by R Weir
The chairs in the dining room were occupied by all the interested parties this evening. Athena, Cameryn, Shen, Paige and Jose. Behind them was Lance, who was holding himself up on his crutches, moving around from time to time. Scanlon wasn’t there, as they didn’t want to bring him into the loop because of the threat made to Hunter and Olivia if the authorities were informed. It was up to them to come up with a strategy of how to proceed.
After Athena played back the video for all to witness, the reaction from the parents was to be expected.
“You’ve got to find this man?” remarked Paige coldly, the worry lines on her face exposed without makeup. “I don’t care if his life is in the danger. All I care about is Olivia. I have no problem trading her for this man.”
Jose agreed, holding Paige’s hand on top of the table. “It’s likely he has a criminal history being in witness protection. Our daughter is innocent in all of this. I’d say fly out right now to Salt Lake and track him down.”
“Easier said than done,” replied Athena. “Salt Lake is a big city. Even though Hunter narrowed it down, it still won’t be easy locating him in the short time we have.”
“And there’s a chance they’ve moved him,” added Shen. “If the Marshal Service perceives a threat, they move witnesses around and give them new identities.”
“We can’t sit here and do nothing?” said Paige in anger. “What about this arms dealer. Can’t you find him?”
“The same arms dealer that tried to kill us yesterday?” stated Cameryn, reminding them of what had happened. “We think we know where he lives. But it could be a battle getting him after the firepower they displayed yesterday.”
Paige grew furious. “Hunter said you’re the best. And that you would protect my kids. You’ve failed on that count. Don’t be a bunch of pussies and let them kill my little girl.” Paige stopped for a minute, choking up. “You do what it takes and find her. Sacrifice…kill whomever you need to. Bring her home alive to me, so I can hold her again.”
Paige put her face into her hands and started crying, her husband pulling her close. He looked up, waving his finger at each of them.
“I asked Hunter when this all started, how far he was willing to go,” stated Jose. “Do what you have to. Find whomever you need. Break bones, shoot and kill them. We don’t care. If it’s more money, then say how much. Cost is no object. As long as it gets Olivia back to us.”
Athena lowered her head at the scene before her. She knew money wasn’t the issue. It was the resources to make it happen. And the three of them weren’t enough.
“Why don’t you take Paige out into the living room while we talk,” said Athena to Jose calmly. “We’ll brainstorm and come up with a plan.”
Jose helped Paige to her feet, and they left the room. Athena sighed, looking at Cameryn, Shen and Lance, shrugging her shoulders.
“I’m all ears gentlemen. Any ideas?”
“I wish I was more mobile,” declared Lance, moving around the table to keep his body limber. “I’m getting tired of sitting but I won’t be free of this brace for a couple more weeks. And even then, I’ll be doing rehab to get my knee back to full strength and flexibility.”
“What about Reggie?” inquired Shen.
“I’m sure he’d be on board to some degree,” replied Lance. “But that would only leave me to guard the house and no one on the gate.”
“We could ask Scanlon for one of his officers again to guard the gate,” noted Cameryn.
“And when he asks why, what do we tell him,” answered Athena. “For now, we need to leave him out of the loop on this.”
“He’d probably prefer to be left out,” noted Shen.
“I don’t think we have much choice one way or another,” declared Athena. “We can go after The Train Man and who knows what we’ll learn. Or we try to find this Adin person, even though we know little about him.”
“What about Hunter’s former partner in the US Marshal’s office?” queried Cameryn.
Athena shrugged. “Slippery slope. They said not to contact anyone in the Marshal Service. Not to mention she’d be putting her job on the line helping us.”
“Didn’t they have a relationship?” wondered Shen.
“Didn’t end well. Similar to what happened with Hunter and me. The man gets in your pants and then under your skin.” Athena did her best not to get mad. “Though like myself, she may not care to see him dead. But still…” Athena left the thought unfinished.
“Maybe you can ask her in a roundabout way,” commented Shen. “What if and all that. Maybe she can take vacation time and not be officially on the clock.”
Athena thought it over. It was risky but might be an option. Still to ask Latoya for help might need to be a last resort. And if they told her and she wasn’t onboard, it could cause them to move Adin for security reasons. Athena got up from the table, heading for the kitchen. She needed food and drink. She was stopped by Lance, as his radio went off. It was Reggie at the front gate.
“There’s a man out here in an expensive Lexus, saying he needs to talk with Paige. His ID shows he’s a Troy Mayfield.”
Lance glanced over at Athena. She knew the man was the rival of Paige’s company and a suspect early on. She asked Lance to find out what he was there for.
“Says it’s important. Relating to the kidnapping. He is offering assistance.”
“Is he alone?” asked Lance.
“Yes.”
Lance looked at Athena, who nodded to let him through.
“Cameryn, you and Shen check him and make sure he isn’t armed.”
The two got up and walked outside, Cameryn putting his hand on Shen’s shoulder as a friendly gesture. Athena and Lance went into the living room to find Paige and Jose. Paige seemed to have calmed down, a lot of spent, damp tissue on the coffee table before her.
“Troy Mayfield is here,” stated Athena.
