CHAPTER 13

Every morning, Felina would take walks by the lake, hoping the mountain air would clear her mind. Nothing worked. As she walked her mind would drift to her first encounter with Glen. She had wanted to slap the taste from his mouth. He had read her thoughts, bending down, his hazel eyes flashing. She had had no doubts then about his strength. The spanking he had given her had been the first one ever in her life, and had only made her even more angry. Pushing him in the mud afterwards had released a lot of her anger. She laughed. He had looked ridiculous. How she had the strength to push that mountain of a man she never understood.

How strange it had been when his wife had appeared and talked with her, telling her that she and Glen belonged together. Felina shook her head, remembering how she had traced his lips, thinking them so invitingly kissable. Her body became warm as she could feel them again. She ran her hands up and down her arms. She looked to see clouds coming over the mountains, blocking the sun. She hurried to the cabin, shutting the door just as the first drops fell. She put some wood on the fire, sitting on the rug to warm herself. She pictured in her mind what it would be like ö her and Glen, his arm around her, his lips coming down on hers as he lay her on the carpet, making love to her.

Felina blinked her eyes. óIt will never happen,ô she sadly thought. Tears streamed down her cheeks, loving Glen and knowing they could never be. She sniffed, wiping the tears from her eyes. She had to come back to reality. Glen had his ghosts while she had hers.

What was she going to do about her family? She thought of why had her father sent her to Colombia in the first place. Why would he want to open an office there? There was no money to be had. She remembered they had argued for two days. It really had been more of a shouting match. She had called him every name and then some. She bitterly remembered him calling her a bastard child, noticing her mother had not been around. When she had asked him where she had gone, he had replied she was away on a vacation, but didnòt say where.

The more she thought about it, the more she thought that perhaps her father might have wanted her out of the way. But why?

CHAPTER 14

The phone rang. "South American Cruise Lines?"

"Hello, Ali."

"What are you doing? You're never to call me here!"

"I need to see you. Now!"

Ali looked at her watch. It said 4:00. "I can't now. I don't get off till 6:00. Where are you?"

"I'm at the Sheraton."

"I'll meet you at the usual place at 6:30."

"I'll be waiting."

Shano hung up and turned to his henchman. "We've got time. Let's rest up."

At 6:30 Ali came in the restaurant and headed to a dark corner booth. She jumped a bit when she spied the sinister-looking man with Shano.

"Sit down, babe. Plato won't hurt you."

Ali nervously sat beside Shano. He raised his arm. A waiter came over with their drinks.

"I see you haven't forgotten. What has it been, four months?" she asked bitterly.

"Come on, Ali. You know my job keeps me busy," Shano grinned.

"What is it this time?"

"That's you. Always direct. I need some information."

"How important is this information?"

"I need to know where Captain Sterling is. I understand he's been gone for a while."

"Why?"

"Someone needs to talk to him as soon as possible."

"It's going to cost you plenty."

"That's not a problem."

Ali looked around then motioned for them to come closer. "After Captain Sterling came back from his cruise, he began acting rather nervous and upset. He would jump whenever someone said something to him, almost turning him into a basket case. This went on for a week. He was suppose to sail out for a cruise to Argentina. He never showed up.

I did some checking. It seems one of the other office workers saw him talking to a couple of guys the day before he was to sail. He got in a car with them and hasn't been seen since."

"I wonder who they were?"

"It's been rumored the guys were federal agents."

Shano sat back in the booth. "They probably have him hidden somewhere around here."

"When do I get paid?" Ali asked anxiously.

"Plato will bring it to you tomorrow night."

Shano watched her leave. He looked at Plato. "You know what to do." Later that night he called New York.

"So the feds have him." The man thumped his fingers on the desk. "You know what to do Shano, and do it neatly."

A small item appeared in the paper a couple of days later. The body of a young woman was found bound and gagged, her chest slashed wide open.

CHAPTER 15

Michael was at the door waiting on them as they drove up. She could see Glen was not in a very good mood. She had drinks waiting for them.

