Authors: Darrien Lee
Precious Stones (28 page)
“Howard, I found a credit card belonging to an Andria Rockwell in the Cherry Blossom number two cottage. Do you have a number to contact her?”
Howard punched the name of the cottage into the computer and said, “Rockwell? I didn't have a Rockwell there,” he answered. “A man named Ramsey Stone rented that cottage. He paid with cash too.”
“Well, the card says Rockwell. I'll bring it to you when I finish cleaning up all these dirty diapers.”
“Ramsey Stone. Where do I know that name from?”
“Did you say Ramsey Stone?” his wife asked.
Howard studied the name on the computer screen and then looked at the name he had scribbled on the piece of paper. Baffled but thankful he hadn't got stiffed with the bill, he twirled around in his chair and turned his attention back to the TV and the nightly news when a breaking story came on with an update on Neariah's kidnapping.
“The AMBER Alert issued yesterday for one-year-old Neariah Stone has been canceled as the child was found safe in a local church. A police spokesman said that the child was returned in good health. However, the child's abductor is still on the loose. Anyone with information leading to the arrest of the suspect is to call police at five-five-five-oh-one-oh-one. The family is offering a reward of one hundred thousand dollars for information that will lead to an arrest and conviction.”
Howard picked up his radio and said, “Helen, get down here with that credit card. It might be related to that kidnapping case. Ramsey Stone is the father of that missing baby.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Two days later, Neil showed up at the Stones' house to notify them of a development in the kidnapping. Marion let Neil in and escorted him to the family room, where everyone except Malachi and Genesis was watching TV.
“Hello, everyone,” Neil said and hugged Keilah. “It's nice to see you up and around.”
Keilah smiled. “Thank you, Neil.”
He picked Neariah up and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then handed her back to Keilah. “Have the detectives working the case been by to talk to you?”
Ramsey turned down the volume on the TV and said, “No. Do they have someone in custody?”
“Not yet, but they have some promising leads.”
“Like what?” Keilah asked.
“They won't give me many details, because I'm too close to the case.”
Luke offered Neil a seat. When he sat down, he revealed more information.
“They found the SUV used in the kidnapping. It had been set on fire, so there's no way to get any prints off it.”
Neariah walked over to her father and offered him an animal cookie. He leaned down so she could feed him. Each time he ate one, she giggled loudly.
“Who was the SUV registered to?” Ramsey asked.
Neil crossed his leg and said, “A security guard at one of the museums. He has an alibi, so he was eliminated as a suspect. He didn't know his vehicle was stolen until he finished his shift.”
“I see,” Ramsey answered with a tone of disappointment.
“There is one more thing the detectives told me that was strange,” Neil revealed. “Someone rented a cottage under your name, Ramsey, and it may be the location where Neariah was held captive. CSI examined the crime scene for evidence, and they're waiting on the results.”
“My name? Who the hell would do something like that? And how could they do it without providing identification ?”
“I'm sure you've seen as many fake IDs in your lifetime as I have. Someone who's trying to cover their tracks,” Neil answered.
“That's absurd,” Marion blurted out.
“The detectives don't suspect Ramsey, but they had to show the caretaker a picture of Ramsey just to cover all their bases. As expected, he didn't match the description of the person who rented the cottage. Ramsey is much taller and has a lighter complexion and a larger build.”
Valeria walked in, dressed in an apron, and greeted Neil. She handed him a bottle of water and asked him if he was staying for dinner.
“I'd love to Mrs. V., but I have to get back out on the streets,” he answered as he stood. “Thanks for the water, though. If I'm able to get any detailed information, I'll let you know.”
Roman walked through the door with Target on a leash and greeted Neil. “Any news?” he asked.
“Not really,” Ramsey answered his brother-in-law. “Seems like whoever did this is playing games.”
Keilah stood and headed toward the hallway. She patted Neil on the shoulder as she passed him and said, “Thanks for coming by.”
“Anytime.”
Ramsey picked Neariah up and said, “Come on, bro. I'll walk you to the door.”
“Good night, everyone,” Neil said as he waved good-bye.
At the front door Ramsey thanked his friend again for updating them on the case before closing the door behind him. When he turned around, he found Keilah climbing the stairs.
“Are you okay?” he called out to her.
She stopped midway and said, “I'm fine. Just going up to take a shower.”
“Need any help?” he asked. He knew she was upset that no one was under arrest yet for the kidnapping, and so was he, but they would have to be patient until the abductors made a mistake.
Keilah turned and looked down at her husband said, “Thanks, but I think I can manage. I won't be long.”
“Call if you need anything,” he stated before returning to the family room.
Alone with her thoughts, Keilah couldn't help but praise God one more time for answering her prayers by bringing Neariah back home safe. She stepped into the hot shower and let the water soothe her sore body. Normalcy was what she needed, and she felt like she was finally able to exhale. Things were going to be different now, and she was going to live her life with a totally different perspective. It was going to be less about business and all about family. As the suds cleansed her body, she felt like her soul was being cleansed as well, and then the unthinkable happened. She glanced down and noticed a stream of bright red blood running down her leg and through the drain. Horrified, she quickly turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and immediately yelled for her husband.
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A few hours later, Keilah and Ramsey left the emergency ward with the news that she had miscarried. With a hole in her heart and tears in her eyes, she returned home, where she sat at the window in her bedroom in deep thought. Her heart was heavy over the loss of her child. She was religious and understood that God didn't make mistakes, so she knew not to question his will. Keilah realized she took a hard fall when she was assaulted and that her blood pressure had been high, but not once did she think she would lose her child.
“Hey, babe,” Ramsey said softly, interrupting her thoughts. He sat a cup of hot tea on the nightstand. “Shouldn't you be in bed?”
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He held her close and then noticed tears running down her face.
