Chapter 41

Caleb

On my way out , I instructed Nathan to watch her. And make sure no one gets too close to her. He assured me he would. On my way to the airfield, I called Ryan but he didn't answer,he was probably busy.

On the flight over to Payson I did some work. When I got there it was four in the afternoon . When I stepped off the jet No one was there. I got off the Jet and called Ryan but he didn't answer. I called five times and got no answer. Max was looking at me. I called Holly and the same thing.

“ Max Get a car “.

“ Yes Boss “.

I called the cafe and it was the same ,all the phones were ringing out . Max pulled up in front of me and I got in.

“ Max take me to the cafe “

“ Yes Boss ”.

When we pulled up to the cafe it was closed. What the fuck was going on. I called Josh. He answered thankfully.

“ Mr Cross,what can I do for you?"

“ Hey Josh. Is Ryan at the construction site?”.

“ No Mr Cross, Haven't seen him since Yesterday, when he was here. Is there a problem?”.

“ I'm not sure. He said there's a problem at the construction site that I need to come down here”.

“ Umm Mr Cross, There's no problem here. The work is progressing on schedule. Maybe he's over at the cafe “.

“ I'm standing in front of the cafe and it's closed “.

“ Okay. I'll have one of my Guys check your place and Holly's. I'll let you know if they're over that way”.

“ Thanks Josh “.

I ended the call and looked at Max.

“ Something isn't right Boss ”. He said looking around. I dialed her number but there was no answer. I called Cindy,my father and mother and nothing. I called Nathan because I knew he was with her and when he didn't answer either ,I started to get worried. I called Jason.

“ Yes Cross?”.

“ Something is wrong”

“ Why do you mean something is wrong?”.

I explained what happened and I couldn't reach anyone.

“ I'm already on my way to your place. I'll call you when I'm there “. He ended the call.

“ Max let's head over to the police station”.
On the way there,Josh Called.

“ Mr Cross, Your place is empty. He isn't there, it's locked up tight and so is Holly's place. Marcus went home to ask Mya Why the Cafe is closed. She's not home,he can't reach her and he's worried “.

Shit ,fuck. “ I'll find out what is going on ”
“ Okay ”.

Jason was calling again.

“ Fuck ,what the hell is happening Cross?”.

“ What ?”.

“ I'm standing in your living room and there's fucking blood here. The house is empty, no security nothing “.

“ Fuck. I'm coming back. She went to the Bank this morning. FIND HER”.

“ Max Get back to the airfield, we need to Head home now”.

Jason

The minute we pulled up to their place, I knew something was wrong,the gates were open and there were no security guards anywhere at all. When we walked into the house I knew something happened. There was blood, enough to know someone got hurt. There were droplets of blood leading out of the house.

“ Pete , start searching the house, Find someone “.

I walked up the stairs over to Cross's side of the house . It was empty. Pete found me standing in the living room.

“ It's empty ,Boss there's not a soul”.

Fuck. “ Pete , Call Clayton and find out what my mother has been doing today, Also Armin and find out what Catherine has been up to today “.

“ On it Boss”.

I stood there at a loss. I called my father.

“ Jason I'm about to head into a meeting ”

“ They're gone”.

“ Who ?”.

“ Everyone. Aria, Her friends from the cafe and Cross's entire family ”.

“ Find her, Jason ”

“ We're trying. I'll update you ”.

I ended the call and stood looking around, trying to pick up a Clue as to what happened. They should have security Cameras. I saw Pete walking into the house.

“ Boss, Mrs Campbell went shopping today. And Catherine didn't leave her home ”.

“ Check to see if this house has security cameras “.

Caleb

When the jet touched down in New York it was past midnight. When the chopper landed in the backyard I walked straight into the living room and stopped short. There were police all over and Jason was standing there.

“ Mr Cross, I'm detective Marcel Dekker. Mr Campbell already explained the situation to us. We'll find them ”.

I nodded and went to the kitchen. I kept calling her phone, there was still no answer. The police left around three.

“ Where the fuck are they ?”

“ Don't know”. Jason said, looking at me.

My phone began ringing,it wasn't a number I knew and it was a video call. I kept looking at the phone. Jason grabbed it from me and answered.

“ Ahh the senator's son. You should probably screen the call on the TV. It'll be better for you. Go ahead I'll wait ”.The unknown man said. I looked at Jason.

I connected my phone to the tv. The first thing that came onto the screen was her. They had her tied to a chair, her eyes covered and her mouth taped. Fuck.I was going to lose my shit.

“ No, what shall we do with Mrs Cross?”. He said

“ Don't Fucking touch her”.

“ Touch ? Haha ,no I have a better idea ”, he said as he pulled out a knife and began cutting her face. She started screaming against the tape on her mouth. If Jason wasn't stopping me I would have broken the tv.

“ WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?”.

“ Want ?, nothing at all ”, he said as he continued cutting her. Her entire face was full of blood. He walked away from her , we could see he was walking in the other direction.

“ How do you like this ?”, he said.

I was going to Kill this fucker ,he had them all tied up. Ryan , Holly, Mya ,Grace, My mother,my sister,and my father.

“ Max ?”

He walked in and looked at me. I looked at the phone. He understood What I meant. Trace the call. He nodded and walked out.

“ Don't bother trying to track it Cross. Now let's play a game shall we “ ,he said walking over to her.

“ I will call you in ten Minutes and the game will begin “. He said, ending the call.

“ I'm calling the Detective ”, Jason said walking out. She's probably scared out of her mind, she's hurt. I told her I wouldn't let anything happen to her again and I failed her. I failed to protect her again. My phone started ringing,I jumped up and answered it.

“ I see you learn quickly Mr Cross. Now shall we begin?”. He said panning the camera around. Jason walked in and looked at me. He had Ryan and everyone kneeling down at what looked like the edge of a cliff. She was standing apart from them.

I believe he set the phone on a tripod, because we could see him walking over to them. He was wearing a mask. He walked over to her and took the blindfold off. She started looking around, I knew the minute she saw the others because her face changed completely.

Unknown man : Now Mrs Cross,be a good girl and don't move. You don't want me to shoot one of your friends do you?.

He walked over to them and began undoing their blindfolds.

Unknown man : So we'll play a game, Mr Cross. You have Two options. Option A , For every single person I let go , someone takes a bullet for them. Or Option B. I let them all go and you Take all the bullets meant for them. Your choice Mrs Cross.

“ WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?” Jason yelled at him.

Unknown man: Mr Campbell, please. What can you do about it ?. like I…

Aria : Option B.

“ Aria No ” ,

Aria: Let them go . I'll take the bullets.

Unknown man: Very well ,He said

He raised the gun and pointed it at her. My heart started beating out fo control. He shot her six times. I saw her body fall backwards over the edge of th cliff and disappeared. I was numb , I couldn't breathe. No she wasn't gone ,she couldn't be gone. This can't be real.

Unknown man: You'll be sent the location , you can come and get your family and friends.

Jason

Fuck. I couldn't move, They started screaming , Cross threw a table into the tv. He started screaming. I couldn't think, I just met her and now she is gone. Cross started breaking everything he got his hands on. I saw Max run into the house,he stopped and looked at us. I just shook my head.

“ I'm sorry ”, that was all he said and walked away.