Lisa blinked twice. “Your daughter? You have a daughter?”
Stanton nodded and a chuckle bubbled through him.
Lisa rubbed her eyes, removed her shoes and threw decorum out the window. “Stanton Trent, you are going to tell me what is going on right now. I have covered for you and worried about you for months. You owe me this much at least.” Her spine stiffened with resolve.
In that moment he knew he loved her. Not the zealous, fickle love of youth, but the settled, long love of a lifetime of building moments together that stood firm against any onslaught. “Yes, you need to know what’s going on. I couldn’t agree more. Tell you what, I’m going to make a phone call and then I’ll tell you everything.”
The shock on her face made him wish he had a camera.
Chapter 25 - Abduction
Claude had been biding his time outside the hospital, waiting for an opportunity to present itself. It did just that in the form of a Netcare Ambulance. Just after 2am, sirens and lights screamed emergency as the vehicle did a smooth U-turn before stopping abruptly. He watched from the bushes as both paramedics in navy uniforms leapt from the vehicle, and with trained efficiency wheeled a patient out the back and into Casualty, leaving the ambulance unattended.
Checking to make sure that he was not being watched, Claude left the bushes and pulled himself into the back of the ambulance. Not bothering with the various medical boxes, hung one over the other suspended on a metal framework, he felt around in the small gap beneath the bottom of the lowest box and the floor. His fingers wrapped around the stiff cotton of a paramedic uniform. Pulling it free with a manic chuckle, he stripped off his bulky jacket and slipped the tunic over his clothes. This plan was coming together beautifully.
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Early morning sunshine filtered bleakly through wispy clouds, shedding light but no warmth. The hospital parking lot was crammed full of vehicles, yet not a live soul could be seen from where Jason sat shivering on the bench outside the main entrance. It had taken all his diplomatic skills to get Kenneth to stay at the flat with Tim and Shane. He’d eventually resorted to his sternest ‘Lecturer’ voice, which shocked Kenneth into not arguing long enough to listen. General hospital rules stated clearly that only two visitors were allowed per patient at any time. Rebecca’s biological father certainly had more reason to be one of the privileged pair than poor smitten Kenneth, a fact he eventually – albeit reluctantly – agreed with.
Just then a deep, velvety maroon Mercedes pulled up and parked across the street. Jason checked his watch. Stanton Trent was a punctual man. It was exactly 10 o’clock. He was wearing a seal-gray three piece that put Jason’s jeans to shame. An attractive woman got out the passenger side and quickly crossed over to Stanton. It was only as Stanton took her hand and tucked it around his arm that Jason recognized Lisa, his PA. A look passed between the two that Jason couldn’t fathom.
He stood as they crossed the street toward him. Holding out a hand in greeting, Stanton gave Jason a tight-lipped smile but said nothing. Lisa smiled warmly, “Good to see you again. Thank you for pursuing this matter with such dedication. It really means a lot to Stanton.” Jason was baffled. Such formality and Stanton as silent as a mute? In fact, he looked as awkward as an Eskimo in the Sahara. And they both wore telltale sleepless creases around their eyes. Something strange was going on. Putting it down to meeting your daughter for the first time nerves, Jason led the way into the cold, white monstrosity.
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Shane had had enough, “Kenneth, stop it!”
“Uh, what?”
“Pacing. You’re going to make a hole in our carpet.”
“Oh, that. Sorry.” With that, he flopped onto the nearest couch and started drumming his heels. “It’s just that I really wanted to go see her.” The bottom half of his face attempted a smile that clashed horribly with the misery on the top half.
Shane turned to Tim in desperation, with a look that said help; I’m going to kill him.
Tim rolled his eyes with a snort. “Ken, old boy. You’re forgetting the most important thing.” With a sagely nod, he spoke slowly, as if to a halfwit. “Your job is not to find Rebecca, remember? Daddy sent you along to find and retrieve your half-cocked brother. Does any of this, ring any bells?” But for the sarcasm, he almost sounded caring.
