For Love and Vengeance (18 page)

Taking
a deep breath, Jason resolved to get the answers he needed, and that meant
making nice with Hapë. “Please tell me where the car took Aviva.”

“To
the hair salon.”

“And...?”

“She
wanted to get her hair done.”

One,
two, three
, Jason counted off
in his mind. “Please tell me where this hair salon is located.”

“I
don't know…I can’t think.”

“You
don't know? You don't know!” Jason shouted.

Hapë
burst into tears at his exasperated outburst, wringing her hands in agitation.

“Jason,”
Josh interrupted, “why don't you and Jake go back to what you were both doing
before our visitor arrived. Dad and I will continue the conversation and get as
much information as we can.”

About
to assure his brother he was more than capable of extracting the necessary
information, he had second thoughts. Josh was right. He wasn't getting anywhere
with her. “Okay, I’ll leave you both to deal with our guest. Miss Hudson, it’s
been...stymieing.”

Not
understanding what he meant, Hapë gave him a shaky smile, relieved he was
leaving. Although his twin hadn’t said a word to her, the two looked enough
alike for her to feel an equal portion of relief that he was also vacating the
room.

“You
could have been gentler with her, Jason. The poor girl nearly had a heart
attack every time you looked at her, let alone spoke to her,” Jake said once
the door was closed behind them.

“I’m
really not bothered by what she thinks of me.”

“Maybe
you should be bothered, Jason. You can't go around frightening young women.”

Having
reached the office, Jason stood back, folded his arms across his chest and
raised an eyebrow at his twin. “Are you going to stand there and tell me the
girl wasn't a fool, and that you didn't want to pry open her head to see if
there was an empty space where her brain should have been?”

“Well,
I suppose something along those lines did cross my mind,” Jake said with a wry
smile.

“For
the record, I do care, Jake. More than any of you realize, about many things.”

Jake
watched his brother walk back to the computer, his head bent in sadness, and he
saw something in his twin. He saw his deepest fear, that they wouldn't get
Aviva back alive. The expression was so fleeting, he knew he had just been
given a glimpse of an emotion his brother rarely allowed anyone to see.

“We're
going to get her back, Jason. And the people who took her...well, they will
have to pay the price for their actions.”

Jason
didn't bother to respond. His look said it all. Steely eyes, surrounded by
determination and retribution.

Chapter 22

Josh
returned to the office less than ten minutes later with the news they had been
waiting for.

“The
car took her to a salon called
Tresses
. It's about two miles from the
boutique. I have the address. Actually, the driver and the salon owner are also
cousins of the young lady that Dad is still attempting to placate. Jason, you
really need to do something about...”

“Whatever.
I've already been lectured by him,” Jason said, tossing his head in Jake's
direction. “What I need from you are details so I can find Aviva.”

Josh gave
him the address and they both started trolling through the CCTV images in an
attempt to locate Aviva. They were out of luck. Having to rely on proprietors
installing surveillance equipment in order to keep their establishments safe,
no cameras were located close enough to the salon to be of any use to them.

“Please
tell me you got the phone number of the owner.”

“Of
course, I did. I was hoping we wouldn't have to contact him. The fewer people
that know about what's going on, the better. No loose ends. Plus, I don't know
about you two, but I was hoping I wouldn't need to deal with any more of that
family. How two of them ended up running a business is beyond me.”

“Joshua,
shut the hell up and give me the phone number!”

“Maybe
I should talk to him,” Josh said.

“No.”

“I
beg your pardon?”

“You
losing your hearing? I said
no
. I'll speak to him.”

“Jason,
maybe it would be better to let Josh speak with this guy.”

Ignoring
them both, Jason reached for his cell phone and waited in silence for Josh to
recite the number. Seeing no way out, Josh relented and gave Jason the number.

Phone
to his ear, Jason listened as it rang for the sixth time without an answer.
Frustrated, he had a strong urge to hurl the handset across the room when
finally someone answered.

“Hello.
Am I speaking with...” Jason looked over at Josh, waiting for him to tell him
the name of the man with whom he spoke. Raising an eyebrow in a,
you have
got to be kidding me look
, Jason recited the name into the mouthpiece. “…Tottie?”
Jason's temples started pounding. Did everyone in this family have dumb-ass
names?

“Speaking.
Who is this?” a deep voice asked.

“My
name is Jason. I understand from your cousin, Hapë, that my wife visited your
salon earlier today...”

