow sticks.
“For now,” Officer Davis said, “I’m only giving out a few. It is my belief that if it gets too late, and we are not successful in finding Ayana Bradwell, the search will most likely be called off and resumed the following day. If the late hour finds us, and you run out of sticks meet back at one of our set stations. This house is station three. There are fifteen stations marked on your maps in green. You can stop at either of them and find water, food, and shelter and a bathroom if need be. If you’re too far out to get to a shelter, there are pit stop portables, which most people call porta potties that are circled in purple with a PP logo stamp next to it.”
Officer Davis turned to Jonathon. “That’s about it for now. Do you have anything to add?”
“I think you covered it,” Jonathon said.
“All right, in that case, the search is ongoing, fellas. I need you to move your vehicles to Greenhouse Square Park. If you head straight down this street and make a left, you’ll come to a light, make another left, the park is on the right.”
“Move out,” Jonathon ordered.
The men turned and marched down the steps in an orderly fashion. Officer Davis turned to Octavia just as Jonathon walked toward her. Officer Davis closed his briefcase and took it off Adam’s hands.
“Octavia, I wanted to ask another favor of you,” Officer Davis said. He trudged up the steps to stand in front of her and Jonathon. �
�Our stations are all set up to receive phone calls from the public should anyone have tips or information about Ayana Bradwell’s disappearance. I would like to set up one here as well.”
“What would that entail, officer?” Octavia asked.
“I’ll be honest with you. You should consider getting a few friends over to help out. For some, answering calls and dealing with the public can be mentally exhausting. I can lend you Adam here and maybe one or two others, but because we need the grounds covered, I can’t do much to help you with more than that. If you’re not up to it, that’s okay, I understand. But just to let you know, after 9 p.m., the calls are rerouted to the department, so you’re not disturbed after hours.”
“O,” Jonathon said, washing a soothing hand down her back, “you don’t have to do this.”
Octavia offered up a small smile. “It shouldn’t be too bad, right?”
“Well, having a hotline could make you a target of prank calls but not much more. The location of the stations is only given out to volunteers, and those people are signed in at the department and checked.”
“O,” Jonathon said, grabbing her attention. Octavia glanced up at him. “You don’t have to do this.” He knew taking on a task like this could trigger the memories Octavia had worked so hard to move past. Jonathon was unaware that Octavia currently fought with them.
Octavia slid a hand down Jonathon’s arms until their fingers met. She smiled over at Officer Davis. “He’s always so worried about me.”
“And for good reason, I’m sure,” Officer Davis said.
Adam spoke up. “If my woman were as beautiful as you, I’d likely keep her chained inside the house.” He gave off another goofy hoot, and everyone gave him an inquisitive look. Neither Jonathon or Octavia bothered to correct his assumption that they were a couple.
“Did Mr. Fletcher get checked out?” Jonathon asked, referring to Adam. “Because he might just be holding someone hostage at his place.”
Adam’s grin dropped, and his yellow face turned pale. Officer Davis chuckled. “Adam’s all right,” he said. “Just has a dry sense of humor.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Adam defended. But Jonathon held a stern eye on Adam. He didn’t play games when it came to Octavia. Sensing this, Officer Davis spoke up again. “I’ll tell you what. For now, we’ll just disregard having the hotline set up.”
“Let’s do that,” Jonathon responded.
“Jonathon,” Octavia said, pulling his eye back to her. “Everything will be all right. You worry too much. I’m convinced it’s your line of business that has you this way.”
“Octavia, you’re doing enough.”
Octavia ignored him and turned back to Officer Davis. “I’ll do it.”
Chapter Four
Officer Davis looked from Octavia to the fiery glare in Jonathon’s eyes.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to throw a happy home into disarray.”
“Jonathon and I are not together. We’re close friends.” Octavia squeezed Jonathon’s hand affectionately.
Jonathon spoke to Officer Davis but kept his eye on Octavia. “Officer, I’m going to stay here and help Octavia with the hotline and help Adam here with the traffic. If you need me for anything, you know where to reach me.”
“Adam,” Officer Davis called, “grab the telephones from the van, son.”
Adam left the porch and walked down the street to the officer’s truck that sat on the corner. Back in the house, Octavia put out more bagels and fresh orange juice as Officer Davis and Jonathon set up a phone station in the living room with two lines. Going to her cell phone, Octavia made a call that was answered promptly.
“Hey girl, what’s going on?”
“Hey Selena, are you busy?” Octavia strolled to her living room window on the opposite side of the room and peeped out the blinds.
“If you call busy spending money I don’t have to grab these new Jimmy Choos, then yes I’m busy.”
Octavia smirked. “You only live once, right?”
“That’s my girl!” Selena chirped. “What are you doing?”
“There’s a missing teenage girl from my neighborhood, and Chicago PD is using my house as a station. They’re setting up a hotline as we speak. I was wondering if you could come over here and help me take some calls. After you purchase your Jimmy Choos of course.”
