The Redcastle Redemption (The Athena Effect) Read online

  “What’s going on? Where are they? I need to talk to them!” she cried.

  The little man in charge watched his biggest man having a difficult time putting a wildly struggling Caledonia back into the van. The door was closed and locked, and the van started shaking as she kicked the walls inside it.

  Frankie shook his head with disgust. Hospitals were bound by law to report gunshot wounds, and what could have been a mysterious disappearance was now certain to be investigated as a crime. The heat was going to be on them in no time, and they needed to clear out of town right away.

  He barked out an order to the men with the truck. “We can’t afford to keep them around here any longer. Take them down to the cabin right now.”

  The little man grabbed the phone from the professor, his angry voice menacing Layla, “Listen here. You’re going to be coming to us this time. We’ll call you back with instructions. If I catch one whiff that you’ve gone to the feds we’ll kill them both.”

  The line went dead.

  Layla was stunned, trying to reason it out, “We–We made plans… Me and Cali. Over the phone. I was supposed to be here when they came…” She looked up at Ramon, her brown and green eyes glazed over with fear. “How did they know? I thought these burner phones were supposed to be safe!”

  “They must be listening some other way,” Ramon guessed. He took the phone from her hand, checking it to find she’d been called from a blocked number.

  “They’re going to call me back,” she choked out. “Can you trace their call?”

  His brow wrinkled as he considered the options. “I might be able to get within a few miles of the transmission tower with our equipment, but the FBI could probably get better coordinates…”

  Layla reacted violently. “No way–you heard him! No police! No feds!”

  ~

  “Excuse me miss!” A formidable looking nurse bellowed at Layla as she walked through the emergency room doors with Poddy tucked under her arm. The woman stood with her arms crossed, blocking their path. “No animals allowed in the hospital!”

  Layla paused, looking her dead in the eye. “This is a therapy dog,” she said icily. Ramon watched the woman’s face go slack just before she nodded solemnly. “Of course,” she said, stepping aside. “Go right on ahead.”

  Layla ended up pacing back and forth before the entrance to the intensive care unit, while Ramon grappled with his conscience.

  “I need to call this in,” he told her. “They can help us.”

  She looked at him with horrified eyes. “You heard them! You can’t!”

  “Layla… I’m on duty.”

  She thought for a moment, feeling like she was being backed into a corner. The decision was hers to make, so she did what she had to do, flooding Ramon with a steely blue grey that impressed him with a feeling of inevitability.

  “Okay,” she told him firmly, building up another barrage of color. “But we need some time to think about how to get them back. You must report this as a robbery.”

  “A robbery,” he repeated. It made perfect sense.

  “Yes. You need to tell them that Calvin was shot when he confronted some thieves, but that’s all. Nobody saw anything. Can you do that?” Her eyes bored into his, expertly delivering just the right blend of trust, faith, and confidence. “For me?” He nodded, and by the time she’d finished fabricating the story he was completely convinced that he should take her advice.

  Sickened by what she’d done, Layla swallowed hard, watching Ramon go back down to his patrol car to call in to the station. He took her advice, explaining what had happened using Layla’s words, portraying Calvin’s shooting as the result of a burglary gone terribly wrong and requesting some personal time off to help his girlfriend through the trauma.

  “Of course you need to be there for her,” Sheriff Brown responded with sincere sympathy. Ever since the night Layla had helped Ramon rescue the kidnapped girl she could do no wrong in the sheriff’s eyes. “You tell your young lady that we’re here to help. And be sure to tell Cal that we’ll find out who did this to her boyfriend.”

  “I will,” Ramon felt a twinge of guilt about leaving out the whole truth, but a sense of certainty overwhelmed him, and he rushed to get off the phone.

  He grabbed a duffel bag with a change of clothes from his cruiser, racing back into the hospital to join Layla. She was standing where he’d left her, clinging to Poddy like he was a life preserver. Ramon told her what the sheriff had said and she thanked him, but this time she would not look him in the eyes.