“Your
wife, you say. And who might that be?”

“Her
name is Aviva Johnson, which I would have informed you had you given me an
opportunity to do so.”

“Oh,
I don't think so, honey. That little lady is not married to you. Ya see, we got
to talking, and she told me she wasn't married, that would mean to you, or
anyone. Therefore, you have ten seconds to tell me why you're calling my
personal number and asking me questions about her. I better like what I hear or
I'm hanging up on your ass.”

“I
assure you she is my wife, regardless of whether we have a piece of paper
stating that fact.”

“Your
time's running out, my man, and I remain unconvinced.”

“How's
this for conviction? You have ten seconds to tell me what I want to know or
I'll come and extract the information in person. If you never believe another
thing in your life, believe me when I say, you will not like it if I have to
waste my time coming to you. The choice is yours, phone or in person. Your
time's running out,
my man
. What's it gonna be? Your choice.”

“Man,
get the hell outta here. I ain't telling you a damn thing!”

“I'm
not sure what's caused you to be in such a foul mood and I really don't care. I
will tell you this, however, I know what's got me riled...you. I don't know
you, and yet I dislike you. I dislike you so much that it will take me...”
Jason looked over at Jake, who had already used the number Jason called to
gather an address, “twenty minutes to get to you. Oh, and by the way, Hapë is
still here. Your call.”

“You
leave my cousin out of this.”

“Sorry
to say, your cousin is already in this. That's it. Your time’s up. I'm on my
way.”

“Now
hold on a minute. Let me speak to my cousin. I need to know she's alright.”

“I'm
insulted, Tottie. Of course, Hapë's alright. What do you take me for, a thug?
My brother is getting her even as we speak,” he said as Josh left the room to
fetch Hapë.

“If
you hurt her, I'll...”

“You'll
what? Before you answer that question, I'd like to give you a word of warning.
Don't threaten me. Don't ever threaten me,” Jason spoke with a deadly quiet
that sent chills racing along Jake's spine. His words must have also had the
same effect on Tottie, as there was no rejoinder.

“Ah,
here's your cousin now.” Jason handed her the phone without further comment and
stood back, folding his arms. He waited for their conversation to get underway.

“This
is Hapë.”

“Are
you okay, sweetie? Have they hurt you?”

“I'm
fine. Nobody's hurt me.” Lowering her voice, Hapë whispered into the mouthpiece
as though unaware that everyone in the room could clearly hear her
conversation. “A couple of them are a bit frightening though.”

“Alright,
sweets. Put that guy back on the phone.”

Handing
the phone back to Jason, Hapë turned and walked to Jackson's side, a clear
indication that she felt he would protect her if the need arose.

“What
do you want to know?”

“Thank
you, I appreciate your help. Do you know where Aviva went after she left your
establishment?”

“She
said she was going to do some more shopping for her vacation. When one of the
other ladies in the salon found out she was going to the Caribbean, she
suggested Aviva check out a new boutique that just opened on Fifth Avenue. I
wasn't paying all that much attention. I think the address was somewhere in the
early seventies.”

“Did
she leave by foot or did you call her a taxi? What time did she leave?”

“She
left about 4:30 and my receptionist called her a cab.”

“The
name of the taxi company?”

“Come
on, man, I don't know!”

Jason
took a deep breath. He knew he was being demanding but he had too much at stake
to be otherwise. “I appreciate your help, and would consider it a personal
favor if you would contact your receptionist and gather as much information as
you can about the taxi service she used. I assure you I will not contact you
again unless it becomes absolutely necessary.”

There
was a slight hesitation on the end of the line as Jason waited for an answer.
He imagined the cogs of Tottie's mind grinding around to exact some kind of
payment for his request. “Okay, I'll do it. In exchange, I want Hapë out of
there.”

“Of
course, she is free to go whenever she chooses.”

“How
do I know I can trust you?”

“You
don't, but I am a man of my word. My
wife
is missing, and at this point,
your establishment is her last known whereabouts. I will do almost anything to
get her back. One thing I will not do, however, is hurt your cousin. I can
assure you, I do not hurt women. Therefore, as I already said, she is free to
go whenever she pleases.”

“Okay,
I'll call my receptionist and get the details. But I'll wait to hear from Hapë
before I give you any more information. Put her in her car and once she's on
her way home, I'll text you whatever information I gather.”