"Thanks I could use one," he said, downing it in one gulp.

Michael fixed him another one, then had them sit down to dinner, of which Glen at very little. Mark and Michael cleaned up the dishes as Glen sat on the couch. "Mark, he's going to need help. He can't look for her alone, especially with that shoulder of his," Michael said while loading the dishwasher.

"I know, but Glen has a lot of pride, and he's too stubborn to ask."

Michael dried her hands and began setting up the coffee tray. "We'll just have to convince him." She picked up the tray as Mark opened the door.

Glen was looking at the newspaper clipping as they entered, trying to piece together what was the connection.

"What's that?" Michael asked as she poured.

"It's an article I tore out of the paper. What caught my attention was the description of the two men. It said one of them was a purser of a SACL liner called 'Isabella'."

"That's the ship we were on!" Michael exclaimed.

"Let me see that," Mark said as Glen handed it to him. "It says the other man was supposed to have underworld connections. I wonder what the connection is or if there is any?"

"Maybe the purser was into something he couldn't handle," Glen remarked.

"Wait a minute," Mark said. "Remember when we talked to the captain? He described how he, the purser, and one other man were in on the kidnapping. That other man must be this one. He must have worked for Shano Mac."

"So the kidnappings are underworld related. If this guy worked for Shano, then Shano must work for someone else, but who?" Glen asked.

"How did they know which ones to kidnap?" Michael asked. "Someone else had to have known."

"Someone on the inside who knew who was going to be on the ship."

"I know when I booked for my cruise, I sent in a copy of my passport," Michael said.

"The others must have also. That's how they knew," Mark said. "This is beginning to be a bit more complicated."

"Do you think they might try again?" Michael asked.

"I don't think so, but who knows. I know I have to keep searching for Felina."

"But you can't fly everywhere. You need to take it easy and heal that shoulder. Let me call the guys. They can cover more ground faster," Mark said.

Glen reluctantly nodded. Michael wrote down the names of the hideaways Felina had mentioned to her. All three looked the list over, seeing who was the closest.

"Just to be sure, I think we should have Farooq check out New York," Mark said. Glen and Michael nodded.

Michael went to the desk and took out an address book in which she had written the names and addresses of all the girls before they left. It was three hours later when Mark finished.

"Now we wait," he said.

CHAPTER 16

Ever since he returned, Captain Sterling had been on pins and needles. His conscious had gotten the better of him, the nightmares torturing him. When he had called the agents, it wasn't long till they had him sequestered in a small apartment, an agent staying with him 24 hours a day. That was 2 months ago. He was pacing back and forth, wishing he could go outside for air, as the walls now seemed to be closing in around him. "Can't I at least step out for a breath of air? I can't stand this!"

The agent shook his head. The captain went back to pacing like a caged animal. There was more he had to tell them but didn't as he felt he could trust no one with the last bit of information. What also had him nervous was the conversation he overheard between two agents one morning of the two bodies found tied to the posts at the dock. He had wanted to escape, knowing now they would be searching for him.

Although the agents were careful not to keep any newspapers around, one of the agents accidentally brought one with him and left it behind. The captain had picked it up, anxious for something to read. When he saw the article about the young woman found gagged and slashed, he knew by the description who had killed her - Shano Mac.

He was beginning to have second thoughts about his safety, thinking he would rather take his chances running than sit here and be a sitting duck. He thought to the two big men he had talked to. If only he could find a way to contact them. His memory being very good, he pictured one of them as a tall red-head. What was his last name? Cal-something. He snapped his fingers - Calaway. That was it! Now if he could remember where he was from. He remembered the red-head spoke in a thick western-style drawl - like a Texan. That was it! He was from Texas, but where? Again he thought of the man's looks - the clothes, shoes, something like a motorcycle rider. "He owned a company, but what was the name of it?" After a few minutes it came to him - Calaway's of Houston. The captain lifted the blind slightly, seeing a van parked in front of the building.

