The Pandora Affair

by Tiffany Toto

  David started the long drive to California. He looked at the address where Samantha resided on the piece of paper and carefully put it in his shirt pocket. After a long night’s drive he pulled into the address listed on the paper and found his way to the office. He read the “Help Wanted” sign in the window and went inside. He got hired because they were in desperate need for a maintenance man and there were so many repairs backed up. He gave them the story that the old man whom he was previously working for had just passed away. He had done all his repairs. It seemed that was all they needed to know. The manager believed they had found a diamond in the rough. David moved into the fully furnished top floor apartment that same day. He not only received free rent and a decent salary, but the job also gave him access to all the apartment keys and tenant names. All he needed was a plan on how to get into her apartment.

  He waited for the right time to make his move. He knew she wasn’t going anywhere. He saw her come and go and had even entered her apartment when he knew she was not there, checking her answering machine messages. He erased several messages from her father’s lawyer telling her to contact him immediately regarding her father. He made sure to check her answering machine on a daily basis, just hoping Conley never caught her at home. He was ready to make his move. He watched her as she prepared to take a bath. He waited awhile before he entered her apartment through her sliding glass door listening carefully for her. He didn’t hear any splashing coming from the bathtub. He approached the door and slowly put his head against the back of it.

  He opened the freshly oiled bathroom door trying to be as quiet as possible. When he opened it all the way he saw her lying in the tub fast asleep. He stood there staring at her beautiful body. He leaned over to pick up the sponge from the floor, hanging it carefully on the faucet. He heard the phone ring, and the answering machine picked it up. “Samantha, you’re not answering your cell phone or your voicemail, I am on my way over there. Pick up the phone if you’re there…” a man’s voice said. Dave quickly turned his head back to Samantha gritting his teeth as he backed out of the bathroom and quickly exited the way he came in. It was less than twenty minutes later that that his luck changed. He received a call needing a door repair for her apartment. He changed into his overalls and was down to her apartment within five minutes. That’s when he came to meet her again face to face. She never knew it was him.

  He immediately wanted to touch her, resisting only because of the intrusion of the man in her apartment. He wasn’t prepared for confrontation, not yet. He made an excuse that he would need to order a new door for her so he would have a reason to come back to her place. He watched her leave the following morning and that’s when he went down to replace her door. He opened the door and closed it quickly behind him. He was snooping through her apartment when he heard the phone ring. “Samantha, This is Robert Conley, I’m afraid I have some bad news regarding your father, I hope you’re getting this message. I’ve left you several messages. Please call me immediately at my office.” BEEP He walked back to the answering machine to delete the message.

  He needed more time and if she knew anything had happened to her father she would be gone. As soon as he deleted one message another came though almost instantaneously. “Samantha, you know I hate talking to this damn thing, anyway I will make this short and sweet. TONIGHT! Nine pm at the Club Keys, you and me, girlfriend. Don’t be late. ” BEEP He left that one alone. He thought it would be fun going to a club to fall in love all over again. He quickly fixed her door and exited her apartment. He had to find his way into this Club Keys.

  “Stop…” She looked away from him. “No more, I can’t handle it anymore.” She was more furious at herself at this very moment for letting her defenses down. If she had stayed vigilant she would have seen this. Her attraction to James overtook her emotions and distracted her. She let him near her aggressively guarded heart. Now the enemy imprisoned her due to her carelessness. Her glance went from his profile to the cabin’s front door. It was so close, yet so far from her reach. He would catch her. He was a much bigger, faster and definitely a more confrontational predator then any animal in the woods. She would rather take her chances out there. Her head jerked over to the bed, looking down at the rug lying under it. My God! David never knew about the trap door under the bed. Her father made it in case they ever needed a quick way out of the cabin. The trap door led underneath the cabin’s porch. It was her only chance.

  Chapter 22

  Tyler waited impatiently for the police who still had not arrived. James picked up the phone and tapped in Robert Conley’s number. “Mr. Conley, this is James Kennedy again. I think something has happened to Samantha, but I’m not sure what. ANY information you can provide me may help me find her.” Tyler brought his ear close to the receiver to hear what Conley had to say; they both heard an overwhelming sigh from Conley.

