“I have a few contacts; maybe I’ll be able to pull a few strings.” Rian offered.
“Let me speak to Nakoma first then we’ll decide.” As they walked back to the car Richard pulled his phone from his pocket and hit Nakoma’s number as he gazed across the street. He hung up the phone before Nakoma could answer. “Rian, look.” Richard said as he looked across the street. “A big white-house with the red shutters. There was a dim light on in one of the upstairs windows.
“I’m going across the street for a look.” Richard said as he stepped off the sidewalk.
“No… wait. Get in the car and we’ll drive down a couple of blocks. If there is something going on here, I don’t want us to be spotted. We’ll walk back behind the houses.
Nakoma jumped when her cell rang. She answered but Richard had hung up. She hit redial. No answer. 'Damn, what’s going on?' She was getting more upset by the minute
Sean approached Nakoma. “Have you seen Rian, Nakoma?” He asked.
“He went for ride with Richard. Rian admired Richard’s car so they decided to take a ride.” She lied. Nakoma didn’t trust Sean, she never had. Rian didn’t take after his father. Thank God, he favored his Mom. Sean had an evil streak in him. Nakoma could feel it every time he was in the same room with her. He made her blood run cold. “As soon as they get back, we’ll sit down for dinner. It shouldn’t be too long.”
Sean stepped out into the shadows by the side of the estate north of the pool area out of ear shot. He punched in Magan’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hi Magan.”
“Hi Daddy!”
“Magan, remember what we talked about in the library last time we were all home?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Well I need you to proceed with that plan.”
“What’s going on Daddy?”
“I can’t tell you right now honey, but trust me this is the only way. You know I wouldn’t involve you if I wasn’t desperate.”
“Ok Daddy, I’ll leave now. You have the plane on standby?”
“Yes, there’ll be a rental car waiting for you when you land.”
“Ok Daddy, I love you!”
“I love you too princess. Thanks.”
Rian and Richard made their way back to the suspect dwelling behind all the houses to the east. They walked around to the side of the garage, where they could see a window. Rian came up along side of Richard and they peered through the window into the garage. “That’s Kari’s car.” Richard stated. “Damn, what’s going on?” He took a deep breath trying to ease a feeling of panic. “If she was visiting a neighbor she certainly would have answered her phone when Niki called and she certainly wouldn’t have driven her car across the street and put it in the garage. I don’t like this at all Rian.”
“Okay.” Rian said as his heart raced with adrenalin. “We’re going in.”
“Wait!” Richard whispered as he placed a commanding hand on Rian’s shoulder. “We need to check to see if the alarm is active! Over here, I see the box. Wait here, I’ll just be a minute.” Richard opened the control panel and quietly disarmed the alarm with ease. Rian looked at him with admiration.
“Come we’ll go in through the back. Quiet!” They creped around and entered the house from the back porch. Rian lead the way with a finger to his lips as he looked back at Richard. They tip toed through the kitchen and into the family room, around the foyer through the hall and headed for the stairs.
The dream had returned, only this one seemed more vivid than ever before. It started the same as always dark and painful. She could hear the faint voice of a child off in the distance. She was no longer in the room, but in a dark tree covered path. The trees were thick, no light could make its way through. Her gaze fell toward the faint light at the end of the tunnel, as it shown through a thin bank of fog at the far end of the path. She was drawn toward the light and the child’s voice. As she slowly approached the light the figure seemed to withdraw further into the fog. The child’s voice seemed to grow stronger until she could make out the words “Mommy…Mommy.” As she continued toward the voice and the light, the voice was growing weaker. The last words she could make out were. “Daddy’s coming Mommy!” She had been having the same reoccurring nightmare quite regularly. The child was always talking to her in a most adult manor. It was quite unsettling. It was always something about the big water, and “We will find you Mommy.” Suddenly the voice and the light were gone and she was left in darkness, but the pain had stopped. She woke with a start when she felt a vibration at her back. She only wished that the guilt, torment and pain would stop haunting her.
