Chapter Twenty-Four

“You… drugged me… again…” It was hard for her to form the words, but she managed to, and that’s when William crouched down beside her and stroked her face. She didn’t have the strength to move away from William, and she hated him for it.

“Technically you passed out love, I just made sure you stayed asleep so I could get some rest.” He chuckled and pointed toward the door. Sam looked over and saw the blankets and pillows on the ground. “The police were in your apartment as was your father… I left him a small gift.” William explained how he’d left a picture for Matt to find and his reaction, it made Sam furious to know there was nothing she could do.

“Its all just a game for you William….what will you do when it’s over? He won’t let you go…” He could hear the genuine curiosity in her question and it was enough to pique his interest.

“Between you and me love I know he won’t but that doesn’t mean I can’t start a new game now does it?” His answer scared Samantha, she didn’t want William going after her father.

“Please… please leave him alone… isn’t killing me enough?” She knew she wouldn’t make it out of this alive, but she truly wanted her father to live even if it meant without her.

“Very touching Sam, but it’s just too great an opportunity to pass up.” William got up and went back to the window and saw Matthew come back into the living room. He’d changed into a T-Shirt and Jeans and was drying his hair with a towel. William watched as he picked up his phone, must have been one of the team members. He went back over to Sam, she was still fighting the effects from the shot he’d given her. William couldn’t help but muse over how much Sam was like Matthew, their mannerisms, their looks, even their choice of clothes. He crouched down again and took her chin in his hand and pulled her face towards himself, she had no strength to fight.

“Your fathers across the way in his apartment, rather boring watching him… what do say we surprise him?” Sam was confused but worse she knew whatever it was wouldn’t be good.

“Please… I’m begging you William… leave him alone!” But her pleas fell on deaf ears, he’d already made up his mind on the matter.

William quickly got to work, he went over to the small worktable and grabbed a couple of lengths of rope. He walked back over to the cot and Sam and removed her ankle restraints first. Taking some of the rope he tied her ankles together as tight as he could, he then removed her wrist restraints. William took Sam and sat her up on the cot, then he took her hands and pulled them behind her back and tied them as tight as he could too. Once he was satisfied that she wouldn’t be able to escape he picked her up and brought her to the center of the room, he forced her to sit on her knees. William went back to the table as Sam struggled to stay upright, she knew he’d forced her into this position to cause pain. When he came back, he had a roll of tape and what looked like a blindfold.

William Stepped behind Sam ripped off a couple of pieces of tape and placed them over her mouth. She almost fell over, but he steadied her before letting go and pulling out his phone to make a call. William placed the phone on speaker and dialed Detective Riley’s number, Sam’s heart skipped a beat when she heard her father’s voice on the other end.

“Detective Riley, how can I help you?” He answered the phone with his standard greeting, he used it whenever it wasn’t the team calling.

“Hello, Detective… it’s been a moment since we last spoke.” William chuckled as he spoke, knowing that just hearing his voice would anger the detective.

“You’re a sick bastard! I swear I’m going to find you and when I do I’m going to end you!” The moment Matt heard his voice, he unleashed his rage.

“Empty words and threats detective… nothing more.” William was confident and enjoyed toying with Matthew.

“Where’s my daughter William?! I want to speak to her now!” He seethed with anger and contempt, Matt just wanted to hear his daughter’s voice, to know that she was still alive.

“Of course, detective, she’s right here…” Sam tried to call out but was unable due to the tape covering her mouth. “Forgive me… I forgot to remove the tape…” William laughed and partially removed Sam’s gag in case he needed to quickly silence her again.

“Dad…” Sam called out to her father through the phone, Matt’s heart ached when he heard her voice.

“Sam…sweetheart are you alright?” He knew she wasn’t, but he needed to ask.

Sam knew she had to be quick, she needed to warn her father, “Dad… whatever William says don’t…” William cut her off by placing the tape back over her mouth and she tried to scream, he backhanded her hard knocking her over.

“Sam!” Matt called out to his daughter, he heard the smack and the thud as she fell over. “I swear to god if you hurt her…” but William cut him off as well.

“You’re in no position to make demands detective and I do what I damn well please!” William was loud but firm when he spoke. “You will listen to me if you want to see her one last time, is that understood Detective?” Matthew was silent and William was growing impatient, “Yes or no detective… I will end her right now and you’ll never find the body!”

“Yes! God damnit! Don’t touch her William, please!” William was pleased and ready for the next phase of the plan.

“Now detective, I want you to meet with me… 15 minutes in your daughter’s apartment building. There are empty apartments on her floor where we won’t be disturbed.” Matthew was listening and trying to make a plan to save Sam. “Apartment 10D is where we will meet and before you come you will turn off your phone and leave it behind.”

“You’re crazy if you think that’s going to happen William.” Matt knew better but he couldn’t help himself.

“If you don’t then say goodbye to your daughter now…” William paused and gave the detective a moment to respond.

“FINE! You better not be leading me on a wild goose chase!” He was at a loss; William had planned for everything, and Matthew’s options were quickly dwindling.

“Good and trust me when I say I will know if you don’t listen to my instructions. 15 minutes detective, I’ll see you there.” William ended the call and went over to the window he’d been staring out since the call began. Matt turned off the phone and threw it across his living room, he put on his shoes and grabbed his firearm, and headed out the door.

William then went back over to Sam; she was still laying on the floor dazed from the blow he’d given her. “We don’t have much time your father will be here soon.” He picked her up and set her back on her knees, the last thing she saw was the blindfold as William tied it around her eyes. She was left in darkness, he went over and turned off the lights and stood next to the door so he would be hidden when Detective Riley opened it. It was just like it was a week ago, Sam silently waiting for her father to come even though she wished he wouldn’t. Matthew went back into Sam’s building under the guise that he had forgotten something upstairs. When he stepped off the elevator, he pulled out his weapon and made his way to 10D, he tried the knob, and it was unlocked. He opened the door and lifted his weapon, it was dark inside, so he pulled out a small flashlight that he’d brought with him.