Chapter 125
"Okay Ryan, just calm down. We will find her. Maranda assured him not even sure where to start looking either. Leaving his office to inform Liam about what she just found out. Figuring it would be best if she didn't let her friends and colleagues downstairs know about what is happening, but will inform them at a later stage.
Ryan paced around in his office trying to get everything together and figure out where he should start looking. Opening a document on his computer to look at all the arrest records from the past six months. There was too many names, to pin point it to either one, but one thing is certain. There is no way he is about to let this go even if it means having to stay up all night to bring his wife back home safe.
"What do you want from me?" Alex asked again looking at Roy who took a seat on the filthy mattress. "It's not what I want from you, it's what your husband is willing to pay for you." He smiled smugly. "Now, if you promise to be a good girl and not make any noise, and do what I say when I say so, you'll get through all of this with minimal pain and scarring." He shrugged removing his jacket, and the fear in Alex's eyes were evident.
"Look, if it's money that you want fine, I'll make a plan and give it to you. You can start a new life somewhere away from your past." She bargained but Roy shook his head. "No, my past will always follow me." He said walking over towards her, loosening the bun that her hair was in, sorting it over her shoulders. "You should wear it loose more often." He commented kissing the top of her head as she tried to move her head away. "Remember what I told you." He sang "if you do what I say you won't get hurt."
After two hours of endless searching and staring at his computer screen, seeing bunches of names and mug shots Ryan was at wits end. He walked over to Liam's office, entering without knocking while the older man was on the phone. Liam looked up at Ryan and ended his phone call, he opened his mouth to say something but was cut off. "I can't sit around here and wait for something to happen. Shouldn't we file a missing person's report or something?" Ryan asked looking at Liam who shook his head.
"Ryan, I know that's the first thing that comes to mind but it might not be such a good idea." Liam answered.
"Then what else do you suggest!?" He yelled, it seems like no one else saw the fact that his wife's life is in danger except him.
"Look, it may seem as if we're not making any progress to you but I can assure you we're trying Ryan, these things take time. Go home, there's nothing you can do here." Liam suggested but Ryan refused.
"I can't sit at home waiting for the phone to ring, and someone telling me I need to come identify her body, I'm not going anywhere O'Connor." Ryan stormed out of the office and out the back door. The cool breeze hitting his face, as he leans his back against the brick exterior wall taking a deep breath. In his mind flashed images of all the worst case scenarios that this could lead to. How he's taking Phoebe to kindergarten without Alex, primary school and high school. Her prom and not having her mother there to help her go shop for the perfect dress. Shaking his head at all these negative thoughts that somehow gave him a renewed energy as he heads back inside, continuing the search on his computer.
Alex wondered how much time had passed since she's been in this warehouse. There are dusty windows up high letting in some rays of sunshine but not enough for her to try and determine time, let alone her location. "What time is it?" She asked looking up to see Roy heating up some baked beans he threw in a bowl.
"You shouldn't be worried about time darling. After lunch we'll have some quality time, just the two of us." He winked, stirring the contents in a small pot on a portable gas stove. Once satisfied that the beans were hot enough he scooped it out into the tins again, and placed a spoon in each tin walking over to Alex. "I'll loosen your hands so you can eat. Don't try anything funny." He warned and Alex nodded. Having had enough time to check the place out for some escape, or anything she can try and hit him over the head with.
Once her hands were untied she rubbed her wrists which turned red due to the cable ties that were too tight, and the piece of rope that were also tied around it in case she tried to loosen herself. Kissing her on the cheek slightly, and she turned her face away, Roy shrugged and hands her the one tin of heated baked beans. She was hungry no doubt about that but there is no way she's eating this. Anything could be in it to knock her out again and she's not willing to go down that road of darkness again.
"I'm not hungry." She answered playing with the spoon in the tin. Picking up the contents and dropping it again. "Well, this is all I can afford right now, I know you're used to fancy dinners in nice hotels." Roy answered getting up taking the tin from her hands. "But, one thing I can promise you is that dessert will be something we'll both like." He smiled leaning in for another kiss, and this time Alex took the opportunity to smack him across the face.