  “Mr. Kennedy, I am Wesley Anderson’s estate attorney. Samantha Anne Lockley is his daughter. Her father was murdered according to the autopsy results from a massive blow to his chest cavity. The coroner also removed a picture that was lodged in his throat. The photo was of Samantha and David Ripley. The main suspect is in fact Samantha’s ex-boyfriend. David. I found out David was Wesley’s caretaker, but went by the name Joseph. He has changed his appearance that’s why he was not recognized and I’m afraid he may have gone after Samantha. He is a very dangerous man. He will disappear with her. In his mind she is his property, not a person. Now that Wesley is gone, Samantha inherited all his property. The house and the cabin …” James quickly interrupted. “I’m sorry did you say cabin? What cabin?” He heard Conley take another deep breath.

  “Wesley built a cabin just south of the Washington border. They used to spend their summers there.” “Mr. Conley is it possible David may have taken her to the cabin?” “Well I suppose. I am not sure he knew of it, but it’s possible. It’s very secluded, fifty miles from any town.” Conley offered. “He knows about it…and now so do I. Mr. Conley, I am going after Samantha…and I’m bringing her home…now how do I get there?” “Mr. Kennedy. There is something else you need to know. Please meet me at Wesley Anderson’s estate and I will inform you.” James listened to the address Conley provided, putting it to memory. He handed the phone to Tyler and vanished before Tyler’s very eyes.

  Roger finished up his paperwork, laying it on James’s desk. As he turned to clean up James stood front and center in his way. “You scared the…” He recognized the significance of his friend’s expression. Without a word Roger lifted the carpet revealing a trap door and opened it up. James placed his hands on either side of the opening and dropped inside. Roger followed. He hadn’t seen that look on James’ face in a long, long time. He knew something was wrong for him to be this unsettled.

  James had the basement of the restaurant turned into his personal shelter. It contained wall to wall weapons he had collected over the years. Roger was the only other person who knew of it. “Close the restaurant put a sign up front ‘Closed for Renovations’. Give the staff a week off with paid vacation. We should be back by then.” Where are we going?” Roger asked lifting the duffle bags from the top shelf. James shot him a sideways glance and exhaled quickly. “Hunting.” James loaded his gun holster with his two favorites, a berretta and a magnum with silencer. He tossed the holster in the duffle bag. Roger seized his semi automatic from the wall making sure the chamber was empty and carefully placed it inside the bag along with any ammunition that they might need. James lifted a box from underneath the ammo table and opened it up.

  Camouflage wear.

  James loaded the clothes into another duffle bag. He kept out a pair to change into. He packed two large canteens and some protein bars. Roger took down several hunting knives securing the latch that kept the holster on. He opened the drawer just below him handing James two pairs of night vision goggles. James stepped over to the far wall and took down his sniper rifle. He carefully cleaned the auto focus “What exactly are we hunting?” “T
he psychopath that kidnapped my girlfriend,” James replied. Roger’s attention focused on his friend’s profile, his sturdy jaw was clenched tight. He knew James was angry, and at this point nothing was going to stop him from finding Samantha. He actually felt sorry for anyone who would even consider trying to stop him. Both men zipped up the bags at the same time. James went up first and Roger handed him the bags. Roger closed the trap door and covered it back up. He looked through the rolodex, dialing Sarah first. James tossed Roger a set of clothing then disappeared from the office. He made a door check to make sure Pandora’s was locked up tight. Roger came from the office shortly afterwards toting both duffle bags. He handed the sign to James he had made for the restaurant. James placed it in the window as Roger eyed in the code to arm the alarm. They slipped out the door promptly and locked it up tight.

