Chapter 7
The next morning, Annie hugged Diego at the door. She’d showered and changed into clothes she’d brought with her so she could get ready for school.
“Take the day off,” he whispered, holding her close to his chest. “Stay all day.”
“Are you kidding? I’m so sore I could never…”
“Just keep me company.”
“No.” At his frown, she added, “I’ll come back after school. I promise.”
“All right.”
Practically skipping to the car, she was in a haze of love and pleasure that still made her body tingle. She slid into the front seat, backed up using the screen on the steering column and began to drive. She was humming a tune and got halfway to school when she felt something steely at her neck.
“Pull over, Chica.”
Annie’s heart began to gallop when she looked in the rearview mirror. A girl with tight curls close to her head, slitted brown eyes and coffee colored skin stared at her. “Now!”
Her body jerked but Annie managed to swerve the car to the side into a shady recess.
“Thatta girl.” The voice was stone-cold. “Turn off the engine.”
Annie obeyed.
“Now, get out of the car. If you run, I’ll shoot you in the back.” She heard the gun cock.
Trembling, Annie opened the door and climbed out. So did the girl. Annie could see now she was younger than Annie herself. “Hands behind your back.” She slapped metal handcuffs on Annie. “Now turn around.”
Annie pivoted. The tree cover blocked out their view from the road. “Hello, Denzi.”
“You know my name?”
“The police figured out you were the last one left. But after two weeks, and nothing happened they decided you’d left town.”
“Other gangs spread the word.”
“I see.” Annie raised her chin. She sensed cowering was the wrong thing to do. “What are you going to do to me?”
Her laugh was ugly. Mean. “Anything I want.”
“Why me?”
“Your man killed my man. His name was Marco. He was the leader of the Cobras.”
“Ah. An eye for an eye.”
“The lady’s smart.” Denzi went behind her and yanked her by the hair. “Ouch!”
“Just you wait.”
She opened the door and pushed Annie inside. Her knee bumped the door and it hurt like hell.
Just you wait .
Annie forced back the bile in her throat. She had to keep her wits. She had to outsmart Denzi. The Devil.
* * *
Will drove on to the expressway, having left plenty of time to make his flight from Syracuse Hancock Airport to D.C. When the first exit sign came into view, he got a chill. And his stomach lurched. This reaction had happened before. A hunch once that a tire in a car he was driving with a protectee was going to blow. And once he had a premonition that the president was in danger at a speech he was going to give. Luckily the president knew Will from his stints in the White House and trusted him. He’d increased his protection detail. The extra agents found a man with a gun in the audience.
So, now, Will was sure something was wrong. In D.C. or Westwood?
His gut told him Westwood, so he took the exit to turn around and put up his law enforcement bubble. He raced back to town and over to Diego’s house. Police cars were parked at all angles in the yard, and he caught a glimpse of Katie Donovan’s sedan. Hurling out of his seat, he jogged to the front door. It was open to the screen.
Inside, Diego sat at the dining room table with the chief of police, Katie and three others Will didn’t know. His friend caught sight of him. “I thought you went to—oh, God, Will, Annie’s been abducted. Her friend Maisy called and notified me she never made it to work.”
Katie’s face was flushed. “I was wrong. Someone must have been alive from the Cobras. Denzi must still be in town.”
“Yes, you were,” Chief Thomas said curtly. “Let’s not waste time on guilt. We’ll deal with all that later.” He turned to Will. “Maybe you want to suggest a course of action. We’ve never had something like this happen in Westwood.”
“Do you have a map of where the gangs operate in town? The territory of each one.”
“I got a map. I can show you where.”
He worked at the computer as he spoke. “Here it is. You got a printer, Diego?”
“Send it to me.” Diego printed off the four maps.
Will stood over the chief’s shoulder. He circled areas in red. “We’ve pinpointed these two regions of the city. Which is a lot for a town this size. But we’re close to Syracuse. Migration happened slowly.”
“We’ll split up into teams,” Will said after he scanned the documents.
Thomas stood. “I’ll call in the off-duty officers to report and help search.”
The doorbell rang and in walked Joe Romano. “Hey, buddy. I heard what happened. My phone’s ringing non-stop. Firefighters want to help search for her.”
“Chief?” Will asked.
“Yeah. One firefighter and one cop. Stick together.”
Joe said, “Since the shooting of cops in Rochester, some of us have guns.”
“Bring them along.”
Soon, the cops filed out. Will was last. He stayed back to reassure Diego, whose face had gone white. He squeezed his friend’s arm. “We’ll find her buddy. Call your family to keep you company.”
But after Will left, Diego was immobilized. He just sat staring into space. He didn’t know how long after that the doorbell rang, startling him out of his daze.
Maisy and Caleb Shepherd entered the house.
Caleb crossed to him. “We came to keep vigil with you.”
“I don’t pray, Caleb.”
“Neither do I, anymore.” He turned to his sister. “Let’s sit honey. I know you’re frantic, too.”
