Chapter Two: Searching
Saturday Evening
"Shades, I've tried ten times on both of their cell phones. There's no answer." The stress level in Charlotte's voice reached a pinnacle. "Maybe once or twice, they might ignore me wanting to be alone, but her Majesty would NEVER disregard ten calls from me. She knows I wouldn't call that many times if it weren't urgent."
She moved over to kneel next to him at his desk. "Please, Scott. I know something is wrong."
Joseph's second in command looked down at the beautiful blonde whose eyes were filled with unshed tears. Her use of his name rather than the nickname told him that, Joseph's wrath be damned, they had to go check on them. If he caught them in a compromising position, he'd deal with that later. "Okay Charlotte, I'll get Felix to assume watch and you and I will drive out to their location."
She rose and placed a quick kiss on his cheek, "Thank you." She hesitated. "Can we…"
He nodded. "I'll have the royal guard follow us and wait a mile or so away so if this turns out to be a false alarm…"
"I'll apologize to them – and you – personally, and find a way to make it up to all of you."
"Alright, meet me in the car in ten."
"There! That's the house." Charlotte's senses had been tingling as they got closer to the house. Her gut was rarely wrong, if ever. It was part of the reason the Queen trusted her implicitly. She hoped this time she was wrong as the churning in her stomach indicated something had gone horribly wrong.
Shades killed the lights on the car during their final approach. "No sense in alerting anyone to our presence. You wait here while I go check it out."
"Like hell I will. I'm coming with you."
"Charlotte…"
"You're entrusted with protecting the Princess and will someday be protecting the Queen. Are you really going to try to convince me you can't protect little ol' me?"
He rubbed his face with his hands – this woman was impossible. He loved her, but she was impossible. "Fine. Stay behind me. Stay quiet. Do exactly what I say."
"Yes sir!" She smiled.
"This isn't a joke, Charlotte. If something has gone wrong and the bad guys are still there, I need to be sure you'll follow my orders so I can protect you. Understood?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. I promise."
They crept quietly through the sand and up onto the porch using only the light from the moon and a small penlight. Shades noticed the door was ajar and shells were scattered all over the porch. Not a good sign. Two white handkerchiefs and Joseph's gun lay on the floor. His adrenalin kicked into full gear. He quickly moved through each of the rooms to clear them.
Empty.
Nothing.
They were gone.
He pressed the piece in his ear to connect him to the head of the royal guard. "This is Shades. The Eagle and Wolf are missing. Signs of a struggle and…" He sniffed one of the white handkerchiefs. "Chloroform was used. Mobilize a team, set up a search grid and let's find them. We don't know how long they have been missing."
"Shades!" Charlotte called to him from the next room.
"Get on it, I'll be back in a minute." He hastened to the room Charlotte had called him from. "What is it?"
"I've checked her clothes – only one outfit is missing. Oh my God, that means they were taken sometime Friday after they arrived."
Her words spurred him into action. The button activated again, he shouted. "I want mobile support and someone better find and wake the person who can track Joseph's chip."
Charlotte wiped the tears from her eyes. "Chip? What chip?"
"Joseph was part of an elite military organization prior to coming to work at the palace. In order to track their team members, something like a GPS tracking chip was inserted into his body. He mentioned it to me one time over beers when we were talking about his life before the palace. I'm hoping if it worked then, it will still work now and we can at least narrow the search area down."
Charlotte pulled him into a hug. "You're brilliant! Get me to a computer and give me some place to start. I'll go from there."
Sunday afternoon
Clarisse felt another body move onto the bed next to her. She dreaded to open her eyes to see who had joined her and feared what they might want. Despite the aches and pains filling every pore of her body, both inside and out, the trauma of the night had become too much and she had passed out, the blissful
darkness of unconsciousness rescuing her. There was no concept of time. She only prayed Monday would be here soon and her trusted team could find them quickly.
Her will to fight and keep the evil out of her head was dwindling rapidly. After hearing the beatings go on for who knows how long, she wasn't even certain Joseph was still alive. Despair clutched at her heart and filled her with a sadness that left her cold and despondent. Though she loved the thousands of people in her country, it was one person's love for her that had kept her going all these years. If he was gone, she wasn't sure she could continue.
The need to make sure he was alive outweighed the dread of who had joined her on the bed. Slowly opening her eyes she saw Lester laying there, watching her. She propped herself up enough to look over him and saw a badly beaten Joseph in the chair next to the bed. His shoulders moved up and down in a rhythmic manner signifying, to her at least, he was alive. Laying back she turned to the man who had been responsible for this living hell. "Thank you for putting him in the chair last night rather than leaving him standing." She hated each word as they came out, but she was grateful and knew he could've left him there. Had he still been chained and standing when he passed out, it probably would've pulled his shoulder joints or God knows what else out as the weight of his entire body would've only been supported by the cuffs.
