Chapter 18 ~ Alexander #3
Just then, Anna goes perfectly still in Carlos’ arms. Carlos's eyebrows raise and he looks at me over Annas' head with an oh fuck expression.
Anna narrows her eyes at me and then she goes bat shit crazy; she pulls some kind of Ninja ass move where she bends her back over Carlos’ shoulders, arms around Carlos’ waist, and flips herself upside down over his back, then she rights herself grips Carlos's waist and comes sliding out, John Travolta style on her knees between his legs.
She’s up and in my face in three seconds. Holy Hell!!
“Don’t you ever, EVER call her crazy. She’s not crazy. And if you keep pushing her, she’ll go home, and if that happens, I’ll never forgive you. She’s been through enough and if she goes there, she won’t come back this time. I’ll not lose her because you want to push your dick around.”
Carlos steps between us and uses Anna’s shoulders to move her back. I straighten up, more confused than ever.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Anna turns away and says, “Nothing.” over her shoulders. She looks around the room.
“Izzy? You can come out now. I’m done arguing with this asshole.”
We all wait, but she doesn’t come out. Anna looks behind the huge rack of paintings and Carlos goes to look out into the hall. I make my way over to the fresco and look behind it.
She’s gone!
Anna pops her head around the rack. “She’s left. Raised voices or arguing scares the shit out of her. She ran. Shit, shit, shit!” She puts her hand on her forehead and rubs it.
“Where would she go?” I yell.
She has no car; Anna said she would go home. She can’t mean Robert’s house. Now I’m panicking.
“You said she would go home. Is there any way she can get to her father’s house from here without a car?”
Anna slumps her shoulders and looks at me like I’m stupid. “It’s not her father’s home, you asshole, and if she hasn’t told you, I’m definitely not going to.” She squares her shoulders and glares at me. “Never mind, we’ll find her.”
She starts walking to the door and Carlos comes rushing in. “She’s not outside in the car and her boss didn’t see her walk by.”
Anna looks at Carlos, “We’ll split up, I’ll take the archives since you two dicks don’t have access, and Carlos, you look in the main part of the museum.”
She points her tiny finger at me. “Asshole, you take the left wing, look for the painting called The Old Guitarist It’s her favourite painting, she goes there mostly when she’s sad.”
She leaves me standing there fighting for words. I want to choke her so badly, and I’m so pissed that she has the audacity to even think she can speak to me that way.
I finally move and get my head back to where it belongs. If I find her staring at that painting, I’m going to take her home, lock her in her room and tan her ass. This is bullshit, running away like a child.
I go through the main lobby, looking at a map of the building, and find which way I need to go.
I run, darting around, looking for any dark-haired woman I can find.
I scan each room as I pass, finally coming to a room that says, Picasso.
I rush into the room, startling a few people admiring the art.
I stop at the painting and look at the bench.
She is not here. I sit down on the bench and rest my elbows on my knees, grabbing a hand full of my hair in frustration. God damn it!
I sit back up and look at the painting. I’ve seen this one before, years and years ago. The image of a skinny little teenager crying in front of it pops into my head. It was some sort of meeting my father had and I was to watch and learn.
Carlos comes in, breaking my train of thought.
“She is not here, boss. I’m telling you, she left on foot.”
“Call Sasha. She should be on her trail if she is walking on the streets.”
I immediately bring out my phone and open the app I installed on her phone. She is only six blocks from here. I jump up and zoom in on the street, trying to get her location and it blips out. She’s gone. Like she was never even there!
“What the fuck?” I shout.
“Shhhhhh…this is a public place.” Some mall cop in a navy suit puts his head around the corner glaring at me.
I give him the finger and grab Carlos’ coat, dragging him back towards the employee's only door.
“She was here. I had her on the screen and then she was just gone. She disappeared off the planet.”
Carlos has Sasha on the phone; I grab it out of his hands.
“Where is she?” I demand.
Sasha’s tone is serious. “She left the museum, grabbed a coffee, and was just walking. I followed her at a distance like you said. I caught up to her after she went down the alley. She went into a grubby bookstore, but when I went in. She was gone.”
Damn it! “Okay, and then?”
Sasha’s voice shakes a bit. “I checked the alley, went around the building twice before I went back in, and asked if anyone had seen her, but she just disappeared.”
I lose my shit now. “What the fuck am I paying you for? For fuck’s sakes! It’s your only fucken job to follow and watch her.”
I slam my fist into the wall. If she’s hurt or someone kidnaps her, I’ll kill them all, but the worst thought makes my chest tight. She’s running away from me.
“Sit on that spot, you stay there till that fucken store closes. Monitor her locator. Call me if you see or hear anything.”
I go to throw the phone but Carlos grabs my hand in mid-air. “Easy there killer, that’s my phone.”
He lets go of my hand and puts his phone in his inside pocket.
“Come on, let's go see if Tink found her.”
“Tink?”
