Author's Note:
Thank you so much for the amazing reviews for the last chapter! I am so humbled to hear that you liked it! I have so much more to say but I have no time to write it (gotta get the girls up and get ready for work!). Expect a longer response in the next chapter though. So, again, thank you for reading and leaving a review. Enjoy the chapter and until next time, have a great weekend and God bless!
Chapter Twenty-Three
Joe's face went red with anger at BD's revelation. Laura gasped while several of the mob men stared in disbelief. Jackson's lips were pursed, fury rising in his eyes. BD looked down at the ground, avoiding all eye contact.
"You're a cop?" the brother cried.
"That's enough, Jackson," Anthony stated, placing his hand on Jackson's chest to stop him. "We have already spoken and he doesn't need anything from you."
"You're with them?" shrieked Laura. "How could you?"
"I trusted you!" Joe tried to push his way to BD but Anthony stopped him. "Frank trusted you!"
The mob men in the room were torn. They wondered if they should interfere with what was going on or fight each other because of their jagged loyalties. The group all froze at the look Anthony gave them giving evidence as to who was in charge at that moment.
"I'm not with them, Joe," BD said calmly though he looked visibly shaken at the outburst. "I would never betray any of you especially Nancy."
Joe stopped struggling and blinked several times before he finally calmed down. He looked at Anthony who nodded sadly, his eyes truthful to what BD said. When the older man let go of him, Joe straightened himself out and cleared his throat. In that time, BD pulled out a radio and said "All clear." Seconds later, the door opened and a slew of RHPD officers and FBI agents streamed into the warehouse with Agent Dearing leading the way. Several first responders also rushed in, heading directly toward the bodies scattered around the room. The mob men looked to their boss. Anthony shook his head and the men held their hands up in surrender.
"Can someone please tell me what in God's name is going on?" Dearing cried as the FBI and police took the men into custody. "First I get a call from Mrs. Hardy about this place and then I'm informed not to go in because there was an officer inside. Wait…are those my agents? What the hell is going on here?"
"We were brought here under false pretenses," Joe started. "That's why I had Mom call you. I left a message with Tom to get a hold of Detective Hawkins and he was with Anthony Vittorio at the time. They both came together just before Adam tried to kill Mom."
"Bennett killed the other agents when we got here," Laura continued solemnly. "He was a plant by the Vittorio family. Aaron, or Adam or whatever his name is…was, killed Bennett because he thought he called you."
"Why the hell were you with Anthony Vittorio, one of the most wanted crime bosses in the country?" Dearing asked BD.
"You know him?" Joe asked surprised.
"Of course he knows me," Anthony laughed. "We go back a long way, don't we, Carl?"
"Unfortunately, yes," the SAC shook his head. He waved off an officer who was trying to handcuff the boss. "I've been investigating the Vittorios for 25 years and this is the first time in about 20 that I've been able to get a hold of him." His eyes narrowed on BD who looked a little nervous. "I asked you a question, Detective Hawkins."
BD sighed. "My name in Benedict D'Angelo Vittorio," he repeated. "I…I have been living here in River Heights since I ran away from my family 20 years ago with the help of David Wainwright and Carson Drew. My father was the boss of the Vittorio crime family. My older brother was a rising star and had already killed a kid in high school though he got away with it because he said it was self-defense. I didn't want that for my life so I left. Carson and David helped me relocate right after the merge with DW Technologies. I was only 16 at the time. With their help, I was adopted by a family here in River Heights and changed my name to Hawkins. I went to school then through the police academy with Carson's help. It was what I wanted to do since I was a kid. I owe Carson and David a lot. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them."
"You were here the whole time?" Anthony asked sadly. "You could have come to me about it."
"But would you have listened?" the detective asked. "Ma wanted me to go and I wrote to her for years without you knowing. She…she was proud when she found out I became a detective. I just wish I was there when she passed away. When Janice Blake was arrested last year, I called David and he convinced the Board to let him come get her. I didn't know he was going to have her killed though. I think that was because she tried to kill Nancy. While he was here, he called me and asked if I would keep an eye out for anything else that could happen. I did it without batting an eye. Then when this whole thing blew up, I called him again and kept him informed of what was going on. I didn't know about Bennett or I would have warned someone. When I heard about the Board being in Chicago, I called Pop to see if he was okay. He didn't know anything about the meeting so he took the first flight here. When Tom called me, I was already with him and we came together."
"Did you know where David was this whole time?" Dearing asked, the question running through everyone's mind.
"No," he shook his head. "David didn't tell me for fear of someone finding out. I kept him posted on what was going on with us through text messages though and I did see one of his bodyguards in town a few days ago so I knew they were still here. But Joe figured that out so I didn't say anything. I'm sorry. I should have said something but I thought that I would be suspended or arrested."
"I'll speak to the Chief, Detective," Dearing nodded proudly. "You did nothing wrong from what I'm hearing and you seem like an honest cop. Do we have any idea where the others are?"
