Without care (18 page)

The smug grin
drops from his face and his eyes burn into me. “Ayden, I’ve known
you for years. You’re like a brother to me. So, don’t go putting on
this macho shit with me. I know you love her and we will find
her.”

“Love is a
little strong” I mumble looking down at my feet. He is right
through.

“Whatever” he
strolls out of our building and heads straight to the car. “Have
you tried calling her?”

I freeze on the
spot. “No!”

Tucker turns to
face me again and rolls his eyes. “Did you call anyone?”

“Yeah.”

“Who.”

“The chief” I
cringe.

“Great, you’re
really not with it, are you?” He grabs my keys off me. “I’ll drive…
I don’t fancy getting into an accident and dying today.” He opens
the car door and I get in. “You should try ringing her” he says,
slamming the door behind me. I pull my phone out of my pocket and
if on cue it begins to ring.

“Is that the
chief?” Tucker asks as he sorts the driver’s seat out.

“Nope, its
worse.” I really don’t want to answer, but I know she will be
worried like hell. I hit the answer button. “Hello, Ms
Hopkins.”

“You’ve lost my
daughter!” She shouts down the phone. I look over at Tucker who is
just staring at me. “I’ve tried calling her but there is no answer.
It just keeps going to voicemail.” At least there’s my answer to
ringing Jen. “I trusted you, Ayden. You’re meant to be protecting
her. I should have never of let her go with you. Say something
Ayden!” Her voice is frantic and I hear her sobs.

Once again I
feel bad. She’s right, I’m meant to be protecting Jen. I let
everything get too relaxed and I didn’t keep my eye on the ball. I
swallow back the lump in my own throat. “I don’t know what to say,
Ms Hopkins. I’m sorry and I promise you, we are looking for her
now.”

“That isn’t
good enough,” she sighs and begins to cry harder. “How did you lose
her?”

I bow my head.
I don’t like hearing her misery which has been brought on by me.
“We were having breakfast and I went to pay. When I turned round
she was just gone.”

“Oh Jennifer”
she sobs. “I want her back, Ayden.”

“I know and I
will do everything I can to find her.” I nod to Tucker and he
starts up the car. “The first place I am going to check is her
dads. I have already called the chief and he’s getting extra men to
search. He’ll also be tracing the tracking device in her
phone.”

“I don’t know
what I will do if…”

“There are no
ifs!” I cut her off. “We will find her and by the end of this,
everything will be over. You’ll be able to have a decent life
without looking over your shoulders. Trust me, Ms Hopkins.”

“I do… Its them
I don’t trust.”

“Good bye, I’ll
keep you updated.”

“Yes, of
course. Good bye, Ayden” with that she finally ends the call. I
turn my head and watch as Seattle goes by. “Next the next turn
right and head on to the freeway” I instruct not once looking at
him.

“Who was
that?”

“Jen’s mother.
She can’t get hold of her and is beginning to panic.” I rub my
brow. A headache is beginning to come on. No doubt from all the
stress. I’m getting a strange idea that Jen wondered off on
purpose. But why, she can’t be that stupid?

“Are you sure
she hasn’t just gone to meet friends?”

“No!” I yell.
“She would have told me or picked up the phone. I know exactly what
she planned to do. She went off to talk to her father. She’ll be at
his, I know it.”

“And what if
she isn’t?

I shake my head
and carry on staring out of the window. “We find her and pray we
get there in time.”

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

Jen

“What are you
doing?” Says a voice. “You promised not to hurt my girls.”

“Oh shut up”
yells another. “I’m not going to hurt her.”

I slowly open
my eyes to find my dad and Melanie looking down at me. I try to
move, but my hands are bounded together. I try to move my legs but
they also are tied together around my ankles. I lay quietly just
blinking up at them, wondering where I am and what I am doing here.
My head feels a little foggy and my whole body feels heavy.

My mind turns
to thoughts of Ayden and how stupid I have been. “Dad,” I try to
say, but my mouth is dry and throat is sore, not to mention how
much my eyes sting.