“Yeah Anna, she looked like an angry Tinker Bell, all pouty lips and squinty eyes.” He laughs, “Like she thinks she could actually kick someone’s ass with her weird koala bear climbing ninja moves.” He’s making karate chop moves in the air.
“She managed to get out of your hands now, didn’t she?”
He stops walking and glares at me.
“Yeah… think about that.” I raise my voice to a high, “Mr.Can-you-put-me-on-your-shoulder?” I bat my eyelashes at him.
“Fuck you, Alex.”
We push through the door and Anna is sitting at her desk, with the phone to her ear. She hangs up and tries again.
I walk around and lean on her desk. She looks up with tears in her eyes. “She’s not answering. Why won’t she answer?”
The grip on my chest gets tighter. I can see her not answering my calls, but Anna’s. That leaves me with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach, especially after what I learned about her father today.
I move away from the desk, motioning for Carlos to follow.
“Anna keeps saying, “If she goes home”, I’ll call Danny to pick me up. If she’s heading home, I’ll catch her on the way. I’ll call Sebastian to run a trace, to see if he can pick up her signal. Are you okay staying with Mighty Mouse over there?” I thumb in Anna’s direction.
Carlos breaks out with a smile. “Yeah. I’ll hang for a bit, then take her home. I’ll head over to your place if we don’t come up with anything.”
“You keep me posted and I’ll do the same.” I pat him on the back and head out.
Once in the hallway, I call Danny, then Send Sebastian a text.
Alex: Can you run a trace on this number?
Sebastian: Sure.
I send him the number.
I open the back door and pace. If she's hurt, I’ll fucken lose it on someone. I swear to God I will. We might not be a normal couple or even friends at this point, but she’s still mine to protect. And God help anyone who lays a finger on her soft skin.
Danny pulls up and I hop in. “Home.”
I stare out the window, watching the lights of the city pass in a blur. She better be on her way home from the bookstore. So much for dinner plans, it’s already 7:30. I open my phone and call the restaurant and cancel. Dropping my hand in my lap, I look at Danny in the rear-view mirror.
“Did you notice if Isabella arrived at the house?” My voice is much calmer than I truly am.
“No sir. I thought she was coming home with you.” He looks back at the road.
Fuck!
Once inside the house, I race up to her room and slam open her door, calling her name. She’s not in the bathroom or her art room. I leave and run down the stairs, heading to the kitchen.
I burst in and Rose screams and drops the empty pan in the sink.
“Sorry about that. Have you seen Isabella this evening?”
“No, no sir.”
Humph, “Okay, thank you. Go back to what you were doing.” I point around the room trying to look like I know what I’m doing.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
I head to my office, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I sit at my desk and rip off my tie, tossing it on my desk. It’s Sebastian.
Sebastian: Not sure who you’re looking for, but they won’t be found unless they want you to find them. The signal is dead in the water. My guess is a Pro job with an ID screen blocker and mesh interference bag.
Alex: WTF is a mesh interference bag?
Sebastian: Fuck’en luddite! Just what I said! It’s a steel mesh bag or metal box that blocks any and all signals to a phone you fucken muggle!
Alex: Fuck you, computer nerd. Get some sleep. I can see your red eyes from here and you’re not making any sense.
Sebastian: Terminology. Luddite: computer illiterate person. Aka, YOU! Muggle: Non-magic folk. Harry Potter movies. Duh! Again, aka, YOU!
Alex: Whatever. Thanks, bro, text you tomorrow.
I go over to the bar and pour a three-finger splash of whiskey. If I don’t start hearing from someone soon, I’m going to lose my mind. I unbutton the top few buttons on my shirt. My hands feel clammy and my chest still hurts. It’s past 8:00 now, plus it’s raining.
Fuck, what if she is out on the street in this? She’ll get sick.
I slam my drink on my desk. She sooo getting her ass good and pink before I get on that plane. Better yet, I’ll handcuff her ass to her bed and she can’t get into any trouble while I’m away.
My phone rings and I grab it without looking at the caller.
“Yeah!”
Carlos's deep voice rumbles in my ear. “She called Anna and left a message. Wanted to let her know she is safe, and not coming home and that she won’t be at work tomorrow. She’s in hiding for now and said she’ll call Anna tomorrow. Sorry, boss. But that’s all I know.”
“Fuck! So she's hiding from me is what you’re telling me.”
“Yeah.”
I just take a minute to breathe, she's running from me. Not just hiding in a bathroom, but full-fledged trying to escape.
“Fine! Tell Sasha to keep eyes on the bookstore; you tail Anna in the morning till we fly out. If she’s calling Anna, she will again. I know it. I need you back here tonight. I have some detail to go over before we leave tomorrow afternoon.”
“On my way.” He hangs up, and I suck back the rest of my drink.
I head back over to my desk and bring up the camera feed. Her room comes up on one panel. Fine.
If she's running away from me on this level, two can play at this game and I’ve had years of practice to perfect my game.