Evan's Addiction (65 page)

     I let out a deep exhale. “He’s going to call me in an hour with a
Swiss account number to transfer the three million into.”

     “Did he say anything else; like how he was going to return Shaw?”
Dan asked.

     I shook my head. “No, he hung up before I could ask him.”

     Dismay flickered briefly over Dan’s face before returning to its
previous composure. “Evan, how can you be certain he’ll give her back. Did he
say anything about a trade? How are you supposed to do that from the bank or my
office?”

     “No, he hung up on me.” I threw up my hands in frustration. “I know
what you’re thinking. I know ransoms are iffy circumstances, but what the hell
am I supposed to do?”

     “Did he let you talk to Shaw to confirm that he had her? Is she
okay?” Carrie asked me tearfully, clutching at Nic who looked like he was
holding her up from collapsing.

     I rubbed at my chest and my eyes stung. “Yeah…just three short
words; ‘
Evan, he won’t’
, and then he cut her off.”

     Dan frowned and was silent for a moment. “It sounds like she was
trying to tell you something. He won’t…what? Do you think she was trying to
tell you he won’t give her back?”

     Tears hazed my eyes. I didn’t want to accept that…I couldn’t. Of
course that had been in the back of my mind, and I hated Dan for saying it out
loud.

     I pointed an angry finger at him. “So what, I shouldn’t do
anything. When he calls I’ll tell him I’m not giving him any money unless I see
her. I’ll tell him I’m only doing a trade. No matter what I’m getting her
back.”

     Nic’s hand landed on my shoulder and I stared at his determined
face through cloudy eyes. “If he wants more money to get him to trade her I’ll
give you some.”

     Nic had a trust fund worth millions and I could only grasp his
shoulder in gratitude. I had no words. Crying, Carrie pressed into his side and
hugged him with love and thankfulness. He returned her embrace kissing the top
of her head.

     The sight of their love was a million pound weight on my chest.

     “Offering him more money is a good idea, but it has to be done
right.” Dan’s expression was all business, but then his hand settled on my
shoulder and gazed at me with resolve. “We’ll do everything to get her back,
Evan. And we’ll start by giving him the money he wants from my company.” I knew
he liked Shaw, but offering up his money when he only briefly knew her was
huge. “Let’s get to the bank.”  Grabbing my mom’s hand he strode from the room
and I followed…everyone followed. “Evan, we should call the police, but I’ll
leave that up to you. Do you want them involved?” He asked.

     “He said not to involve them. I don’t want to aggravate him.
There’s no telling what he might do to Shaw.” I swallowed in terror at the
thought.  

     He sighed. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it.”

     Striding to the apartment door he opened it and halted because David
stood there, wide-eyed. “What the hell is going on? Carrie just told me Shaw’s
missing.”

     Red covered my vision at the sight of him and I rushed him.
Wedging my forearm into his throat I propelled him back into the outside
hallways wall. “You mother fucker! Where the hell have you been? Shaw was
kidnapped yesterday and you just disappear and not answer your damn phone.
You’re supposed to be her best friend and you’re the last person to show up
here.” I knew in the back of my mind I wasn’t being fair because none of this
was his fault, but I was out of my mind with grief and fear.

     He was struggling for breath when Blake and Nic pulled me off him,
telling me to calm down. David sagged and coughed, rubbing at his throat.

     “Out of town with Tim…we both fell in a pool with our phones.” He
gasped. “I got home a half an hour ago and saw your note. I tried calling you,
then Shaw, and finally got a hold of Carrie. When she told me Shaw was missing
I came right over. What’s going on, Evan. Is Shaw in trouble?”

     I wilted, even though every muscle in me was tense. “She’s been
kidnapped…for ransom. We’re headed over to the bank. The guy is going to call me
back and give me an account to transfer money into.” And then give her back. He
will…he has to.  

     David’s face contorted with shock and horror. “No!” He looked
around at everyone’s confirming nods and sorrow filled faces. “Oh my, god! Did
you call the cops?”

     “No, the guy said no cops. Listen, I can’t fill you in right now,
David.” I walked away from him, still unduly angry that he hadn’t been here
when Shaw needed him.