“Sweetie, I’m
here” he softly says, his hand smoothing out my hair. He looks over
at Melanie, who is just grinning down at me. “She needs water and
will you untie her.”

She thinks for
a moment and leans closer towards me. “Are you going to do anything
stupid, Jennifer? I’m warning you it wouldn’t be in your best
interest if you did.” I shake my head, eager to be untied and to
stand up. “Okay, you have been warned.” She unties me, taking her
time which only adds to my need to be free.

Once I’m free,
I sit up and rub my wrists, which now have red burn marks on them.
My father walks over with a glass of water and I quickly take a
massive gulp. It hurts to swallow and the pain in my chest makes me
choke.

“It’s okay” my
father says, sitting down next to me and wrapping his arm around my
shoulder. “Its okay, this will be over soon. I promise… I’m so
sorry.” I rest my head on his shoulder and for the first time in
years enjoy embracing him.

“Well isn’t
this touching” Melanie’s voice disrupts the precious moment I am
sharing with my father and reality hits home. I’ve been kidnapped,
obviously by Mel. I was grabbed off the street and taken here, to
god knows where.

“Why are you
doing this?” I ask, finally looking her in the eye. I’m not going
to be scared of her. I will not show my fear and let her win. She
is taking great amusement in all of this. And what for… In order to
get her drug dealing murdering boyfriend’s money. I guess the last
joke is on her, as the money is gone. I’m pretty sure they are
looking for me and I will just have to remain calm and in control
until they do.

“You know” she
quickly replies, I can actually see the greed in her eyes. Her
whole composure is cold and hard. She’s changed, or maybe she has
always been like this and clearly tricked me into believing she was
the greatest aunt ever.

Why has it all
come down to this? Why was I so stupid? I never think… I just do
what I want and believe what I want. I think back to when I would
be angry at my mother for the way she behaved. She wasn’t out of
line; it was her way of dealing with the mess she had left at home.
I wish I was with her now. I miss Lacey and mother like crazy. Once
again Jen knew best and I talked everyone into bringing me
here.

I make sure I
keep eye contact with her, if I show her fear she will be in her
element. “The money?”

My dad’s head
whips round in my direction. “You know?”

“Yes.”

He bows his
head down in what I can only explain is shame. At least it shows he
has a conscience and not an evil person like Melanie. He waits a
second before he speaks. “I have no words to explain my behaviour,
Jen. Please believe me I never intended to destroy our family.” He
reaches out and takes my hand. It’s that moment I realize how much
I have exactly missed him.

“I really love
this dear diary moment, but I didn’t bring her here for a heart to
heart.” My eyes look over at Mel who is standing in front of
us.

“What are you
planning to do?” I ask. I think I am beyond feeling fear now. She
has a plan and I feel as if I’m going to be used as bait for
whatever she wants.

A miraculous
smile creeps across her lips. “I want to you to contact your
mother.” She pulls out her phone. “You tell her to give me back my
money or something will happen to you!”

That lump rises
in my throat again and I quickly look back at my father. “Why would
you want to hurt me?”

“Because she’s
jealous” my father quickly says, his arm rests across my shoulders
in an attempt to protect me. “She always has been.”

“Jealous!”
Melanie snorts.

My father
slowly stands up. He looks so thin and distressed. He has aged at
least ten years in such a short amount of time. His hair is
thinning and turning slightly grey. His face is hollow and the dark
bags under his eyes make his face look even paler.

“Yes, jealous”
he walks towards her. “You never could accept that I chose my wife
over you. You hated the fact she had everything you wanted. The big
house, a devoted husband and beautiful children.”

“Devoted
husband?” She laughs. “You are nothing but a joke.”

“Face it” he
says moving closer towards her. “She has always been better than
you…”

Melanie’s hand
slams into my father’s face, he remains still on the spot as if it
didn’t affect him at all. “Shut up!” she screams. “You are a
foolish man. You should be thankful that I’ve let your precious
wife and children live.” She looks over at me. “How was your
dance?”