His fingers traced her cheek and jaw. "I'm not entirely heartless, besides, he's no use to me if he can't move his arms. I want you to know I punished Rich after I brought you to bed. He's left Joseph in such a mess, he'll be no use to me today."
Unsure whether to feel happy, relieved or worried she simply nodded. "So what do you have planned for me today?"
His hand slid lower and cupped her breast. "Oh I intend to have you, brand you as my own. Rich had his turn, Jason has had his fun. Now it's my turn." He leaned in and kissed her fully on the lips. She didn't return the kiss but somehow remained in position in an effort not to anger him. Her body couldn't take the penalty for any more acts of defiance. The last one had cost her far more than she cared to count.
"You intrigue me, unlike any of my other playmates."
Dear God, how many had there been?
"How so?" The longer she talked, the longer she delayed the inevitable.
He reached up and secured her other wrist to the bedpost then turned his attention back to her face. "Each time I thought I had broken you, there would be a moment—either a subtle one, a flash of defiance in your eyes—or a bold one, the move with Jason last night."
"A move which I paid dearly for as I recall."
His eyes became more animated, "But that's what I mean. You had to know there would be retribution and yet you still did it." His hand moved lower to caress as Clarisse closed her eyes to escape, she knew what was going to happen next. "You are my biggest challenge."
Her escape from the horror of Lester's body over hers was interrupted as shouts from the other room broke into her retreat. Jason came to the door, "Father, they're here! They found us."
A loud thud followed by the sound of footfall sent him running. Moments later, another thud. Clarisse started to feel relief. They were being rescued! For the first time in days she had hope.
The now familiar grip around her neck stifled any hope as her airway was cut off. Wide eyed, she clawed at Les but to no avail. She managed to turn her head slightly to see Joseph slowly rousing to consciousness. They're going to be too late.
The blackness surrounded and swallowed her whole.
Joseph found his voice and screamed, "Shades, in here! The Queen!"
Shades ran into the room and saw Joseph cuffed to a chair looking like hell had better days and then followed his eyes to the bed. A man's hand was around his Queen's throat; his body on top of hers. He wouldn't be able to get a clean shot and not risk hitting the precious woman trapped under his target.
Sprinting forward, he dropped the gun and pulled the knife from its sheath on his waist. He aimed for the lung/heart area, but at the last moment the man moved, his hands still gripping the Queen's throat tightly. The movement made him miss his target, hitting the man in his side near his stomach. It was enough, though, to break his hold on Clarisse. Shades pulled the knife out and went for another thrust when the assailant rolled off the bed and to the floor, falling right at Joseph's feet.
As he made his way around the bed, he saw Joseph using what small amount of chain he had for his ankles to kick the crap out of the man. He scrambled to his feet and started to run. Joseph yelled. "Shoot that bastard!"
With lightning reflexes, Shades reached down and pulled out his ankle gun, aimed and fired. The man dropped hard and with finality to the cold floor. Since this gun didn't have a silencer, the other guards started to run in. "Stop! Wait outside. Send Charlotte in with some blankets."
Realizing Shades was trying to protect them, especially his Queen, Joseph nodded in thanks. "Think you can get me out of these? Keys are on the bottom shelf of the table over there."
Scott moved quickly and released him just before Charlotte arrived. Taking in the scene in front of her, she dropped the blankets, "Oh my God…"
"Char, the blankets please. Give me one for Joseph. You put this one over the Queen."
She nodded and did as he asked. Averting her eyes the moment she realized Joseph was naked, she kept her gaze on Scott and handed him the blanket. Though, in all truthfulness, his body was so bruised and battered, she wasn't sure how he was even still alive. Her heart broke as she witnessed the bruises and lash marks on the body of her friend. She covered her with a blanket and sat carefully next to her on the bed, holding her hand. "Please be alright," she whispered.
"Can you walk?" Shades helped Joseph to a standing position.
"Slowly, but I can. You take care of her. She needs medical assistance and oxygen. That bastard loved choking her."
Shades pressed the piece in his ear to get the connection. "I need the medevac helicopter at my coordinates. NOW!"
He moved over to where Charlotte was sitting. "I'm going to roll her towards me, you tuck the blanket in behind her and then I'll carry her out."
The young woman nodded, moved to the other side of the bed and waited for Scott to move her. She gasped at the welts and gashes all over her back. "Merde, Scott. They beat her badly too."
