Chapter Fifteen.
Jody – two days later.
“Bitch just expected you to sign everything over?” Magic asked incredulously.
“Yup. Didn’t ask how I was, or where I’d been. For a moment, when Mom saw Lars and Laila, I thought I witnessed a softening. I was wrong.”
“Sorry, babe,” Magic muttered, rubbing my arm.
“Don’t be. I know what they’re like. It was always Mimi and Myles. It seems Mimi’s still messing up her life. That’s not my problem.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard some shit. Mimi crashed out of college about a year after you left. Family claimed she’d chosen another route, but the truth got around that she’d been kicked out for plagiarism. She ended up working in a supermarket and was fired for theft.”
I snorted. “Seems Mimi never learned to keep her sticky fingers to herself.”
“No. Mimi married some guy, a salesman or something, but he had money. They had a decent home, but Mimi kept running through jobs. Heard she had two kids that she rarely sees. Husband divorced the bitch five years ago and took them. Rumours claim Mimi still hasn’t learned a lesson.”
“And now I’m back, they think they can force me to sign Crook House over. It’s too late. I’ve already made a will, and Laila gets Crook House and the estate. Anything about Myles?” I asked.
“Did the same as Mimi, dropped out of his final year of college. Planned to be a musician…”
“What?” I gasped, roaring with laughter. “Myles couldn’t play an instrument or sing!”
“Apparently, no. He bummed around for a few years, and your mother was telling everyone he’d got a part in a film. Then she claimed Zack Elfrond stole the role because he’d crossed Myles’s path and realised what a threat he was,” Magic said, and I began laughing hard again.
“What’s Myles doing now?”
“No idea, not seen him for years. Myles dropped off the face of the planet. Anyway. I thought we’d take the kids to the dinosaur park for a picnic. Let Jesper run around for a bit,” Magic suggested.
“Now?” I asked, looking down at my comfortable jeans and tee.
“You look perfect. Come on, Jody, get your ass moving. We’ve not got time to hang about.”
“Magic, I have to make food.”
Magic grinned. “Already done it. I bought burritos filled with cold cuts and snack stuff. Laila is grabbing some items from your fridge. Just gotta round up the kids.”
“Okay,” I replied, smiling and climbing to my feet. “Let’s grab the gang.”
◆◆◆
Three hours later, I lay back on the blanket and let the sun warm my face.
The children had split into two teams. Oskar, Henrik, and Viggo made one, and Lars, Jesper, and Jerrik the other.
Laila was busy relaxing, like me. Magic was giving them tasks, and whoever finished first got a point.
Jesper was in heaven, needless to say. They’d been at it for an hour, and Jesper was still going strong.
“Aunt Jody!” Jesper screeched, and I winced. The kid could raise the dead. “Moster Jody, Nogen tog Lars!” (Aunt Jody, someone took Lars.)
Heart skipping a beat, I sat bolt upright, startling Magic as Jerrik and Jesper raced towards us.
“What?” Magic demanded, picking up on my fear.
“Jesper said somebody snatched Lars!”
The boys skidded to a halt, terror on their faces. “He came out of that treeline, hit Lars and began dragging him off,” Jerrik gasped.
Magic was up and running. I went to scramble after him. “Stay with the kids and phone the cops!” Magic bellowed as he lumbered away. He moved with surprising speed for his size.
“Mor, I’ll call Oskar to come back,” Laila whispered, her face pale. I reached out and grabbed her as I punched in nine-one-one. I quickly babbled what had happened to the operator while I attempted to comfort Jesper, who was beside himself.
Minutes ticked past and, in the distance, I heard the wail of a siren. Magic didn’t reappear, and I tried holding myself together as I began shaking. My boy, my baby boy, was out there and possibly hurt. Why would anyone take Lars?
“Jerrik, what did the guy look like?” I asked, hearing the tremor in my voice.
“Tall but skinny. He was dirty and had blond hair and a beard, but it wasn’t looked after. His clothes were ripped jeans, which were marked and a stained tee. He wore a hoodie, too. Moster Jody, he kept twitching like he was nervous or something.”
A drug user? I dialled Magic.
“Babe, I’m looking.”
I told him Jerrik’s description, and there was a pause. “Ask Jerrik, were they dark blue jeans and a light brown hoodie?”
I repeated Magic’s question, and Jerrik nodded. “Jerrik said yes. Magic, who is this?”
“He’s been seen hanging around the bar, but I don’t know who he is. Tell the cops and call Stan and get him to forward the footage to you,” Magic ordered. He cut the line as two policemen approached.
I quickly explained what had happened as the kids crowded me for comfort. My phone beeped, and Stan’s message landed, and I sent it to the officers. I barely looked at it as I searched for Magic.
