"One should rather die than be betrayed. There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope." -Steven Deitz
The Evening Before...
Tony
I had known Akacia Heart for over three weeks. I didn't know much about her, but the oddest thing I didn't know was where she actually lived. Bayport, yes. But where in the city...I have no clue.
Picking up my cell phone while still driving to no where in particular, I dialed Akacia's number. I really didn't expect her to pick up, after all Frank had said she was missing as well. So when I heard her almost frantic voice practically yelling on the other line it made me jump.
"Hello?!"
"Akacia?"
"Tony! Umm...hi! What do you want?"
"Kay, are you alright? You sound--"
"No, no, no I'm fine Ton, fine. What's up?"
"Well, have you heard about Hope?"
"Hope? No, what?"
"She's missing...and apparently so are you. Or at least you're supposed to be. I mean no one could get a hold of you...until now I guess...Kay, what's going on?"
"Wait back up, Hope's missing!?"
"Yes. Her car and gym bag were left out front of The Gym and no one has seen her since this morning. She and Phil were working out before opening time. Kay I need you to be honest with me. We need to talk."
"Well why aren't the police talking to Phil?! Why would I be tied into any of this, so what if I wasn't answering my phone, maybe I was busy! If Phil was there with her then why isn't he a suspect? I mean yeah, he's a little scrawny, not much muscle on those bones, but he could still pull it off--"
"What!? Akacia! What are you talking about!? Phil would never do anything like that! How can you even say that!?"
There was a long pause on the other end after my yelling. I waited, silently brooding. I could hear voices in the background but they were muffled by Akacia's rapid heart rate and air intake. She was obviously holding the receiver to block out the other conversation taking place God knows where.
"Listen Tony, I'm really really sorry. I didn't mean to accuse Phil like that. I'm a jerk and I'm sorry--"
There was another pause as she stopped to whisper something to someone. I was frustrated that I couldn't tell what was happening on the other line.
"--Can you forgive me?"
This time I was the cause of the long pause.
"Apology accepted," For now at least, "But Akacia we need to talk...now. I just stormed out of a meeting with Frank and Joe Hardy and they had some very interesting things to say. Mainly concerning you...and your...family."
I heard a sharp intake of breath. A shaky sigh and then rapid shouting in the background. Again I had no idea what they were actually saying, but I had a good sense that it was directed at Akacia.
"Okay...Tony...Umm, okay..." More muffled shouts, "Can you meet me at the corner of West and Rockrimmon? I-I'm having...car trouble. But we could talk there."
"Hmm, okay I'll be there."
...
Fifteen minutes later I was pulling up beside Akacia's red Ford Taurus wondering what the hell was going on. I parked my car and waited until I saw Akacia vacate her, apparently broke down vehicle. It was fairly dark with the exception of the street lamps and full moon.
"Akacia--"
"Tony, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this..." Akacia's eyes were filled with tears as she ran over to me.
"What? What do you mean Kay?"
"My-my father, you said the Hardys told you 'bout him. I'm so sorry," Akacia spit out through gasps for breath and her sobs.
"Calm down, calm down. It's alright, you've done nothing wrong. It's not your fault. Everything's going to be fine," I soothed her. She looked up at me, her golden eyes clouded with emotion and tears. Her lower lip quivering. She mouthed "sorry" again to me.
I sensed a movement behind me and spun to face a large man holding what I thought was an odd looking revolver. I did a double take and sure enough that's what it was.
"Akacia?" I whispered.
"I-I'm sorry Tony, so sorry," she croaked.
"Sorry for what?" I asked in a nervous voice. But before I could hear her response an immense pain shot through my left shoulder and I landed hard on the ground. I grabbed at my arm and a fog immediately surrounded me, but before I could succumb to the inevitable unconscious state I heard Akacia's voice.
"If you hurt him I swear--"
"Don't worry there's just enough drugs in the dart to knock him out for a few hours. Your father wants him alive. He thinks he knows too much, you heard him yourself. Besides he'll make good leverage just in case you decide to back out Miss Bernheart."
...
Frank
Present Time...
"What?" Joe asked groggily, he's really not a morning person whatsoever.
"Tony's missing," I repeated myself.
"Tony's gone now too!? God, three missing persons in two days! What's the deal?" Joe huffed on the other line.
"No kidding. Nic called and said Tony didn't show up at work and got really worried. He's tried to call him but Tony never picks up," I explained.
"Dammit, we shouldn't have let him go off by himself like that," Joe grumbled.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Ok, now what are we supposed to do? Do you think all three disappearances are connected?"
"Willing to bet they are. I think we need to go and have a talk with dad. Con and the Chief too," I told Joe who yawned loudly and I heard Vanessa's voice and Jared's cries on the other end.
"You realize we stole valuable information from them right?"
"Well...maybe they didn't notice..."
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