  In the SUV James keyed Wesley Anderson’s address into the GPS system. Roger waited patiently for James to explain. “We’re going to meet this Conley guy at Samantha’s father’s house. I’ll explain everything on the drive there.” James made good on his promise to his loyal friend. He explained everything that Tyler and Conley had relayed to him. They drove through the night and arrived at their destination around six the following morning. Mr. Conley was waiting for them out front. He was a short, round man in his late fifties, James guessed.

  As they walked up he extended his hand to the men. “Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Dawson, I presume?” “You presume correctly, however I don’t remember mentioning Roger Dawson to you,” James replied, raising his brow. The older man explained, “Miss Anderson has spoken of Mr. Dawson. She said you two were old friends or whatnot. I simply made an assumption considering the situation. My apologies if I insulted you.” He was very jittery, almost intimidated by their presence. “No apology necessary. It’s always good to keep people on their toes,” Roger offered holding out his hand. Conley accepted with a smile from ear to ear.

  “You’re soldiers?” Conley noticed their apparel. “Something like that.” Roger’s straight face came across as daunting to the little man. “Yes…yes of course. I can understand this is a private justice and you have my full support. Wesley Anderson was my friend for many years. In fact if I was young enough I would probably be going with you.” Conley took out his handkerchief and wiped his sweat-beaded face. He was understandably upset about his longtime friend. “Slow down there tiger. “ James put his hand on the Conley’s shoulder to get him relaxed.

  “Let’s go inside, shall we? Maybe you can pick up something the police didn’t.” They followed the short man inside. Just inside James hesitated and picked up a picture of Samantha in her happier days. Fury raged within him. He vowed to himself that if David hurt her he would take extra satisfaction in making him disappear with extreme prejudice. He set the picture back down and continued to follow his guide. Conley stopped at an upstairs door. “This is Miss Anderson’s room.” James pushed open the door and stepped inside with Roger right on his tail. Roger went to the left and James headed to the right, both ending up at her dresser. James turned to face Conley.

  “You said there was a photograph lodged in his throat?” “Yes, I did say that,” he said as he shifted his glasses up the brim of his nose. “This is where it came from,” Roger pointed out to him. It was a small square on the mirror with a small piece of tape still stuck to it. The dust covered other pictures around the area. This one spot had very little dust. “The police did not even come into this room,” Conley offered. “Well sir, I expect that’s why you wanted us to come see you,” Roger acknowledged rummaging through some other pictures. He came to one of Samantha and a guy together and handed it to James who studied it carefully. “This is David,” he said without hesitation. “That was him then…” Conley walked over handing Roger a photograph giving it a quick look. “This is him now. He colored his hair and built himself up.” Roger passed it over to James. A wicked frown came over the horizon of his lips as he crushed the picture in his palm. His head sharply turned to Conley. “Where is this cabin?”

  Chapter 23

  Samantha stood up. She adjusted her robe and walked past David towards the bathroom. His grasp came fierce and quick to her forearm. “I have to use the restroom.” She looked at him as he dropped his harsh grip. Rubbing her arm she continued to the bathroom. “Don’t lock the door,” he said as he slowly turned to her, rising from his chair. She nodded, closing the door behind her. The reflection in the shattered mirror was unrecognizable, her eyes were tired and puffy, her face was flushed. Her lower lip quivered as she fought to hold back her tears.

  He left her make-up bag on the bathroom counter knowing she would want it. Samantha rummaged through it, finding her lady razors. She removed the razor from the case and hid the blade in her compact. Samantha quickly broke apart the razor casing and dropped it into the toilet, flushing away her secret. An idea came to her as she opened the bathroom door. She only hoped he fell for it. “Can you take me into town tomorrow?” He shot her a fierce glance with a raised brow, exhaling with irritation. “No.”

  “But David, I need…” “What could you possibly need that I have not provided here for you?” he interrupted. He was already extremely provoked. She raised her eyebrow to him. “How many things have you NOT provided that I need at least once a month?” He shook his head cursing under his breath. “I will go for you tomorrow …that will have to be good enough,” he huffed in acknowledgement to her request. She wandered over to the bed and lay down on her side lifting her hands above her head waiting to be tied. He knew something was up, all of a sudden she was way too obedient. He would keep close watch on her. He followed her to the bed and secured the ropes around her wrists and bent over her. “Why don’t you give me a goodnight kiss for old time’s sake?” He pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes and grimaced at his touch. She was thankful that he believed her little white lie. She prayed for daylight to come.

