Hide & Seek (16 page)

Halle sank to the floor sobbing deeply the pain she felt searing her soul like molten lava flowing from an erupting volcano.

*****

Mardi Gras was again doing banner business, but Ian wasn’t even there. Physically he was in place but his mind was centuries away.
Where is my baby,
he thought again of Kaitlyn. It’d been a month and still no word from the snatchers about the delivery of the ransom.
What if they killed her,
Ian thought the pain of the reality making him physically ill. He continued to think about her, wondering if she were all right, if they’d beaten her, had her strung out on something. The not knowing was driving him crazy. He knew Ryan was on edge too. They’d heard nothing from Jaleesa at all. Not one word. No demands, no ransom, nothing.
What kinda fucked up game are these assholes playing,
Ian thought sighing deeply as he rose and headed out into the club. He made it his business to be visible every night. It seemed to make his customers happy and just in case any of the crew that had taken Kaitlyn were there, Ian wanted them to know he was still standing strong.

No sooner than he’d made it into the crowded club, greeted a few patrons, all hell broke loose. The music stopped and the houselights came up. Ian immediately on guard, reached for the .10mm in his pocket.

“
Everybody chill the fuck out,” the voice came across the dj’s microphone as LaRon addressed the crowd.

Ian’s eyes darted quickly around the club. He saw Dixon standing at the front door as the masked gunman held the AK-47 assault rifle to his head. He saw the various other securities he kept in-house also being held at gunpoint. He was effectively out gunned and if they had a mind too they could kill everyone in the club.

“
Loose all your valuables,” LaRon barked again. “Watches, rings, jewelry, cash.”

“
Put your cell phones in the trash can in the middle of the floor,” he added as DeNoah fired a warning shot into the air and everyone screamed cowering for the floor.

“
Move muthafucka’s, we ain’t got all night,” LaRon barked again.

Tariq stood at the door holding Dixon at gunpoint, his eyes on Ian.

The stunned crowd began to cooperate with the gunmen, putting their valuables in the bags held by two of the men, while also dropping their cell phones in the huge trashcan as directed.

“
Now,” LaRon barked as they finished. “Everyone strip!”

There were slight murmurs throughout the crowd as DeNoah fired another shot.

“
Now,” LaRon told them evenly.

The patrons began complying once again as clothing began hitting the floor. Tariq noticed that Ian still hadn’t moved.

“
You too Ice,” LaRon told him plainly.

“
Fuck you,” Ian said calmly.

“
Big ass talk from such a little man,” he threw back insulting his height.

Ian didn’t flinch. “Get the fuck outta my club.”

LaRon smiled underneath the mask knowing Ian was furious.

“
Maybe I should just shoot you,” Mook told him standing to his immediate left, as Ian again stood staring defiantly.

“
Get the fuck outta my club,” he repeated once more.

Tariq turned the AK-47 in Ian’s direction firing several shots into the wall behind him. The patrons screamed again and scattered. Ian didn’t flinch. Tariq smiled slightly unseen under the mask.

“
Thanks for a great evening folks,” LaRon told them as they prepared to leave.

“
Never know, we might see ya’ll again real soon,” he added the underlying threat evident as he came down from the booth and they began making their way out of the club.

Ian eased the .10mm from his pocket and calmly waited until the last man turned to leave. He raised the gun and shot him four times in rapid succession in the back. The crowd again began screaming and scattering making it impossible for the corroborators to return fire. Managing to make it to the car they’d stolen, the four men screeched out of the parking lot.

“
Fuck,” LaRon cursed of the development.

Spider was the man they’d had to leave at the club after Ian shot him. They were all sure he was dead. Taking four bullets to the back, it would have been a miracle if he wasn’t.

“
Damned Ice,” Tariq growled as they all finally took off their masks.

They didn’t need the police noticing the ski masks. The stolen car was bad enough.

“
I shoulda killed his ass,” Tariq mumbled again and LaRon knew he was angry.

He never wanted anyone to get killed pulling this stunt off except Ice and Ryan.

“
Top, listen, everybody knew the risk,” LaRon tried as DeNoah remained silent.

“
This shit ain’t your fault,” Mook added for good measure seeing the man was internalizing the loss.

Tariq respired slightly but said nothing else as they ditched the car, set it ablaze and walked back to their own vehicle.

*****

Ian was calmly answering the police questions. He had a permit for the gun so that wasn’t an issue. He also had a club full of witnesses who backed up his claim of self-defense. Ian’s mind was racing full speed after the officer left him alone.
These some brazen muthafucka’s,
he thought angrily pouring himself a drink. These stunts were costing him way more than money. Word was beginning to get out that Ian’s clubs weren’t safe. Some people had stopped going and it was cutting into his revenue, and ruining his reputation.

He had enough on his mind worrying about Kaitlyn everyday, now this nonsense, Ian thought sighing deeply and heading into his office. He called Ryan and told him of the developments. His brother immediately told him he was on his way, but Ian once again reminded him of the turmoil where he was. Assuring Ryan he had this covered, Ian disconnected and made a decision. Picking up his cell he made a call and gave the order.
Now we wait,
he thought finishing the drink and making himself another.

13

It’d already been a rough night last night, a new morning only found Tariq dealing with new drama. Kaitlyn was refusing to eat. She hadn’t eaten in the last four days and was growing weaker. He couldn’t let it continue, even though he didn’t want to hurt her, Tariq knew he had to force her to eat. Walking into the room she looked up at his masked face defiantly.

“
I won’t eat,” Kaitlyn told him determinedly.