Paige was stunned by the news, her red eyes bulging. “What the hell for?”
“It appears he knows about the kidnapping. He’s offering assistance. Cameryn and Shen are bringing him in.”
Paige looked at her husband.
“It couldn’t hurt to see what he has to say,” replied Jose to her stare.
“If that SOB is involved, I’ll own his company.” Paige’s rage was all too evident.
“Let’s not accuse him upfront,” noted Athena her hands gesturing for calmness. “It’s best to remain tranquil and hear him out. We don’t want to scare him off if he can be helpful.”
Paige grimaced, but agreed. Jose kept with his arm around his wife, nodding affirmatively. He was hoping to keep her calm, though he knew when she was worked up like this, not much would be successful.
The front door opened, and Troy Mayfield walked in, followed by Cameryn and Shen, having found no weapons on him. Troy was dressed in expensive gray slacks and single buttoned jacket over a light blue cotton shirt and red & black striped tie. He ran his fingers through his wind-blown thinning blonde hair, working it back in place. He approached without a smile, all business showing on his narrow face, a slight shadow of beard manifesting under his tan skin.
“Paige, Jose,” he said sternly. “I understand your kids have been taken from you. I’m here to offer help.”
“Not to admit anything,” wondered Athena. “But where did you get this news from?”
“And you are?” asked Mayfield, glaring at her.
“Athena. The one in charge of their security.”
Mayfield glanced around the room at the faces. “Where is Hunter Divine?”
“Otherwise occupied for the time being,” replied Athena sternly. “Please answer the question.”
Mayfield waved at the empty recliner. “May I sit?”
“I’d answer the lady’s question,” barked Cameryn. “Otherwise you can leave.”
Mayfield turned to look back at the serious expression of the large man behind him. “Tough crowd.”
Paige grew angry. “God dammit Troy!
Quit being an ass!”
Mayfield put up his hands in surrender. “The head of security at your office told me.”
“Jonathan?” asked Paige.
Mayfield pointed at his nose.
“That little fucker. Why is he talking to you?”
Mayfield paused for a minute, wondering what type of reaction he’d get to the explanation.
Jose stood up. “You better answer the question and quit dicking around before I pop you!” Jose took a couple steps forward, leaving little space between him and Mayfield.
“Fine. You know how you always mentioned thinking we had someone on the inside of your company…” Mayfield put out both of his hands and did a quick nod.
“That son-of-a-bitch,” cursed Paige. “I always wondered about him. He was a noisy bastard of an employee, soon to be an ex-employee. Any others working inside?”
“Now isn’t the time,” replied Mayfield, preferring not to answer. “Is it true about your kids?”
Paige looked at Jose, who looked at Athena. She nodded her head for them to answer.
“They had both initially,” confirmed Jose. “We now have Deion back because of a trade we made. But they’re still holding Olivia for a ransom.”
“Trade for what?”
“Hunter,” replied Athena.
“Hunter? What for?”
“It’s complicated and best you do not know all the details. But we have only a few days to find someone and turn them over or they begin hurting them.” Athena decided not to go in too graphic a detail to further scare the parents.
“You mentioned you were offering assistance,” wondered Shen. “What can you do to help?”
“I have a business associate. Hunter met him when he stormed into my office.” Mayfield stopped to shake his head at the memory. “His name is Amari Sarr. He is a former counterintelligence officer with a lot of…how should I put it…dangerous skills and access to dangerous people. And he has a lot of connections high up in the government, both in the US and outside.”
Everyone in the room looked at each other trying to determine if what Mayfield was saying was true. If it were, it could be an avenue for more assistance. The one who had the most doubt though, was Paige.
“I don’t trust you,” Paige said to Mayfield. She now rose moving towards him. “You always have an angle. What is it this time?”
Mayfield feigned ignorance. “I only want to help Paige…honest. I have kids of my own. I’d be worried sick.”
Paige crossed her arms in disgust. “Oh, come now, Troy. I know your history. I had people check you out when you first proposed the merger. You rarely see your kids. They’re off with their mother in Texas, living off your support checks. The only thing you care about is money and your flexible sexy twenty-five-year-old girlfriend.”
Mayfield looked Paige and Jose straight in the eye and smiled. “Okay you got me. I’m not saying it’s a requirement for my help. But if I did and my assistance helped get your daughter back alive, I’d hope it would grease the wheel on getting this merger completed.”
“I knew it!”
Paige stepped closer and slapped him in the face, pushing him back into Cameryn. She started to come after him again when Jose grabbed her.
“Calm down honey,” he said. “I understand your anger. But if he can help, it’s worth it. Don’t you agree.”
Paige knew her husband was right. She would do anything to get her daughter back. No price was too high. Even when dealing with a snake like Troy Mayfield. Who, heaven forbid, might soon be one of her partners.
“You win Troy,” she said, before waving her finger at him. “But if I find out your involved in my kids kidnapping in any way, I will have you served up on a skewer.”
Cameryn grabbed Mayfield by the shoulders and squeezed. “And if she doesn’t get you, we will. And we won’t be as kind.”
Mayfield cringed at the pain exerted, the vise grip not letting him loose. He held his hand over his heart pleading to trust him.