Concerned, he asked, “Are you in pain?”
“Not really,” she whispered.
“Maybe you should get into bed. I brought you some chamomile tea.”
Keilah looked up into his loving eyes and said, “I'm so sorry, Ramsey.”
“It's not your fault.” He balled his hands into fists. He was angry that this ordeal had caused them to lose something so precious, even though they were blessed to get Neariah back.
“Thanks for the tea, but I'm tired, babe. I just want to go to bed.”
He helped her out of her clothes and then into bed.
“Try to drink some, anyway. It'll help you relax.”
While she drank the tea, his heart ached.
“Are you hungry?” he asked softly.
“Not really,” she answered as she handed the empty cup to him.
“You have to eat something, because you have this medicine to take.”
Valeria knocked on the door before entering. Target walked into the room first, and then Valeria entered, holding her granddaughter's hand. When the toddler saw her mother, she waddled over to the bed and said, “Momma.”
Tears fell out of Keilah's eyes as Ramsey picked Neariah up and placed her in the bed. Neariah climbed into her mother's lap and gave her a wet baby kiss.
Valeria sat on the side of the bed and patted Keilah on the leg. “Keilah, I know you're feeling really bad right now, so if there is anything we can do to help you, let us know, okay?”
“Yes, ma'am,” Keilah answered softly. “All I want to do right now is sleep.”
Ramsey pulled Neariah off the bed and stood her on the floor. “You can sleep after you put something in your stomach, or this medicine will make you sick.”
“Valeria, do you mind bringing me a couple pieces of toast?” Keilah said.
“Sure, sweetheart,” Valeria answered as she turned and walked out of the room.
Ramsey stroked Keilah's hair and said, “We'll get through this, I promise.”
She slid down under the comforter and said, “If you say so.”
Target barked as he kept a close eye on Neariah, who was now trying to climb up on the window seat.
“It's okay, boy. I see her,” Ramsey said to acknowledge his loyal pet. He turned back to his wife and said, “I know this might not be the right time to tell you about everything that happened, but you need to know that Michael could've lost his life trying to help get Neariah back.”
“How?” she asked.
“He thought the kidnapper looked like his ex-lover, so he went to his house to verify it. When he got there, there was a baby there, who Michael thought was Neariah. When he confronted him about it, he cut him pretty deep with a knife.”
“Is he okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, he had to get a few stitches. The worst part is by the time we go there, Michael had killed the guyâin self-defense, of courseâand even worse, I had to tell him the child wasn't Neariah.”
“How did you know to go there, and whose baby was it?” she asked.
“Michael left a note for me with his girlfriend and told her to call me if he wasn't home by a certain time, and according to Kyle, Michael's ex-lover, Kevin, bought the baby from a prostitute.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “Is Michael in jail?”
“No, Kyle took care of it. He won't face any charges.”
She lowered her head and whispered, “Thanks for telling me.”
He kissed her forehead and said, “Me and the guys are going to step out for a minute to go over to the church where Neariah was left to give the priest the reward. Mom will be here if you need anything, and I'll be back up to check on you shortly.”
Target barked at Neariah again as she continued to try and climb up on the window seat.
“Dog!” Neariah yelled as she pointed at Target. “Dog!”
“Yeah, dog,” Ramsey repeated as he picked his daughter up in his arms. “Let's go so Mommy can rest.”
After her husband and daughter left the room, Keilah couldn't help but wonder if she had cursed her pregnancy by expressing her misgivings about getting pregnant sooner than they had planned. Then her thoughts went to Michael and how he had risked his life for her daughter. When she felt up to it, she would call him and thank him personally.
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Andria and Rico had settled into the Hamptons home and were eating lunch when her cell phone rang. When she looked at the caller ID, she frowned and said, “It's Daddy. Hello, Daddy.”
“What the hell have you gotten yourself into, and where are you?”
Her heart rate accelerated. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
“Some detectives were just here, wanting to talk to you about a case they're working on.”
“What case?” she asked her father.
“I don't know, Andria. That's what I'm trying to find out from you.”
Andria didn't know what to say. She was speechless and afraid.
“Andria, I swear to God, if you have gotten yourself mixed up in some bullshit to embarrass this family, I am going toâ”
She cut him off and said, “I haven't done anything, Daddy.”
Rico noticed that Andria looked like a deer caught in headlights.
“Daddy, I wish I could tell you something, but I have no clue why they want to talk to me.”
“Well, you had better figure it out and get home so we can get to the bottom of this,” he yelled at his daughter. “And if those detectives find you before you get home, don't say a word until I contact our attorney.”
“Yes, Daddy.” She hung up the phone and covered her face with her hands.
Rico put his fork down and asked, “What's going on?”
“Daddy said some detectives came by the house to talk to me about a case they're working on.”
Rico jumped out of his chair and put his empty plate in the sink. He turned to her and asked, “Do you think it's about the kidnapping?”
She stood and yelled, “I don't know. We have to get out of town.”
“Are you kidding me? We
are
out of town. Besides if you run, you're really going to look guilty.”
are
out of town. Besides if you run, you're really going to look guilty.”
She picked up her cell phone and said, “Pack your bags, Rico. I'm taking you to New York to get you on a flight out of the country.”
“I'm not going anywhere.”
Andria took his hands into hers and said, “If you hang around, they'll link you to me, and I can't let that happen. You have a background, remember?”
He walked toward the door, turned back to her, and said, “I'm not leaving the country, but we do need to get out of here before T. K. Rockwell sends out an army to find you.”
“I hate not knowing what those detectives want.”
They made their way up the stairs. Rico stood in the doorway of his bedroom and said, “Well, it's something serious enough for the police to show up at your door.”
She leaned against the door frame and said, “This has gotten way out of hand.”
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