The 9mm from the beach bag has been in my hand since I walked into our room. I race through the small bungalow, clearing every corner of every space as I go.She’s not fucking here!The pool is empty. Even though I already know it’s useless, I pick up my phone to call her and...no service.We’ve already made calls from inside the house, but I have nothing.
“Fuuuuuck!” I want to rage. I want to cry. I want to lose my fucking mind, but none of that will help. None of that will get her back.
“Think, Eli. Think!”
There’s a jammer.Where is it?My eyes skate all over every surface.Where would I put it? Outside. I’d make sure she couldn’t make a call before I entered in case she sees me first.
Sure enough, there on the seal of our bedroom window is a cell phone jammer.Someone took her.My chest hurts, and my blood heats inside my body.How could this happen again? How could I LET this happen again?Think. This is war. A recovery mission.
A cell phone jammer. Followed us to Barbados? Or already here? Followed us. This feels too steady to be a crime of opportunity. Why even take her unless they specifically wanted her? Who? Vaughn doesn’t have any enemies.None left alive anyway.So, it’s me then.My enemies.Too damn many to count.
I turn the jammer off and call Grizzly.
“Grizzly. I need help.”
Sniffles from the other end of the line stop me in my tracks. I’ve been pacing in the kitchen, but the feminine whimper makes me pause.
“Johna?”
“Yeah, Eli. It’s me.”
“Hey. Johna. What’s going on? Are you okay?”
More sniffles.
“No, Eli. We’re not okay. I’m sorry to have to tell you like this, but John is gone. Missing. They left a message for you. I tried to call.”
Pure murderous determination pumps through my veins but can’t be heard in my voice when I speak again.
“Okay. It’s going to be okay. Thanks, Johna. Go ahead and read me the message.”
“It’s a recording. I’ll play it.” The phone makes a thud sound as she sets it down. There’s some rustling, and then the recording starts.
“Hello to you, Post Man. Or is it Elijah?” My blood chills at the sound of the Latvian accent. “Either way, we’re waiting for you. You come to our home, and you take from us. We can only return the favor and come to your home in return. You might be surprised to see what all we’ve found. Or who.”Fuck! Abbi? Eve?“Lucky us, we get to your home and find you gone. Everyone you care about, unprotected. What a shame for them to have such a careless friend like you. We’ll be collecting more as we go, with nothing else to do in your absence. Hurry back, or you might find them all snatched up before you get home. See you soon, Mr. Post Man. Ah, yes. One more thing. We got your message. Our response...cut off the head of the serpent, and two more grow back in its’ place. You cut off two heads. Better prepare for the outcome.”
The Latvian traffickers.They’ve recouped, and their best plan is to come for me?It doesn’t make sense. Abel and I definitely cost them a lot of money, but he’s gone, and I’m out. Retired.Why target me and not someone in charge?
“Thanks, Johna.”
“Mmhhhmm. Are you going to get him back?” She’s barely holding it together, and her words come out choppy. “There was a letter to me, and it said not to call the cops. It said to call you instead, but your phone went straight to voicemail. Should I call the police?”
“No! Sorry. No. Don’t call the police. They’ll slow this down, and their presence won’t go unnoticed. It could get John killed.”
She starts sobbing when I say this.
“Please, Johna. Let me handle this. They have Vaughn. I’m not even sure who else yet.”
My phone starts vibrating with another call.It’s Adam. Fuck.
“Johna, I have to go for now. I need you to write down everything you know. Everything you saw. Everything that was in the message to you. Write it all down and call me back, okay? I’ll be getting on a plane and coming home, but it’ll take me a while to get there. Understand?”
The phone stops vibrating. I missed the call.Has something happened to Evie?
“Yeah. I understand.”
“Good. That’s good. Take the girls and get somewhere safe. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
“Okay.”