Athena walked over in front of him, searched his jacket pocket’s before finding his cell phone and handing it to him.
“Call him now. The clock is ticking.”
Chapter 54
His eyes opened, the light on the ceiling above him blurry, the room spinning when he could focus. Hunter tried to sit up, his memory foggy on the events of the past, uncertain where he was, and the time or day. He held both hands to his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. The sickness in his stomach overwhelming.
“Easy,” said the female voice, whose hand touched his shoulder. “You’ve been out all night.”
“I don’t feel well,” he said, happy his stomach was empty, or he’d have thrown up by now.
“I think they drugged you, dragged you in last night and dumped you on the bed. At first I thought you might be dead.”
Death might not have hurt as much!
Hunter’s eyes started to clear some. The blurriness waning slowly. He soon saw the face, eventually recognizing it as Olivia. It would appear they did put him in the room with her, Reinbach keeping his word. Though he couldn’t remember much of what happened before he was brought here. His mind searched, before fragments from his brain cells started to flash before him.
“I recorded a message,” he said, pausing to access more. “I was with Norvin, Valerie and Travis. Had to do with the man they want found. Took a while to get the words correct. I don’t remember much after finishing.”
Hunter tried to get up, Olivia doing her best to help him. He put his hand on the wall and worked his way to the bathroom, taking care of his business, his bladder at the busting point, before returning to sit on the bed. Slowly he began to feel better, though nauseous, food was on his mind. His stomach feeling empty and his mouth dry.
“Do we have water to drink?”
Olivia nodded, walking over to the fridge and bringing back a bottle.
“When was the last time you ate?” she asked.
“Depending on the time and day, I’d say lunch…yesterday?”
Olivia walked back over to one of the cabinets and grabbed a box of cheese crackers for him to eat.
“It’s late morning a day after you visited me,” noted Olivia, sitting on her bed. “Normally they bring breakfast of some sort by now. Maybe they’re waiting for you to wake up.”
“Camera’s in the room?”
“Yes.” Olivia pointed to the upper corner. “Happily, none in the bathroom that I’m aware of.” She found the thought of watching her in facilities creepy.
Chewing and swallowing down a couple of crackers, taking his time to make sure they stayed down, Hunter thought over the situation. Somehow, he needed to discover a way out. Being watched and listened to made it challenging.
“Did Isiah Sellers pay you a visit?” queried Hunter.
Olivia nodded; her teeth clamped together in disgust. The name not one she enjoyed hearing.
“I’m guessing it didn’t go well,” noted Hunter, replying to her reaction.
She leaned back onto the bed glaring at the ceiling. “No. He pissed me off. Coming in here trying to make amends.”
“I warned him it wouldn’t go well.” Hunter chewed a couple more crackers and doing a bad job of not getting crumbs all over.
“I kicked him in the nuts!” She stated with great pride, her right leg extending in the air. “When I found out he was involved in all of this I had to lash out. Plus…he reached out to touch me. And that wasn’t going to happen.”
Hunter laughed, though careful not to get too excited. “Good for you. A good shot to the family jewels was well deserved. What happened after that?”
“One of their men helped him out. I made it clear I never wanted to see him again.”
“From what I know, I doubt he’ll give up easily. But hold your ground. I’ll help however I can.”
The short relationship and marriage of Paige and Isiah had been a volatile one. Hunter had heard it all in detail when he and Paige started seeing each o
ther. She’d shielded Olivia from Sellers for a reason. A reason Paige kept hidden from her daughter. But it was good she stayed away from her biological father and defended herself. For his abusive behavior might rear up.
Olivia sat up. “Why did they put you in the room with me?”
“I insisted. I wanted to make sure no one hurt you. If I’d been here when your father visited, I might have kicked him in the nuts to go with the punch to the jaw I gave him earlier.”
Olivia smiled while rubbing her hands together in glee. “Yea. I wondered what the bruise was from. I can’t say I’m sad you popped him in the mouth. I found the whole interaction…hair-raising.”
The crackers weren’t filling the hunger void in Hunter’s stomach. He stood up, waving at the camera, yelling for food. While he was up, he checked out the room. There’s one window over the kitchen sink, with bars on it. The only door was bolted shut, much like the room he’d been in the day before. Vents on the walls and floor were too small for crawling through. The walls themselves were sheet rock on wooden framing with little insulation, as they were cool to the touch. Wires to the camera were exposed, meaning it was possible to disconnect them. It wasn’t an impenetrable fortress to escape from. But it wouldn’t be a cakewalk either. After about fifteen minutes, came a call through the door for them to back away. Once they did the door opened and in walked one of the guards holding a tray, another guard behind him, gun at the ready. The food was left on the counter and the door was locked again.
“Looks like you got your wish,” commented Olivia, checking the contents of the tray.
There were two foam plates, both covered to keep the food warm. Each had a good portion of scrambled eggs, four slices of bacon, shredded hash browns, slices of fresh apples, and tall glasses of orange juice in plastic cups. The eating utensils plastic, with only a spoon provided. Their captors weren’t taking any chances on them coming up with a weapon. He was surprised they didn’t make them eat with their fingers.