He sighed gently as he sat on the bed beside her. Tariq said nothing, knowing his voice would give away his identity. Instead he held up two items wordlessly as she watched him and realization dawned in her eyes. Kaitlyn was terrified. She tried once more to remove herself from the restraints they kept her in now. Tariq held up the funnel, continuing to stare at her.

“
No,” Kaitlyn yelled as he grunted slightly and put it down.

He held up the IV bag and line attached as the tear escaped her eye.

“
No,” she replied once more sounding defeated.

Nodding his understanding of her surrender, Tariq left the room and returned with her food. Tariq fed Kaitlyn and she obediently ate what he’d prepared, including desert.

“
Are you going to keep me tied up like this?” Kaitlyn asked after she’d finished.

She was chafing from the restraints around her arms. He only took them off for her to shower and use the bathroom. Tariq said nothing, grabbing a pen from the desk and writing a quick note. He held it up for her to read. ‘Are you going to stop eating again?’ it read. Kaitlyn sighed deeply before answering.

“
No,” she replied honestly as Tariq nodded.

He removed the restraints on her hands, leaving her to undo her feet as he left the room.

Returning to his own room, Tariq observed her through the mirror. Kaitlyn looked frail and worn.
I can’t keep putting her through this much longer,
he thought of the woman. Tariq knew he had to hurriedly finish his business with Ice and Ryan before Kaitlyn went off the deep end and there was no way to bring her back. He watched her rise from the bed and slowly make her way into the bathroom to shower. She emerged twenty minutes later and sat in the oversized desk chair, turning on the TV set once more. Tariq went to make himself a drink, returning in less than fifteen minutes. He saw the TV still on and Kaitlyn still sitting in the chair. The slight movement caught his eye as he noticed the source. Dropping his glass on the floor, hearing it shatter, Tariq raced down the hall to her room, unmasked, rushing inside. Kaitlyn was unconscious as both her wrists bled profusely from the slits she’d cut into them.

*****

“
You wanna talk about it,” Kim asked softly.

Mook was still brooding. He’d come back in a mood last and night and she’d been smart enough to leave him alone.
Woman has to know when to let her man just be,
she thought as Mook sighed lightly.

“
Nobody was supposed to go down last night,” he replied calmly.

Kim hugged him tightly, kissing his neck softly.

“
Baby, you already know this shit is unpredictable,” she told him gently as Mook replied he did know.

“
Top was pretty upset about losing one,” Mook told her as Kim replied that was just how he was.

“
Top is good people,” she told him. “He just wants his people to live well and enjoy what they got,” she added as Mook murmured his understanding. “I’m glad you’re all right though,” Kim told him tenderly as he looked into her eyes and smiled.

“
I got too much to come home too for me to be getting hurt and shit,” he told her kissing her lips softly. Kim smiled and kissed him back.

“
Your boy DeNoah got himself a girlfriend,” Mook told her laughingly as Kim chuckled as well.

“
Dang, bout time,” she replied. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s not the brightest,” she added once again as Mook agreed with her.

“
OK, so now what,” Kim asked going back to business.

Mook told her now they were sure Ice was on the warpath they had to hit a couple more of his clubs, then they would again start on his personal life.

“
You still baby watching,” Mook asked as Kim sighed deeply and told him yes.

“
Matter of fact I need to be leaving now to relieve the night crew,” she told him grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

“
Call me later baby,” Mook threw out after her as Kim assured him she would. Watching her close the door, he picked up his cell and called LaRon.

“
Wassup man,” he greeted LaRon after the call connected.

“
Everything’s still cool,” he replied.

LaRon told him as far as he knew there was nothing connecting any of them to the incident last night.

“
They won’t release Spider’s identity till they notify his next of kin according to the news,” Mook told him as LaRon soughed his understanding.

“
DeNoah straight,” Mook asked.

He and LaRon had a long conversation concerning the young man and his newness to the game.

“
Yeah, he back at old girl’s house,” LaRon told him.

“
What you think about her,” Mook ventured.

LaRon told him he couldn’t really call it since he hadn’t met her.

“
I think I need to remedy that though,” he added.

He told Mook there was something in his gut that told him the chick wasn’t being straight forward.

“
Then set it up man,” Mook replied letting him know he was down.

“
A’ight, I’ma do that when we hang up,” LaRon told him as Mook let him know that was straight and disconnected.

*****

Tariq was almost beside himself by the time Keifer arrived. He’d immediately called the paramedic knowing he couldn’t take Kaitlyn to a hospital. Far too many questions and his entire plan would have been blown, not to mention his imminent arrest.

“
What did she take,” Keifer asked as he checked Kaitlyn’s vitals.

He’d already bandaged her wrists telling Tariq the cuts were mostly superficial.

“
A bunch of these sleep tablets,” Tariq told him holding the bottle so Keifer could see it.

“
Hmph, okay,” he returned asking Tariq to help him get Kaitlyn turned around as they laid her on the floor.

“
This is gonna be nasty,” he warned as Tariq shrugged and told him to go ahead.

Keifer forced the tube down Kaitlyn’s throat and began pumping her stomach. The vile digested contents spewed from the tube, some of it missing the bag they had in place and flooding the floor. The process went on for the next few moments until he was satisfied her stomach was empty.

Tariq busied himself cleaning Kaitlyn up as Keifer gathered all the other paraphernalia from the room, disposing of the stomach contents, gauze and the like.

“
She should be fine,” Keifer told him as Tariq finally put Kaitlyn back in bed and covered her.

“
Probably have one helluva headache though,” he added chuckling lightly.