  A doctor came out to explain Calvin’s grave condition, filling them in on the details. Layla listened as he droned on, her colors vacillating back and forth between the blackest fear and deep blue remorse. Poddy whimpered in her arms.

  “An induced coma?” she asked.

  “It’s only until the swelling is relieved. He suffered a head trauma along with considerable blood loss. He has every chance of regaining normal function once he wakes up.”

  “Normal function?” Layla repeated, her voice rising with panic.

  “When will that be?” Ramon asked, anxious to know when he could question Calvin. Without access to the FBI’s advanced phone tracing software, an eyewitness account was his only hope for a lead.

  “Probably a few days at the very least,” the doctor answered. “It depends on the swelling. We’ll reduce the medications as soon as possible.”

  The doctor departed just as an elevator door down the hallway opened. Calvin’s father rushed out, followed by Jarod and a now obviously pregnant Crystal. They spotted Layla and hurried towards her, a cloud of concern, alarm and fear rolling down the corridor ahead of them.

  “What happened?” they all asked simultaneously. “Where’s Cali?”

  Layla stood clutching the little dog with hollow eyes. “Someone came to the house,” she replied in a monotone. “They shot Cal and took Cali and Michael.”

  Jarod and his father exchanged a look that spoke volumes, both of them casting suspicious glances at the handsome uniformed officer standing by Layla’s side. “This is Ramon,” she explained, “He’s my friend.”

  Layla slumped with relief when Ramon took over, calmly explaining everything that they knew about what had happened to Calvin. She staggered backwards a few steps to a row of benches that lined the corridor, sliding down into a seat to watch the emotions flare as Calvin’s family was filled in on the terrible turn of events.

  Crystal came over to sit down beside her, emanating a pale blue concern and pity. “Who’s this little fella?” she asked, petting the dog.

  “Poddy,” Layla replied, her eyes filling with tears. “He was the one who called me.”

  “What?”

  “He brought Cal his phone. He must have hit re-dial by accident.” She smiled through her tears. “Or maybe not … Calvin always says that he’s the smartest dog in the world.”

  At the sound of Calvin’s name Poddy whined a little, and Crystal reached over to stroke him. “Poor little baby,” she cooed, “Look how cute he is. Can I hold him?”

  Layla handed Poddy over to Crystal, watching her maternal love bloom thick and sweet as she cradled him in her arms. “Do you think you can keep him for awhile?” Layla asked.

  Crystal studied her. “Sure sweetie… But why?”

  Layla glanced towards Ramon, trying to tamp down the panic that was building up within her. She’d just manipulated the one person she should be able to be honest with, and it felt absolutely awful. “I can’t go back home right now. I need to go find Cali and Michael.”

  Ramon excused himself to get changed out of his uniform and Jarod stepped over to join the women. “When Cal wakes up and finds out they took Cali he’s gonna go nuts.”

  Layla had a hard time even looking at Calvin’s brother; his red-hot anger pulsed with dull green fear and deep blue worry, making her dizzy. She stood to face him, feeling like she was going to be sick.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m expecting to hear from th
e people that took them and I swear … I’ll do anything I can to get them back … anything at all.”

  “It’s those blackmailer dudes isn’t it?” He lowered his voice. “Because of all the money your brother took from them, right?”

  “I think so,” she nodded. That was all he needed to know.

  “But why did they take Cali?” Crystal asked.

  “I was supposed to be there,” her voice caught in her throat, and she looked down.

  Jarod sized her up. “So the cop–He’s your boyfriend?”

  She nodded yes, swallowing hard.

  Do you trust him?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied, wishing she could un-do what had just been done. “With my life.”

  “Listen,” Jarod said, “Sometimes, it takes someone willing to bend the rules a little, if you know what I mean. I got a lot of buddies I used to ride with … they’d do anything for Calvin. I want you to call me when you find out where they are. We can help.”