He heard the door open and saw an agent enter to relieve the one already there. His ears perked up when he heard one of them say to call the office. He looked out the bedroom to see the agent using a cell phone to call. After hanging up, the man put the phone down on the table, and then got comfortable on the couch.

The captain waited till he thought the agent was asleep and crept from the bedroom. Tiptoeing as quietly as possible, he carefully picked up the phone and went back to the bedroom. Crossing his fingers, he dialed information.

CHAPTER 17

Glen had returned to his mountain retreat to heal. Every day he hoped for the phone to ring, telling him Felina had been found. Two months passed - nothing. He was beginning to think she didn't want to be found.

He stood on the balcony, his mind again going to the lagoon and their short time together. Would they ever see each other again?

Mark was leaving his office when the phone rang. "Calaway's."

"Is this Mr. Calaway?" the voice whispered nervously.

"Yes, it is."

"I need to see you right away!"

"Who is this?"

"Remember the Isabella. Come to San Diego in two days. Meet me at the zoo - 2:00 p.m."

Before Mark could say another word, he heard a click. "Isabella." Then it hit him - the name of the ship. He got on the phone.

Glen heard the phone and picked up. "Yeah?"

"We go to San Diego in two days."

"They found her?"

"I don't know. The voice said to meet at the zoo at 2 p.m."

"Who was it?"

"He said 'remember the Isabella'. He sounded nervous."

"I'll meet you there," Glen hung up.

The captain put the phone back on the table. He had two days to come up with a plan to escape.

For two months Shano and his henchman, Plato, had searched the streets, putting the word out to all his contacts. So far no word. When he had called New York, the man nearly blew his head off. "What the motherfuckin' hell do you mean you can't find him? The feds aren't that damn smart! You have 48 hours to find him or I send a couple of my men to get you! Got it!"

CHAPTER 18

Rock waited at the gate for Markòs flight. óHey, Mark, over here!ô he yelled. The two shook hands. óGood to see you again,ô Mark said.

óWhen does Glenòs flight arrive?ô

óMost any time.ô

The loud speaker announced incoming flights, one of them from Nashville. óThere he is,ô Mark said.

Glen walked briskly up the tunnel, anxious tog et to the meeting place. Rock went over to shake his hand. Glen quickly shook it. óCome on, letòs get going.ô

óWhoa, man! We have a couple of hours yet. Besides, we donòt know where at the zoo heòs going to meet us,ô Mark said. óJust relax. Weòre just as anxious as you.ô

Captain Sterling paced in his room, still thinking of how he was going to escape. He looked at his watch. He had only two hours. With the van out front watching, he knew that would not be possible. There had to be a back way out. He looked at his clothes. He was going to have to wear something different also. He looked at the agent, who was still nodding. óYeah, heòs about my size.ô

Looking around for a weapon, he picked up the desk lamp. This should do it. He wrapped the cord around the lamp and tiptoed silently behind the agent. He hit the agent as hard as he could. The agent fell unconscious.

He undressed him and the agent quickly. After he had dressed, the captain took the lamp cord and tied the manòs hands and feet. Taking the cell phone with him, he opened the door and looked up and down the hallway. Finding a fire exit he went down the stairs, and exited out the back door.

Shano and his man were driving, checking out all the buildings on the street. He noticed a van parked in front of the building. One of his contacts had told him that a mysterious van had been parked in front of the building for about two months. On a hunch, he told Plato to head down the street. They turned around and parked on the other side. While Shano watched, Plato happened to notice someone cautiously peer from the alley. óHey, look over there.ô

Shano pointed his binoculars. óBingo!ô

óShould we take care of him now?ô

óNo. Letòs follow to see where he goes.ô

Seeing the coast was clear, the captain headed in their direction. óGet down!ô

Both men ducked. As soon as he had passed, they turned to see him hail a cab and get in. óOkay. Letòs go.ô

It was 1:45 when the guys arrived at the zoo entrance. óWhat are we waiting for?ô Glen asked.

óFor him to get here. We still donòt know where to meet him,ô Mark replied.