An officer called in backup, and I paced back and forth.
Panic welled beneath the surface, but I wouldn’t release it.
The children were all frightened, and I had to keep calm.
I didn’t believe this was happening. Hadn’t we suffered enough?
Several other cops had joined the original two, and my alarm was escalating.
When Magic appeared, I rushed over. “Did you find Lars?” That was a stupid question because Magic had returned alone.
“There was no trace of Lars. The asshole gotta have had a car in the trees and dragged Lars to it. What are the cops doing?”
“I don’t know. They’ve asked questions but don’t seem in a rush. My boy is missing!” My voice rose, and several officers glanced over, including a plainclothes detective.
He saw Magic and straightened. “Magic? You know the victim?”
“He’s my son, Lucas. What’s the plan?” Magic demanded. Lucas blinked at the news but wasn’t sidetracked by it.
“We’ve got the footage and are cleaning it up a bit. A BOLO’s out for Lars, and I’ve forwarded his image. Recognise him?” Bobby Lucas inquired.
“None. He’s been hanging around the bar, but hasn’t come in. More like surveillance.”
“Does Lars have any issues with narcotics or similar?” Lucas asked, and I glowered.
“No.”
Magic shifted, and Lucas narrowed his eyes.
“What aren’t you saying?” Lucas demanded.
“There was some trouble. A junkie accused Lars of stealing from him and owing him ten thousand. Lars didn’t steal, nor has he done drugs. He’s clean.”
“Need more than that, Magic. This could be related.”
“Can we do this elsewhere? The kids shouldn’t be exposed. I need to drive them home. Please?” I begged.
“We’ll meet you there. I’m going to order the others to keep canvassing the area. Nando will get word to the off-duty officers, activate them, as it’s you, to come out too. Someone might have seen something. But I agree, the children shouldn’t be here.”
Magic and I herded them to the minivan, where Magic offered to drive. But that meant leaving his Hog here, and he’d need that if we received a demand, so I refused. Silently, I prayed we’d get a call.
◆◆◆
Two hours later, I was coming out of my skin.
There’d been no sign of Lars, and I was nearly hysterical.
Where was my son? Why had Lars been taken?
Was he alive, still breathing? My heart twisted, and tears clogged my throat as I wondered if Lars was calling for me.
Was someone hurting him? Beyond anxious, I paced back and forth, rubbing my hands up and down my arms. Detective Lucas was here, and his partner Hernando Hawthorne remained on scene, continuing to seek potential witnesses.
“Why hasn’t there been a call?” I demanded.
“This doesn’t seem to be a hostage situation,” Lucas replied.
“Then what is it?” I yelled. Magic moved and embraced me as I began to cry. “Where’s my son?”
“We’ll find him. It’s what we do,” Magic promised.
“We?”
“I’ve called the Allies. Everyone’s out looking for Lars,” Magic murmured, rubbing my back.
“We’ve got a better picture. Do either of you recognise him?” Lucas said, interrupting.
I stared at the screen and scrunched my nose. “He’s familiar.”
Magic stiffened as I zoomed in and gasped as I finally recognised him. “That’s my brother! Myles Srock!”
“What the fuck?” Magic demanded. He took the phone Lucas had given me. “Why the hell is Myles kidnapping Lars?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered.
“Do you have his address?” Lucas asked.
“No. I haven’t seen Myles for years. Actually, none of my family has been in contact until…” I broke off as my gut twisted. Magic met my gaze. “No!” I exclaimed.
“What?” Lucas demanded.
“I’ve refused to speak to that side for eighteen years. But a couple of days ago, my mother arrived and wanted me to sign Crook House and the estate over to my sister. Mimi is a mess, apparently, and Mom thinks I owe her,” I gasped.
“What’s your mother’s address? Let me get a car heading there, and then you can tell me everything,” Lucas said.
I gave Lucas what he needed and then explained the whole sorry story. If Mimi and my parents were behind this, I’d unleash Magic. An hour ticked past before Lucas received a call. His face tightened as he murmured some one-word answers. When Lucas hung up, he shook his head.
“Neither Myles nor Lars was there. Your mother claims you’re making this up to cause trouble, as it’s what you do, apparently. We’ve got an APB out on Lars and Myles. Can you remember anything about your brother that might be relevant?”
My shoulders sagged. “No. We were never close. Magic knows more than me,” I said, turning. I frowned.
Magic was gone. What the hell?
Magic
Anger burning, I headed to the bar, breaking every speed limit known to man.
While I didn’t hang with tweakers, I knew where they holed up.
One would be aware of something, as Myles was part of their gang.
Myles had been watching to hit me for money or to get to the kids.
Well, the asshole had my attention now. But why Myles hadn’t called in for a ransom, I didn’t want to consider.