Kenneth’s heels slammed into the carpet and his voice was deathly quiet. “I know. We’ve tried. I was here, REMEMBER? We’ve drawn nothing but blanks.” With that, he shot up and began pacing again. “I’m sure with all the money in the world we couldn’t bribe those people into talking to us about their guests. Miserable code of confidentiality.” He threw himself backwards into the sofa and sank deeply into a sulk.
“You know, you might be onto something.” Tim’s arms folded across his chest as vague comprehension dawned on his face. “We’ve been talking to the wrong people.”
Shane leaned forward, “What do you mean?”
“We’ve spoken to receptionists and owners of hotels and B&B’s across town, right?”
Shane nodded; Kenneth sighed and stared out the window.
“These people are all duty bound to guard the interests of their guests in every way. I’m thinking of another group of employees that have a different mandate.”
Kenneth threw him a puzzled glance.
Without elaborating, Tim asked Shane, “You were a reservist with the Police, right?”
“Sure. Still am. Why?”
“Go get your badge. We’re going undercover.” His face broke into a gleeful grin.
Shane rubbed the back of his shortly cropped head and groaned.
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It didn’t take long to navigate the echoic hospital passages and make their way to the woman’s ward. Jason had double-checked Rebecca’s ward number before leaving the previous evening and he knew just where to find her. He stopped just outside the eight-bedded ward. “I’ll go in first and just warn her that you are here.” Stanton nodded, his eyes tight with controlled emotion.
Jason rubbed his hands and breathed out deeply. Emotions were tumbling through his heart that he didn’t care to stop and examine. Beyond the salmon-pink double swing doors was his blue-eyed girl. The very thought made his belly flutter. Pushing his way into the ward, he headed for the end bed, closest to the window. The curtains were drawn around all the beds, affording the occupants with the most amount of privacy one could hope for in a hospital.
Unable to stop the grin that tugged at his lips, Jason pulled back the curtain an inch. “Rebecca?” His insides soured as he pulled the curtain on an empty bed. Mind shifting into slow motion, fine details shouted at him – perfectly creased hospital tucks on the bottom corners, immaculate white sheets turned down over a gray blanket. This bed was unoccupied and looked as if it had been that way all year.
Forcing himself to be calm in the face of rising panic, Jason ran from cubicle to cubicle, shifting curtains aside. Maybe he’d got the wrong bed? An ancient Chinese woman shrieked as his head poked through the curtains, and he had to dodge quickly to avoid her satin slipper. None of the beds held Rebecca.
Okay Jason. Be logical. They must have moved her to a different ward. Simply got to ask the Sisters. Determined to believe his pep talk, Jason braced himself and headed through the swing-doors. Stanton looked horribly pale. Forcing himself to meet Stanton’s eyes, Jason spoke, “Small technical hitch, they must have moved her to a different ward. I’m going to check with the nurse’s station.”
The trio made their way down the passage. The sister at the desk didn’t look up at their approach, and Jason had to tap her on the shoulder to get her attention. Irritation thinly veiled, she asked, “What can I do for you?”
Jason did a quick scan of her name badge, and turned on the infallible charm, “Sister O’Kennedy, I’m hoping you can be of assistance. I’m looking for a woman who was admitted yesterday. Rebecca
Jones. I checked the ward I thought she was in, but I must have got it wrong.” Jason’s tone was light, but he could feel the tension from Stanton like a brick wall against his back, matching his own. The sister checked the file and shook her head.
“I’m sorry Sir. She checked herself out at about 2.30 this morning.”
The charm slipped somewhat. “That’s simply not possible. There must be some mistake. Surely you wouldn’t let her leave so soon. We only checked her in last night.”
“It is not hospital policy to hold people against their will. I wasn’t on duty – I don’t know why she felt the urge to leave.”
Charm, along with civility flew out the window. “I’m sorry, this is completely wrong. The woman I left here last night was in no state to book herself out. There has got to be some mistake.”
“It’s right here in the file – signed herself out.” The sister swung the file around and held it under Jason’s nose. “She’s not here.”
