Chapter 8
Sam fought for the last shred of consciousness when he heard Michael's voice. Then he opened his eyes and saw his friend's face hovering over him in a haze. Someone pushed his hand off of Yvette, and he tried to put it back, but they shoved him away again.
"It's okay, Sammy. I'm taking care of Yvette. You just hang on until help gets here."
"Thanks...Dad." He returned his attention to Michael.
"Sam, what happened?"
"Mike...don't know when...they shot Eve. Got the jump on me...took...took Samuel." The words cut like a knife. "Find him, M-Mikey. Find Sammy." He drifted off into unconsciousness, unable to resist any longer.
"The ambulance should be here any minute now," Samuel said as he pressed on Yvette's wound. It worried him that she didn't respond or writhe from the pain. "Michael, why would anyone want to invade their home, shoot them both, and take off with a child?"
"I don't know, Samuel, but you can be sure Fi, Jesse, and I will be looking into it."
"Don't just look into it, Michael. This is my family, my grandson we're talking about." Anger burned in his chest and forced itself out with each word. "You find them and...take...them...out."
Sirens pierced the air in the front yard, followed by slamming doors and feet rushing to the front entrance. Michael used his foot to shove Sam's gun under the sofa and tucked his own under his suit jacket, so by the time the police entered the room, it appeared as if it were a home invasion with victims who were unable to defend themselves. It was better that way. The cops would be looking for a random kidnapper and ask no tough questions of the victims, when they were able to talk. Meanwhile, Michael and his team would find out who from their past decided to make Sam Axe's life a living hell.
Michael and Samuel Sr. stood and got out of the way as the paramedics did their work. A flash of recognition hit him as he met Campbell's eyes. He could only imagine what was behind them as he took in the sight of Sam and Yvette sprawled in a pool of blood on the wood floor. A part of him wanted to run out the door and start tracking whoever did this. But he was frozen to the spot. He couldn't leave until he knew they were okay. He sensed Samuel standing beside him, and he glanced at the older man. He was slightly shorter than his son but had the same frame. He even stood the same way that Sam might if he were upright, except his hands hung from his pockets by his thumbs, his palms staining the front of his khakis red. If Michael were one for touching people, he would have put a comforting arm around him. Instead, he just stood with him and hoped that he understood the depth of Michael's own grief at the sight before their eyes.
"Excuse me, we'd like to get statements from both of you," the officer interrupted their thoughts.
"I'm afraid there isn't much to tell," Michael answered.
"Sammy and I came home, and he noticed something was wrong," Samuel answered shakily. He recounted everything from the time Sam entered the house until he heard gunshots. "I ran in here but the assailants were already gone." His eyes met the officer's, and Samuel's were filled with tears. "They've got my grandson!"
"I'm sorry to hear that, Sir. Do you have a picture of him that we can use to put out an Amber Alert?"
"Y-yes, I do." He pulled out his wallet, opened it, and turned to the first leaf of photographs. He pulled out a picture of Sam, Yvette, and Samuel that was taken for a Christmas card, a card he was never sent, but Sam gave him the picture later. The family smiled and looked so happy together. He choked back a sob at the thought that things might never be the same again. Just as he regained what he lost, he was losing it all over again, and with that thought anger bubbled up to the surface. "You find him, Officer. And no mercy to the ones who took him, took my son...and my daughter..."
"Michael," Maddie's voice crossed the space, soft and concerned.
"Ma." Michael turned toward the kitchen door and beckoned her to come into the room.
"Sam...Yvette!" Her eyes widened as she took in the scene before him. "Where's Samuel? Where is he?" Her voice rose in panic with each syllable.
"Someone took him, Maddie," Samuel Sr. replied. "They came in here and shot them and took him." With every word, he crept closer to losing complete control of his emotions.
"Samuel..." Maddie moved forward, held her arms wide, and embraced him. She didn't care what Michael thought.
For such a strong man, Michael didn't expect to see this. He didn't particularly care for his mother offering her suitor comfort, but these were extenuating circumstances. He was also surprised to feel an emotional pull towards the two, so he stepped up beside them and placed tentative hands on their backs.
"Michael, we're taking Sam and Yvette to the hospital now," Campbell announced with a soft voice. "Do you want to ride with Sam? He's not in as serious shape as Yvette."
"Yeah. If he wakes up, I want to ask him about what he knows."
Campbell nodded. "I really hope somebody catches who did this. This is appalling, that someone would just come in here and steal a child from his home. I've never seen anything like it."
"Don't worry, Campbell. We'll find out who did this and get Samuel back."
He nodded. "Does Fiona know? She's going to be sick about it."
The corner of Michael's mouth tipped up slightly. "Not yet, but I'm sure she'll be devastated and she'll be on board with me. We'll get the job done."
"I have no doubt you will, Michael."
"Ma, take Samuel to the hospital. I'll meet you there. And call Fi. Please, Ma?"
She nodded through the tears streaking her mascara. "We'll see you there, Michael. All of us."
Micheal nodded, and he and Campbell walked out the door behind the two gurneys. A few seconds later, dual screams pierced the air as the sirens fired up and the ambulances took off for the hospital. Not long after, the detectives arrived. It seemed disgusting for them to barge into a home that had already been violated. Other than a few bullet holes in the floor and walls, the only other evidence of a conflict was the drying blood on the floor punctuated by the outlines of where two bodies lay.
"Folks, I'm sorry, you'll have to leave."
"Okay. Samuel...let's go." She placed a hand on his upper arm, caressed it, and gently forced him toward the kitchen door. "We'll get Fiona and then go to the hospital. Sam and Yvette will be fine, you'll see. And the police will get Samuel back. If they don't, I guarantee that Michael will."
Samuel didn't respond. He was still in shock over everything that had happened. In all his time in the military and the number of battles he found himself in the middle of, he'd never experienced anything like this. He was always under control, but this time, he was so blindsided, he didn't know how to get back his equilibrium.