The man had been watching the two men across the street as they seemed to be searching around the girl’s apartment. They must have been looking for her. He was prepared for their approach, but they got back in their car and drove away. He slowly let out a deep breath that he hadn’t realized he was holding. He glanced at the girl as she woke.
“Quiet there young lady, don’t make a sound.” He whispered. He thought he heard a sound. She could hear the man get up and walk across the room toward her. He placed the tape across her mouth again. She didn’t move. He walked to the door opened it and she heard a loud crack and then a thud as if someone fell to the floor.
Rian hit the man over the head with a bronze statue that had been sitting on the table in the hall outside the door. The man went down fast and hard. Rian bent down to check the damage. He placed his fingers to the man’s jugular to see if his heart was still beating. It was, so he proceeded to bind his hands and feet with the tape that Richard threw to him from the dresser inside the room.
Richard then hurried to Kari’s side as she lay on the bed with her hands and feet bound. He removed her blindfold and proceeded to loosen her hands and feet. He pulled the tape from her mouth. She sighed in relief. “Richard? …Richard how…how did you find me?” He looked at her with relieve and wrapped his arms around her with a warm protective embrace. She hugged him back.
“My God Kari, what have you gotten yourself into?” As Rian was bent over the man on the floor he looked up as he heard her voice. He stood up and entered the room and froze. He watched as Richard held the girl and kissed her gently on the lips. His heart skipped a beat and his stomach started doing flip flops. Her hair was as he remembered long shimmering locks. She pulled away from Richards kiss and looked up. She gasped as she took in his strong magnificent image. “Rian?”
“Kareena? … Kareena! No it…..your…..” His whole world seemed to be spinning out of control. He was in shock, and thrilled all at the same time. He thought he must be dreaming. He slowly walked to the bed. A hundred different images were running through his head.
“You know each other?” Richard asked in amazement. Kareena slowly pulled herself away from Richard’s embrace, as she watched Rian take the last few strides to reach her. Rian reached over and lightly touched her cheek to make sure she was real. Her heart jumped, and her pulse raced as she felt his fingers caress her cheek.
“Kareena, … you’re … you’re alive! I though you were dead! I was lead to believe you were dead!”
She stood up stiffly and faced him “What? … Rian, what are you talking about?”
Rian gently placed both of his hands on her cheeks and just stared into her eyes. His welled with moisture. She looked into his big beautiful blue eyes as tears began streaming down her cheeks as well.
Richard watched this exchange as his heart fell with the realization of what was taking place.
Rian was still staring into her eyes. “My father,… he lied to me … he lied to all of us, he lied to my Mum, his wife. How could he do this? He……" Rian stopped momentarily. “He’ll pay for this! If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make him pay!”
Richard just stared at Rian in amazement with a sad questioning look on his face. “Please Rian for Christ sakes tell us what’s going on.” Richard’s phone vibrated again and he ignored it.
“Rian come, sit,
tell me what on God’s earth you’re talking about.” Kareena said as she sat back down on the bed.
Rian sat beside her and just stared at her beautiful face. He caressed her cheek softly again and kissed her soft sweet lips. She lost herself in his kiss, but slowly regained her composure.
Then he began. “The day you were to have the abortion, I came to the hospital to stop you.” Rian took a breath. “I saw you being wheeled out of a room on a gurney. I called your name Kareena. You didn’t respond.
My father was there, he grabbed my arm and told me it was done, I was too late, let it be, you were better off without me, you would forget about me. We walked down the hall. The next thing I knew, I was home in Killarney. My Mum was nursing me. I had been in a coma for six months, and you were dead. That God damn son of a bitch told me you died during the abortion Kareena.” Rian’s emotions were so twisted at this moment he didn’t know weather he was enraged or elated. “I’m so sorry I believed him. He lied to my Mum; she helped me get your death certificate from the hospital. I didn’t want to believe him, but when I saw your death certificate I had no choice. I had no idea how deep his manipulation went Kareena. He is a dangerous man, he must be stopped.”