“You sent
them?” My voice almost nothing.

“Sent who?”

“Men with
guns…”

My fathers jaw
drops open and his eyes wide. “How could you do that?”

“Because that
bitch has my money” she yells as she storms over to me. She grabs a
fist full of my hair pulling me to get up. I scream out in pain, it
feels as if it is being ripped out of my head. Tears fill my eyes.
“Call your mother” she snarls. “And don’t do anything stupid.”

I look over at
my father. “Please Mel” I start begging. “Why are you doing this?
You’re hurting me.” Her grip tightens and I am dragged by my hair
to the other end of the room.

“Because I can”
she says, throwing me down on to a chair and finally letting go of
my hair. She slams her phone down on a table in front of me. “You
ring her and demand my money. You tell her if the money isn’t
returned by tonight, she can say goodbye to her precious baby.”

“Mel,” I choke
out between my sobs.

"Stop your blabbing"
Mel yells at me. I swallow back my words, what is going to happen
when she finds the money has gone. My eyes look over at the phone
lying on the table. A great relief hits me when I see it’s my
phone. Freedom is in sight.

She gives a little
laugh as her fingers run through my hair and she leans closer
towards me. "Nice thought, Jennifer. You'll find I have removed
your boyfriend’s number."

I don't know what to
say, but just stare at the phone. There is no escape and she isn't
going to give up. My eyes slowly look over at my father, who has
sat back down and placed his head in his hands. Is he a victim too?
All this time has Mel been pulling the strings? So many answers are
needed and I doubt I will ever get to hear them.

"Let’s do this the easy
way, shell we?" Mel's cold voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She
pushes the phone in my direction. "Ring her!" I still can't move.
"Do it!"

I pick up the phone and
dial my mother’s phone number. I just stare up at Mel as the phone
begins to ring. Instantly my mother answers.

"JEN! Jen, where are
you? Why did you disappear? Are you okay? Speak to me sweetie."

My mouth has gone dry
and I can't think of a single thing to say especially with Mel
standing right behind me. She places a hand on my shoulder and
gives it a squeeze.

"Mom" I begin, the
tears are beginning to start again. This could be the last time I
ever speak to her. "They want the money back."

"Who?" She shrieks down
the phone. A pain in my head is beginning to pulsate and I want to
be sick. This is my entire fault. I practically walked into Mel’s
trap.

"Auntie Melanie and she
said if she doesn't then..." My voice breaks and I can't say the
words. I hear my mother scream and Mel walks in front of me
smiling. She must have heard the blood curdling scream too.

"Jennifer...” says a
stern voice.”It’s Ted. Now listen to me... Put Mel on the phone."
His voice turns to a whisper. "I'll keep her talking and we will
track where you are. Just stay strong, we're coming and no one is
going to hurt you."

I should feel relief,
but I don't. "She wants to speak to you" I mumble, holding out the
phone. She quickly takes it. I have a funny feeling she was
expecting this. I push back the chair, stand up and run straight
over to my father. I collapse in his arms, crying and shaking.

I watch as she
paces up and down clutching my phone to her ear. “So sis, how are
you? Who is this?” She yells stopping in her track. “Ted? Okay,
Ted… You tell my darling sister that I want that money. I will meet
you half way and when you drop the money, I’ll return precious
Jennifer.” A sly smile curls across her lips and her eyes meet
mine. “Do you want to risk it? I’ll meet you tomorrow lunch time…
Yep, I know where that is.” She walks over to me and my father, my
father holding me tighter. “Be there or something will happen to
Jen.” She ends the call and places the phone in back pocket.

I don’t think I
have ever hated someone so much. I don’t even understand why any of
this taking place. She runs a hand through her blonde hair and lets
out a deep breath. “Well, looks like I have to get ready for a road
trip.” She turns on her heel and walks towards a door. “I’ll be
back in an hour and don’t try anything stupid. Two men are on the
other side of this door and will do what ever it takes to stop you
running.” She gives a little laugh and disappears out of the door.
I hear a lock click and for the first time I can breathe.