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Chapter 26 – Desperation and Peace
Rebecca squirmed in the chair, trying to ease the pressure of the ropes around her wrists and ankles. Sunlight streamed freely through the aluminum and glass sliding doors, making mockery of her captivity. Through the doors she could see a balcony, overlooking a broad expanse of ocean that reflected the morning rays with blinding intensity. Looking back into the room, Rebecca blinked to clear away the purple spots dancing in her vision.
From what she could see, Rebecca guessed that they were on the third floor of a new hotel. The room was lavishly appointed, but had that distinct generic feel to the fittings. There were other clues too. The TV’s remote attached to the bedside table by a curly wire, a pile of holiday brochures, one of which lay open to a rustic wood cabin hideout somewhere in Hogsback that boasted complete privacy. The carpets were immaculate and the smell of fresh paint hung thick in the air. Tiny recessed lights lined the ceiling at regular intervals, with a dramatic up light forming the focal point of the far wall. Lovely place for a honeymoon. The only problem being that this was everything but a honeymoon.
Rebecca shivered and looked across to where Claude lay sprawled across the hotel bed. He’d been that way since shortly after their arrival. The moment he knew she was securely tied, he’d fallen onto the bed in a dead sleep. The only evidence of life was the odd snore.
She had purposefully avoided causing a fuss in the hopes that he wouldn’t see the need to gag her mouth. Her efforts had paid off and her only bonds where wrists and ankles. She’d slept little during the time they’d been there, but had spent much of the time talking to God. The God who’d rescued her from drowning.
Her mind just couldn’t get around the peace that permeated her insides. The one thing she’d feared most had happened – Claude had found her. She was completely at his mercy and not a living soul knew where she was. Everything about the situation screamed disaster, and yet she was content. How was that possible?
When Jason left her at the hospital, gut-wrenching fear had gripped her insides. Clinging to the Bible, Rebecca had read the portion of Isaiah over and over until eventually falling asleep with the book still clutched in her arms. She’d woken up to find Claude hanging over her bed in a Paramedic uniform, snorting with glee. Immediately, the words from Isaiah sprang to mind and a bubble of peace surrounded her like a lifejacket. Just like that, the fear was gone. Not humanly possible.
She’d felt, rather than heard the whisper inside, “Go quietly, don’t make a fuss. Trust Me.” Wrapped in her peace-jacket, she’d followed Claude, signed herself out and flung herself at God’s mercy.
Whereto from here, she just didn’t know.
Without warning, Claude sat up and yawned, wiping sleep from his eyes. Not looking at her, he shuffled to the bathroom. Water ran and splashed, the toilet flushed and gurgled.
Rebecca closed her eyes and her insides leapt heavenwards, “Dear God – my Father. I don’t know why You’ve allowed this to happen, but I trust You. Please help.” Words blazed brightly, etched into her brain like living beings, “Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, You are MINE.” Tears of gratitude flowed freely down Rebecca’s cheeks. Thank You Lord!
“Well, well… scared, are we?” Claude was back from the bathroom, face a picture of triumph. “Ha ha! You are mine now, orphan-girl. All mine. Nothing you can do about it.”
Drawing from the deep well of peace inside her, Rebecca couldn’t help smiling. “You can believe that if you want, Claude. It’s not true. I don’t belong to you and I never will. My heart is spoken for by a God who bought me at a great cost to Himself, and I belong to Him. It doesn’t matter what you do to me. Even if you have your way with my body – it doesn’t touch the real me.” She faced him calmly, saturated in supernatural peace.
His face turned a shocking shade of red. Nostrils flaring, Claude was at a loss for words. His hands clenched into fists and shaking with rage, he headed out onto the balcony. If not for the pain from her stitches, Rebecca would have laughed.
Feeling like she’d won some small victory, weariness closed in and Rebecca’s head sank to her chest. One battle down, how many to go? Her temple throbbed and blazed.