“Now, now Rian….calm yourself. What do you mean you were in a coma for six months?” Kareena asked in a voice that she was straining to keep under control. “What happened to you?” She was caressing his hand and looking deep into his eyes.
The bastard told me I had an automobile accident. I was thrown from the car. My head was bandaged; I woke with a splitting headache. I can’t believe any of what he told me. I need to get to the bottom of this. We need to get back to Mrs. Barrett’s estate.”
“You were at the Barrett’s? You were one of the guests tonight?”
“Yes my father and I, and some of the other big boys from the Society. I can’t believe this. My whole life is a lie.”
“So that’s what this was all about?” Kareena stated with a knowing glance. “That man lying in the doorway has been following me for the last three years. It’s all beginning to make sense now.”
But wait Kareena, there’s something else. I don’t know how to tell you.” He looked at her with a mixture of joy and sadness. “Oh my, how do I tell you? …. We …. We have a daughter?”
“Oh, Rian please don’t, … I’ve really had a horrific time living with my decision to have the abortion our baby. I never should have done it. I just….”
“Stop Kareena…..Stop. You didn’t. Listen to me.”
“What?…..Rian what are you saying?”
“Our daughter was saved. It was a radical new procedure, done by Doctor Barrett. It involved some of his newest research. It was my Mum; she threatened to make my father’s life a living hell if he didn’t stop you. She is beautiful Kareena, the image of you. And smart, she’s so smart. You can’t imagine.” He held her tight while the tears streamed down his face.
Kareena was in shock. “Wait, you mean your father took my baby from me? Do you have any idea what agony I’ve been going through? Doctor Barrett did this? Nakoma knew? Where is she, I need to see my baby Rian!”
“She’s safe in Killarney with my Mum Kareena.”
“I need to go to her!”
“You will Kareena,… you will. First we have some unfinished business to take care of back at the Barrett estate. I have to make a couple of phone calls.” He reluctantly released himself from her as he punched in speed dial on his cell.
A cell phone rang. “It’s not mine.” Richard said, as he glanced at Kari with a look of defeat written all over his face.
Rian was on the phone, calling Charles and James, so it wasn’t his. He hadn’t spoken to James in three years but they were very tight and always knew they could rely on one another in a time of crises. He got voice mail and left a message. “Urgent, call when you get this.”
Rian followed the sound of the cell and reached into the man’s pocket, he was still out. His father’s cell number flashed on the screen of the man's cell.
“Ok listen, we have a major problem. My father must be wise to the fact that we found Kareena. I need to get a hold of Charles. Richard, do you have any close friends that you trust with your life?”
“Yes. But why would I help you?”
“Because you care about Kareena, and you wouldn’t want any harm to come to her. My father is a dangerous man. He’s libel to do anything. We can’t take any chances. We need as many able bodies as we can get. He may call in reinforcements.”
“I’ll stay with Kari at her house, and watch over her there.”
“No. My father knows where she lives, she won’t be safe there!”
“Wait.” Kareena said. “I’m going back to the estate. I have some unfinished business of my own. I’m not going to let that lying bitch get away with this! I need my own answers.”
“What about this no good peace of trash?” Richard spat.
“Leave him. If he’s one of my father’s flunkeys he won’t have any trouble freeing himself when he wakes up.”
Night Predators
Magan parked the car near the kitchen entrance. She had turned off the head lights as she approached the house. It was one in the morning and all was quiet. She silently unlocked the kitchen door and made her way past the island through the foyer to the horseshoe staircase. She headed up the stairs and now appreciated the carpet that was leading the way up. She had fought her mother when she wanted to put it in, but now was grateful for the quiet it afforded her. She reached the top landing and proceeded through the hall. Her mother’s bedroom was on the right. She peaked in and could see the slow and steady rise and fall of her mother’s chest in the moonlight that filtered through the blind. She was sound asleep.
