Chapter Twenty-One
Wade Cooper
I stand and watch with tense shoulders as Jordan types away on his computer. My fists are clenched, and I try to breathe slowly to calm the raging storm inside me.
I look at the wall clock in the living and the hours that have passed since DJ’s kidnapping scares me. Twelve hours. Twelve Goddamn hours and still not a single clue to his whereabouts.
If I was going this crazy, I wondered how Ava was. She hasn’t left her room since the news broke, and I can’t blame her. The one thing she loved most in the world had been taken away from her brutally and hopes of getting him back may seem bleak to her.
This was the one thing I didn’t want this case to lead us to. Putting DJ in danger. The target has always been Ava and DJ was the best means of getting to Ava. I don’t want to say the jerk has succeeded in getting what he wanted but I have to give it to him. He’s good .
His thoroughness is beyond me. How he meticulously arranged for the deaths of two policemen and the kidnapping of a three-and-a- half-year-old amazed me.
CCTVs compromised. Not a single witness and not even a single lead to his whereabouts or accomplices. I don't know how he does it, but he always seems to get away every single time.
The police had assured us that they would get to the bottom of this but just like Ava, I have started to lose hope in them as well. Sometimes, the easiest and fastest way to get something done was to do it illegally.
That’s why as soon as Ava told me she suspected her ex was behind all this mess, I knew the one person I had to call; Jordan.
He was the best hacker and best private detective despite not having a license yet. With his skills, he can track anyone and anything down in hours with just a single piece of information and that was what we needed now.
Unlike before when we had not a single clue to the culprit, we have something now. A name. Daniel Brown. And that made things a whole lot easier for Jordan.
“I’m assuming your skills have worn out, seeing as you are taking forever just to find one man.” I hiss at Jordan who stops typing on his computer for a split second before continuing.
“Maybe I would be more focused if you stop breathing down my neck like you’re about to shoot me at any moment.” Jordan retorts as he adjusts the glasses on his nose .
“DJ has been gone for twelve hours now. Ava will die if we don’t get something on him in the next hour.” I state, annoyed at how long it is taking to track that bastard.
We’ve been here all night, with nothing but snacks and coffee in our stomachs. Ava refused to eat or drink water, but I had to use something to hold myself together if I wanted to get Daniel’s ass.
Jordan has been working diligently for hours, taking only five-minute breaks every two hours. Finding an address wouldn’t have been hard for him but Daniel is a kind of control freak.
We can’t even find a resident card number in his name, even using the dark web. He must have tried to block any form of information about him on the net, knowing he would be tracked as soon as we guessed it was him behind the killings.
I still can’t believe how Ava kept this from me for so long. I’ve always known she had a shitty past with her ex-husband, but never once have I ever thought that shitty past would lead to him wanting to kill her.
To be honest, I never liked the man even though I have never met him but as Ava had said, I never thought he would be able to kill a person, not to mention the mother of his only child. And for what? Just because she witnessed him smuggling drugs? We’re dealing with a sick bastard here.
I knew that before but only just confirmed it now.
“I know.” Jordan sighs and pauses for a second. “This guy is so talented that even the Almighty might not be able to track him. I need hours to crack his encryption code but in just–” Jordan presses a key on the keyboard .
“...One second–” Another key. The screen lights up and an address pops up with a few other texts. “Voila!” Jordan smiles before sending the address to my phone.
“Good job, man!” I patted his shoulder and quickly moved out of the living room. “Get ready, we’re heading there now.”
“Wait, what? Aren’t you informing the police?” Jordan asks, surprised, but I don’t respond.
I knock softly on the door before twisting the knob. I peep into the room and see everywhere dark due to the curtains drawn but I get a glimpse of her silhouette on the bed. She stirs but says nothing.
“We’ve gotten Daniel’s location and we’re heading there now.” I mutter as I stand by the doorway. Ava doesn’t move but I know she can hear me. “I promise to bring DJ back safe and sound.”
“Thank you.” I hear Ava mumble and I close the door behind me. Before I leave the house, I make sure I’m fully armed.
* * * *
“Wade, are you sure you’re not going to inform the police? We can’t act rashly here.” Jordan says and I sigh.
I grab my phone and send a quick text to Marcus before showing Jordan. “Happy now? Let’s go.” I take off my seatbelt.
“Go where?” Jordan holds me back. “This is not just some petty criminal that will cower at the sight of your gun. He’s a fully loaded drug dealer and they kill people for fun. Heck, you don’t even know how many of them are in there!”
I turned my eyes to the rusted tank situated almost at the outskirts of the city. I consider Jordan’s words and I know he’s right, but I can’t just sit and wait until the police come. I have to get that bastard myself to be able to sleep well at night.
“The longer we wait, the more the kid’s life is in danger. If you want, you can sit here and wait for the police.” I say before shaking his hand off me.
