Thin Ice 3 - Armageddon (21 page)

“
Jaron Glover,” she repeated softly, taking note of his birth date as well.

Gabrielle shook herself and once again regarded the bedroom. The shower was still running.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the kitchen. Stopping and listening once again.
So far, so good,
she thought, continuing to inch closer to the dead bolted door.
I’ve got to get out of here,
Gabrielle told herself, her heart beating so loud it was drowning out her own conscious thought. She reached up, actually touching one of the locks, fingers trembling in fear. She turned it and surprisingly, it moved. Gabrielle held her breath again sure the sound was loud enough for Jaron to hear it in the shower.
You’re taking too long,
her mind warned. Though it seemed like hours, it had only taken her moments to reach the door and unlock the first deadbolt. Reaching the second one, she tried again as it also turned in her hand. There was only the bottom lock of the doorknob now between Gabrielle and freedom. Pushing away the fear, she turned it as the door opened and she could see the sunlight filtering through. Swallowing her fear, she opened the door enough to ease he body through and slipped out the other side.

*****

Kim took a deep breath readying herself to knock on Hope’s room door.
This is it,
her mind told her in warning once more. Once you cross this threshold there’s no going back. She had to know though, Kim told herself and forced her hand into a fist, knocking lightly on the door. She heard movement on the other side as the door opened and she found herself face to face with Hope Cisneros.

“
Kim,” the woman questioned.

Kim smiled and told her yes, as Hope smiled back and invited her inside.

“
Please sit down,” Hope told her, offering Kim some bottled water.

Accepting the water, she sat and thanked Hope for seeing her.

“
It is I who should be thanking you,” Hope returned softly.

Kim saw the oxygen tank and frowned slightly.

“
I’m fine, I assure you,” Hope told her, seeing the expression.

“
OK, just wanted to make sure,” Kim replied amiably.

They sat in uncomfortable silence a while longer, as Kim assumed Hope was gathering her thoughts. She took in the woman during quiet, seeing the years in her face. Hope was attractive women. Kim believed she was of mixed heritage given her features, coloring and hair texture. The woman’s face was also gaunt and drawn.
Cancer,
Kim thought, having lost an aunt to the debilitating disease a few years earlier.

“Tell me what you know,” Hope said finally, looking into Kim’s eyes, the clear blue eyes never faltering.

Putting her water down, Kim told the woman everything she’d found while she did her research. Hope listened intently, not interrupting as the young woman talked.

“
What led you to search in the first place,” Hope asked curiously.

Kim explained and the woman again nodded. Sighing deeply Hope regarded her visitor again, asking one more question.

“
Why are you doing this,” she asked simply.

The question stung Kim. She honestly wasn’t sure exactly why she was doing it. All she knew was she felt compelled by some unknown and unexplained force to see it through till the end. Hope smiled slightly, which confused Kim more, before telling her she understood.

“
Some things in life we simply have to take on blind faith, Kim,” the woman said quietly as Kim simply nodded.

She supposed that made sense, but the question still haunted her as she had no clear cut answer for it. Again, the one thing Kim hated was loose ends, and her not having an answer to that question was yet again a loose end.

*****

Gabrielle couldn’t believe she was outside. The sun felt good on her skin as she stood completely stationary for a few moments. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, she turned and began to run. Gabrielle found a stairwell and took the stairs heading down. She had no clue where she was, or where she was going, but she was free and that was all that mattered to her at the moment. Stopping once she reached the bottom of the stairs, Gabrielle deliberately slowed her breathing and listened. She imagined she heard Jaron calling her name, evening the sound of his footsteps coming down the stairs to get her. Getting a hold on herself, Gabrielle realized he hadn’t discovered she was missing yet. Taking a breath she wandered down the breezeway facing the parking lot. Gabrielle saw the trees and playground equipment as she took in her surroundings. There were several businesses across the street.
I’ve got to be able to find a phone in one of them,
she thought making her way toward the end of the breezeway and peering out making sure her way wasn’t impeded. Taking a deep breath she dashed into the open and began running across the parking lot toward the businesses.

*****

Jaron came out of the bathroom and didn’t see Gabrielle in the bedroom. “Gabrielle,” he called out waiting for a response.

Moments passed and his nerves began to get the better of him. Walking into the living room his heart dropped looking to his left and seeing the back door ajar.
Fuck, why Gabrielle,
he thought throwing on his shoes and grabbing his .10mm heading out to find her. Jaron headed to the stairs, knowing she would try and find her way to a phone. He walked to the end of the breezeway but didn’t see her.

“
Shit,” he swore again heading back to the other end of the corridor and the second stairwell.

Jaron was hurt that Gabrielle had run. He genuinely cared for her, and he was being truthful with her when he told her he would let her go once everything was settled.
Why didn’t she just trust me,
Jaron thought as he went down the second set of stairs.

How he was going to explain her escape to Tariq definitely flashed in the forefront of his mind. He knew the man was fair, but he also knew he didn’t play about his business or his orders being followed. Jaron had let his heart get in the way of his head and now it might cost him his life. He thought about calling out her name, but he knew that would only make her hide from him.

“
Dammit Gabrielle,” Jaron whispered again, finally reaching the bottom of the stairs and making his way down this breezeway as well.

His cell went off and he stopped in his tracks, stepping back into the shadows and talking to LaRon, who was on the other end of the call. Assuring the man everything was fine, Jaron bluffed his way through the phone call as his eyes continuously scanned the parking lot and landscape looking for the woman.