"It's good those bastards are dead or I'd kill them again, slowly and painfully."
Charlotte carefully tucked the blanket around the older woman's body, trying hard not to hurt her any more than she was already. "Okay, let's get her out of here."
Shades carefully lifted his precious package and carried her toward the exit lifting a silent prayer to God they'd gotten there in time.
^^C&J^^
Sunday evening
Lionel pounded on the door, his heart matching the loud thudding. Shades had entrusted him with this special task and he would not fail. Finally, the door opened.
"Can I help you, young man?"
"Sir, my name is Lionel and I'm with the Royal Guard. I've been sent to escort you to the palace."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm not at liberty to say at the moment, sir, but it's a medical emergency. Please grab whatever items you need and let's go."
"I should call my nurse…"
"Sir! Please. My orders are to bring you and only you. This is a matter of the highest confidentiality and urgency. I would rather not bring you by force, but if I must."
"Son, my family is out at a movie. I need to leave them a note."
Desperation filled the young security guard, every second counted. He stepped into the man's personal space and leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Queen of Genovia requires your assistance. There isn't a moment to lose. Please, sir. I'll send someone to fill your family in later."
Dr. Weston saw the fear in the young man's face. If he was here, demanding this type of response – the Queen's life must be in danger. "Let me grab my bag."
Lionel breathed a sigh of relief. With any luck, they'd beat the helicopter. If not, Shades was going to kill him too.
Palace Grounds – Rear Entrance
"Here they come!" Lionel shouted over the noisy rotors.
"She was medivac'd in? How bad is she?"
Lionel stopped staring at the incoming chopper long enough to turn toward the doc, his gaze grim and sad. "I don't know. All they told me was they were hurt very badly."
"They?"
"Her Majesty and Joseph."
"Dear God, what happened?"
Lionel's face drained of any remaining color, "Kidnapped and tortured."
Before Dr. Weston could say anything further, the helicopter landed. Men dressed in black poured out of the back and carefully lifted a stretcher onto a gurney. The moment the blades stopped rotating, he ran forward to assess and perform triage. What he saw made the late afternoon snack he'd eaten threaten to make a reverse trip. Years of medical training kicked in and he began shouting orders. "Get them inside and onto beds, separate rooms."
He turned to Lionel. "You go to the storage room in the infirmary and retrieve several packets of O negative blood. I'll grab some additional supplies and then perform my initial triage."
Charlotte emerged from the helicopter and immediately grabbed her phone, hitting number three on the speed dial. After a few rings, the voice she'd hoped for picked up. "Prime Minister, we need you at the palace immediately. Please tell no one and come through the rear entrance. Thank you."
She cut the connection and moved into the corridor outside the infirmary to wait, her mind beginning to sort through all the contingencies she would need to plan for. It felt like only minutes later, Sebastian was escorted by Lionel to where she and Shades were waiting.
"Charlotte, what's going on?" Sebastian's rotund face was clouded with confusion and concern.
She touched his elbow and moved him away from the general commotion in that end of the hall. "What I'm about to tell you is highly confidential. I'm sharing this with you because I know Her Majesty trusts you implicitly and she needs your help."
He nodded solemnly. "I would do anything for her. What has happened?"
Charlotte inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, praying for the emotional control she'd seen in her queen time and time again. "She and Joseph were kidnapped on Friday and over the past couple days were tortured by three men."
Disbelief colored his features…that type of thing didn't happen in Genovia. "Tortured how? Why?"
Tears threatened, "I'm not entirely sure. Dr. Weston is in there now doing an initial assessment. Joseph was beaten badly and Her Majesty…" She shook her head unable to say out loud her greatest fear. She had seen the restraints and their mutual state of undress. "The full extent of her injuries is still unknown. But I do know neither of them will be suitable for a public appearance for at least a few weeks. Which is why I need your help."
"What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to make a statement to the press. Something to the effect they both contracted a highly contagious virus…I'll get Dr. Weston to provide you with an appropriate name, and they will be unavailable for contact with the public until he can give them a clean bill of health."
"I'll arrange for it first thing in the morning."
"And Parliament. You'll need to handle them for a while."
Sebastian nodded again. "How bad is she? Really."
Thoughts of bruises, lash marks, and an unconscious queen flooded Charlotte's mind. She dare not even think what might be implied by the other sights she'd witnessed. Scott's face had told her it was far worse than it even appeared. It was too horrifying to even consider. Her eyes found his telling him more than she could ever say aloud. "Very bad, Sebastian. Very bad."