"No," Laura said sadly.
"You mean, Wainwright didn't say anything as to where he took them?"
"Don't you realize who you're dealing with when it comes to David?" Anthony piped in. "You all know that he's the founder of a company that designs not just advanced technology but panic rooms as well. If he's owned this place longer than I've known him, there's one here and if I know him as well as I do, he would have wanted them close by to make sure no one knew they were right under their noses. David is like that. He was always one step ahead of any of us and believe me when I say, it's genius. You just gotta find out where it's at and how to open it."
Laura looked down at David as he was being taken care of by the first responders. She wished he would wake up but from the look of it, the man was going to be out for a while. Something glinted off the floor as Laura stared at David. She went over and picked it up, noticing that it was near David's hand as if he were grasping it.
"What is it, Mom?" Joe asked coming up behind her. She held it up for everyone to see. It was the remains of a small remote, a large hole in the middle indicating something went through it.
"May I see that?" Anthony asked holding his hand out. When Laura gave it to him, the man laughed slightly. "Oh, you're good, David."
"What is it?" the young Hardy repeated.
"It's a remote for a door," the mob boss announced. "I may not know very much about technology but I know the products that David made. It's a prototype and so is the room that's more than likely here. Before, David just used titanium alloy to build the rooms but this one is different and much harder to get into. There's no access panel to open it. Only the remote and there should be another one somewhere but more than likely, he hid it inside. They probably don't even know it's there. The only reason why I know about this is because David was pitching it about a month ago. He said he had one that was working but it wasn't finished yet. The outside cameras weren't set up and there's no communication to the inside. He was building it just to see if it worked. Obviously, it does. My suggestion is to start looking for the room before you do anything else. David was smart and more than likely it's hidden in plain sight."
"Just like the one at Nancy's house," Joe replied. "We didn't even know it was there until it was pointed out. The door blended in right with the wall. That's what we're looking for!"
"Well, it seems we have a mystery to solve in here," Dearing stated. He watched as David was being taken away by the paramedics. "And it doesn't look like we'll be getting any help from him any time soon."
The group searched the building, checking the floor, excess wall space, and whatnot only to find nothing that could help them find the room. An hour and a half after they started searching, Joe plunked down on the floor next to an empty wall and hung his head between his knees. Laura sighed and sat on a crate across from him. The others eventually stopped to gather, their moods grim.
"I can't believe we searched this whole building and found nothing," Joe replied. He suddenly raised his head and rubbed the floor beneath him curiously.
"I don't understand it," Anthony shook his head. "I would have thought there was a room here somewhere."
"I'm still trying to understand why I haven't arrested you yet," Dearing muttered garnering a laugh among the group.
"Don't worry," the mob boss replied clapping his hand on the agent's arm. "I'm going anywhere. I want to make sure these people are found and apologize for my son's actions. This should have never happened. Besides, I'd like to meet the child of Carson Drew. If she's anything like her father, then it's worth it."
"You knew Carson?" Laura asked surprised.
"Of course," he shrugged. "I knew him under a different name but I eventually found out who he was but only recently. He sounded like a good lawyer but I doubt he would be mine once this is all over. Any kid of his deserves better than this."
"Thank you, Anthony," she smiled.
"Uh, I think…I think I may have found something," Joe announced looking up. The others stared at him as his rose from the floor and turned to face the wall.
"We checked that one," Dearing stated. "There was nothing different about it."
Joe ignored him, running his fingers along the wall. He made a noise as he found what he was looking for. "Look at this!"
His mother was the first to rush over with Anthony, BD, and Dearing following close behind. Joe pointed to a faint crease in the wall that blended perfectly with everything around it.
"It's just a piece of drywall," Dearing stated disbelievingly. "Like I said, there's nothing there. The room isn't here."
"I would have thought that too if not for what I saw when I was sitting on the ground." Joe grinned as he pointed towards the concrete floor. They were faint but little scuff marks could be seen as if a door had swung opened from somewhere. "Tell me that's not evidence."
"Woah," the agent said looking shocked. He gazed up at the mob boss with new found respect for the man. "Remind me to never doubt you ever again, Anthony. You too, Joe."
"Anytime, Carl," Anthony nodded.
"The question is how do we get in?" Laura asked eagerly.
Joe stared at the wall, willing it to open. They were so close yet so far away from getting to their family members. Nothing came to mind as to how to open it.
Moments later, the lights in the warehouse flickered then suddenly got bright as if a power surge was ripping through. With a loud popping sound, the lights burned out plunging them into darkness.
Frank was still reading a few hours after Henry went to sleep. Nancy was still nestled on the chaise of the sectional, her soft snores indicating deep sleep. Frank gazed at his wife as she sighed. He could tell the strain of being in the room was getting to her but none of them had any way of knowing when they'd be let out. That is if David survived whatever he had planned.
