aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire) (5 page)

“We’ve
already established that you have some serious criminal connections.” Agent
Kelly tapped off her arguments on the tips of her fingers. “Second you have
motive, which is money. You had the means and opportunity. We don’t know who
you’ve introduced Gates to while he’s been in your charge. He would trust
whoever you said was safe.”

“You
believe I would actually do that to a child?” Selena’s voice rose in hysterical
fury as she turned to Nikki and Steve. “I’ve looked after Gates since he was a
baby. He’s like my own son.”

Steve
shrugged and looked away. “It has happened before.”

“Not
by me.” Selena’s voice shook. “My own son was taken. You have no right to blame
me behind my back.”

“We
could hardly tell you to your face.” Nikki’s eyes narrowed. “No one would take
Tarrin
. He’s the bastard child of an immigrant with no
money.”

“You
forget my so called connections.” Selena sneered. “If you know about my
brother, you know he’s not poor.”

“We
also know he is capable of kidnapping.”

Selena
turned to Agent Kelly. “My brother is not in the United States. I haven’t
spoken to him since I came here.”

The
FBI agent shrugged. “He associated with criminals. That is more than enough
reason for us to suspect you.”

“My
son is still missing.” Selena took a deep breath and forced her voice to become
calm. She didn’t trust the FBI or any government agency, but she needed their
information. Once they had everything, then she would let the Hunters do their
work. “What was in the message you received?”

“It
was from Gates.” Nikki answered. “There was no mention of
Tarrin
,
only that Gates was alone in a dark place and he wanted to go home.”

“I
assume there was a ransom note attached.”

Agent
Kelly nodded. “They are demanding ten million dollars. They were to send more
instructions today.”

“Those
are the instructions you came in with?”

“Yes.”
The agent cleared her throat. “They want more money. They will let us know
about the drop spot later.”

“I’m
trying to put the money together.” Steve’s voice cracked. “How much more can
they demand?”

Agent
Kelly looked over at Selena and then her gaze flickered away. “This is the
first time they’ve mentioned
Tarrin
. It seems they
won’t release him without more money.”

“More?”
Selena choked. “How much?”

“Another
ten million.”

Selena’s
heart dropped. There was no way she could raise that kind of money. She might
be able to contact her brother, but she hadn’t a clue how to go about it.
Besides, she didn’t want his blood money. She’d vowed to sever all connections
with him, and she had. Her only hope was for Steve and Nikki to help her. She
would find a way to pay them back once
Tarrin
was
home safe.

“I
don’t have that kind of money.”

“I
can’t raise anymore.” Steve’s voice held regret. “I’ll be lucky to have only
enough for Gates.”

Catal
cleared his throat. His hand tightened around Selena’s. “I will give it to
you.”

“Where
would you get that kind of money?” Steve’s voice held disdain. “Rob a bank?”

“If
necessary.”
Catal’s
voice was calm. “As it happens I
won’t have to do that.”

“Mercenaries
are well paid?”

“Yes.”

Selena’s
despair filled him. He couldn’t let it continue. If having the money would help
her, then she could have everything he owned, but it wouldn’t come to that.
Catal and his brothers would find the kidnappers first.

“Selena
asked us for help, and we will give it.” Partlan spoke now. “If that means
giving the cash for the ransom, then so be it. I doubt it will come to that,
though. If we do have to exchange money for the boys, we will get it back.”

“I
don’t want you messing up the FBI operation.” Steve punctuated each word with a
pointed finger at Partlan. “They have everything under control.”

“It’s
obvious you had no intention of trying to save Selena’s son.”
Catal’s
words were harsh. “There is no need for us to
coordinate with you further.”

“What
about my son?” Nikki’s voice was frantic. “You promised that you would find him
also. Are you just going to abandon us because we didn’t tell you everything?”

“We
gave our word.”
Partlan’s
voice was devoid of
emotion. “There would be no honor if we did not try and save both boys.”

Catal
could feel a surge of relief flow through Selena. The tension in her body eased.
He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and reassure her that he
would find
Tarrin
. He sensed her rejection. She still
blocked him. What had been between them once, was no more. If she hadn’t been
in desperate need for her son, she would never have contacted aHunter4Hire, and
he wouldn’t have found her.

She
hadn’t wanted him in her life. She’d moved on with another man and had a child.
She had put him behind her forever. He could accept that she didn’t want to be
his mate, but what caused him anguish, was that she had blocked him.

“We
will need photos of the boys.” Partlan spoke to Agent Kelly. “Details of the
ransom request would be helpful.”

“I
can’t give you either.” Agent Kelly pushed herself up from the chair. “I
haven’t a clue who you are. You might be worse than the kidnappers. My
superiors would have my job if I let you anywhere near the case. You already
know too much.”

“As
you wish.” Partlan turned away from the agent and focused on Nikki. “Do you
have a photo?”

“Of
course.” Nikki moved to a chest of drawers near the window. She pulled out a
large picture and handed it to Partlan. “This is his most recent school
picture.”

Partlan
glanced down and nodded.

Partlan’s
commands to Catal were by mind connection. “
Go with Selena and get a
photograph of her son. See if you can find out any information she didn’t tell
the police.
”

Catal
reached a hand to Selena. “We need a photo of
Tarrin
.”

Selena
hesitated a second. She refused his offered help and stood on her own. She
walked to the door and Catal followed. They went down a hallway toward the rear
of the house where he had first entered the premises. They passed the large
kitchen and went through the laundry room. At the end of the room was a doorway
that Selena opened.