óJust how are we to know? You and Glen are the only ones who saw him,ô Rock said.

They saw a cab stop across the street. As it drove away, the nervous occupant looked around, then crossed the street. He spied three tall men standing near the entrance. Stopping as if to tie his shoe, he eyes the men, recognizing Mark. He went over to the ticket counter, passing them. óMeet me at the big cat house, he whispered. They guys waited till he had entered, then got their tickets and went in.

Shano and his man had not been far behind the captain and saw which way he headed. óLetòs stay back just a bit. He might recognize me,ô Shano said. They stayed thirty feet behind, watching where he went. Suddenly three tall me blocked their view. Shano and Plato picked up the pace a bit, peering around the big bodies to see if he was in sight.

The captain sat on a bench in front of the entryway to the cathouse. Mark, Glen and Rock sat on the bench behind, their backs to him. The captain waited a bit. óMr. Calaway?ô he whispered.

óYes,ô Mark whispered back.

óDonòt turn around. Just sit there like youòre taking a rest.ô The captain waited a bit till some people went by. óI have information that you need to know. Not even the feds know.ô

Shano and Plato stopped when they saw the captain. He looked at the crowd of people going by. óWeòll have to get somewhere to get a clear shot at him,ô Shano whispered. He spotted a tree about fifty feet from the benches. They mingled with the crowd till they had passed, then hid behind the tree. óYou have it ready?ô

Plato nodded. óNo one will hear a thing.ô

óGood. Iòll meet you at the entrance.ô Shano left.

Pretending he was looking at a map of the zoo, Plato eased the pistol out of his jacket, the silencer already on. Getting his sights ready, he held up the map slightly to hide the pistol.

óWhat?ô Mark asked, sipping his drink.

óI know who the real brains was behind the kidnapping.ô

óWho?ô

The guys thought they heard a small pop. Mark eased his head to the right. He saw the head slumped forward, a small trickle of blood running down the neck. óLetòs get out of her,ô he told Glen and Rock. They got up as if resuming their walk. They had just exited when people began running past them, saying there was a dead man over by the cathouse.

The guys got in the cab and left, Rock telling the driver where to go. A half hour later they were at Dinahòs house.

CHAPTER 19

The guys sat in the living room, not speaking a word. Dinah saw the blank looks on their faces. "What happened?" Rock explained. Dinah gasped. "You're lucky none of you were shot!"

"We're no closer now than before we arrived," Glen uttered in disappointment.

"But it does confirm what you and I suspected. There's someone big behind this," Mark said.

"But who else knew he was there is now the question," Rock said. "And how did he get away from the feds?"

"Looks like we head back to Dallas," Mark said. Then a thought crossed his mind. "Rock, contact the other guys. See if there isn't some kind of way they can check out those hideaways."

"For information?"

"For anything that might give us a clue of any kind? When we get back I'm going to contact Farooq and have him check out Vander - his company, and any holdings he has."

"Why?"

"Just something," Mark said. He looked at Glen and put his hand on Glen's shoulder. "We'll find her yet. It's just taking longer."

"I'm beginning to wonder if we ever will," Glen said sadly.

Dinah had them stay for a quick bite before Rock took them back to the airport. When they arrived at Michael's house, she could see it had not gone well. Mark explained the incident. Michael let out a sigh. "I'm glad none of you were hurt."

Felina had become bored with just walking and had begun reading the books in the library. She stood thumbing the covers for one to read, finding none that interested her. As she pulled the last book out, the wall opened slightly. This surprised her as she had never sent his before. Cautiously she peered inside.

At the hotel, Shano was on the phone. "That's right. We had found him and followed him to the zoo. We suspect he was going to meet someone. If he was, he never got the chance to tell anything. Plato said it was a clean shot to the back of the head."

"Good. Now we need to get one more thing done."

CHAPTER 20

Felina's eyes became wide as she entered the secret room, which was about the size of a small bedroom, with a desk that held a computer, monitor, and printer. Also on the desk were files and labeled disks. "He never mentioned this!" Felina thought. She was about to go when her curiosity got the better of her. She opened one of the files. It contained ledgers of numbers and what looked like code beside each one.

