There was a small leather pouch on top, holding down the documents. Since Livi had a few minutes, she removed it to examine the contents. The only valuables she owned were in that pouch. There was Brendon’s wedding band and a diamond bracelet that he had given her for their fifteenth anniversary.
The diamonds were tiny, and Livi didn’t think the jewelry was worth a lot, but it had sentimental value. She put those back in the pouch, then pulled out Brendon’s watch. It was a sturdy military watch that she had given to him as a birthday gift.
Brendon had worn it on every mission after that. He cherished the watch; it reminded him of home. The metal band was still strong. Livi turned it over to read the inscription on the back. She had requested a special message from the engraver.
To my wonderful husband, a brave Navy SEAL.
Livi remembered when Brendon had unwrapped the gift. He appreciated the thoughtfulness and told her that he would wear it during missions. She rubbed her thumb over the engraving, taking a moment to honor her husband.
Then Livi felt a prick on the edge of her thumb and looked to see what had caused it. There were rough edges to the word SEAL that she hadn’t remembered. The engraver had made the inscription smooth so it wouldn’t catch on clothing.
Livi looked closer. There was the tiniest space around the letter S. She fumbled in her drawer for a tool kit she used to tighten her sunglasses. The narrow tip of the tool fit along the letter S, and Livi pressed the flat edge into the groove.
The back of the watch popped open and Livi stared. Secured beneath a metal clip was a piece of paper. She slipped it out then opened it up. A message was written in dark ink.
Livi couldn’t breathe. The message was information about an offshore bank account, including the location and the account number. She realized what she held in her hand. She had to deliver it to Caleb immediately, so he could give it to the authorities.
With shaky hands, Livi carefully placed the message back in its holder then snapped the back of the watch shut. She slipped the watch on her arm, but the band was too large, so she pushed it up above her elbow. Then she grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and put it on to hide the watch.
Livi cradled the metal document box in one arm, intending to return it to the safe—then picked up her phone to text Caleb. Before she could do so, two men entered her office. The youngest one was Ibrahim Bousaid. The photograph of him had been a good likeness, so must have been a recent picture.
Adrenaline flooded Livi’s system and she felt dizzy.
“We’ll take that,” Ibrahim said, motioning at the metal box.
Livi’s mind raced. She had to buy some time. “It’s mine. There’s nothing in here that would interest you.”
“Adam, take that from her,” Ibrahim said to his accomplice, a muscular male in his thirties.
Livi appeared reluctant, hoping the intruders would assume what they came for was in the box. Adam took the box but didn’t open it.
“Let’s go,” Ibrahim said to Livi.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“You are going with us,” Ibrahim said, then moved closer. “And don’t make a scene…we have your daughter. If you make any trouble, she will suffer.”
Panic gripped Livi. It couldn’t be. Julie was safe at the college. Yet she couldn’t be sure they were bluffing and wasn’t willing to take a chance. She followed Ibrahim out of the office and slipped her phone in her pocket.
Once they were on the sidewalk, Ibrahim held out his hand. “Your phone?”
Livi handed it over, and he dropped it on the pavement then crunched it under his foot and kicked it away. Her hope of rescue went with it.
Adam and Ibrahim escorted her to a van. It was an older model with Ike’s Carpet Cleaning painted on the side. The door slid open and Livi was shoved inside. She took a seat on a padded bench on the right side of the van, and her captors sat across from her.
The driver was ready with the engine running. He was tall, so when he turned, Livi got a good look at his face. Although she didn’t know what good it would do to identify the men, since there was a chance that she wouldn’t get out of this alive.
They drove down the street at a normal speed, while Adam went through the box. He riffled through the papers first, disgusted at what he found. After tossing the documents aside, he dug into the leather pouch. In one hand, he held a gold wedding band and a delicate diamond bracelet.
“This is all,” Adam said, holding the items out.
Ibrahim looked at Livi. “We have something to discuss.”