Touching his cheek he turned back to her, grabbing her hands ad pinning them down on her lap "you never learn, do you." He said hitting her with his fist across the jaw. "Can you for once just stop acting like you're wonder woman? I mean yes, you have the looks and all but let me tell you, you aren't shit, and you never were." He looked her in the eyes, she tried to get her hands loose but he held them too tight. And she couldn't kick him either because her feet were tied as well. "Like what makes you think your husband isn't out there screwing other woman, while you're stuck here with me?"
"Because Ryan's not you. At least he respects women, and me. I'm not your or anyone's possession." She told him looking him squarely in the eye.
Ryan was busy printing two pages of potential suspects that he have in mind, over the course of the last three months. Looking into people who might want to take revenge on him also when a voice from the door startled him. "Ryan it's lunch time. Go get Phoebe, go home. We'll handle what we can and inform you as soon as we have more news." Maranda said entering his office, with Liam in tow, but Ryan shook his head.
"That's an order Booth." Liam made his voice heard and Ryan looked between both of them, packing up his things and heading towards the door without greeting either. Taking the elevator down because he wasn't in the mood for the questions people may have when he finds any of them along the stairs. Walking past the boardroom, there was a picture of Alex on the board and a bunch of mugshots together with a map of the city and places marked of where she made arrests. One of the Special Agents taking charge on the case explaining things to them as Ryan watches from the side of the glass, a hand on his back makes him turn around suddenly.
"Hey man, how you holding up?" Caleb asks and Ryan shook his head not knowing how to answer that question.
"Trying to stay afloat." Ryan said stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Listen, Shelby and I will take Phoebe for the night if you want to get some rest." Caleb offered but again Ryan shook his head.
"Thanks for the offer, but I need to have Phoebe with me right now."
"Of course, I understand." Caleb answered and Ryan walked towards the exit. "Ryan, we're gonna find her." Caleb said and Ryan turned around nodding his head briefly before continuing his walk. Walking out to the parking lot, he passed Alex's car and walked around the vehicle before opening the door, looking inside for more answers. He got behind the wheel and flipped the sun visor, seeing the note he wrote her on the night they got engaged, smiling to himself at the thought of her keeping it. A picture of him and Phoebe shortly after she was born fastened with a paperclip on the back of the note. "I'm gonna find you, even if it means I have to stay up all night." He whispered putting everything back into place where he found it, closing the door before walking off to his car, heading home before he goes to get his daughter.
"Here's how this is going to work. I'm about to untie you, I want you to walk over to that mattress and wait for me there." Roy said bending down to loosen her cuffed feet. Alex didn't say anything, she waited until her feet were untied, rubbing her hands together in her lap slowly. Roy was still sitting down on bended knees when she took the opportunity to kick him in the privates.
"Aaagghhh damn you bitch!" He yelled scrunching down.
She took this opportunity to run for the door, turning on the handle but it refused to open and the windows wasn't even an option. "Come on, come on open up." She said as she yanked the door that refused to budge. He was walking towards her from behind and she hit him in the stomach with an elbow but it didn't keep him down long. He yanked her by the hair and continued to pull until she had no choice but to follow him, her attempts to hit him while they walked was in vain, until he threw her down on the mattress, tying her hands first above her head, to some heavy object that made it impossible for her to move it, or even attempt to roll off the bed as he kept her legs untied.
"I gave you a simple order." He said slowly leaning into her. "You just don't listen do you? Like I told you before you. Ain't. Shit." He paused between each word and spat in her face at the end. As much as she told herself to remain calm and stay strong she wasn't sure how much more of this she can take, and it didn't look as if help was on the way anytime soon. "So, you will do as I say, when I say it." He said through clenched teeth while his hand is around her throat, and his grip getting more firm until she starts panicking. "You're hurting me." Came her response in a small voice, until he made sure he sent out a clear message that she understands, and he let go. His eyes spitting fire.