She looked at the pile of disks and turned on the computer. She took the top diskette and inserted it. Opening it, she clicked on one of the folders. Soon a ledger page appeared. Felina went down the page, wondering what the coded entries meant. "There has to be something here," she thought. She opened the drawers and rummaged through the papers tills he came upon a small black book. Opening the book, it revealed different codes and their meanings. Going back to the beginning she went down the page again. Her mouth gasped the more she read. "He's a mobster!" she cried, almost choking on the words.

When she finished, she put in another disk, seeing it contained the same thing with different numbers. "My God! He's into gun running, drugs, money laundering!"

She looked through the disks and froze. The label said Shano Mac. Her father knew that piece of shit? Inserting the disk, she opened the folder. What she read sent chills through her. It contained, to the last detail, precisely how and at what dates 12 women were to be kidnapped and who they were to be sold to. What was even more chilling was how she was to be aboard and would be one of the twelve taken. Felina nearly passed out. Her own father deliberately had her kidnapped! She thought to the words Shano had said to her. "I know more about you than you think,"

As she sat there, she spied a disk with no label. She replaced the disk with the nonlabeled diskette. The file contained a detailed expense report of money being paid to a place called Briarwood. "That's a sanitarium!" She read further and stopped. What she was looking at was the name of a woman called Rebecca Morrisson. Taking out the diskette, she found a briefcase and put everything in it. She needed to tell someone. "Michael." Exiting the secret room, she pushed the book back into place, the wall closing.

Briarwood wasn't but an hour's drive from there. She quickly changed clothes and called a cab to pick her up. An hour and a half later she was driving a rented car. It seemed to take forever but she was in front of the sanitarium. Once inside, she asked the receptionist if she could see a Rebecca Morrisson. When she was refused, Felina began doing one of her tantrums. Finally she was led to a cell in the maximum security area. The nurse opened the window to a small cell. Felina could see a room heavily padded, no furniture except for a sleeping bag on the floor. She heard a voice from the corner singing. Felina peered closer as the room was very dim. She could see a woman sitting in the corner, wrapped in a straight jacket, rocking and singing.

Felina told the nurse to let her in. At first the nurse was hesitant, but quickly opened the door when Felina moved towards her. She entered and went over to the woman. Shock could not describe Felina's statement when she saw the woman was her mother, her hair dirty and disheveled. She touched her mother on the shoulder. At first her mother didn't respond. When Felina tapped her again, the woman turned and stared at Felina with glassy eyes. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice hazy and slurred.

"Mother! It's me, Felina, your daughter! Don't you recognize me?"

Her mother stared. "I don't know you." Then she gave Felina a cracked smile and went back to rocking and singing. The nurse said she had to leave. Felina looked back then left. As she drove away a tear went down her cheek. Why had her father put her mother there? Felina knew she had to see Michael right away.

CHAPTER 21

Michael and Mark did their best to cheer Glen up, but he was more frustrated than ever. Michael whispered to Mark she was going upstairs to clean up. Perhaps if they went out it would help him to relax. She had just gotten in the room when the cell phone rang. As soon as she heard the voice she knew who it was.

"Felina! My God! Where in the hell have you been these past two months? Do you realize everyone has been looking for you? Glen has been going out of his mind. He has been wanting to talk to you!"

"He's been looking for me?" Felina exclaimed.

"Yes, he has!" Michael wanted to tell her he was there, but didn't want to chance that Felina would hide again.

"Michael, I have to see you! I can't tell you why on the phone, but it's really urgent."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at Kennedy Airport."

"Catch the first flight to Dallas. I'll get a room downtown at the Hilton. I'll wait for you there."

Felina booked the first flight out, which wasn't due to leave for an hour. She went to the lounge to have a drink to relax. Unknown to her, her father was walking through the terminal to meet Shano to discuss how they were going to search for Felina. He stopped when he saw a dark-haired woman enter the lounge. When she turned, he couldn't believe here was his quarry, carrying a briefcase he recognized. He thought about abducting her but decided to see where she was going.