     “Holy shit! Wait, Evan.” David raced after me and grabbed my arm.
“Do you know if she was wearing that necklace I got her?”

     I shook off his hand angrily and continued walking. “What the fuck
does it matter, David.”

     He seized my arm more determinedly. “Evan, I gave her that
necklace because of the way Ford was acting. His behavior wasn’t sitting right
with me. The necklace has a tracker in it.” What he was saying wasn’t computing
completely, but the vice around my chest loosened one notch. “Do you know if
she’s wearing it?” David repeated.

     “Oh my, god.” I heard Sam whisper. Carrie let out a sob.

     Suddenly hope exploded. “Yes, yes, she had it on.” I had been so
damn cranked at the sight of it; offended that Shaw had let David give her
gifts when she’d rejected the earrings I’d gotten for her. All my feelings
about that necklace changed in an instant and I took a hold of his biceps in
desperation. “You can find her now?”

     He nodded vigorously. “Yes, all I need to do is get on Shaw’s
computer.”

     Spinning, he dashed back to the apartment the rest of us following
him. We all crammed back into Shaw’s bedroom and watched with baited breath as
David worked on her computer. Five minutes later he pulled up GPS coordinates displaying
the location of Shaw’s necklace. The area was rural and the ping appeared to be
coming from a house sitting on a dozen acres.      

     “Thank god.” I breathed and squeezed David’s shoulders.
     “Do you think that’s where she is?” Carrie cried.

     I stared at the screen. “It’s got to be. It looks like the perfect
place to take someone you’re trying to hide. Isolated.”

     “So we call the police now, right?” Amanda asked huskily, her
voice thick with emotion. “They can surround the house and get her out of
there.”

     Some of the panic began to recede from my head and resolve took
its place. “Yeah, but we still need to proceed like we are going to pay this
guy if he calls.” I turned to Dan holding out my phone. “Can you head to the
bank and if he calls try to negotiate and keep him on the phone as long as
possible? Tell him we are not going to give him any money unless we can be
certain he will release Shaw.”

     Dan took the phone with a frown. “What are you going to do?”

     I pointed to the computer screen. “I’m going there.”

     “And do what, Evan?” Mom stared at me anxiously.

     “I’m going to be there for her, mom.” I stated resolutely. “David,
you call the cops; ask for Officer’s Delaney or Case.”

     I pushed through everyone and ran for my car and heard multiple
feet running after me. A turn of my head showed all the guys following me, even
David as he spoke on his phone. Blake, Greg and David jumped in my car with me.
Starting the engine I sped out of there and down the road like it was the race
of my life.

     “What’s the plan, Evan?” Blake asked from the passenger seat.

     “I’m not waiting for the cops. They might take at least an hour to
get here as they figure out their shit. Reach under your seat and pull out the
box there, Blake.” My eyes stayed glued to the road but peripherally I saw him
do as I ask. “Punch in the numbers 6758.”

     “Holy shit!” He exclaimed a second later at seeing the two guns.

     Without taking my eyes from the road I grabbed the Glock and set
it in between my legs.

     There was shifting in the back seat as Greg and David leaned
forward.

     “Fuck a duck!” David croaked. “Evan, what do you plan on doing?”

     “What I have to.” I growled.

     “Evan, you know how to use those?” Greg’s tone was surprisingly unruffled.

     “I’ve been to the shooting range dozens of times.” I rolled the
wheel weaving around cars in my way.

     “Blake, you know how to use that Magnum?” Greg asked.

     “I’ve been to the shooting range a couple of times, but I’m not
proficient.” Blake confessed.

     Those few times had been with me.

     “Well, I’ve had a bit more…experience, so you mind if I use the
other one.” Blake held his hand out for the other gun.

     There was an inflection to that ‘
a bit more
experience’
that would have had me asking questions if Shaw wasn’t taking up my entire
focus.

     Greg provided some of the information on his own. “Evan, I have a
feeling I would have to tie you up to stop you from charging that house for
Shaw, but my knowledge of guns entails more than shooting range experience.” I
heard the clacking of the gun as he checked the ammunition in the gun. “Can you
let me take the lead?”

