22. Declan
Chapter 22
Declan
A s we sit here and wait for word from the officers that have gone looking for the receptionist and the security guard, I keep reviewing the security footage from yesterday at Hibiscus Commons.
There’s another file here and I click on it. “What’s this, Smith?” I ask as he stands there filling out reports.
He looks over at what I’ve clicked on. “That’s the footage from the elevator, but I’ve already watched it. It’s only Riley and Roxanne Dawson, the real estate agent. They don’t talk to anyone else.”
I nod and hit play to see for myself. Maybe I can see someone in the background since the elevator is made of all glass. At this point, I know I’m grasping at straws, but I don’t know what else to do.
The elevator doors open and the real estate agent, Roxanne, and Riley step inside. This video has audio.
‘Wow. I’m impressed. Why is security so tight here’” Riley asks on the video.
‘Not to break confidentiality or anything, but there may be a financial institution or two located in the vicinity.’ Roxanne answers Riley. “Tell me, what will you be using the office space for?’ Roxanne asks as she pushes the button on the wall.
The entire time they’re chitchatting, I’m watching the background for anyone.
“See anything?” Eli asks as he and Jax stand next to me.
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
‘Nothing as exciting as that. I have my own event planning company and I’m expanding from my dining room table. Being a single mother, I’m constantly having to either move toys out of the way of my work or having conversations with my clients with cartoons playing in the background. It’s time to have a dedicated workspace for my business.’ Riley tells Roxanne.
‘Oh, where’s your son, now?’
‘I just dropped him off at daycare.’
We watch the doors open as both Roxanne and Riley step out of the elevator. “Did you see anything?” Eli asks me.
I shake my head. “No. You?”
They shake their heads when Riley stands up from the couch. “Play that back again.”
“Why? What did you hear?” I ask her.
She shakes her head, “I don’t know, just play it again.”
The tone of her voice has the attention of Detective Smith, too, so I hit the play button and turn the volume up to the max as we listen to it again.
I watch as Riley’s face goes pale. “Riley! What is it? Tell me.” I run around the kitchen island to her side. “Tell me, baby. What is it?”
She looks up at me. “I never told her I had a son.”
Just as Kowalski and Smith start orchestrating a manhunt for Roxanne Dawson, the burner phone that Riley has been holding onto for hours hoping to hear back from the kidnapper lights up.
Unknown: Where have you been?
“Just like before, Riley. Talk to him as a parent,” Kowalski says.
“Don’t you mean ‘her’?” I grit through my teeth.
“No, I don’t. We don’t know for sure if it’s Roxanne, the security guard, or this Crystal person – hell, we don’t even know if this person is the one who has Nicholas. It’s best not to change tactics right now until we know for sure. We’ve got people looking for them and executing search warrants to all three of their homes and businesses as we speak."
"It’s fine, Declan. I don’t give a fuck what we call this person, I just want my son back.”
Riley: I’m home. Where are you?
Unknown: Again with the lies. You’re not home.
Riley looks up at me and then to Kowalski. “What does this mean? We’ve been living here since Saturday night.”
Suddenly, Jax, Eli, both detectives and I realize where Nicholas might be. “FUCK!” Jax and Eli yell in unison as they go running out of the house.
“What?” Riley yells as I grab her hand and drag her with me.
“Nicholas is at your parents’ house. Get in the truck.” I run around to the driver’s side as everyone jumps in their vehicles heading to the Ashford house.
Jax, Eli, and I beat the other police officers and detectives to Riley’s parent’s house as we all skid our tires into the driveway and onto the lawn. I turn to Riley as she’s about to get out of the truck. “No. You stay here.”
“I don’t fucking think so!” She jumps out of the truck and starts running for the front door.
Jax grabs her by the waist and pulls her behind my truck. “No. Riley. If you go running in there – you may get him killed.”
“You take the back. Dec and I’ll go in the front. Ready?” Eli says as we all pull out our weapons and check the chambers.
“Ready.”
“Go get my son, Declan. Bring him back to me.”
I kiss her lips, “Don’t move from here or I’ll handcuff you to the tailgate. Got it?” I threaten her.
“You’ve got two minutes. Then I’m right behind you,” she threatens right back to me.
“It won’t take that long,” Eli promises.
Jax circles behind the house as Eli and I position ourselves on either side of the front door. Jax clicks the mic two times telling us he’s in position.
I hold up my fingers, one, two, three. I kick in the door and go left as Eli goes right. The doorframe splinters into pieces as Jax bursts in through the back door.
“Police Department! Show me your hands!” We all yell in unison.
I see something that catches my eye down the hallway and the door to River’s old room slams closed.
I point with my weapon towards the door as Eli comes up behind me. As he crosses in front of my line of sight, I lower the muzzle to the ground, and we position ourselves again on either side of the bedroom door. Jax is clearing the rest of the house in case she’s not here alone.
“Police Department! Open the door and show me your hands!” I yell again.
A shot rings out and misses the both of us, putting a hole in the middle of the bedroom door.
“Roxanne, this is your last warning! Come out with your hands up!” Eli yells.
“Fuck you! He’s mine!” she yells back at us.
Eli kicks in the door and I go right as he goes left. Roxanne is sitting on the bed with Nicholas in her arms and he looks passed out. She’s got her head right along side of his with a gun to her temple.
“Get out or I’ll blow his brains out along with mine. I mean it. He’s mi…” A loud shot rings out and suddenly there’s blood all over the wall, bed, and Nicholas and a giant hole in the center of Roxanne’s forehead.
I look over at Eli, “You don’t fuck with my family.”
At that moment, we come to an understanding – she was a threat, and we eliminated that threat. End of story.
I holster my weapon and grab Nicholas. He feels like he’s on fire as I run through the house and out to the front lawn. Thankfully, the cavalry is here which includes EMS. Hudson and Kane have their stretcher out as I place Nicholas on it.
“Nicholas!” Riley cries out. “Oh god.” She covers her mouth with both hands.
“It’s not his blood.” I tell her as the relief overcomes her but it’s short lived.
As Kane gets the stretcher into the rescue unit Nicholas starts seizing. “He’s seizing!” he calls out.
“Get in. I’ll follow you.” I push Riley into the rescue unit and slam the doors, hitting it twice telling Hudson it’s safe to go. I watch the rescue unit, with their lights and sirens on, haul ass down the street and turn towards the hospital.
“Hayes!” Detective Kowalski calls after me as I’m climbing in my truck.
“I’ve got it. Go!” Eli waves me off and looks at Kowalski. “I’ll tell you what you need to know.” He smirks at me as I drive away.