  “I understand,” she nodded solemnly.

  Even as she said it she knew it would be no use. The kidnappers were after her, and there was only one hope. She started formulating a plan in her mind, trying to think clearly despite the fact that everything was cloaked in a hazy cloud of despair.

  All she knew for certain was that she must find a way to trick them into giving up Cali and Michael without letting them get her, and that would be a tall order. Going in with force might very well get everyone killed, and Layla would no more risk that than she would let Ramon involve the police. Overwhelmed by a rush of sickening dread, she excused herself to find a restroom.

  She was standing at the sinks, running cold water over the throbbing veins in her wrists when her phone rang again.

  ~

  The van wound its way through city streets until the even pavement and constant speed told the two hostages that they were on the freeway. Michael listened to Cali crying softly in the dark, pausing occasionally to catch a stuttering breath. Her suffering made his heart ache, and he searched for something–anything he could say to make it better.

  “Don’t worry Cali … Cal’s tough. He’s gonna be all right.”

  “I know,” answered her small frightened voice.

  “I just hope Layla doesn’t fall for Teddy’s bullshit and let them get her again,” he said.

  Cali ducked her head to wipe her cheeks on her shoulder. “She’s not stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.”

  “I’m not so sure,” Michael said. “She always did whatever he said when he threatened me.”

  “She has Ramon now,” Cali reasoned, hoping that her boyfriend’s level-headed advice would be enough to keep Layla from putting herself in jeopardy. She’d been so fatalistic lately there was no telling how she’d respond to the kidnapper’s demands.

  Michael turned to face Caledonia, and even in the dim light inside the van she could see his overwhelming fear and concern for his sister. “You have to get away and warn her. If you see a chance I want you to run.”

  “Okay.” She nodded. “You too.”

  After several hours they rolled to a stop. Caledonia and Michael strained to hear the men talking as they re-fueled the tank. Caledonia started to kick the metal siding, and was soon rewarded by a visit from one of their captors.

  The door slid open a crack and one of the men ducked his head inside. “Shut the hell up or I’ll hog tie you!” he warned.

  “I have to use the bathroom,” Cali pleaded in a pitiful voice. “Please? I can’t wait.”

  The door slammed shut and Michael and Cali listened as the men argued among themselves. Finally, one of them slipped inside, producing a pair of sharp looking garden clippers that he used to slice through the zip ties that were biting into her wrists.

  “If you try anything funny we’re going to punish him–Understand?”

  She agreed, bowing her head meekly but meeting Michael’s eyes with a steely look as she slid out of the back of the truck. Her upper arm was clamped in the biggest man’s vise-like fist, and she looked around to discover that they were stopped at a run-down gas station in the middle of nowhere. There wasn’t another car in sight. She was jerked along through the bay doors of a deserted garage, and led to a restroom in the back of the repair shop. “Make it quick,” he told her.

  She scowled at him, entering into a small windowless room and looking around frantically for something to use as a weapon. She started the water running in the small sink and climbed up onto the toilet to pull the cover from a vent, looking through the blades of a fan and into a short span of ductwork. She could see daylight on the other end, and that was all the encouragement she needed.

  Caledonia flushed the toilet repeatedly to mask the sound of her tearing out the fan and squirming into the narrow tube feet first. When she reached the other end she kicked with all her might, sending the vent covering the opposite side clattering down into some tall weeds growing behind the shop.

  She rolled over onto her belly and shimmied her legs out, dangling for a second before landing lightly on her heavy work boots. She crouched, getting her bearings and deciding which way to run, but it was too late. A man came barreling around the building, lunging for her. She tried to dart around him but another one materialized, grabbing her wrist and twisting it painfully behind her back.

  She sucked in a giant breath and screamed with all of her might. “HELP! HELP! Somebody help me!”

