chapter 7
Chapter 7: bruising truth
In two days, Anthony has successfully bugged her cell phone and hired three new people to the team. He wanted to have other people on so he could spend more time out on the street and in the office but still have her protected. There was Felicity Jenkins, a professional and expert from an elite search and rescue team from NYC. She had a soft face but a strong personality. She was just under 30 but she looked younger than Kat. Her blonde hair was cut short right below her ears, which worked for her face. Charles Duff and Alexander Henry were also on the team and were two of the best security men the NYPD had. Duff was a black cop who had a very intimidating face but a soothing voice. He towered over everyone and his arms were so big, he couldn’t put them down. Henry stood 5’9 and looked young. His face had soft features that were hidden beneath glasses. Kat watched as the team slowly came together, watching as everyone did their best at making her feel safe with them. She did. Everyone she had met gave off welcoming warm vibes.
“Okay, everything seems to be set so far.” Duff said as he sat next to Kat at the kitchen counter. “I will stay during the nighttime. I’m stronger and Henry, who will take the day. He’s good. So am I, not to boast.” He waited for her smile, which she did. “We’ll keep you safe.”
“I don’t need bodyguards, James is here.” She pointed.
“The more protection there is Miss Walker, the more you stay safe. This person wants to establish an intimate connection with you and that tells me he is much more determined than most whack’s we’ve dealt with.”
“Thank you, that’s really comforting.” She said sarcastically as she silently thanked Felicity as she handed her a cup of coffee.
“No disrespect but I’m not trying to comfort you, I’m informing you. This is what you need to know.”
She nodded as she got up and walked over to where James was standing, wrapping an arm around him as she watched Henry play with the bug for the house phone.
“He doesn’t call the house.” She told Henry.
He looked up with a smile. “Better be safe than…not so safe.” Choosing his words carefully.
Suddenly everything went silent as the cell phone rang, quickly picking it up and bringing it to her ear.
“You’re very determined aren’t you?” The voice was unmistakable.
“You should’ve known that. Don’t you know me better than I do?” she proclaimed, trying to press his buttons, ignoring Henry’s glare of disapproval.
“Yes, your right. I did know that. That’s one of the reasons I chose you. I knew you wouldn’t have given up easily. Not after your mother died.”
He paused briefly.
“Just imagine...she would probably still be here if you had gotten there ten minutes earlier. You could’ve saved her life. Isn’t that right?”
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. He was right. She found her mother in her bedroom. She remembers rushing over to her side, shaking her. Yelling at her. Nothing worked. Nothing. Nothing filled her mother’s glazed eyes as she continued to shake her. It took her almost 10 minutes before she remembered she could call the ambulance but when they got there, they told her what she already knew deep down. She was gone. Nothing she could’ve done would’ve helped they told her. Twice. She knew better though. Her mother’s body was still warm when she got to her. She could’ve made it in time. She could’ve done something. Could’ve saved her.
“I apologize.” It made her jump back to the present. “I can tell I hurt you...it wasn’t polite. Oh, How is your arm feeling? Any better?”
Her eyes went wide. She felt like they would pop out. Everyone around her questioned her silently on what he had said, Henry signaling her to keep talking so he can trace the signal, obviously having a hard time doing so.
“It’s better. Thank you for asking.” Sarcasm evident her voice.
“Well, put some ice on it, I need you well. You’re going to do a search for me. You see there’s a girl. Three actually. No one knows it yet but they won’t be coming home tonight. I placed them in three separate locations. Find them.”
“Why?” Asking him, her curiosity getting the best of her. The phone was slippery with sweat and she had to keep switching the phone from ear to ear to keep her ears from getting hot. She was a nervous wreck but contained it as best she could.
“Why you ask? Well because I said so. Who has your sister? Remember that.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Go down to the pond in the park on the outskirts of town. Its not a far drive, and tell the police that you have a lead on the three missing girls.”
She racked her brain as to why he would do this. Any of this. And to her.
“Tell the police to look under the mud, right on the edge where the water meets the land. You’ll know when you get to the right spot...You will find them there.”
“You marked where they were?” She asked, disgusted as how sadistic and psychotic this person really was.
They Hung up.
“Damn it!” Henry shouted. “The number is protected. It traced back to the same number at about a million other places. Different states, countries, even continents. Whoever this guy is, he knows what he’s doing.”
James, who was sitting with Henry, listening to the conversation, walked over to Kat and held her in a sweet embrace, kissing her forehead. “You did good. You stayed strong.”