Maisy just nodded.
They kept vigil.
* * *
The basement was dank and smelled of mildew. And dark. Annie could just make out the outlines of cots, a small television and chairs. As her eyes adjusted, she saw two couches. This was a gang crib. The kids had told her the lingo but of course, she’d never seen one.
She was lying on a cot, her arms and legs tied to either side of it. Denzi left for a few minutes. At least the woman had taken off the handcuffs. When she returned, she seemed a little out of it. Drugs. Oh, Lord, she was doing drugs.
“Now we start, sista .”
“Start what?”
She leaned over and pulled a switch blade out of her boot. “I was with Marco when he died. It wasn’t fast. Neither will your death.”
Annie’s eyes widened at the blade. Denzi sat on her right side. Oh, dear God, she put the tip of the knife at her shoulder and drew a line with the blade. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
“Hurt, Chica? Just you wait.”
Denzi wiped Annie’s blood on her own face but since the cut was shallow it stopped bleeding. “Until next time.” She got up and walked to the other side of the room. Sprawled out and took out a joint. Lit it.
Annie’s heart pounded so hard in her chest she thought it might jump right out. She’d never been physically hurt by another person intentionally. Her tussles with her sisters and brothers were mild and no one got hurt.
But now…she was going to be tortured. Was she strong enough to tolerate it? What was the alternative? Maybe somebody would find her, but she couldn’t depend on that. How could she get out of here on her own?
She studied the room. It was underground, but she saw a big whitish door. Was Denzi going to let Annie go to the bathroom? Maybe then she could escape. But she’d begin to feel weak if Denzi kept cutting her. Would Diego and the cops be able to find her? There was probably a better chance of that than escaping. Still, Annie had to try. She closed her eyes prayed to God that she’d get out of here before Denzi killed her.
She tried something else. “How old are you, Denzi?”
The girl didn’t look at her. But finally, she said, “What does it matter?”
“You look young.”
“I’m eighteen.”
“Eighteen? How long have you been in the gang?”
“I hung around them until I turned twelve. Then they let me in.”
“Dear God, twelve? You were a child.”
Denzi snorted as she took a hit from a joint. “By then, good ole dad was raping me and I ran away. I lived on the streets. Marco saved me.”
“You had no childhood.”
“Not like you, slut. I’ll bet you had a nice house, family, friends.”
“I did. I was lucky.”
Denzi sat back and hooked her ankle over her leg. “Not anymore, girl. Not anymore.”
* * *
Night fell and Diego swore when the chief, Katie and Will walked back into the house without Annie. Thomas said, “Nothing. There’s no sign of them in any of the spots we targeted.”
“What are we gonna do?” Diego asked.
A knock on the door which was open to the screen. Maisy had left for a bit and now walked in with a man Diego didn’t know. Maisy said, “After the police struck out, I called someone in to help. Diego, this is Jackson Kane. He started Pathways and other small schools around the state for troubled kids.”
“Okay.”
“Some of them are for kids wanting out of gangs.”
Impatient, Diego said, “What the hell does all this have to do with Annie’s abduction?”
Jackson approached him. “I have intimate knowledge of gangs in Westwood. And I know people. Gang informants. I’m waiting for them to report in.”
“What can they do that the police can’t?”
The chief snorted. “I hope something.”
Will stepped forward and held out his hand. “Special Agent Will Kirkland.”
“Jackson Kane. What agency?”
“The Secret Service.”
“Someone sent you in?”
“No, I grew up with Diego and Annie. I’m from Westwood. I was home on furlough. I was about to leave, and I had a hunch something was wrong back here.”
“Let’s sit,” Maisy said. Her face was drawn and her skin pale.
Diego got up and hugged her before she dropped down in a chair. “You must be frantic.” He knew what good friends she and Annie were.
“I am.”
“Where is her family in all this?” Maisy asked.
“I called them this morning to see if they’d seen her,” Diego said. “I had to explain that she was missing. They came over before you got here. Shit, they even brought food. If you’re hungry.”
Katie stood. “I wouldn’t mind something to eat. Will, help me set it out.”
And so they waited. For two hours.
Then Jackson’s phone rang. “Kane here. Yeah, Lucifer. What do you know? Uh-huh. Okay, send me the location.”
When he disconnected, he said, “The guys asked around. There’s a crib buried underground. Informants don’t breach. They only report.”
The chief bolted to his feet. “Where is it?”
“I’ll text the address to you.” He stood. “Let’s go.”
“You’re a civilian. I can’t allow you to….”
“Chief, stop.” This from Will. “We need all the help we can get.”
“I have a gun. I’m going with you.”
Maisy swallowed hard. “You have a gun?”
“Yeah.” Impulsively Jackson hugged her.
Diego said, “Thank you, Jackson.”
“Let’s find her first.”
Katie and the chief and Will left with him.
When they were alone, Diego sat and stared out the window. Sun. A warm breeze. It was too nice out for what was happening to Annie.