  “You little bitch!” the first man said as he descended on her upon her. Taking a great handful of her hair he yanked her head back, clamping his hand down onto her mouth to quiet her. She bit into his fleshy palm, eliciting even stronger oaths from him, interspersed with grunts of exertion as two men struggled to control her. The moving van backed up close to the building and they heaved her inside, slamming the door and driving away fast.

  She brushed herself off, sitting up in the swaying van as it sped away from the gas station.

  “Are you okay?” Michael asked in alarm.

  Her voice was grim with disappointment, “Yeah. I tried to run, but I blew it. They probably won’t be making too many mistakes like that from now on.”

  She crawled behind him on her knees, using her now free hands to try and loosen the plastic strips that still bound his wrists together. Before she had a chance to free him the van skidded to a halt and the door panel slowly raised.

  “Get out,” one of the men barked. The three of them stood in a semicircle, their mirrored sunglasses flashing in the bright sunshine. Cali and Michael climbed out onto the gravel roadside, squinting in the bright midday sun. They were alone on a desolate stretch of road, with nothing but farm fields visible for miles around.

  “We warned you,” one of them told Caledonia, waving his gun in Michael’s face. “And now the boy is going to pay the price for your mistake.”

  “He had nothing to do with it!” she cried.

  “Don’t listen to him Cali! I’m not afraid of them,” Michael blustered, getting pistol-whipped for his outburst.

  A man produced a pair of clippers and gestured to the gunman, who took out his phone and began to record the event. “Be sure to get all of this.” He came behind a dazed Michael and cut the plastic that bound his wrists, forcing his right hand up in front of him while another man held him immobile. Cali watched with the gun trained on her, her stoic face betraying no emotion until the jaws of the clippers were slipped over his pinkie finger.

  “Okay! Okay!” she screamed. “I won’t try to run again …I swear!”

  “Are you recording?” the man with the clippers asked the man with the phone.

  Caledonia watched in shock as he squeezed the blades together. She heard the sickening crunch of breaking bone and saw Michael’s disembodied finger fall to the roadside gravel, bouncing once before rolling down into the ditch.

  Blood spurted from the stump that remained, and Michael let out a cry that turned into a howl of pain and horror. Two men heaved him back into the truck, still bl
eeding.

  “Next time,” the man with the gun smiled at Caledonia from behind his glasses, “we’ll take off his thumb.”

  ~

  Chapter Four

  SACRIFICE

  ~

  Layla checked her phone to see that another blocked number was calling. This time, they’d sent a video file, and she clicked it open, watching in horror. Her stomach started churning, filling with dread as her legs began shaking violently beneath her. She caught herself on the edge of the sink, trying to process what she’d just seen. The phone rang again and she answered it with clumsy hands, her voice quavering, “Hello?”

  “It’s too bad about your brother, but the blonde here doesn’t want to play nice. You won’t make the same mistake she did now … will you? Because there’s a lot more we could do to both of them–”

  “Please …” she croaked, her throat dry and tight, “Please don’t hurt them.”

  “That’s entirely up to you. I want you to ditch you cell phone up there and get your ass down to LA by tomorrow morning.”

  “What?” she asked, feeling lightheaded.

  “You heard me. And you’d better show up without the cop boyfriend tagging along. We’ll be watching, and if we see anything funny they both die. Understand? We’re not fooling around here.”

  “What do you want me to do?” she asked.

  “Check into the airport Hilton under your name. We’ll contact you.”

  “How am I supposed to get down there?” she choked out.

  “That’s not our problem. If you’re as good as the doc says, you’ll figure something out.”

  “Wait! Let me talk to them first.”

  The man on the other end of the line let out a quick, bitter laugh. “I’m afraid they can’t talk right now. You better hurry. Their time is running out.”

  He hung up and her empty stomach convulsed, leaving her retching bile into the sink. A nurse came in the door, disappearing into one of the stalls while Layla splashed cold water on her face and looked into the mirror with a deep shaky breath.

  The moment of truth had finally come, just like she’d always known it would.