"You stick to her! Don't let her out of your sight! I want you to call me the minute something happens!"

"Yes, Mr. Vander."

Mr. Vander and his other bodyguard left to wait for Shano on the far side of the airport. The man sat in the waiting area, watching.

Felina looked at her watch. There was still at least half an hour before boarding. She decided to go wait at the gate. Leaving the lounge, she walked past her father's henchman, who got up and followed her at a distance. When she got to the gate, she sat and waited. The man saw the flight schedule to Dallas. He quickly got his ticket and sat 2 rows behind her.

Felina rested as much as she could the whole flight. She thought to Michael's words, that Glen had been frantically searching for her. "He does care about me," she thought.

Upon arrival, Felina hurried through the terminal and out the front. Hailing a cab, she gave him the address and sped off. The man had gotten caught in the crowd and tried to run to catch up with her. As he exited the door, he didn't see her. He knew he had to find her fast or he was history.

CHAPTER 22

When Michael had hung up she quickly washed and dressed. Grabbing her laptop and some disks she went downstairs, trying to keep as calm as possible. óGuys, I just got a call from the office. It seems some unexpected paperwork needs to get done.ô

óNeed some help?ô Mark asked.

óNo, thatòs okay. It shouldnòt take but a couple of hours. Make yourselves comfortable.ô

Michael went out the door and drove off. After getting the room she waited.

Felina fumbled nervously with the briefcase. óPlease, canòt you hurry?ô

The cab driver looked in the rearview mirror. óWhatòs the rush? You meetinò a boyfriend or somethinò?ô

Felina just nodded, looking out the window as the scenery sped by. Twenty minutes later he dropped her off in front of the hotel. She threw him a couple of twenties and ran inside.

Michael paced back and forth. She stopped when she heard a desperate pounding of the door. She went over and jerked the door open.. Felina rushed inside. Michael grabbed her and hugged her. óFelina, where have you been?ô

óPlease, I canòt tell you!ô

Michael saw the briefcase. óWhatòs in the case?ô

óFiles and computer disks,ô she replied nervously.

óIt so happens I brought my laptop with me.ô

Michael set up the computer. Felina opened the case and took out the first disk and the black code book. Michael opened the file, Felina reading what each entry was. Michaelòs brows shot up in surprise. óI canòt believe what Iòm seeing. How did you find this?ô

óLetòs say a wall opened up. Thereòs more; a lot more,ô Felina replied. óHereòs another one thatòs even more interesting.ô

Michael switched disks. óHoly shit! Just what isnòt your father into!ô

Felina pulled out another disk. When Michael saw the name on the disk, her eyes flew wide open and her jaw dropped. óWhat? He knows Shano Mac?ô

óPut the disk in and read.ô

Michael inserted the disk and opened the file. What she read left her dumbfounded. It was sometime before she could speak. óThis iså.I canòt find the words!ô

Felina went to the window. óI couldnòt believe it myself. My own father, the person responsible for our kidnapping.ô She lowered her head. óWhat hurts, Michael, is he deliberately had me on that boat for that purpose. He wanted me gone.ô Tears flowed down her cheeks.

Michael went over and put her hands on Felinaòs shoulders. óWhat about your mother?ô

óThereòs a disk there that details a list of expenses for a Rebecca Morrisson at a place called Briarwood. I went there and demanded to see this woman.ô Felina turned around. óShe turned out to be my mother. She was in a padded cell, trussed in a straight jacket, looking like a zombie. She was rocking and singing. Michael, she looked at me as if I was a perfect stranger.ô

óFelina, we have to get these disks to the authorities, but first we need to copy them just in case something happens.ô

It took thirty minutes to copy the disks. Michael then said they were going to the bank to put the originals in her safety deposit box. óWhen thatòs done, weòll go back to my house.ô They left the hotel on their way to the bank.