“It’s hard waiting,” Caleb said.
“Torture.”
“Annie’s pretty resilient, Diego. I wouldn’t give up on her.”
“I’m not. I just don’t want her to suffer because of me.”
“Don’t buy trouble. We don’t know what’s happening to her.”
* * *
The scream echoed off the walls, high, shrill and prolonged. Denzi laughed as she cut Annie’s leg. Annie moaned and yelled out again at the four new cuts. So far she had twelve. She fought against the hopelessness and the vagueness which came with each one. Denzi had been smoking and snorting the entire time she was here, and Annie couldn’t believe she hadn’t passed out yet.
Denzi wiped Annie’s blood on her arms. Then she stood. Wavered and…fell to the ground. It was time to act. Annie struggled to clear her head.
The last time she went to the bathroom in the disgusting pot across the room, Denzi hadn’t tied up her legs. Only her arms were fastened. She’d also managed to keep the rope loose on her right hand with a trick the kids had been sharing with each other. Now she was glad she watched. She’d been working it looser every time Denzi turned her back. Annie had to escape.
But then Denzi roused. “I got a treat comin’ for you girl. Some guys from another gang are stoppin’ over to have a turn with you. I told ‘em not to be so rough they’d kill you, but you know guys.”
The notion terrified her. And gave her strength. When Denzi passed out again, Annie worked her hand free, drawing more blood that she couldn’t afford to lose. She sat up gingerly. The world spun and her stomach pitched. She took some deep breaths until she was clear-headed. Slowly, she stood. Okay, this was okay. She dragged herself to the door, snicked the lock, when she heard behind her, “Not so fast, cunt.”
In burst…oh, God, it was a whole group of men. Annie was as good as dead!
But it wasn’t the gang. Jackson Kane entered first and said to the others, “Don’t shoot her.” He raced to Denzi before she could get a round off and disarmed her. “It’s okay, Denzi. It’s me. Jackson Kane.”
“Why…why didn’t you get me out?”
That’s all Annie heard before Will Kirkland led her out. When she wavered again, he picked her up and said, “We got you, Annie. You’re safe now.”
The world went black.
* * *
Diego held Annie’s hand in the hospital while she slept. He could barely tolerate her pale face and the bandages up and down her arms and legs. Fuck, what had that monster done to her? “I’m so sorry, querida . So, so sorry.”
She didn’t answer, of course, but he talked to her anyway. “When Denzi had you, I was so angry because I couldn’t come after you. Te amo , Annie.” He took her hand again. “I’m never gonna let you go.”
“She might have something to say about that.”
Diego stood and turned to face her father in the doorway. Anger twisted the man’s usually pleasant features. “You got her into this, you bastard. If it wasn’t for your task force taking down the Cobras, she never would have been in the hospital.”
“You’re right, Frank.”
He came toward Diego. “First you break her heart and leave her. She went away because of you for three years. We lost her for three years . But as soon as you hooked up with her again, she gets hurt. God damned you, Rodriguez, why can’t you just leave my little girl alone?”
Having no answer to that, he just watched the man.
“Get out of here.”
“No, sir, I won’t. I’m staying with her.”
“Her family will take care of her.”
Diego raised his chin. “No.”
The door opened and Will Kirkland walked in. “What’s going on here?”
“Her father’s trying to kick me out, which I’d do too if our places were reversed. But I’m not leaving Annie.”
“Mr. Stefano? Did you want to visit with her?”
“No, I was here all morning. But I don’t want him near her.”
“He won’t leave. Can I give you a lift somewhere?”
Frank asked, “Who are you?”
“Will Kirkland. Don’t you remember me? I grew up with Diego and Annie. I left town to become a Secret Service Agent.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Somebody else entered the room. Annie’s mother. She ignored the others. “Frank, what are you doing here? You were supposed to wait for me at the front door.”
Frank closed his eyes and deflated. Diego felt sick. This man had been a father to him.
Her mother, Lucy, led him out without a word.
Diego sank into the chair. Annie hadn’t budged. Will pulled up a chair. “I have to go back to D.C.”
“Thanks for staying so long. I hope you don’t pay for being here for so many days.”
“If I do, I do.”
They stood. Will stepped forward and hugged him. “I care about your sorry ass, buddy.”
“Love you, too.” Diego choked out the words.
Again, he was alone with Annie. He dropped back down into the chair.
Suddenly, she turned restless. “No…no…please Denzi stop. No…” The last word came out long…and painful.
Not knowing what to do, he leaned over her and gently grasped her shoulders. “Annie, love. You’re safe. You’re dreaming.”
Her eyes flew open. “What? Where…” Her head plopped back onto the pillow. She was breathing hard.
“Come on, breathe with me. In, out, slowly. In…out…”
She calmed.
He sat back down. Tears flowed down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
She turned sleepy eyes toward him. “Things go wrong when we’re together, Diego.”
“Maybe.”
Her lids closed.
He was bereft.