It
was a small apartment. A main room with kitchen facilities and a sitting area,
and two smaller rooms attached. It was sparsely furnished. There was a battered
wood table and four chairs that held the chipped remnants of black paint. A
threadbare grey checked couch and chair, and a small flat-screen TV on the
wall. It was adequate.

“How
long have you lived here?”

“Since
I fled Columbia.” Selena went to the table and picked up a picture. “This is
Tarrin
.”

Catal
took the photo. It showed a solemn looking boy with dark hair and dark eyes. He
frowned. If he hadn’t known better, he could have sworn the boy looked like a
young Hunter. That was impossible. Hunters did not have children.

“How
old was he here?”

“He
had just turned seven.” There was a catch in Selena’s voice. “I had saved
enough money for him to have a new outfit for picture day. He got to pick it
out himself. He looked so handsome that day.”

“He
looks big for his age.”

Selena
nodded. “He is. That has made it difficult at school. The teachers and other
children forget he is younger than he looks. Nikki and Steve are constantly
complaining about his behavior with Gates.”

“Is
he in trouble a lot?”

“No.”
Selena’s lower lip trembled. “He is strong and sometimes forgets that when they
wrestle together.”

“You
said he watches over Gates.” Catal looked up from the photo. “Shouldn’t that be
the other way around?”

“You
would think so, but no.” Selena sighed and sat in a chair. “Gates is a fragile
boy. The best thing his parents did was hire me to be his nanny. I swear he
spends more time in our tiny apartment than he does in the rest of the house.”

“You
love both of the boys.”

“Yes.”
Selena looked up at him, her eyes full of fear. “I know Nikki and Steve don’t
think of
Tarrin
in the same way. They only care about
saving Gates.”

“You
didn’t have to be in trouble to contact me.” Catal put the picture in his
combat vest pocket. “I have looked for you for years, but you blocked me at
every turn. Even when I couldn’t sense you any longer, I continued to search.”

“I
had to put you out of my life.” Selena’s voice became strident. “After what you
did to the others, I couldn’t bear the sight of you.”

“What
I did?” Catal frowned. “I don’t understand.”

There
was a knock at the door. Catal motioned Selena to stay seated, and then he
opened the door a crack. It was
Firbin
. He threw the
door wide and let the man come in.

“Partlan
is having a problem with the celebrities.”
Firbin
gave him a crooked smile. “Is it always this way with humans?”

“Only
the rich and powerful.” Catal shut the door. “Where is
Ranon
?”

“He
is tapping into the FBI surveillance. He will join us soon.”

“Selena,
this is
Firbin
. He is an expert in explosives.” Catal
pulled out the picture of
Tarrin
. “This is the boy we
are searching for.”

Firbin
took the picture and studied it for several seconds. He looked up at Catal with
a raised eyebrow. “He is only seven?”

“He’s
big for his age.”

Firbin
nodded. “He is dark like a Hunter. That will make it easier for us to remember him.”

Another
knock at the door, and then
Ranon
entered. “We should
leave.”

“What
about the paparazzi outside?” Catal took the picture of
Tarrin
and handed it to
Ranon
.

“The
FBI were thorough.”
Ranon
looked down and then handed
the photo back. “We will start with their information from the paparazzi.”

“How
can they possibly help?” Selena sounded exasperated. “You’re wasting time going
over the ground that the FBI already looked at.”

“We
never waste time.”
Ranon’s
voice was low. “Our
methods may be different, but they are effective. You asked for our help. Do
you still want it?”

Catal
could see the emotions that crossed Selena’s face. She had never been able to
hide anything. There was fear, anger, doubt, and resignation. In the end she
nodded, her shoulders sagging a bit.

“I
trust you.”

“Good.”
Ranon
went to the door. “Partlan wants us out of
here.”

Catal
and
Firbin
followed, but Selena’s voice stopped them.
“You’re not going anywhere without me. I’m coming. This is my son and I’m tired
of being left in the dark.”

Ranon
looked at him. “
She is your mate. You decide.
”

The
answer was easy. He wanted Selena next to him at all times. It might not be the
best thing for the investigation, but knowing where she was would keep him focused
on doing the job that needed to be done. He needed her near, but his need for
her to be safe was greater. The only solution was for him to stay with her.

“It’s
too dangerous.” Catal crossed his arms. “I’ll stay here with you.”

“No.”
Selena’s voice was firm. “I don’t want you.”

Catal
pushed away the stabbing pain that pierced his heart. Her words were a death
sentence in their finality. He turned to
Firbin
.
“Will you stay?”

“Of
course.”
Firbin
walked over to the couch and sat. “I
will make certain she is safe.”

“Good.”
Catal turned to
Ranon
. “
Firbin
can keep an eye on the developments here. That way we’ll be able to keep pace
with the FBI.

Ranon
nodded. “Let’s go.”

Catal
looked back at Selena. She had her arms crossed tight as if she were trying to
hold herself in place. He longed to gather her close and reassure her that
everything would be alright, but she looked fragile enough to break. He
wouldn’t do that to her. She was a proud woman.

“I
will let you know the minute we have news.”

Selena
nodded. “Thank you.”

“
I
am always here for you.
” Catal whispered the words to her through his mind.
He wasn’t certain if she heard or not, but her shoulders seemed to relax. He
nodded and then followed
Ranon
out of the apartment.
Partlan was waiting for them in the hallway.