She smiled at him as she backed up. “I’m going tomorrow. Check out the site. See if what he says is true.”
“No!” Duff growled. “We go. Anthony doesn’t want you leaving unless absolutely necessary.”
“Yea, captain forehead is right, let them deal with this.” James added.
“Neither of you have a choice. Deal with it.” She started walking out of the room.
“Kat!” James shouted angrily, making her stop dead in her tracks. “I’m here to help you. Not to be bossed around. What gives you the right-”
“I took the right. Someone had to make decisions for you and you let it be me.”
“I didn’t let you. You took it. Said it yourself. You push me away and keep me at a distance. I’m done with that decision. I want I new one”
Duff backed up, realizing that he was out of this conversation, he sat next to Henry who was pretending he was still fiddling with the tracker.
Neither James nor Kat cared they had an audience at that point and the argument turned in another direction.
“I did.” She agreed. “I keep you at a distance but that’s how it is.”
“No. Not this time. This time you are let me in. I’ve let you use me before but not again. You are not gonna take my always being here for granted. You’re gonna have to stop being so selfish and not walk away from this.”
“I’ve never taken you for granted, you’re my friend James-”
“We aren’t friends! Screw friendship! Don’t you get it! I...just...” Spike saw the pain in her eyes and couldn’t continue. “We’ll talk about this another time. Go. Go run off like you always do.” He stormed off, grabbing his jacket and slamming the door.
She stood there for a moment as she took in everything that had just been said. She glanced around the room and realized everyone’s eyes were on her. She let the tears fall from her eyes before she turned and walked out.
He was right, she needed to get away. To shut down. Needed to escape from the pain. The hurt. Most of which, was caused by the man who told her she needed it. She was confused about what he meant with his words and had no clue on how to take them.
“ Screw friendship! Don’t you get it!”
She thought up numerous meanings but one was as ridiculous as the next. He had to make things difficult at this point in time.
The kidnapper she could handle, she knew what to expect. But with James, it’s a whole new experience, especially with the feelings she had for him, no matter if they were mad at each other or not. She felt a shutter crawl down her spine. A good one. She tried to pretend like it wasn’t for him, but she was lying to herself, her whole body knew what it was craving for. But she promised herself not to have a relationship with anyone, especially James.
In two days, Anthony has successfully bugged her cell phone and hired three new people to the team. He wanted to have other people on so he could spend more time out on the street and in the office but still have her protected. There was Felicity Jenkins, a professional and expert from an elite search and rescue team from NYC. She had a soft face but a strong personality. She was just under 30 but she looked younger than Kat. Her blonde hair was cut short right below her ears, which worked for her face. Charles Duff and Alexander Henry were also on the team and were two of the best security men the NYPD had. Duff was a black cop who had a very intimidating face but a soothing voice. He towered over everyone and his arms were so big, he couldn’t put them down. Henry stood 5’9 and looked young. His face had soft features that were hidden beneath glasses. Kat watched as the team slowly came together, watching as everyone did their best at making her feel safe with them. She did. Everyone she had met gave off welcoming warm vibes.
“Okay, everything seems to be set so far.” Duff said as he sat next to Kat at the kitchen counter. “I will stay during the nighttime. I’m stronger and Henry, who will take the day. He’s good. So am I, not to boast.” He waited for her smile, which she did. “We’ll keep you safe.”
“I don’t need bodyguards, James is here.” She pointed.
“The more protection there is Miss Walker, the more you stay safe. This person wants to establish an intimate connection with you and that tells me he is much more determined than most whack’s we’ve dealt with.”
“Thank you, that’s really comforting.” She said sarcastically as she silently thanked Felicity as she handed her a cup of coffee.
“No disrespect but I’m not trying to comfort you, I’m informing you. This is what you need to know.”
She nodded as she got up and walked over to where James was standing, wrapping an arm around him as she watched Henry play with the bug for the house phone.
“He doesn’t call the house.” She told Henry.
He looked up with a smile. “Better be safe than…not so safe.” Choosing his words carefully.
Suddenly everything went silent as the cell phone rang, quickly picking it up and bringing it to her ear.
“You’re very determined aren’t you?” The voice was unmistakable.
“You should’ve known that. Don’t you know me better than I do?” she proclaimed, trying to press his buttons, ignoring Henry’s glare of disapproval.
“Yes, your right. I did know that. That’s one of the reasons I chose you. I knew you wouldn’t have given up easily. Not after your mother died.”
He paused briefly.