  .

  He lay behind her, feeling his hot breath against the back of her neck almost made her nauseous. She thought about James lying behind her and how safe she felt with his arms around her. She missed him so much.

  Conley watched as the pair of private justice Commandos climbed into the off-road vehicle and sped off. “What’s with the crushing of the picture? We may need it to find him.” “I know who it is; he is the maintenance man at Samantha’s condo complex. I was in the same room with him. I could kick myself! I knew there was something not right about him. I let him right through my fingers, a mistake that won’t happen twice! I have no idea how he found her and I obviously didn’t protect her well enough.” James was irritated at himself. “How could you have known? No one could have known. She had it pretty together; this definitely explains the hostility in the beginning. That is a pretty large burden to hold inside, it’s amazing she didn’t fall apart. She is a strong individual. I bet she is holding up really well right now. She’s probably thinking of a way to escape, she is pretty shrewd.” Roger glanced over at James, who put everything Roger said inside a cabinet in his head. She is pretty shrewd.

  “Conley said it’s about an hour drive north of here, following this road past the interstate another fifty miles,” Roger pointing out on the map. James floored the vehicle to the max speed. Patience was not one of his virtues and the only thing important right now was finding Samantha.

  Samantha stirred, her eyes fluttering and trying to focus. The sun was barely coming through the kitchen window. “David, wake up…” she said, nudging his gut. “David you need to untie me, I feel sick.” He rubbed his eyes and took his time to untie her. David slowly made his way from the bed to the kitchen for some coffee. He heard her calling to him about going to town. Shaking his head and gritting his teeth he slammed the cupboard shut trying to ignore her nagging. In the bathroom Samantha talked softly to herself. That’s right you bastard, not much longer. You may be bigger and faster, but I’m smarter.

  Samantha opened her makeup bag. She rubbed a thick layer of baby oil
around her wrists along with a layer of lotion. It would help her slip from the ropes easier. She opened her powder compact and gently removed the razor, carefully wrapping it in toilet paper so it would not slice her hands up. Concealing it in her palm she hurried from the bathroom back onto the bed. She sat there staring out the window, watching the wind chimes, on the porch. She remembered making them with her mother when she was six. “If you’re thinking about making a run for it, forget it. You know I can catch you.” She felt his heartless stare on her. She disregarded his ignorant comment.

  “I made those chimes with my mother the summer before she died. She let me tie the strings…” Samantha glanced over her shoulder at a totally uninterested David. “Come over and eat something,” David growled. “I don’t feel well.” Samantha still refused to give into his demands. She laid on the bed, continuing to stare out the window. David looked over, almost concerned about her comment but not enough to move before finishing his breakfast. Samantha listened closely to his movements. He stood from the breakfast table, the chair noisily sliding backwards. The dishes clattered in the sink as he ran water over them, then put them in the drainer. She could hear his cursing from where she was. He was annoyed. His libido was suffering. She knew something had to happen and soon. She tucked the tissue wrapped razor inside the belt of her robe for now.

  “Dave…let’s go for a walk, please…like we used to. I am starting to get cabin fever or something.” His expression was uncertain, wondering if she had an alternative motive for wanting to get out. He thought about it. No one was around for at least fifty miles. He did feel a bit cramped as well. It’s not like she would try and run, he would make sure of that. He gave her a long, dubious gaze. Maybe she was coming around, he told himself. “If you attempt anything…” “I won’t, I promise,” she offered hopefully. This would give her a chance to take a look around outside the cabin. She could find the easiest route to escape. He sauntered over to the bed, crouching down for his boots from underneath.. He stepped to the closet and pulled something shiny from the top shelf. Unfortunately, he was smart enough to be one step ahead of her.