CHAPTER 23

Vanderòs bodyguard hailed another cab. óWhere to?ô

óIòm a federal agent (showing phony ID). A woman just got into one of your cabs. I need to know where it went.ô

óThe only one who can tell you is the dispatcher. Iòm just about to punch out.ô

óTake me there.ô

Thirty minutes later the cab pulled in. Showing his phony ID to the manager, Vanderòs bodyguard described Felina, saying she was wanted for questioning. The manager took him to the dispatcher. óWhich ones were at the airport?ô

The dispatcher looked the calls over. óThere were at least six cabs working there.ô

óThis particular passenger got in one about a half hour ago.ô

The dispatcher looked the list over. óCab 2010 called in about half hour ago saying he was going to the Hilton.ô

óWhich one?ô

óDowntown. He should be coming in any time to checkout.ô

The cab pulled in at that moment. The manager called him over and told him a federal agent was looking for a woman passenger he had taken to the Downtown Hilton.

óYeah, I remember. Real looker. She seemed rather nervous the entire trip. I teased her asking was she meetinò her boyfriend there. When I dropped her off, she threw a couple of twenties at me and ran inside.ô

The manager said he would have one of the cabs take him to the hotel. When they got there the clerk informed him that two women had left not long ago, one of them fitting the description. He didnòt hear though where they were going. As the bodyguard came out, the doorman came over, having talked to the cabdriver. óI donòt know where they went, but I can tell you what car they got in. It was a 2000 silver Impala. They went down to the corner and made a right.ô

The bodyguard slipped him a fifty and got back in the cab. He had the driver go down the street slow, looking at every car closely. óStop!ô There was the car, parked in front of the bank. He gave the cabdriver another fifty and got out. He went over to a lamppost and waited.

Michael had just locked up the safety deposit box and put it away. óIf anything should happen, at least weòll have evidence to back it up. Now letòs get to my house. You look like you could use some rest.ô

óThank you, Michael. I am exhausted.ô

Michael was also glad that Felina was coming in that she and Glen would finally get things straightened out and he would also protect her. As they came out, the bodyguard spotted them and slipped up behind, putting a gun in Michaelòs back. óDonòt scream. Just give me the keys and get in. Iòll do the driving,ô he whispered.

The girls got in, Felina in front. They headed toward the freeway, the gun on Felina at all times. óWhere are you taking us?ô Felina demanded.

óLetòs say you and I are going to take a trip. Someone wants to see you real bad,ô he replied, keeping the gun on her.

óWhat about her?ô

óHe doesnòt want your friend, only you. Sheòll be of no use once we get to the airport.ô

Felina knew what was going to happen as well as Michael. She suddenly made a grab for the gun, causing the car to veer over the road. Michael came up behind and wrapped her arms around his neck in an attempt to choke him. The man pushed Felina against the car door, then tore Michaelòs arms from around his neck, grabbing the steering wheel to get control of the car, the gun still in his hand. The car still veering from left to right.

óMichael! Jump!ô Felina yelled.

óNo!ô

óPlease!ô Felina grabbed the steering wheel. óJump!ô

Michael took a deep breath. Opening the door, she jumped out, hitting the road hard, rolling into the median. Michael lifted her head. She saw the car veering down the road, then passed out.

CHAPTER 24

Mark looked at his watch. It was going on six oòclock. óSheòs been there for four hours. Iòm calling.ô Mark dialed. óLet me speak to Michael.ô

óI havenòt seen her,ô was the reply.

óHavenòt seen her? She said she was going there to do some work. She took her laptop with her.ô

Sheòs not been here at all. Sorry.ô

Mark hung up. óShe never showed up.ô The phone rang. Glen saw Markòs face pale. óWeòre on our way!ô

óWhat happened?ô

óThat was Michael! Sheòs at St. Francis Hospital!ô

Twenty minutes later Mark and Glen entered the lobby. óWhereòs Ms. Michael McFee?ô

óSheòs in room 305.ô

Mark and Glen took the elevator to the third floor and straight to her room. She motioned for them to come in. She was wearing bandages on her right cheek, her arm in a cast. Several bruises were on her.