Ryan parked the car and headed inside, opening his laptop, but he spots Alex's handbag on the table and walks over to it. He empties the contents of her purse on out on the table but it was nothing outside of the ordinary that it contained, that could give him some kind of clue of what is going on. He walks towards the kitchen, tracing his finger along the marble top counter, and comes to a stand still in front of the fridge. The little things she does that makes his heartache right now. The grocery list pasted on the fridge, the way Phoebe's food and formula was organized, how she always got upset with him whenever he did the dishes because he never put the cutlery in the separate spaces where they were supposed to be. Heading back to the table where his laptop was open he got the printed pages out and crossed off names as he dialed the numbers from his cellphone. Stooping down to a level he never thought he would, he got back into his car and drove into a neighborhood where Diaz lived. He was out on probation and there has to be some dirt he can use to blackmail him with, even if it's not the truth.
Pulling up to his front door, Ryan opened the gate and walked inside, knocking three times. When it seemed as if no one was opening up he banged on the door, hearing footsteps coming closer, and the door opening slightly, Diaz looking at him questioningly.
"I haven't been in any trouble with the law since you guys took me, I swe.." Diaz started but Ryan pulled him out of the house, closing the door behind him.
"I need your help." Ryan said looking at him, but Diaz turned back around and had his hand on the doorknob "I'm sorry I can't help you."
"Like you needed help when your ass was on the line and I put my life on the line to get your daughter out of that building unharmed." Ryan reminded him seeing his face change.
"And I appreciate that." He replied in a Spanish accent, nodding his head for Ryan to continue on what it is he needs help with.
"My wife's gone, I might have an idea that it could be three guys who were on to me a few months ago. But I don't have a location or evidence that it is one of them. Is there anyone else I can see?" He asked looking at the man for answers.
Diaz scratched his head, and looked up and down the road to see if anyone saw the two of them talking outside. "Mikhail Jenkins, he lays low so the cops might not know him, but he is one of their guys on the outside. Helped one of them bust out. Look that's the word I got from E-Zee, last time we spoke. Roy can't scratch himself without Jenkins."
"Where do I find him?"
"24HR Money Store he owns it, Diaz answered and Ryan nodded.
"This was an off the books visit. If this comes out to anyone I'll deny it and have your ass back in jail sooner than you know." Ryan said and Diaz headed back inside the house, as Ryan got in his car and drove to the location he just got but before he could pull away his phone rang.
"Have you got anything?" Ryan asked without greeting Liam on the other end.
"No, but I mean it's well after four, I think we should call it a day and continue tomorrow." Liam informed Ryan who couldn't believe what he just heard.
"You told me at 1PM to go home and that you have things under control, it's three hours later and you still didn't find anything!" Ryan yelled slamming his hand on the steering wheel, whether the FBI is with him on this or not, he's not about to continue the search tomorrow, he'll do it today even if it takes him all night.
"Ryan listen to me…"
"No O'Connor, you listen to me now. I did something I probably shouldn't have, but I won't be able to do this on my own, I'm gonna need back up." Ryan started and after Liam gave him a long lecture he allowed Ryan to continue and explain his stance on things.
Next he called Caleb asking if his offer still stands about taking Phoebe, because he's not sure what time he'll be home and if he'll make it in time to pick her up.
"You know, you do have the most beautiful eyes, but now instead of them shining bright and being big and sparkly, they look like a dear caught in headlights right now. Full. Of. Fear. " Roy laughed as he got up and walked over to the stove, grabbing a bottle that looked like paraffin. "Now, this is all going to be very easy" he continued opening the bottle walking along the mattress where Alex looked up at him blinking rapidly her heartrate speeding up. He poured the liquid out along the edge of the mattress, keeping the other half that remained.
"What are you doing?" She asked hating the quiver that was in her voice.
"Just making sure you behave yourself dear." He smiled playing with a lighter, watching as the flame danced in his hand. "It's simple, you do as I say or else. Boom." He whispered with big eyes.
Alex swallowed deeply, she had no other choice because she's no longer brave instead fearful. It's been long enough and no help has arrived since so she might as well accept her fate.
Hey guys! I felt like this was the right place to stop this one, if I continued it would've been too long and I have some drama planned for whatever happens next as requested. Thanks for the read I hope you enjoy.
Lovies-S