“I don’t know the value of the bracelet, if that’s what you want to know.” Livi figured that playing stupid might delay her fate.
Ibrahim chuckled. “Oh, come now, don’t play coy. We both know what I’m after.” He leaned closer. “Where is the money?”
“What money?” Livi said.
Ibrahim drew back and slapped her with enough force to knock her to the side. “Now, I’ll ask you again…where is the money?”
Livi put her hand on her cheek. The pain was effective, as it woke her up to the nightmare. If she was going to come out of this alive, she would have to get smart.
“You have made a grave error,” Ibrahim said. “You have stolen funds that belong to my uncle. It has taken a long time to find you, and I intend to recover what is his.”
“Maybe your uncle has had the money all along, but didn’t tell you,” Livi said.
Ibrahim huffed. “That’s ridiculous. My uncle was informed that the funds had been delivered, only your husband intercepted the transaction. The funding source swore on his life and the lives of his children that he had delivered the information as promised.”
Livi had no doubt that the source may have forfeited his life in that transaction.
“What does all of that have to do with me?
“Livi, you know very well,” Ibrahim said. “A husband trusts his wife. She is his property and wouldn’t dare fail him.”
Livi recoiled but kept her emotions in check.
“Your husband died—a courageous death, I’m sure,” Ibrahim said. “But a large amount of money is missing, and I need you to help us find it.”
Livi got the message. “I can’t help you.” She thought of Julie but plunged ahead. The only way she could help her daughter was to escape. There was little hope of that, but she had to think of something.
Ibrahim narrowed his eyes. “When we arrive at our destination, I’m confident that I’ll be able to persuade you to change your mind.”
Livi glanced at the floorboard, where the metal box had been discarded. An idea formed in her mind and she had no time to reconsider. If she didn’t escape now, she wouldn’t have a chance.
“I feel sick,” Livi said in a weak voice, then leaned over. She put her head between her knees as if to settle her queasiness. Ibrahim sat up, watching her. Adam had lost interest and was looking toward the rear of the van.
Livi dug deep for strength. She grabbed the metal box and thrust it at the driver’s head. With a thud, it hit him above the ear, and he slumped over. The van swerved, tires squealing. With a crunch of metal, the vehicle hit a barrier, and the heavy impact stopped the van.
Livi was on the floorboard and Ibrahim had her arm. The driver wasn’t moving. Adam yanked open the sliding door and Ibrahim dragged her out. Both men drew their guns, and Livi prayed that she didn’t face a worse fate than before.
Chapter 15
Caleb was delayed at the office, but for an important reason. He was cooperating with the FBI on Livi’s case, providing advance information to get it rolling. He was anxious to tell Livi; she would be relieved to know that the government was taking part in resolving the situation.
When Caleb got to the academy, he didn’t hear any noise. Livi was probably in her office.
After walking through the rooms, Caleb had a bad feeling. No one was there, and there was no sign of where Livi had gone. He went out to the sidewalk then spotted a phone on the g
round next to the wall. He picked it up. It was Livi’s phone, smashed to bits.
Caleb texted for backup but didn’t wait for Hawke’s reply. He hopped into his truck and peeled away from the curb. Each team member’s vehicle had a tracker, so the backup crew would have no problem following his truck.
It hadn’t been that long since Livi had replied to his text. That narrowed the window of opportunity. Caleb sped down the road, watching for any vehicle that was out of place. At first, he had no luck. He stayed alert and shifted into battle mode. He was calm but focused—yet it took inner fortitude not to panic.
Then he spotted a van up ahead. It was an older model, so it stuck out. When Caleb got closer, he read the company name on the rear door—then he did a quick search for Ike’s Carpet Cleaning. It was a fake company, as he’d suspected. If his hunch was correct, Livi was in that van.
The driver turned off the main road and headed out of town. Caleb followed, watching in his rear view for backup. He didn’t know how many men were in that van, so didn’t want to take a chance with Livi’s life by barging in and trying to be a hero.