óWhat happened?ô

óGlen, Felina was here.ô

óWhat!ô

óThe phone call I got earlier was from her. She needed to talk to me. I told her to come here and I would meet her at the Downtown Hilton. When she got there, she showed me some files and computer disks. Glen, her father is a mobster. The disks and files contained all the operations her father is into. One of the disks detailed the kidnapping, her father the brains behind it. We made copies and took them to the bank for safe keeping. We were coming back to the house. I hadnòt told her you were here, Glen, as I didnòt want to scare her.

When we got outside, a man came up to us and put a gun in my back, saying tog et in the car. He drove, with Felina in front. We were heading to the airport. When she asked about me, the man said I would be of no more use. Thatòs when she grabbed his gun arm. We veered all over the road. I wrapped my arms around his neck to choke him. He threw Felina against the car door, then tore my arms from around his neck. She grabbed the steering wheel and told me to jump. I opened the car door and jumped out. I saw the car go down the road, thatòs when I passed out.ô

CHAPTER 25

The Impala pulled into the far end of the airport. Felina got out of the car to run, but the man was quicker and easily caught her in a couple of steps. óOw! Youòre hurting me!ô she yelled.

óIòll do more than that if you donòt shut the fuck up!ô

They went in the small terminal. He showed the clerk his phony ID badge and asked for a jet, saying it was to transport a fugitive. The clerk checked with the manager, who gave the go ahead.

Glen walked out of the room and pounded the wall. óDamn! Damn! Damn!ô

He turned as Mark came out of the room. óShe should have called the minute Felina arrived!ô

óGlen, Michael thought she was doing the right thing. Right now we have to figure out where they went. Itòs time to get the group together.ô They went back inside.

óIòm sorry, Glen. I know I should have called. Felina wouldnòt be in the danger sheòs in now,ô Michael said weakly.

The call went out to have the guys meet in Dallas. They arrived the next day, the girls with them. Michael was happy to see the girls again. They asked when was she going home. óProbably not for a few days yet. I hope thereòs plenty of room at the house?ô

óDonòt worry, weòll manage,ô Victoria said. óItòll be just like having a sleepover.ô

óHow are all of you doing? With the guys that is?ô

óThey girls each told her of how they were getting along. Michael was happy for them.

óDoes any one have any knowledge of where Felina was taken?ô

óNo,ô Michael shook her head. óWhy isnòt Suzanne here?ô

óMark had Farooq stay in New York to look around up there on a hunch. Right now theyòre meeting at the house planning on what to do next.ô

óIòve got her, Mr. Vander,ô the man said. óAnd the briefcase, too.ô

óGood. Get the pilot to fly to a private airstrip outside of Buffalo.ô

The man went up front and told the pilot there had been a change in flight plans. The pilot went to say something but found a fun in his face. óYes, sir,ô was all he could say.

The flight took three hours. Once the plane landed, she was taken to a waiting car. Before they left the plane, the man shot the pilot. They arrived at a dock fifteen minutes later and went aboard a small outboard that went up a river to dock at an island in the middle of a small lake. Mr. Vander was waiting when they arrived. As soon as Felina saw him, she began calling him every name she could think of. He looked down at her and smiled. óNow is that any way for a daughter to act when her father is welcoming her home. I see you are just as much of a bitch now as you were before. I guess your capture didnòt change you any.ô

Felina slapped him. óWhat kind of father are you? You purposely had me kidnapped along with several other women. To sell me like I was nothing more than a piece of property! Why?ô

óAll in good time. But first, you need to be cleaned up. A true Vander is never dirty or foul-smelling.ô He turned to his men. óTake her to the house and see to it she cleans up.ô

One of the men grabbed her arm. Felina spat in her fatheròs face. He took a small handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped his face. With a smile he turned as if to go, then turned and backhanded her. Blood came from her nose. óDonòt ever do that again!ô

Part 3

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