Fallen Too Far (30 page)

Chapter 27

When Tom’s phone rang, he was sitting in the living room with his friends, enjoying coffee and pastries.

He clicked the answer and speaker phone button, smiling at Craig and Jessica sitting across from him.“Hi Annik. You’re a bit late. By the way you’re on speaker phone.”

“Hi Tom. Hi everyone. I’m just leaving.”

“Okay. You’ll be home in just a few then. Happy New Year.”

“
OH MY GOD!
” There was a crunching noise then silence.

He shot to his feet. “Annik? What’s going on?” Everyone in the room was stock still.

“Maybe she slipped on some ice. Call her back.” Bonnie was sitting next to Anthony on the sofa, a coffee cup on her lap.

Tom clicked a button on the phone. “Hi. It’s Annik. I can’t come to the phone right…” He hit a button turning the voice message off.

“Give it a minute, in case she hasn’t hung up yet. Maybe she’ll call back.” Bonnie again tried to reassure her brother.

“That’s probably it, Tom. I almost fell on the stairs when Jessica and I were leaving. It’s so cold even the salt on them was freezing.” Craig’s face wore a faint smile.

Jessica, sitting next to him looked worried. “I’ll try, Tom.” She pulled her phone from her purse and hit Annik’s name in her friends list. She held the phone to her ear, her brows furrowed.

“Still voice mail.”

“I’ll call The Major. He’s with her.” Diana had her phone in hand and held it to her ear. Her lips were a straight line when she glanced at Tom. “No answer then to voice mail.”

“That’s it.” Danny stood up. “Let’s go. You got a car here Tom?” Tom had dismissed the limo and driver when they had arrived.

“What are you saying Danny?” asked Tom.

“I know that sound we heard over the phone.” He was putting his coat on. “It wasn’t her slipping and falling. We gotta go and check up on her.
Now
.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Tom’s face was paling in fear.

“I know what I’m talking about, Tom. I’ve been in enough fights to know how they sound.”

Tom looked over to Diana. “Who is this guy?” Diana was standing and putting her coat on as well.

“Danny spent years in the military, Tom. Special Operations. If he says lets go, then we got to go.”

“This may seem ridiculous…but I’m coming too. She’s my best friend and I want to make sure she’s okay.” Jessica got up and walked to the front door, following the others.

“Sorry Bonnie and Anthony. I guess the party’s moving back to Pandora’s. Are you joining the cavalry or staying here?” Craig smiled and stood up as well.

“Maybe we should stay here in case she shows up. It may be something as simple as phone transmissions being blocked up with New Years Eve and all. Ask Tom to call us when he gets there.” Anthony answered.

“Tom! Wait up. Jessica and I will ride with you.” He turned, smiled at Bonnie and held his arm out in front of him in his best cavalry imitation. “Charge!”

*****

The throbbing pain woke her up. She couldn’t see or move. Her arms were bound to her side and she was bouncing up and down. She was in a box in a car or something. Oh God…

She couldn’t fight off the panic. She couldn’t scream either. Her mouth was taped shut. She screamed anyway, in spite of the pain in her head, she screamed.

*****

Paul heard Annik battering around in the holding area. He loved this moment when they woke up. Maybe he could put a video camera in there for the next time. He could replay the video after he finished with them, and edit it into the videos he took of each project, in the cellar. That was a good idea.

Her thrashing around was music.

Happy New Year.

Chapter 28

Fifteen minutes later Tom pulled his car into Pandora’s driveway. Only the exterior light at the building’s entrance was lit. The Major’s black four by four stood in the staff parking area. Craig’s and Danny’s vehicles were over in the general parking area.

Were they still inside? But why would the lights be off? Tom got out of the car and walked up the steps and pushed the latch on the door handle. It was locked. What the hell was going on? His fingers shook as he fumbled in his pocket and found his set of keys for the building. Just as he was unlocking it, Danny yelled.

“Tom! Diana! Over here!”

His breath caught in his throat and he turned quickly. He didn’t see Danny but Diana was running to the Major’s truck. He hurried down the steps, following Jessica and Craig who had been standing waiting for him to open the door.

Danny was squatting next to the driver’s door, peering under the truck. Diana was on her knees beside him.

“It’s the Major. He’s under here and it looks like he’s been hurt.” Danny was reaching under the vehicle. The Major was curled in a fetal position on his side.

“Don! It’s Diana. Can you hear me?” Diana was trying to crawl under flattened on her stomach. “He’s alive. I got a pulse.”

Craig and Tom were now on their knees as well, next to Danny.

Where was Annik? Tom’s heart was beating hard in his chest.

“Everyone grab his coat and pull him out.” Diana ordered. “Gently.”

They pulled him out from under the truck. His bloody hand was pressed on his midsection.

They all stared in silent horror.

“Oh shit,” said Danny. He turned and ran to his car.

Diana slapped the Major’s face. “Don! Major!”

