Ronda

by Dyanna Lynn Hart

  13

  Taken

  Later that morning, Ronda lounged on the deck as she sipped a cup of tea, and wondered why Jake would take it upon himself to seek out Maynard on his own. Judging from what she had learned of Maynard, she gathered he wasn’t a man one could reason with. “And why,” she wondered, “with a full investigation underway, how could the “Raai labs” incident not have been traced back to him as the perpetrator by now.” She sighed, and realized Dale might be up against more than he bargained for.

  Missing Dale terribly she longed for him to return, hoping the next couple of days would go by quickly. She realised that until now, she had never been in love before. Though she thought she may have been in love a couple a times, they just didn’t compare to the way she feels about Dale. With Dale, being in love was simple and uncomplicated.

  Feeling a sudden chill in the air as a cold breeze brushed briskly against her skin, she looked up at the sky turning gray, as the clouds moved in quickly to cover the sun. And caught off guard, as quickly as the sky became overcast above her, it began to rain. The wind became gustier, as the rain fell quickly now. Jumping up from her chair, she hurried inside closing the sliding doors behind her, shielding herself from the rain as it poured down heavily now.

  Remaining inside, she kept herself busy doing menial tasks around the house for the rest of the morning as the time passed slowly for her. When she found nothing left to do, she poured herself a glass of wine as the rain continued to pour outside. And in an effort to distract from the dreariness of the morning, she turned on the audio system. A deep, harmonious, and melancholic voice began singing a romantic ballad to guitar and violin. Searching through the Cd’s that were scattered next to the audio player, she replaced country music for soft Jazz, then walked over to the sliding glass doors and looked out at the ocean, mysterious and beckoning as a storm brewed above it.

  Not more than five minutes passed as she stood looking out, when all of a sudden lightening flashed, lighting up the expanse of the grey sky as the waves crashed angrily against the cliffs in the distance. And not a moment later, the clapping sound of thunder came roaring from the sky, with a vengeance it seemed, rumbling and crackling fiercely. Instinctively she stepped back. Yet She couldn’t help but look on in awe. Fierce though it was, it had a beauty all it’s own.

  Shortly, after a little while, as quickly as it had begun, the heavy rain became a gentle patter against the widow. Soon the sky began to clear and a streak of sunlight shown through a crack in the clouds, and before long, all was quiet and still again.

  She remembered the story Dale told of his brothers drowning. Of being out on the rocks cold and alone, in the rain as the waves pounded against the rocks. She could feel his presence so near, she felt she could reach out and touch him with her fingertips. She raised her hand and placed it against the glass, touching it lightly, as if he were standing just beyond the glass, though out of sight. Startled at the sound of the phone ringing a short distance away, she turned quickly, and dashed across the room making her way to the coffee table and anxiously picked up.

  “Yes. Hello!”

  “Hello darling”

  She gave a silent sigh of relief.

  “Hello darling.” She said, with a smile. “So tell me, how was the drive there?” she asked anxiously.

  “Lonely, I’ve only been gone a short time and I miss you like crazy.”

  “Me too.” she smiled.

  “How’s everything at the house?”

  “Fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Except it just so happens that I’m experiencing that crazy weather you mentioned before.”

  Dale laughed. “Enjoy it while you can, it’ll pass just as quickly as it came. You’ll wonder if you imagined it. So listen, I’ve just arrived at the hospital and I’m on my way to see my father now. We’ll see how he wants to deal with the situation.”

  “Dale, please be careful.”

  Dale could hear the concern in her voice.

  “I will, trust me. I want to make it back to you in one piece.”

  “Well then, I don’t want to hold you up. The sooner you take care of matters the sooner you’ll return. Tell your father hello for me, and give him my best.”

  “I’ll do that. And I’ll keep you posted. I’ll call again later this evening, we’ll talk more.”

  “I’ll be expecting your call then. I love you, stay safe.”

  “I love you, talk to you soon.”