“Just imagine...she would probably still be here if you had gotten there ten minutes earlier. You could’ve saved her life. Isn’t that right?”
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. He was right. She found her mother in her bedroom. She remembers rushing over to her side, shaking her. Yelling at her. Nothing worked. Nothing. Nothing filled her mother’s glazed eyes as she continued to shake her. It took her almost 10 minutes before she remembered she could call the ambulance but when they got there, they told her what she already knew deep down. She was gone. Nothing she could’ve done would’ve helped they told her. Twice. She knew better though. Her mother’s body was still warm when she got to her. She could’ve made it in time. She could’ve done something. Could’ve saved her.
“I apologize.” It made her jump back to the present. “I can tell I hurt you...it wasn’t polite. Oh, How is your arm feeling? Any better?”
Her eyes went wide. She felt like they would pop out. Everyone around her questioned her silently on what he had said, Henry signaling her to keep talking so he can trace the signal, obviously having a hard time doing so.
“It’s better. Thank you for asking.” Sarcasm evident her voice.
“Well, put some ice on it, I need you well. You’re going to do a search for me. You see there’s a girl. Three actually. No one knows it yet but they won’t be coming home tonight. I placed them in three separate locations. Find them.”
“Why?” Asking him, her curiosity getting the best of her. The phone was slippery with sweat and she had to keep switching the phone from ear to ear to keep her ears from getting hot. She was a nervous wreck but contained it as best she could.
“Why you ask? Well because I said so. Who has your sister? Remember that.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Go down to the pond in the park on the outskirts of town. Its not a far drive, and tell the police that you have a lead on the three missing girls.”
She racked her brain as to why he would do this. Any of this. And to her.
“Tell the police to look under the mud, right on the edge where the water meets the land. You’ll know when you get to the right spot...You will find them there.”
“You marked where they were?” She asked, disgusted as how sadistic and psychotic this person really was.
They Hung up.
“Damn it!” Henry shouted. “The number is protected. It traced back to the same number at about a million other places. Different states, countries, even continents. Whoever this guy is, he knows what he’s doing.”
James, who was sitting with Henry, listening to the conversation, walked over to Kat and held her in a sweet embrace, kissing her forehead. “You did good. You stayed strong.”
She smiled at him as she backed up. “I’m going tomorrow. Check out the site. See if what he says is true.”
“No!” Duff growled. “We go. Anthony doesn’t want you leaving unless absolutely necessary.”
“Yea, captain forehead is right, let them deal with this.” James added.
“Neither of you have a choice. Deal with it.” She started walking out of the room.
“Kat!” James shouted angrily, making her stop dead in her tracks. “I’m here to help you. Not to be bossed around. What gives you the right-”
“I took the right. Someone had to make decisions for you and you let it be me.”
“I didn’t let you. You took it. Said it yourself. You push me away and keep me at a distance. I’m done with that decision. I want I new one”
Duff backed up, realizing that he was out of this conversation, he sat next to Henry who was pretending he was still fiddling with the tracker.
Neither James nor Kat cared they had an audience at that point and the argument turned in another direction.
“I did.” She agreed. “I keep you at a distance but that’s how it is.”
“No. Not this time. This time you are let me in. I’ve let you use me before but not again. You are not gonna take my always being here for granted. You’re gonna have to stop being so selfish and not walk away from this.”
“I’ve never taken you for granted, you’re my friend James-”
“We aren’t friends! Screw friendship! Don’t you get it! I...just...” Spike saw the pain in her eyes and couldn’t continue. “We’ll talk about this another time. Go. Go run off like you always do.” He stormed off, grabbing his jacket and slamming the door.
She stood there for a moment as she took in everything that had just been said. She glanced around the room and realized everyone’s eyes were on her. She let the tears fall from her eyes before she turned and walked out.
He was right, she needed to get away. To shut down. Needed to escape from the pain. The hurt. Most of which, was caused by the man who told her she needed it. She was confused about what he meant with his words and had no clue on how to take them.
“ Screw friendship! Don’t you get it!”
She thought up numerous meanings but one was as ridiculous as the next. He had to make things difficult at this point in time.
The kidnapper she could handle, she knew what to expect. But with James, it’s a whole new experience, especially with the feelings she had for him, no matter if they were mad at each other or not. She felt a shutter crawl down her spine. A good one. She tried to pretend like it wasn’t for him, but she was lying to herself, her whole body knew what it was craving for. But she promised herself not to have a relationship with anyone, especially James.