Kyle woke up with a headache. He realized he wasn’t lying in his bed next to Alessa, but tied to a chair. He looked around, and his neck screamed out in pain. His lips were wet. He licked it. Blood.He fought the pain and looked behind him. A gruffly big bloke was napping behind him on his very expensive couch. The fat man gave a loud snore. Perfect, he can get out. The ropes around Kyle’s chest were tried hard, but the idiot forgot to tie his hand. Kyle began wiggling. At first, he could barely move, but the more he moved, the more he loosened the rope, though it was causing burns on his chest and arms. Finally, he found a loose string and pulled at it. He pulled until he got to a knot, and after some contorting with his hands and fingers, he was able to undo the whole thing. The fat man let out another loud snore. Kyle moved slowly and went up to his office. He found the handgun he had in the drawer of his deck and made his way toward the living room. The metal barrel of the gun
When Alessa came to, she realized right away that she didn’t have the capability of moving her arms, or legs. She opened her eyes and noticed she was in a room without any windows. There was old furniture, piled to her right. An old laundry and dryer to her left. A TV with a radio button dial was a few feet in front of her. Alessa tried to move again and realized that she was tied up standing on what seemed like a pole. One found in most basements in America. She could safely assume she was at least in the country. She didn’t know anything else. Like was Kyle safe? How many days had she been here? What day was it? What time was it? Was Kyle safe? Was he safe? Please let him be safe. Alessa could barely keep her eyes open. Whatever they had given her was strong. Again, she fell asleep.The next few times she was up. She was in the same position. In the same location. She was up a few minutes—her guess—and then she was out again. It was always the same. Except one time. She remembered
Kyle woke up at four am. It had been five days since Alessa was missing. His FBI friend, Ron, had very little information on Frank or Adam. Kyle even tried to track down Adam’s daughter but came up empty-handed. He got nowhere. His friend’s advice to file an official police report was also not something Kyle wanted to follow. He was trying to keep the media at bay by trying not to share Alessa’s kidnapping with too many people, afraid that if someone outside his circle found out, Frank or Adam wouldn’t be happy. Which meant, Alessa wouldn’t be safe. So Kyle was treading lightly—till now.He woke up at four because his phone had buzzed loudly, and an unknown number dancing on his screen. He clicked it to find a video. He clicked it fast.“Kyle, I have been kidnapped. To keep me safe, they ask you to do the following.” Alessa started and paused to take a breath. She looked safe but dirty. Kyle noticed her clothes were ripped and immediately feared what that meant. Alessa started again,
The lady, Jackie, was now the only one Alessa was seeing. It was day five of her kidnapping. She was still tied to the pole. Though Jackie untied her once a day to clean her and provide her with a new pair of clothes. She was also providing Alessa with three hot meals a day. There was also another thing Alessa figured—Jackie was Adam’s wife. She wasn’t sure if she was right. Alessa also thought she maybe could convince Jackie to talk to her. So today, while Jackie bought her lunch, Alessa asked, “How does your daughter feel about you keeping a woman down in the basement? Did you tell her not to come down? Or did you lie and say there is a monster down here?” Alessa asked.“You don’t worry about me—“ Jackie paused. “How do you know I have a daughter? I never said.”“Kyle knows. Another powerful man knows about your daughter. He knows quite a bit about her. He talked to her once.” Alessa added.Jackie cackled. “You figured out who we are. Good for you. I know Kyle isn’t going to do an
“Shut up. Frank and Jason will be here any moment! They’ll hear you and try to kill you. Do you think I want my daughter to see that? I didn't tell you her name so you can call her.”“It was your fault to drag her into this but it’s not too late. Agree to help me or I won’t stop. Your child needs to know what her mother is willing to do!” Alessa said.“Please stop!” Jackie said. She came over to Alessa and tried to put her hands on her mouth but Alessa moved her head.“Cindy! Honey, come down.” Alessa screamed louder.Little uneven steps came down the stairs and a blond pigtailed girl wearing pink shorts and a white shirt, holding a bunny plushie, came down. Smiling at first but as soon as she saw Alessa, her eyes widened and filled with tears. “Mommy! Is that the monster?” She yelled, running to her mother and hugging her. Alessa was sure she looked awful after getting hit, and not fully showering for days. She was sure she had cuts on her face from the pain she felt. “Who is the m
“See this is why you leave things for girls to do. Just so you know James, we find out anything anyone is hiding from us.” Aspen said. Aspen, James, and Kyle were back at The Milton. Aspen had been feverishly researching for Jacqueline Hue on her phone.“What did you find?” Kyle said before James could defend himself. “From your FBI friend, we know she got arrested in Ohio, which is where she had her child, and where, up till now she was living. Till Adam got in trouble and he probably hid her and his child away somewhere.” Aspen hashed out. “We already know this, what else.” “Right, but Jackie—that’s the name her friends and now enemies call her—has an Instagram. Of course, it’s private but the girl world is small. Someone I met on a business trip a few years ago follows her. I reached out to her and she shared some pictures, and guess what I see.” Aspen turned her phone towards the boys. On it was a picture of Jackie. She looked young there, but the picture looked old. In it, sh
“Come on now Jackie. You are supposed to be on our side. That was the only way we could ensure that little Cindy was safe.” Jason said. “At least for now. Eventually, she could work for me. Say at the age of 15? How does that sound?” Jason laughed. “Wouldn’t you agree Frank?”A few seconds later Frank hobbled into view. “Keep your perversions to yourself.” Frank moaned. “Jackie, go tie up Alessa. I am giving you one more chance.”“Stay away from her and stay away from my daughter.” Jackie gripped the gun harder.“Jason. You like touching the filth. Tie her up.”“My pleasure!” Jason said, moving towards Alessa. Alessa hid Cindy behind her. Jackie fired a shot but missed Jason. “You little bitch.” Jason yelled, turning his attention towards Jackie. “Jackie, Jackie. I need you to relax. You forget, I still have Adam tied up to some really bad stuff. It can put him away in jail for a very long time.” Frank warned.“I don’t care about him. He probably deserves it. He lied to me. Now all
Alessa had just finished telling her side of the story to the cop who was kind enough to come to the penthouse to ask her instead of making her go into the police station. She was still in bed. After Kyle carried her into their bed last night, she had slept for close to 17 hours. Kyle had been by her side the whole time. He had just left now when the cop had asked him to. She told him all about Jason threatening her, almost rapping her, about Jackie’s situation and help. She also gave detailed descriptions of how Jason and she got into a fight after he pointed a gun at Jackie. “After sending Cindy away I tried to get the gun out of his hands—I don’t know who pulled the trigger,” Alessa said.“What about Frank? Did he have a gun?” “No, he didn’t.” “Why did you shoot him then?”“Because he kidnapped me.” Alessa matter-in-factly said.“So it was revenge?” The cop asked.“No, it was fear. Fear that he was going to hurt me or Cindy or Jackie.”“A handicapped old man?”“A man who orches