  Relieved that all was good at the beach house, and Ronda was safe, Dale made his way to the elevator and up to the fifth floor where Professor Bierce sat on his bed, waiting for him..

  “There’s no two ways about it,” Professor Bierce said, “he’s in trouble.”

  “Then it looks like I’ll just have to give Maynard a visit myself.” Dale said.

  “Meeting with him may very well be exactly what he’s expecting. If he’s got you, he may believe he could use you as an exchange for the data. You’d pretty much be falling right into his hands. Meeting with him is probably not the best way to go right now.”

  “Well, if you can think of a plan where we can take care of this once and for all, and see it behind us, I’m willing, whatever it is.”

  “The only way I can see to stop Maynard is to get the data chip myself, and destroy it. I realise that now. I tried to tell Jake, but apparently he had plans of is own. The fool.”

  “Father, that’s years of research.

  “Yes,” Professor Bierce said, “but it’s not worth Jake’s life, or yours, or Ronda’s, who is innocent in all this. And I can’t allow it to fall into Maynard’s hands. I should have destroyed it years ago, it never would have come to this. And now, thanks to Cummings, he’s wise to it.” he said in a low solemn voice.

  “Speaking of Cummings, it seems he’s been stalking Ronda. He went so far as to stalk her at apartment building. Hoping she might lead him to the data chip, I assume.” Dale watched his father for his response, for any indication that what he suspected might be true. That he may have place the chip in Ronda’s possession. Unsuspecting to her.

  “What!” Professor Bierce exclaimed, that could only mean one thing. He knows.

  “What are you talking about? He Knows what?” Dale asked.

  “I’m afraid we may be running out of time. We have to find Jake, and remove Ronda from the beach house, I’m afraid it may no longer be safe. No questions now. Get the nurse, I”m getting out of here.” he said, pulling the covers off.

  “Your in no condition to deal with Maynard, leave him to me, I’ll deal with him.”

  “I’m fine. I’ve been locked up in this room far longer than necessary.”

  “Father!”

  “No Dale, there are things you don’t understand, It’s pertinent that I be released. If Maynard had Ronda followed, he suspects she has the data. There’s no guarantee he won’t cause her harm. My bet is otherwise. She’s in danger Dale.”

  “Are you saying she has the data chip?”:

  “I can explain later, now let’s find Jake, so you can return to the beach house. Hopefully it’s not too late”

  While Professor Bierce signed the release forms, he listened as Dale made a call to Maynard’s office.

  “Yes that’s right, tell him it’s urgent, and it concerns the data chip. Tell him if he wants to negotiate, he can meet me in front of the coffee shop on fifth and laurel in an hour. And tell him to come alone.

  Dale and the Professor sat waiting for Maynard to show.

  “You know he won’t be coming alone.” Professor Bierce said.

  “I know.”

  People came and left the coffee shop, but there was no sign of Maynard. Professor Bierce feared it may be too late. That Maynard may have found Ronda.

  Back at the beach house the sky had grown clear again, with the storm leaving a rainbow in it’s wake that spanned across the sky. The sun was bright and clear as if the storm had never happened. Feeling relieved now that she had talked to Dale, Ronda
decided to take a stroll along the beach.

  “I’ll only be within a few hundred feet of the house, it should be fine.” she convinced herself.

  In rolled up jeans and an over sized white button down chiffon shirt, with sandals in one hand and a large carry all bag in the other, she walked down to the ocean, enjoying the cool breeze as it blew gently against her face, and the sun as it began to envelope her in warmth. The sand was damp beneath her feet, and she didn’t mind in the least. Stopping, she looked around, and seeing no telltale sign of anything or anyone suspicious, she walked a little further down to the water, strolling as the ocean waves rushed up against her feet. All was quiet except for the sound of the ocean. Her mind was still as she could feel herself become one with the sand and the ocean.” She looked up, almost envying the seagulls flying in the distance, peaceful and free.” Soon, with the house still in view, she pulled out a blanket and a book from her bag, and applied sunscreen to her face and neck, before lying back and opening her book.