The van drove farther from the main city, staying within the speed limit. Suddenly, the vehicle swerved, tires squealing, and smashed into a concrete barrier. Not far behind, Caleb pulled off the road and leapt out.
Two men with guns hauled Livi out of the van and dragged her away. Caleb sprinted toward the scene, and the men looked up. He recognized Ibrahim, the man who had Livi in his grasp. The second man had fallen back.
When Ibrahim turned, he pointed the gun at Caleb.
Caleb raised both hands and said, “Alrafiq.” Calling the guy comrade in Arabic was enough to make him pause, and before he recovered, Caleb was in his face.
Livi had a scratch on her cheek, but otherwise didn’t look hurt. She was terrified, but Caleb didn’t need to look at her to know that.
“I have the information,” Caleb said. “You can have the money.”
Ibrahim kept the gun pointed at Caleb, but his expression changed and a spark of hope lit his dark eyes. In that instant, Caleb thrust his forearm at the inside of Ibrahim’s wrist, with enough force to knock the gun off target. When the gunshot sounded, the barrel was pointed at the roadside, not Caleb’s head.
Caleb kneed Ibrahim in the groin then under the chin and twisted his wrist until he dropped the gun.
“Stop!” the other man shouted, and pointed a gun at Livi.
A split second before the gun went off, Caleb jumped for Livi then tackled her to the ground and covered her with his body. He kept his head low to make a head shot difficult. Then a searing pain went through Caleb’s right side, but he shielded Livi. It felt like a sledgehammer had hit him, then warmth poured down his side.
When Caleb heard a familiar voice, he was relieved.
“Put it down, asshole,” Jake said, indicating backup had arrived.
Caleb didn’t dare move and wasn’t sure if he could.
“Caleb…” Livi was crying. “You’re bleeding.”
Then sirens blared as the police arrived on the scene. Caleb rolled off Livi and said, “You’re safe, honey.” Then he blacked out.
*****
Livi screamed for help, terrified that Caleb would die in her arms. Blood was all over her clothes and soaked into Caleb’s shirt. A police officer dropped to his knees beside her and took off his jacket. He pressed it against the bleeding.
“Don’t you dare die on me.” Livi pleaded with Caleb, not knowing what else to do. “Hang on, help is coming.”
The paramedics arrived and took over. Livi could hardly breathe. One attendant started to check her for injuries, but she pushed him away. “I’m okay. Take care of Caleb.”
Livi ignored the mayhem around her and rode to the hospital with Caleb. The medics monitored his vital signs, while she sat close. A couple of minutes after the ambulance sped away, Caleb opened his eyes.
“Oh my God,” Livi said, “I was so afraid you were going to die.”
In a low voice, Caleb said, “No, honey, I’m not going to die. I have too much to live for.”
Livi’s eyes filled with tears, and she held Caleb’s hand for the rest of the trip to emergency. On arrival, he was wheeled away, and it seemed like an eternity before Livi could see him.
When Livi was allowed into his room, she found Caleb reclined on the bed but awake. He said, “You were great out there.”
Livi rushed to his bedside and kissed his forehead. “Me? What about you? You might have died.”
“That was a possibility,” Caleb said. “I was fortunate. The bullet penetrated soft tissue along my right side then made a quick exit into the ground. It was just a graze. I’ll be out of this bed in no time.”
Livi was immensely relieved but had important business to finish. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“Hawke and Jake are waiting to come in and check on you,” Livi said. “I need you to ask Hawke to contact the FBI and request that they come here.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, and tell them to bring plenty of security,” Livi said. “I have a valuable item that they won’t want to lose on the way back to headquarters.”
*****
With the information Livi provided, the FBI took possession of five million dollars before it fell into enemy hands. It was a blow to terrorist activity. Livi was offered a sizeable reward for her assistance.