Just as suddenly, Claude was back. Rebecca’s heart leapt to her throat as a knife appeared from his back pocket. Reaching down, he cut through the ropes that held her to the chair. Holding the knife tip between her eyes, he warned, “No trouble, okay?”
Squinting at the sharp point, Rebecca nodded. Hardly daring to swallow, she met his eyes and nodded again in earnest.
Grabbing her roughly by the arm, Claude pulled her to her feet. Casting a brief glance around the room, his attention got caught by the brochure lying open. A grim smile broke out on his face. “C’mon. We’ve got to get out of here.”
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Stanton drew a deep breath, reached into his pocket and produced a business card. “Sister O’Kennedy, my name is Stanton Trent.” He held out his other hand with such compelling presence that the Sister rose to her feet and returned his handshake, looking vaguely awestruck.
“In case you don’t know, I am the Director of HospiSecure. We are responsible for the in-house security of this fine medical establishment. Right now I need to see the Head of Security, Mr Jackoby. Would you be so kind as to confirm that he is in his office please?”
Jason caught Lisa’s eye behind Stanton’s back. She was chuckling at the amazement on his face, yet trying so desperately to control her mirth that her face was positively purple.
Sister O’Kennedy fumbled with the phone a few times before managing to ascertain that Elijah Jackoby, Head of Hospital Security, was indeed in his office.
Jason watched in awe as Stanton thanked her for her assistance, leaving her bobbing on the mat in a display of helpfulness that stopped just short of a curtsey.
Now here was a Master at work.
Personally accompanied by a sickeningly helpful Sister O’Kennedy, they soon stood face to face with a round man who could comfortably fit beneath Jason’s armpit. A warm smile split his face from one end to the other, as he shook Stanton’s hand enthusiastically. “Stanton Trent! It’s so good to finally meet you in the flesh. We’ve spoken on the phone so often, I feel like a family friend. Now at last, I get to attach a face to the name.” Turning to Lisa, “Aah… the lovely Lisa. Always a pleasure. Are you well?” He waited for her response before turning his warmth on Jason. “Welcome.” Showing them toward the bull-denim lounge suite, he sat forward on his chair, and asked, still smiling, “How can I help?”
Not one to dabble in the shallows, Stanton leapt straight in. “I need to see the security tape for the woman’s ward nurse’s station. One that would cover between 1.30 and 2.30am this morning.”
Elijah stopped smiling. “Is there a problem?”
“I suspect there’s been a breach in your security system and I’d like to get to the bottom of it immediately.�
��
“Absolutely. Follow me.”
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Kenneth had taken to whining again. “This is a flipping ghost hunt. A complete waste of time. I want to go to the hospital.” It had been a long two hours of walking from hotel to hotel, with nothing to show for it.
Grabbing Kenneth by his shirtfront, Shane pulled him close and whispered, “Shut up and grow a backbone. Okay?”
Tim rolled his eyes and separated the two. “You two are a real match made in Heaven, you know that? Ken, give Shane the registration. Here comes the guy we need.”
They were just outside the entrance to the secure parking lot of the Prime Paradise Hotel along the Beachfront. It was a newly established hotel that looked set to prove stiff competition to its neighbors.
The security guard, handsomely decked out in a gold-braided maroon uniform, made his way toward them. Holding up his badge, Shane shook his hand and greeted the old man in Xhosa, “Molo Madala. Kujani11? ”
The old man beamed at being greeted in his mother tongue and responded enthusiastically with a grin that boasted three teeth. The two chatted for a bit longer then Shane handed over the paper with Claude’s car registration, neatly handwritten.
The old man pushed back the gate and beckoned for them to follow him into his guardhouse. There he opened a logbook in which the comings and goings of all the cars to and from the hotel were recorded.
Scanning the pages quickly, Shane found what he was looking for. “Bingo. Claude arrived here this morning at 2.45am. Room C34”
Tim and Kenneth couldn’t believe what they were hearing, and nearly hugged in excitement. Stopping just short, they recoiled in horror and settled for slapping Shane on the back.
Shackles: The truth will set you free Page 20