  After a while she took her cell phone from the bag to check the time Realizing the time flew quickly, she placed the phone and book in the bag and stood up, shaking the sand from her blanket. And as she began folding it she had the distinct feeling she was being watched. Placing the blanket in the bag she looked around casually, seeing no one in sight but an elderly couple walking their dog and two men jogging in opposite directions.

  She walked quickly, all the while feeling uneasy. As she finally approached the house she hesitated when she reached the back door. Seeing it cracked open, she swore she pulled it shut when she left. She reasoned with herself, telling herself that she only thought she pulled it shut and shouldn’t have been so careless. Still, she was cautious.

  Slowly stepping inside and placing her bag down by the door she paused, as her eyes searched the room for anything that might appear unusual, or out of place. It was so quiet she could hear a pin drop. Seeing nothing unusual or out of the ordinary she relaxed and turned on the audio system before walking upstairs to shower and change. After slipping into a pair of jeans and blue and pink floral, ruffled tunic, she towel dried her hair then combed it down and away from her face.

  She left the guest room quietly shutting the door behind her before making her way down the stairs to the kitchen feeling light and refreshed. As she opened the refrigerator, a loud thud came from the direction of the living room. She paused, and turning her head slightly, she listened as she slowly closed the refrigerator door, then slowly began making her way quietly towards the living room. As she got nearer she felt a cool breeze brush her skin. Stopping in her tracks she looked towards the deck to see the sliding door open. Her eyes widened, she knew she wasn’t alone. Her heart raced as she quickly turned, and made her way to the den where Dale had left the gun in the top drawer of the desk.

  “Where is it ?” she mumbled anxiously as her hands shuffled through papers nervously.

  There was nothing.

  She looked in the drawer below, still nothing.

  “Looking for this?”

  She looked up to see two men standing in the doorway, one of them holding the gun in his hand. Her eyes moved from one to the other as she tried not to panic.

  “Who are you?” she asked, “What do you want?” she asked, knowing only too well they were there for her. “You’re Maynard’s men!”

  “You guessed it lady. And we’re here to take you on a little trip,” the man said. “you can come with us peaceably, or forcibly. It’s up to you lady.”As he spoke, she recognized his face as the man sitting in the Van across the parking lot when she and Dale were in town several days earlier.

  “Now nobody’s gonna hurt you, the other man said, his voice deep, as he walked towards her and grabbed her arm.

  “Don’t touch me!” she said angrily, pulling her arm away. “I’ll go with you!” Boring her eyes into him, he stepped to the side to let her in front of him and they proceeded towards the front door.

  “It’s okay, she’s coming willingly.” the man spoke into his cell phone, “We’re on our way out.”

  She stepped outside as one man walked behind and the other walked beside her. A Van and a silver car were parked in the driveway. And as they neared the vehicles a man stepped out of the car and walked to the Van.

  “Get in.” He ordered, as he held the door open. Recognizing his voice, she gave him a good hard look when she got nearer.

  “Cummings?” she said, surprise in her voice. “Professor Bierce was right all along. You’ve been colluding with Maynard the whole time. I — I don’t understand, you hid from his men the day they barged “Raai labs” You certainly went out of your way to play innocent, as if you were unaware of what was going on.”

  “Yes well, I assure you Miss Rimes, I was as surprised as you were when it happened. And if I had known Maynard’s men would barge ‘Raai labs” that day I would have made it a point not to be there. My visit that day was intentional you see.“

  “Yes, so I figured.”

  “My intent was a scare tactic. Hoping Dale would see good reason to evacuate the building, making it easier for me. I had it all planned, even if a bit extreme. You see, I was there for you. To take you to Maynard.”

  “That’s why you’ve been stalking me!”

  “If that’s what you’d choose to call it, yes. And since I failed, on several occasions. I thought he might have assumed I severed our deal so sent his men after me as he had done before, with a warning. You see, he doesn’t take kindly to breaking a deal once it’s made. Especially one as important as this.”