His eyes fluttered open. “He took her.” He coughed, blood splattering out. “Paul Lester…applied” He gasped for air. “Membership in December. On computer.”

Danny pulled up in Diana’s Suburban. He jumped out and threw open the back door.

“Shouldn’t we call an ambulance? Is it safe to move him?” Jessica stood behind the three people, her cell phone in her hand.

“No,” said Diana. “We’ll take him in my car.”

“Call the police Jessica,” said Craig.

Another car came up the driveway and pulled up to where the group was. It was Anthony and Bonnie. He had followed the limo to Tom’s home in their car. They got out and hurried over.

Bonnie stood with her hand to her mouth as she watched them huddled around the Major. Anthony stepped in and helped as they lifted him under Diana’s directions.

She went over to the backseat of Diana’s car and got in and thrust the seats down. As the men eased the Major into the back, Bonnie was pulling from the front.

“I’ll ride with you and try to keep him steady,” Bonnie said. They slammed the doors and Diana gunned it, her hazard lights flashing.

Tom ran up the steps and burst through the door of Pandora’s. Danny and Craig were right behind him. He flipped on the lights and raced up the stairs. Oh God help us find her. Please protect her. His heart thundered as he took the stairs two at a time to the third floor. He flipped another light and entered the Major’s office. As he was turning on the computer, Craig and Danny entered the room.

“He said the name was Paul Lester, to check the computer for applicants in December.” This can’t be happening. “What about the police Jessica?” he said as she appeared at the office door.

“I’m on hold! Can you fucking believe this?”There were tears in her eyes.

Tom’s eyes returned to the screen and he typed in Paul Lester, in the search bar. His eyes squinted angrily when the screen opened up, showing Paul’s information. “52 Lakeridge Road, Ajax. Let’s go guys.”

“You gotta let me drive Tom. Don’t worry, I’ll floor it. You’re in no shape to drive man.” Danny was close on Tom’s heels going out the door.

“The quickest way is 404 north and east on 401 to Ajax.” Craig’s feet pounded on the stairs behind them.

“Fifty-two Lakeridge Road Ajax. His name is Paul Lester and he’s kidnapped my friend Annik Dandridge.” Jessica spoke on her cell phone finally able to get through, as she descended the stairs behind them.

Tom tossed the car key to Danny and got in the passenger door. “Hurry!”

“Wait! I’m coming too!” Jessica was crossing the parking lot to the Cadillac.

“You stay here. It’s too dangerous.” Craig was getting in the rear door.

“No!” She slammed her hand on the hood of the car.

Danny had turned around and was just about to drive away. He stopped and she scurried to the car door and scrambled inside.

“Let’s go!” Every second counted. Oh God, please…Tom leaned forward in his seat as Danny wheeled the car out of the driveway.

“Seat belts everyone.” Danny commanded.

Jessica had gone back to speaking with the police on her cell phone. Her voice wasn’t registering on Tom’s radar, just background noise. “Faster Danny!”

Chapter 29

The noise of her kicking and pounding in the box under the seat had subsided.

Good. He wanted her to have enough energy to stay awake for their first session together. She had been light as a feather when he tucked her into the compartment; even an unconscious dead weight, she was simple to handle.

He drove at a steady pace, just below the speed limit. Not too fast to attract attention, and not too slow either. Just right. It really didn’t matter. He had all the time he needed.

He’d complete this project today and bury her tonight. The hole was already dug and most of his things were packed. It was time to move on anyway.

****

Annik regained control of herself after a few minutes. She had to think this through. Paul Lester… the name rang a bell. Yes! He was the guy who applied and they rejected his application in December! The answers he gave on the Personality Inventory were off the charts for a sociopath. Okay, trying to appeal to him would be a waste of time; if anything begging and pleading would only serve to arouse him more. He had to be pretty damn dangerous and confident to not even tie her up before he stuck her in this box. It felt like a coffin.

She didn’t get a good look at him before he knocked her out. Didn’t matter anyway. She had a good idea of what he had in mind. As an undergrad she took a course The Psychology of Crime and there was a section on abduction murders. They were often serial killers, but always killers.

He was planning on killing her.

Well, we’ll see about
that
.

She wished she was as brave as she wanted to sound.

****

When he pulled up to his house Paul was amazed at how energized he was. He shut off the engine and leaned over to open the hatchway and pull her out. He stopped. He’d prolong the pleasure a little more.

He got out and went into the house. He always travelled light, picking up what he needed when he would settle into a new hunting area. Humming to himself, he spent the next twenty minutes loading the back of his pickup with his things. As he placed his luggage and boxes of belongings into the truck bed, he listened for any noise from the compartment. Not a sound now.

Like a cornered kitten.

He smiled.

The only things left were his video camera and the toys he would use to work on her. They’d go in a box after the project was completed.

He slammed closed the tailgate and cap hatch on the pickup truck. He stretched and limbered up.

Time to get to work.

Chapter 30

Good, Danny was going faster. He had flicked the four way flashers on and was turning onto the 404 highway.