“Agreed.
She's being escorted to her car even as we speak.” Jason inclined his head
towards Josh who was already escorting Hapë out of the room, and therefore keeping
his end of the bargain. “I’ll await your text, and thanks for your help. It’s
very much appreciated,” Jason said before disconnecting.

Looking
over at Jake, he asked the question foremost on his mind. “Any luck?”

“Not
yet. I've calculated the distance and the time needed to get from one location
to another, taking into account the possible variables of New York traffic. But
still no luck.”

“We're
close, I can feel it. We just need one more break.”

“We'll
get it, it may take us longer than we'd like, but we'll get our break,” Jake
told him, not taking his eyes from the screen.

Jake's
words gave Jason pause. This brother, from their first meeting, had been the
one to withhold his feelings, never giving away his thoughts. But his
declaration of certainty resonated with Jason. He knew his family was on his
side, but he hadn't realized how much he needed to hear the words. He was not
the only one with single-minded determination in bringing Aviva back. Back to
where she belonged.

Jake's
finger continued to rush over the keyboard in resolve, refusing to contemplate
that he wouldn’t find what he was looking for. He’d just found his brother, his
twin, and he intended to keep him close. He refused to allow an unknown
quantity to remove what Jason held most dear. It didn't matter how long he had
to sit before the screen, sifting through frame after frame, he would find her.

He
actually kind of missed her. Knowing that she wouldn’t be walking through the
door at any moment, bossing them around as though they weren't grown men,
watching Jason in his attempts at giving her direction as to what he would and
wouldn’t accept. As his search continued, Jake realized how he felt about
Aviva. She was very much needed, a necessary component to bind them together as
a family.

“I
know we'll get her back, but it's hard, Jake. She's out there, alone and
hurting, because of me...the things I've done, the people that have shaped my
life, who I am.”

Jake's
fingers stopped moving, recognizing intuitively how his brother was feeling. He
no doubt felt guilt for his past actions and the part they were now playing in
Aviva’s abduction.

Josh
returned to the office after sending Hapë on her way. He brought with him the
news that he had just contacted a friend who had information that might be just
what they were looking for.

“Apparently,
some guy has been bragging about a big pay day. A woman was to be abducted,
held and relocated to places unknown. What my friend does know however, is the
place where this woman is to be taken,” Josh finished, his excitement obvious.

“Where
is this place?” Jason asked, curious at how his brother had come by this
information, and the possibility that he had friends in low places.

While
Josh filled Jason in on the details, Jake went back to looking through CCTV
images. His luck was in, there she was, but something was wrong, it was
apparent in the way she moved.

“Jason,
I've got her. Come and take a look at this.”

Rushing
over, Jason and Josh watched as Jake replayed the footage. They too immediately
noticed how disorientated Aviva appeared.

“Do
you have anything before this?” Jason asked his twin.

“Not
really, she's just walking along the street, the usual Saturday shoppers all
around her.”

“Stop!
Go back,” Jason demanded.

“There,
did you see that? That guy just bumped into her.”

“So?”

“Why
did he do that? There was no need for him to bump into her like that. That part
of the sidewalk isn't crowded. It looked deliberate to me.”

As
the brothers watched more closely, they understood what Jason had seen straight
away.

“Speed
up the tape. I think we're on to something.” Jason could feel adrenaline rush
through his body. As they watched the recording, they recognized the action for
what is was. The man had somehow managed to inject her with something. He then
broke away, stopped and looked into a department store window. Minutes later,
he was behind her again. But this time, he took her by the arm and she followed
without resistance.

“Find
them, Jake!” Jason spoke with an urgency that could not be ignored.

“There's
no need. I know that guy. His name is Swan. That's the dude who's been running
his mouth about the big pay day he has coming up.”

Jason
spun around at Josh's words. His earlier thoughts confirmed. Josh’s recognition
of this man, Swan, meant he had some explaining to do. But that would have to
wait. “Where?”

“Come
on, I know the place,” Josh said over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

With
his brothers right behind him, they rushed into the hallway to be confronted by
Jackson who appeared to be heading towards the office.

“What's
happened? Where are you all going?”

“We've
got a lead. We're heading out there. If we're lucky, we should have Aviva back
in a little while,” Jason said as he and Josh disappeared out the door.

Jackson
could sense their urgency and wasted no more time asking questions. But he did
take hold of Jake’s arm as he was about to leave. “Be careful, and be on your
guard. Remember what I taught you both and look out for each other. We don't
know his capabilities.”