  “Deal? One as important as this? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

  “Afterwards,” Cummings continued, ignoring her obvious confusion, “I learned he decided to take matters into his own hands, and sent his men for you — and not me after all.”

  “Just so you know, as Maynard will realise,” she said , “you’re wasting your time with me. I don’t know where the data chip is.”

  “We shall see won’t we. Now, if you will.” Cummings said, as he gestured for her to get in the Van.

  Calmly she walked past him, stepping into the back of the Van, which was closed off from the front. Cummings rode in the front on the passenger side, as the silver car drove off ahead of them. Remembering the man see saw in town, she now wished she had mentioned her suspicions to Dale, but now, it was to late.

  “Dale will be calling me in a few hours.” she thought. “He’ll know somethings wrong when I don’t answer. And when Maynard realizes I know nothing he has to let me go.” she reasoned, as she tried to stay calm. Just before reaching their destination, Cummings blindfold her on Maynard’s orders. And when they arrived, she was guided out of the Van and into a building, It was cold, and darkness surrounded her as she was led into a room, where Maynard awaited her.

  14

  Maynard

  The hour had passed with Maynard’s failure to show.

  “I don’t like this.” Professor Bierce. said, “What would stop him from negotiating a deal if he thought he stood a chance of possessing the data. If he had any intention of negotiating he would have been here well before now. Somethings definitely up. Have you talked to Ronda since you left?”

  “When I arrived. I told her I’d call again this evening.”

  “I think now’s a good time to make that call.”

  Dale pulled his phone from his pocket. He waited for her to pick up.

  “Somethings not right.” Dale said, “If something’s happened to her…”

  “Hold on son, don’t get yourself riled up. For all you know she may have just stepped out for a while.”

  “No, something’s wrong I’m sure of it, if she did step out she wouldn’t leave her phone behind.”

  “Well the only way we could know for sure is for you to go back. And if all is well, and what you say is true, if Cummings has been stalking her, at this point I don’t believe the beach house is safe any longer. You need to take her away. T
ake the first flight out of New York to California. I’ll deal with Maynard.”

  “And have you disappear too.” Dale said.

  ” I can handle Maynard. There’s no alternative. Right now you have to ensure Ronda’s safety.”

  “Come with me.”

  “And Jake, do we just forget about him. No son. I have to deal with Maynard” Professor Bierce said. “Now let’s go!”

  As they quickly walked to the car, a dark blue BMW pulled up fast beside them.

  A tall husky man stepped out from the drivers seat, his eyes covered behind the dark sunglasses he wore.

  “Professor Maynard would like to offer you a ride gentlemen.” he said, moving his hand towards his belt buckle where his gun fit snugly in the holster.

  Dale looked at the car and seeing the figure of someone through the darkened window sitting in the back seat he said,

  “No deal. Tell him he meets with us on our terms.”

  Slowly the rear window rolled down.

  “Gentlemen!” a familiar voice said. “It would behoove you to humor me. As you can see, your in no position to bargain with me if you hope to see your dear friend Holloway again.”

  Dale stepped forward, his fists clenched,

  “You son of a—” he began as Professor Bierce quickly put his hand on his shoulder, and pulled him back. The man sporting glasses quickly stepped forward.

  “Let it be Dale. We don’t want to make things worse.”

  “I’ll go.” Professor Bierce said.

  “Both of you!” Maynard insisted in a stern voice.

  Professor Bierce looked at Dale. “It won’t do anyone any good if we don’t cooperate, least of all Ronda. And especially when someone out weighs you by a gun. And we’re just that much closer to finding Jake.”

  After a lengthy ride, they stopped within five miles of their destination. Maynard ordered them out, confiscated their phones, and blindfolded them. When they arrived, they were led through a large heavy metal door where once inside they were hit with a musty scent. They were guided through another door, where the familiar scent of chemicals filled the air, signaling they were in a lab.