Magan crossed the hall and entered Cassie’s room. The child was also sound asleep. She gathered a few items of clothing and threw them into a bag she brought along. She reached into the crib and picked the child up blanket and all. She started to step away and hesitated for a moment long enough to reach back for Cassie’s stuffed horse. It was her favorite. Her Daddy had given it to her and she never went to bed without it. 'This should keep her quiet.' Magan thought.
She made her way back down the staircase and through the kitchen with Cassie over her shoulder. She quietly locked the door behind her and placed Cassie in the car seat that was in the back of the car. The child slept like a log. Magan buckled Cassie in and seated herself in the driver’s side. She started the car and drove away with the lights out. After she drove under the canopy of trees and around the bend, she then turned the car lights back on.”
“Yes Kareena, …. of course you’re going to stay with me.” Rian said. “I’m not going to let you out of my sight again. I lost you once, I won’t loose you again!”
“Are you sure our baby is safe?” Kareena asked. “Her name is Cassandra, … Cassie. Yes I’m sure, but I’ll give a call just to make us both feel better. I promised I’d call when I found you!” Rian hit the number on speed dial. Kareena looked at Rian with a puzzled expression. When he found me???
“Hello.” Katherine said sleepily.
“Mum, it’s Rian. Is everything ok there?”
“Why, yes Rian, It’s 1:30 in the morning, Cassie is sound asleep what’s going on?”
“Could you go to her room and make sure? I promised I’d call her back.”
“Yes, I will, but what is this all about?”
“I’ll tell you later, please just go.”
“Ok, Rian, I’m going.” She walked out of her bedroom door while trying to clear the cobwebs and entered Cassie’s room across the hall. Cassie was not in her bed. Katherine gasped and started screaming. “Cassie….Cassie.” Desmond and Teresa heard Katherine’s screams and were headed down the stairs and thru the gallery to get to the north wing where Katherine and Cassie slept.
Rian could hear his mother calling Cassie. “Mum, …. Mum what is it?” He was in a panic now. “ Answer me Mum.” His heart was racing. “Mum, plea
se answer me!”
Kareena was listening to this side of the conversation with panic on her face.
Katherine came back on the line. “Rian, she’s not in her bed, what’s going on Rian? Please tell me what’s going on.”
“Mum, listen to me. You need to get a hold of Magan tell her to meet you at the airport. You need to go some place safe. I want you both to fly to Uncle Paddy’s. Call him as soon as we hang up.”
“But I haven’t spoken to him in over ten years.”
“I know Mum that is why you’ll be safe there.”
“What about Cassie, Rian who has Cassie?”
“It’s your husband Mum, he’s done some terrible things. He’s not who he pretends to be. I’m afraid we’ve all been deceived for many-many years! I’ll explain later. All you need to know right now is that Kareena is alive, and we will get Cassie back, I promise.”
Katherine was almost in hysterics. “Rian, what do you mean, Kareena’s alive? How can that be? We saw the death certificate!”
“That’s part of the lie, Mum, we’ll talk about it later, Please, call me when you’re safely at Uncle Paddy’s”
“Okay Rian I will, I love you son. Please be careful!”
“What’s the matter Ms. Katherine?” Desmond asked.
“Oh Desmond, Teresa, I’m afraid something terrible has happened. Cassie has been abducted. Rian said I should go to …. Well never mind he said for me to leave the estate. I can’t explain it all right now, but I will as soon as I arrive at my destination. You should both take a holiday. Don’t worry you will still receive your full salaries. But I need you to lock up the estate after yourselves. Either Rian or I will call you on your cell phones when we find Cassie.”
“But Ms. Katherine isn’t there something we can do to help?”
“No, please you must just go.”
Kareena’s face went pale. “Where is she Rian? Where is our baby?”
“I’m afraid my father has had her abducted, but we will get her back, I promise you that Kareena, if it’s the last thing I do. I will get her back!”
Humorlost (Humorlost Book I of III) Page 16