“
We’ll see you Saturday,” LaRon told him, shaking the mans consciousness and bringing him back to now.

“
Yeah that’s straight,” Jaron replied as LaRon let him go and disconnected.

Well if you don’t find this girl, that gives your ass two days to get the hell outta dodge,
his mind told him as he returned to the search praying he got lucky.

17

LaRon had the grill smoking nicely by the time Jaleesa arrived. Letting herself in she headed to the kitchen and began taking things out of her shopping bag. She noticed the two porterhouse steaks marinating in their containers on the counter beside her, making her stomach growl in anticipation.
Deuce can damned sure grill,
Jaleesa thought smiling as she began making the salad. She heard the patio door open and knew he was on his way to the kitchen.

“
Hey baby,” LaRon greeted her smiling, once he arrived seeing her standing at the sink peeling the cucumbers.

“
Hey,” Jaleesa returned amiably.

This is nice,
she thought of their alone time and how civil LaRon was being. Jaleesa supposed some of it was the fact he no longer had to worry about her finding out about his indiscretion with Kysha. The thought irritated her again, but she pushed it out of her mind, determined to enjoy their time together.

“
Those are some nice cuts,” Jaleesa told him of the steak as LaRon smiled and told her he had the butcher cut them especially for him.

“
I know you love your steak,” he teased as Jaleesa chuckled.

LaRon stepped behind her, hugging her and kissing her neck lightly.

“
You smell good,” he told her softly kissing her neck again.

“
Thanks,” Jaleesa returned becoming more than a little aroused.

Why don’t you stop lying to yourself about loving this man,
her mind threw at her as LaRon scored three pieces of cucumber.

“
Oh, so that’s why you hugging’ all up on a sista,” Jaleesa teased as she smacked his hand and he laughed.

“
Don’t be like that baby,” he told her still smiling as he enjoyed his stolen prize, looking deeply into her eyes.

Jaleesa felt immediate guilt for her plans to spend time with Mecca this weekend when they went to the classic.

“
I already got the corn on the grill,” LaRon told her interrupting her thoughts once more.

“
Oh okay that’s cool,” Jaleesa replied tossing the salad and mixing the dressing.

“
You want potatoes,” he asked heading toward the pantry.

“
Nah, not really, the salad and corn are fine with me,” she told him as LaRon spoke slightly and returned to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her lips softly.

“
Steaks should be ready in about 15 minutes,” he told her, leaving her in the kitchen alone, her thoughts overtaking her.

*****

Seth saw the figure and recognized it immediately. Rising he ran toward it. Gabrielle saw the man and that he was running toward her.
No, please, don’t let this be another partner,
she thought as she turned running in another direction. Seth saw her and knew she was scared, obviously not recognizing him. He took off after her, gaining ground quickly. Gabrielle was quick and she was small, but she was no match for his long legs and he swiftly caught her, lifting her from the ground as she began to scream and fight.

“
Shh, stop Gabrielle, it’s me,” Seth told her, turning her to him and shaking her. Gabrielle finally looked up into the man’s face the recognition taking hold and the relief flooding her soul. She collapsed into her brothers arms holding on tightly as she began to sob deeply.

         
Seth held her, allowing her to cry, as he pulled out his cell and told everyone he had her and where they were. Peyton had been busy talking to a young woman from the complex when Seth had seen their sister and gave chase. Now he was Johnny come lately along with everyone else when they found them around the back of the building, Seth still holding Gabrielle as she sniffled miserably.

“
Gabrielle, you OK,” Peyton asked as she simply nodded and continued to hold onto Seth.

Peyton was slightly irritated. He’d always been jealous of the closeness the two shared. Seth was Gabrielle’s knight in shining armor and she adored him and he in turn spoiled her rotten.

“
Brie, did they hurt you,” Ian asked softly as she finally turned her attention away from Seth and regarded the man she was so deeply attracted too at one time.

“
No,” she replied simply. “I wanna go home,” she spoke again, addressing Seth.

          “
We’re gonna take you home,” Seth told her gently. “Where is the unit Gabrielle,” he asked as she regarded him frightened. “You don’t hafta go back, just tell us the number and the floor,” he assured her.

Gabrielle’s mind was racing. She didn’t know the unit number, but she knew the floor and how far down the hallway it was. Jaron hadn’t hurt her, and she knew enough to know the men surrounding her now were deadly enough to kill him.

“
I don’t know the number,” Gabrielle told them truthfully. “There’s no one there anyway,” she added praying she could pull off the performance. “That’s how I got out,” she told Seth as everyone paid rapt attention.

“
Hmph,” he replied looking at his sister closely.

“
How many were there,” he tested.

“
Two to start with, but something happened and there was only the one guy left,” she told him as Seth grunted again.

         
So far she seemed to be truthful, Peyton thought continuing to watch his sister as well as listen.

“
I heard him on the phone talking to someone, arguing, then he left,” Gabrielle lied. She had to pull this off. She didn’t want them to hurt Jaron. He was a really nice guy and under other circumstances they may have been able to actually date and have a relationship.

“
They didn’t tie you up,” Peyton asked eyeing her suspiciously.

“
No,” Gabrielle returned truthfully looking him in the eye. “They never kept me tied up, just locked in a room,” she told them as Ian watched quietly.

“
I guess after the phone call he forgot to lock my door again,” Gabrielle told them.

She told the men that after she heard the door closed she tried her bedroom door just wanting to get into the living room and possibly use the phone to call Seth, and found it open.