     That was attention-grabbing information, and he was right…he would
have to tie me up to stop me. “I might be able to do that as long as no one
gets in my way.” I honked my horn getting on the ass of the car in front of me.
It swerved out of my way and I rocketed past ignoring the finger thrown my way.
“Because right now I feel sorry for anyone who tries.”

     Half my mind burned with the violent thoughts of what I wanted to
do to this person who had dared to take Shaw, the other half was consumed with
what he was putting her through. Neither side was going to allow anybody to
hold me back from getting to her.

     When I about a quarter mile from the address Greg spoke up. “Pull
over here. We don’t want to announce our arrival.” I slowed to do as he
suggested. “Blake and David, you should stay here.”

     Blake broke in. “No. I might not have a gun, but I’m an extra pair
of eyes and hands.”

     Greg sighed. “Fine, just stay behind Evan and me. David, you stay
here and call the cops again to tell them what we are doing. Make sure to
inform them that there are three of us with two guns. Tell the other guys that
are following us to remain back with you. We don’t need other people sneaking
in behind us startling us. Friendly fires a bitch for both individuals
involved.”

     “Okay,” David agreed with wide eyes.

     Greg, Blake and I hopped from the car and dashed into the woods heading
in the direction of the house.

     “Do you think this is only one guy?” Blake asked in a hushed voice.

     “I think so.” I answered watching Greg scope out the woods
attentively. I copied his actions and couldn’t help appreciating that he did
appear like he knew what he was doing; the way he held his gun, and his
movements seemed military…stealthy. I don’t remember him ever saying he’d been
in the service though. “He sounds like a hacker that was looking for some easy
money. He took Shaw because he’s pissed that he was denied his payoff.”   

     “Let’s hope he’s a loner, but anticipate more.” Greg advised, eyes
on the move and intent.

     It was good advice.

     After a couple minutes we could see the house through breaks in
the trees. It was a one story ranch house that had seen better days twenty
years ago. A dark blue van sat in the driveway.

     My eyes narrowed on it because it was the perfect kidnapping
vehicle; no side or back windows.

     There was a small utility shed on the side of the house and Greg
directed us so that when we approached the house the shed blocked any view of
us. We then hunched over and ran quickly to the front corner of the house. Greg
shuffled over and peered in through one of the front windows. Turning his head
towards me and Blake he shook his head and pointed to the next window. We
circled the entire house with the same results…no one.

     That wasn’t stopping me from going in, and Greg was of the same
mind. Luckily, the front door was unlocked and we used it to sneak in quietly.
Unfortunately, the door had a squeak and we stood there like statues listening
with our guns at the ready for someone to jump out at us.

     I wondered if the other guys’ hearts felt like they were going to fly
out of their chests. Blake looked apprehensive but ready to kick ass, the same
as me. However, Greg’s expression was stone cold, his eyes alert, and his gun
hand steady as it swept the room. I could tell he’d been in this type of
situation before. 

     Muffled voices caught our attention and we all looked at each
other and pointed simultaneously in the same direction. Quietly, we walked over
to a slightly ajar door that opened to steps leading down. Both sides of the
steps were framed by drywall so we couldn’t see any area of the basement.

     We froze again when a voice called out from below. “I know you’re
up there. I have a gun. If you don’t want two deaths on you hands I suggest you
stay up there.”

     Two deaths? Was he threatening to kill himself and Shaw? My chest
constricted. I was all for him offing himself, but I didn’t even want to think
about a gun near Shaw.

     Greg held up his hand for Blake and me to stay quiet. “I’m not the
cops, dude. All I care about is Shaw. All you have to do is hand her over and
you won’t have to shoot yourself, and I won’t shoot you either.” Greg yelled
back, his Magnum aimed down the stairs.

     “Don’t give me your shit, asshole.” The guy shouted and I could hear
fear in his tone. “You won’t let me just leave. And when I said there would be
two deaths I wasn’t referring to mine. Shaw’s not the only one down here with
me.”

     My brows shot up. Blake and Greg looked just as shocked.