“Fine, fine. Jeez, I forgot how stubborn you are.” Jordan shakes his head but takes out his gun and loads it. A small smile slips over my lips unconsciously. He may appear to be a coward, but when it comes to protecting his friends, he will gladly put his life on the line.
That’s the reason we’ve remained friends for so long even after we both left the army.
“Let’s go.” I got out of the car, taking my weapon from my back pocket. I signal for Jordan to head in one direction, and he nods before he goes the opposite of me.
I keep my ears and eyes alert. Strangely, the place is quiet, and I can see no one outside the container. I moved towards the entrance, and I noticed the door is ajar.
Using the tip of my gun, I pushed it open and what came to my view brought back tantalizing memories. Guns, cocaine in small white packets and different types of drugs are all over the table .
I breathe out a little heavily now, knowing this is the same scene that met me five years ago when I lost nearly all my buddies due to my recklessness. I take a step forward but freeze when I feel cold metal at the back of my neck.
“Nice to finally meet you, Cooper.” An eerie voice fills my ear and I instantly know it’s Daniel.
I try to turn but he presses the gun deeper into my skin. “Ah, ah, I wouldn’t move if I were you. Unless, of course, you want a bullet buried in your brain.”
“Son of a bitch.” I curse and he laughs lightly.
“I’ve gotten worse insults than that, you gotta do better.”
“Where’s Daniel?” I hiss and from the corner of my eye, I see Jordan by the side of the container.
“Daniel? I’m right here.” He snickers.
“I’m not playing games with you, Brown. Where’s DJ?” I grit and watch carefully as Jordan positions his gun to aim at Daniel.
“With his father, where he was supposed to be ages ago. Now why don’t you be a good boy and drop that pretty gun of yours?”
“Not even in your freakiest dreams.”
“A fierce one. No wonder Ava has been bewitched. ”
My stomach twists at the mention of her sweet name in his filthy mouth. I swear to God, if I don’t kill this man today—
A sound comes from where Jordan is standing, and I feel Daniel shift his gun from my head to Jordan. In a split second, I jump on him as he shoots.
“You bastard!” I yell as I punch his face rapidly, giving him no time to even breathe.
Daniel grabs my shoulder and presses down my wound, making me groan in pain as I feel the most recent injury reopening. He pushes me off him before he lands a few punches on me as well.
I’m given respite as Jordan kicks Daniel off me before placing his gun to his head, Daniel freezes on the ground.
“That’s right, better stay still if you don’t want me to blow your brains out.” Jordan hisses as he tosses Daniel’s gun away. I get up from the ground and clean the blood from my lips.
Seeing him from up close, I realize DJ is the splitting image of his father. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Only this Daniel is a jerk and a murderer. Suddenly, Daniel starts cackling like a vulture hunting for his favorite prey. The urge to smack that face of his and destroy all his teeth rushes into my veins.
“I think the one whose brains are about to be blown is not me but Daniel DJ.” Daniel chuckles and I grab him by the collar.
“You better tell me where DJ is before I start redesigning your entire face like a Goddamn blacksmith!” Daniel only laughs even more. “Where is he?” I yelled in his face .
“Currently on the way to his mother with a bomb tied to his little chest. You were a step too late, Cooper, I just sent the mail minutes before you ambushed me.”
“You’re a sick bastard. That’s your fucking son.” Jordan lets out with disgust.
“That good-for-nothing will be just as useless as his mother. Thankfully, I found the best way to get rid of them both.”
I punched Daniel a few times to relieve the anger boiling inside me but it’s still not enough. His phone buzzes and Jordan takes it out of his pocket before reading it.
“Wade.” He handed the phone to me with a grim look, and I read through it.
There’s a huge deal going on and it’s the exact location we raided five years ago. How they were able to recover the place, I have no idea but it’s happening right now as we stand here. No wonder the entire place was empty.
“Does the location spark a tender memory of yours, Cooper? I’ve read all about you and I know exactly what transpired five years ago with your wife.”
“Ex-wife.” I grit out.
“Oh, we know the exes run deep in our veins. You’re a man of great culture and principle. Now, I want you to make a choice, between love and duty.” Daniel smiles and my grip tightens on the phone .
“You can turn a blind eye to the massive deal going on and leave the police to handle it. Then, you save Daniel before the bomb gets to Ava but that would mean you have to forgo a chance at getting back into the army. A lost dream you so much want to fulfill.” Daniel smirks as my glare intensifies.
“Or you can choose to head to the location, be the hero of the day and get reinstated on a golden platter. Only that will mean you will return to pieces of Ava’s and DJ’s body.”
Jordan punches him and he coughs blood to the point he falls to the ground, too weak to even kneel.
“Wade, don’t let him get to you. Go to Ava, and let the police take care of this.”
I take one last look at the phone before I rush back to my car and drive off, all the while praying and hoping that I’m not too late.