Closing the book, Frank stood up and stretched. He felt dirty and grimy, deciding to take a much needed shower. David thought of everything when he thought up the room they were in. There were hidden compartments everywhere filled with towels, linens, and even spare clothes. A shower stall was in the bathroom filled with hotel sized bottles of shampoos and soaps. As he searched the bathroom, Frank was relieved to find a razor and shaving cream. He rubbed his three-day stubble as he looked in the mirror.
Over a half hour later, Frank stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. A bag of dirty clothes sat outside the door, evidence that someone had also partook of the shower and spare clothes. Frank looked over at Nancy discovering that she did indeed have a different outfit on.
Quietly making his way into the kitchenette, Frank paused as he felt a pair of eyes watching him. He turned around knowing it was Nancy since he just saw her sleeping. Henry was still slumped uncomfortably in the chair.
"Where are we, Frank?" whispered a groggy voice.
Frank looked at the spot where the voice came from and saw the glint of two eyes identical to his own starting back at him.
"Dad!" He rushed over to his father, purposely knocking Henry awake along the way. "We thoughts you'd never wake up!"
"What…what happened?" Fenton tried to get up but winced as pain ripped through him from the wound in his shoulder. "Ow! Remind me not to do that again."
"It's good you have a sense of humor about it," laughed Henry as he knelt down next to Fenton.
"Okay, who are you again?" he asked staring at the doctor.
"I'm Dr. Henry Morris," the man answered. He looked over at Nancy who was shifting awake. Fenton followed his gaze then he looked up at his son with concern.
"What the hell happened?" Fenton inquired again with more urgency. "She should be in the hospital not on a couch!"
"We've already know that, Dad," Frank nodded. "We didn't really have a choice in the matter. We're here because of David. Henry came with us and saved your life."
"The bullet nicked an artery in your arm," Henry explained. "If David hadn't brought you here, you would've died before an ambulance could make it."
"Where…where's your mother, Frank? Joe?" Fenton looked pleadingly at his son. "Where are we?"
"We're at the River Heights Airport in a warehouse David owns," Frank glumly. He went on to explain everything that happened over the course of the past few days. "We've been in here since yesterday and we're not really sure how much longer we'll be in here either. At the moment we're fine and have the necessities we need."
"Is Nancy going to be okay?" his father asked concerned.
"That's funny," laughed Nancy from the other end of the couch, "because I'm more concerned about you than I am about myself."
"Yeah," Frank looked at her sternly. "And you need to stop that too."
"I'm fine!" she huffed folding her arms in front of her.
"As long as you take it easy," piped in Henry, "you'll continue to be fine. And from the look of it, so will you, Mr. Hardy. I was able to fix the damage the bullet did but you'll still need to go to the hospital to make sure everything is healing properly."
"Thank you, doctor," Fenton said gratefully.
"It's Henry," the man smiled. "Here. I think we can help you up so you can be more comfortable."
He motioned for Frank to help. The two men gently grabbed a hold of Fenton and eased him into a sitting position then waited. Nancy watched from where she sat, relief etched on her face.
"You good?" Henry asked.
"Yup," Fenton grinned. "I'll be even better after a quick freshen up and something to eat."
Frank laughed and helped his father get up. A half hour later, Fenton sat at the small dinette table, a sandwich and a bottle of water in front of him. Nancy and Frank were curled up together on the couch, talking quietly. She looked over at Fenton and smiled.
"It's good to see you're okay, Fenton," Nancy replied. "Now if we can get out of here that would make the moment even better."
"My thoughts exactly, sweetheart," he toasted his bottle of water toward her. Fenton watched the couple return to their conversation. His heart was overjoyed that the two were finally settling down after everything they'd been through. His thoughts soon turned to the rest of the family and he wondered if Laura and Joe were all right considering. Fenton knew his wife had to have been going crazy not knowing where they were and he had a feeling that she wasn't going to let him out of her sight once they were home.
Henry sat down next to Fenton, a plate in his hand. The two were very quickly becoming friends especially after the doctor helped him in the bathroom. Fenton owed the man his life along with the life of his future grandchild, something that he would never truly forget.
"What was that?" Nancy sat up startled, her eyes wide. Frank shifted though he looked confused.
"What was what?" he asked.
The four were quiet for a moment, long enough to hear a faint, distinct sound coming from the other side of the door. Nancy exchanged glances with Frank, her chest heaving as she breathed faster. He patted her arm to calm her before getting up. He moved toward the door at the same time as Henry and waited though nothing happened.
"Should we have been able to hear something like that in here?" Fenton asked as he slowly moved toward the door. Nancy sat on her knees, looking over the top of the couch. "Because that sure sounded like a…"
"Gunshot," Frank finished. He looked at Nancy. They were both scared and there was no telling when the door would open, if at all. She turned around and sat back down on the couch, her quiet sobs reaching his ears.