“Damn, Octavia, you should’ve said that first. I’m on my way.”
“Thank you, girl.”
“Who else is coming?”
“Jonathon’s here, and a volunteer is here, I would’ve called Santana, but she’s still on her honeymoon.”
“Call Claudia and Samiyah. They wouldn’t mind helping.”
“I know, but you know how I am, I don’t like interrupting people’s lives.”
“Oh, but you can interrupt my life?”
Octavia chuckled. “I knew you were probably having a lonely Saturday like me.”
“Oh, girl, please. Saturday just started about four hours ago. The time between midnight and 5 a.m. don’t count.”
Octavia laughed harder. “That’s why you’re always late to work right there.”
“Same as you,” Selena retorted.
“I’ll see you in a minute,” Octavia said, taking her eyes back across the room. She watched as Officer Davis walked Jonathon through proper procedures to handle the call volume that would ensue once the line was active. It was another rare time where Octavia found herself accessing Jonathon from head to toe. Her heart fluttered as her vision rose from his firm stand to his muscular torso that was slightly hidden behind the thin gray shirt he wore. Jonathon stood with legs apart and feet planted firmly. His arms were crossed as he and Officer Davis spoke. Octavia’s gaze continued to rise past his toned arms, masculine neckline to land on the sharp angles of his face.
Jonathon was all Octavia wanted in a man. Their friendship had quickly grown, and being attached to the hip was becoming common. She hoped he wouldn’t abandon her if she took too long to give in to their flirtatious repartee. Even if Octavia never got over her parents’ death, she hoped for her sake Jonathon would stick around. Being with him was so calming, and Jonathon treated her with the utmost respect. Anyone on the outside looking in would mistake them for a couple. Octavia had found herself correcting people with their assumptions on many occasions. But it didn’t pass her that Jonathon never did.
With everything that they discussed, sometimes in detail, Jonathon and Octavia had never broached the subject of a serious relationship. Although they both wanted it, and both felt the strong connection, they’d continued to walk the fine line of being ‘just friends.’
The front door opened and two women, medium in height in blue jeans and light jackets walked through the door. Snapping out of her fog, Octavia approached them.
“Good morning, I’m Octavia, this is my home. Would you like breakfast, something to drink, or…”
The lady to her left held up a hand for a shake. “I’m Sandra Bradwell, Ayana’s aunt.”
Octavia accepted her handshake. “I’m so sorry about Ayana, how are you doing?”
“We’ve been better,” Sandra said. “We just wanted to stop by and thank you for all you’re doing to help us find our niece.”
The other woman held out her hand, and Octavia took it. Jonathon eased into their space and read the name tag on the woman’s jacket.
“I couldn’t help but notice your name, Janet,” he said. “My mother’s was Janet. It’s a beautiful name.”
Janet smiled. “Thank you. I’ll have to agree.”
The ladies chuckled.
“Come inside and have some breakfast. There is orange juice and water this way,” Jonathon offered.
“Thanks, but I just need a restroom,” Janet said.
“I’ll take a bottled water if you have it,” Sandra added.
“Janet, I’ll show you to the bathroom, and Jonathon will take Sandra to the breakfast table.”
They all departed, goin
g separate ways. Before long, the house was abuzz with different people coming in and going out. Earlier when Jonathon had come in with a shipload of bagels and crème cheese, Octavia thought he’d lost his mind. But now she surmised that the food would most likely be gone before lunch. And that was saying a lot.
Selena rushed through the door just as the phone rang and Jonathon answered it. Everyone in the room turned to Selena as she bent over to catch her breath as if she’d run a marathon.
Octavia glanced at the clock on the wall and approached her.
“I called you two hours ago, where have you been?”
“Girl, trying to get to this street is like fighting cats and dogs at the same time, you hear me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can tell you’ve been stuck in this house and not outside if you don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“It’s a traffic jam out there. Because of the search, several streets are blocked off. Not only are people searching the wooded area out back but they’re all through the city and park, girl. Took me an hour just to navigate through traffic, and another one to find a parking spot. Which ended up being at Greenhouse Square Park.” Selena paused to catch her breath.
“How are you out of breath as skinny as you are?” Octavia said.
“Skinny?” Selena said. “Where?”
Octavia chuckled.
“Just because my hips aren’t as full as yours don’t make me skinny. Matter of fact, I think I resent that. Hell, I’m out of breath because I need a good man to whip me back in shape if you know what I mean.”
“Oh my God, you are too much.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Oh, I believe you.” Octavia waved her over. “If you want to put your stuff up, take it to my room.”
They strolled to the back, and Selena left her purse in Octavia’s walk-in closet.
“Have I told you how much I envy your walk-in closet?”
A Lifetime With You (Falling For A Rose Book 5) Page 3