Bait

POV: Adrian

It had been three fucking weeks and every time I got close, they moved. It’s like they know I am close, and they move to piss me off, like her life was just a game to them. And to top off my stressed and angry state of mind… Jared decided he was going to fly out here and help against my advice.

The only thing he was good for was writing about the local news, he wouldn't even cut it as a reporter. I doubt he could stomach what I was willing to do when I found the assholes who took Leah. He would probably wet himself because terror would set in knowing I could do it to him without blinking.

I knew they weren’t hurting her, but that didn’t ease my wrath. Each time I raid their hiding spot someone sends me a photo of her from a different burner… within minutes like someone was watching. In the photo she is sitting on the empty mattress I was looking at.

These guys were clever, systematic, and two steps ahead of me.

Hendrix and I have spent 5 hours combing this place only to come up empty handed. There had to be a camera or motion detector in this apartment. If there was something in here, Jimmy would find it.

“Let’s call in Jimmy. I am done with this fucking cat and mouse game.”, Hendrix stepped out to make the call.

Hendrix had been using a geocaching software to monitor the different locations that we had found; hoping to find a pattern. He also ran a check to find out who owned the building and if there were any current tenants or squatters. Each building consisted of four apartments, two upper and two lower units.

Each apartment had the same set up, they were all falling apart, but the only difference was the distance between. Broken windows, no appliances, and only one of the units had power. Someone had to have connections within the city.

It was odd that each building had similar construction and were all condemned. I had Hendrix run a check on the zoning committee members to see if anyone had lined pockets. We were headed in the right direction, just needed a clue to get us there.

*Knock Knock*

Hendrix peeked into the room, “Hey boss. We need to hit the road. Jared is meeting us at the hospital.”.

In each room I had found a small piece of black spandex. Leah was leaving me a small detail to let me know she was okay. It still didn’t cool the burning fire of rage and destruction filling my thoughts.

There was nothing more to see, so we left.

We had spent all of our time looking for Leah, that I hadn’t confronted Valerie or Monica yet.

“Do we know if they will be at the hospital?”, I asked Hendrix.

He sat in the passenger seat, “Hannah confirmed Valerie is at the hospital. I did get a hit on Monica’s alias. She purchased an airline ticket this morning. Credit card receipts confirm she is here.”.

His eye hasn’t left the computer screen other than to breech and search each hiding spot.

“Let’s keep a close eye on Monica. She is unpredictable.”, increasing my speed out of anger.

Monica had been texting me over the last three weeks acting as if she played no part in this game. She had an anatomy scan and sent me video of our daughter. Healthy, happy, and growing at a rapid pace.

It was crazy to think in less than 4 months that I would have a child. Wishing that were the reason I was speeding to a hospital. Instead, I am headed to pull answers from a kid who just came out of a coma.

Pulling up to the hospital, Jared was standing outside waiting for us. I parked the car in the fire lane, and we got out.

“Hey man, you can’t park here.”, Jared pointed to the no parking sign.

Ignoring him as we walked inside, I flashed my badge, and they escorted us to Cameron’s room.

They were under the impression he was being investigated for a kidnapping and we had the right to question him. Ready to blow my cover to find Leah, I didn’t care that Jared had seen my badge or heard me speaking to the charge nurse. My cover was the least of my concerns.

The nurse ushered us down a hall and to an ICU recovery unit. Noticing that it required a badge to be scanned for entry. She pointed to his room and told us to knock on the glass door before pulling it open.

Before entering I turned around to Jared and wrapped my arm around his shoulders.

Whispering in his ear, “Not a word about what you have seen or heard. If you so much as let it slip, I will ensure you and your daughter are relocated in the witness protection program. You’ll never step foot back into your old life.”.

He froze and every muscle in his body tensed, and I let go and walked toward the glass door.

Turning my head to him, “Do you understand Jared?”, I needed a verbal confirmation that my identity was safe.

He was looking around as if the answer was on an exit sign, “I got it, promise. Not a word.”.

That was all I needed.

I didn’t bother knocking on the door, whatever was happening behind the door couldn’t be hidden. With one finger I slid the door to the side, then we each stepped inside before closing the door behind us. Shocked was an understatement at what the three of us had walked in on.

“Where is Leah you piece of shit kid?”, Jared started to run at him.

I placed my arm straight out stopping him. My glare on the kid was noticed by everyone in the room. Being the largest person had its perks.

Cameron was sitting in bed, shirtless, with a square bandage over his shoulder and stitches on his bicep. I was under the impression he had been in a coma for three weeks, but this sight didn’t tell the same story. He was causally flipping channels on the small television.

Slowly walking over to the bed where he was sitting…

I bent down to make sure he could feel the heat radiating from my gritted teeth.

“Where is she?”, hot breath escaping my tightly pressed lips.

“I don’t know man. I swear!”, his hands shot up in a surrender.

It was clear through his fear of dying by my hands that he was telling the truth.

“What the fuck happened then?”, I slowly stood back up.

“We left my mom’s headed for the spa and Leah wanted to pull over to you know… Well once we were finished this black SUV pulled up and two guys got out. I told her to run, and I charged at them. This thug fought back as the other took off after her. I hit the dude and when I turned around to go help Leah, he shot me twice. I was lucky that his aim was just as bad as his coordination.”, he was talking fast as I tried to make sense of his story.

“Then why are you still here?”, Jared shouted from behind me.

I shot him a piercing look before turning back for an answer.

“My mom man, I swear. She’s a nurse here and runs the place since my dad practically paid for it. She wanted me to have round the clock care until she found out what happened.”, by this point he was acting like a child and avoiding any responsibility.

Rubbing my jaw as I glanced around the room. Jared standing there looking like he hadn’t slept in days, while Hendrix was typing away on his computer. I noticed that we were alone, but there was a pillow and blanket on the couch.

“Where is your mom?”, I asked.

“She left right before you walked in. Something about going to check out why the feds were here.”, I looked over at Jared to make sure he stayed tight lipped.

I turned around toward the door, “Let’s go.”.

“On it boss.”, Hendrix knew exactly what I wanted.

Jared standing there confused as I pushed him out of the door.

“Hey! Where are you going?”, Cameron got out of bed.

“To find answers.”, I turned around and glared at him.

“Then I am coming too.”, he spat.

I leaned down in his face, “Perfect, direct us to your mother’s house.”.

Fear striking his body, I swear he turned white as he gulped.

“My… my… mother’s house?”, he asked.

“Yes, I have some questions for her. Is that a problem?”, I retorted as if he had an option.

“Got a location boss.”, Hendrix spoke up and Cameron glanced at him then back at me.

A silent moment passed as I squinted my eyes at him.

“No, not a problem.”, he winced.

I patted him on the back and with one hand on his shoulder, lead him out of the room. The nurses ran over to him trying to talk him into staying, assuming that was his mother’s order. It didn’t take but one glare from me for them to realize there was no stopping us.

Looking toward the nurse picking up the phone, “Tell her we will see her soon.”, then I gave her a devious smile.

The look on Cameron’s face when he realized he was yet again apart of one of his mother’s scams was priceless.

The four of us set off to Valerie Ritter’s house. It appeared that woman had some explaining to do and I wouldn’t mind using her son to pull it from her. He didn’t realize that he just volunteered to become my bait.

-To be continued-