The unexpected windfall was put to good use. Livi hired an attorney to handle the transaction and donated her portion of the recovered funds to charity. She gave the money to the Navy SEAL Foundation for their ongoing support to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.
After Brendon had been killed while taking action against an enemy of the United States, he had received the Purple Heart. Livi had accepted for her husband then given the medal to Julie to treasure. For brilliantly and heroically completing his final mission, the Navy added an additional award denoted by a gold star on the ribbon of the medal.
Ryker had nothing but praise for Julie and how she conducted herself. Despite personal danger, Livi’s daughter had stayed strong and followed instructions to ensure her safety. Apparently, she had been pleased to meet one of her father’s teammates, and Livi had no doubt that her exemplary behavior would have impressed Brendon.
Livi’s kidnappers were in custody and had been indicted in federal court for a list of crimes. Once again, Livi could safely walk down the street and enjoy the freedom to live her life. The van had been impounded, but a few weeks later, the wedding band, diamond bracelet, and personal papers were returned to her.
On the heels of Livi’s escape from terrorists, Alexei Baranov was fired by the board. It was a public scandal and an official statement was made to the press. Livi’s documentation had initiated an investigation. Additional allegations of abuse of young dancers had been reported by parents.
The DA was pressured to reopen Livi’s claim, and Alex would have to face those charges as well. As if that wasn’t enough, Alex’s wife had decided to fight back. With support from family, she had divorced her husband.
Following the kidnapping trauma, Livi visited her dance therapist. Angela’s treatment alleviated Livi’s soreness from being manhandled and tossed around in a van.
During the treatment, Angela shared insight into Alex’s downfall. As a therapist, she learned much about clients’ personal lives. It seemed that Alex had agreed to the divorce as a way to silence his wife. The waiting period had passed, and the divorce went through without issue.
Once the assets had been divided according to community property laws, Alex was hit with a civil suit. A victim of domestic abuse could file a claim against her abuser for assault and battery, plus intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Livi became the new artistic director at Youth for Dance and was thrilled with her role. The atmosphere at the academy was one of nurture and encouragement. With artistic development unhindered,
the young dancers blossomed.
One afternoon, Livi conducted a scheduled rehearsal at the theater. Many supporters would be present, since a benefit of donating to the academy was the opportunity to attend private rehearsals. Parents of the dancers would be present as well.
The costumes were ready for the rehearsal of The Nutcracker. The amazing, colorful outfits enhanced the joyous dance, which would be performed in December for the public. The first few rows of the theater filled with familiar faces.
Caleb had recovered from his injury and looked more virile than ever. He was Livi’s biggest fan, and to show his support he wore dress blues. The dark navy coat and trousers fit him like a glove, and the gold buttons gleamed on the double-breasted jacket.
Throughout the performance, when Livi peered from behind the curtain, she saw Caleb. She hadn’t seen him smile so much; it was as if he had a permanent glow. He was so handsome that he distracted Livi from her duties. She struggled to give her troupe the attention they deserved, since, after all, they were the stars of the show.
The attendance was impressive. Livi spotted Caleb’s teammates in the audience. Hawke sat in the second row with his fiancée Emilia, and Ryker sat on her other side. Livi had gotten to know Emilia and was flattered that she’d invited her to participate in the wedding in early October. Jake was missing, because Amanda had delivered their baby daughter, Sara Marie, a week ago and he was staying close to his family.
Livi had invited Yvette and her husband. They sat next to Julie. Her daughter had come home for a few days for an overdue visit and to watch the rehearsal. And several rows were filled with the dancers’ parents.
Elena had a seat on the aisle, next to donors who were privileged to attend. When Livi looked out at the sea of faces, she was touched. It felt like her supporters were family, one and all. The rehearsal proceeded beautifully, and joy filled Livi’s heart at the stunning performance.
When the show ended, the dancers remained on stage, lined up in front of the curtain. With beaming faces, they looked at the audience then bowed and curtsied. Livi couldn’t have been more pleased—or so she thought.
Caleb Page 13