The Jerusalem adventure
By Babyloly
Chapter Six
Nick, who was waiting outside for Derek, heard his angry voice and came rushing in.
"Derek, what's wrong? He questioned.
"It's Abi. She's gone."
"Gone. God Derek" he closed his eyes in disbelief, "You can't possibly say she's dead."
The nurse looked at them nervous "Gentleman, Please calm down"
Derek was really annoyed and he asked the nurse "Where the hell is Dr. Weis?"
Derek and Nick then realized the hospital was full of policemen. Derek saw Dr. Weis and rushed over to speak to him, Nick following him.
"Dr. Rayne, I was expecting you, I called the house they said you're probably on your way here" said Dr. Weis.
"What is going on here, and where in bloody hell is my daughter? Asked Derek.
"I hate to tell you this, but it seems young Miss Hirsh was kidnapped. She has been taken from this hospital under false pretence," said Dr. Weis. "Let's go in my office. I have a detective waiting for us in there."
Derek and Nick followed him into his office where a man in his 30's was waiting.
"Dr. Rayne I presume?" he asked and held out his hand to Derek.
Derek shook his hand and the younger man continued. "My name is Benjamin Adler. Detective Ben Adler" he said. "I'm sorry to meet you under these circumstances."
"Do you know where my daughter is Detective Adler? Asked Derek, on the verge of loosing his calm.
Nick felt Derek's impatience so he faced the Detective and said "Can you please explain to us what has happened here?"
Dr. Weis interfered. "Well about an hour ago two police officers came here, in uniforms and official papers. They insisted Miss Hirsh must be moved into protective custody. Since they had all the official paper I had no choice but to release her to them. Detective Adler came in a little while ago to see if she awoke and maybe can give him a description of the attacker. When I told him what happened, he checked with his superiors. There was no order to remove Miss Hirsh. God I'm so sorry " said the Dr.
Detective Adler then faced Derek and said "As soon as I heard that, I immediately filed a report and we have already begun the search for her. I can't believe they could have gotten far in 20 minutes."
Derek felt his legs trembling. Nick held out his hand to support him, and helped him into a chair.
Detective Adler came closer to face Derek. "Dr. Rayne, I know Abi personally, she is a very good friend of mine and of my family. I promise I will do anything in my power to bring her back safe and sound. Right now however I need to talk to the people in the house, people who work with her, see if anyone has any leads or ideas."
He paused for a minute then said, "I can't believe this has happened. Yesterday's attack now this. Dr. Rayne, Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt her so bad, and why?"
Derek raised his head and looked at Detective Adler. "I'm afraid I don't know that," he said weakly.
At that time a young policeman came into Dr. Weis's Room. "Detective Adler, we have deployed all the necessary means for the search. The captain said you are in charge of this investigation, so anything else you need done…"
"Thank you" said Ben Adler to the policeman.
"Dr. Rayne, I need to go over to the house to talk to the people there, would you two like to join me?"
"Sure" said Nick. He helped Derek up and they followed the detective to his car.
On the way to the legacy house Derek looked at the young man and then asked him "how do you know Abi?"
"We grew up together. She and my Younger sister were best friends. She spent a lot of her time with us, in our house. She is one of the sweetest people I ever had the pleasure to meet. I can not imagine who would wish to hurt her so bad. She never did a thing to hurt anybody. It really boils my blood. When I first saw her last night, I was shocked."
He paused for a minute, took a deep breath, then continued. "My little sister was the light of our lives. When she died 4 years ago of cancer, I was devastated. Abi was the one who stood by me. Day or night. It didn't matter to her. Whenever I called her for support she was there. We've been best of friends ever since then. She's like another sister to me, and I'm not gonna lose her as well," he said his voice breaking.
Derek suddenly felt a sharp pain go through his body. He moaned and Nick put a hand on his shoulders asking "Derek, what's wrong?"
"It's Abi," he replied. She is letting me know she's alive. She's in pain but alive."
"Can you see who is holding her and where?" questioned Nick.
"No. It's not a clear picture. All I can say is that for now, she's alive," repeated Derek.
"Shit. Derek you have to try harder. Try to see where she is being held" insisted Nick.
"I can't Nick. It's over. I can't feel her anymore."
"OK. At least we know she is still alive, that's important. We need to find out what in god's name is going on in that house and I'm gonna start with Ethaniel. I have a feeling he is keeping something from us," said Nick.
"Ok Nick, you and the detective will talk to everyone while Rachel Alex and me try to find out what is it that's been going on in the house."
Derek looked at the young Ex-seal sitting by his side. He put his hand on Nick's shoulder and said "Thanks Nick, for being in the hospital for me."
Nick just nodded with half a smile on his face.
"You do realize it can be a case of pure ransom request," said detective Adler.
"What do you mean Ransom?" asked Derek. "You think this attack was about money? If you want ransom you will not leave your victim near death. You will grab them and keep them alive for as long as possible. This was not about money. This was personal."
"Well Dr. Rayne, you have to remember your daughter is one of the richest people in Israel. She has friends and enemies in high and low places," replied the detective.
"Rich? I had no idea she was rich," said Derek surprised.
"Stinking rich actually" said the detective, then continued. "The only reason I still have my job is because of Abi. I help her out in some of her cases, and my reports, well everyone thinks I'm crazy. I'll do anything for her, including risk my career. I did almost lose my job helping her, but she intervened on my behalf and since then no one dares touch me, but you can imagine that bought her some enemies."
"So you know her work and what the house stands for?" asked Derek.
"Yes" he answered.
Nick suddenly realized something. "Her dogs, she had her dogs with her yesterday. Now from my encounter with them I know they will never let a stranger approach her in a threatening way. Also she was with her car. Detective, we must find her car and her dogs. Maybe they can give us some idea's or clues as to where she was taken."
"You've got a good point Mr. Boyle. I'll call my people on the field and ask them to look for the car and dogs."
"Detective, I have a feeling this was done by someone close to her. Someone she knows." Said Nick.
"Please call me Ben. What makes you say that?"
"Well the fact that her dogs were not found. I think they knew the attacker, I think it made it easier for him to distract them and trap them. The fact she's that rich. Dr. Weis said that she was hurt deliberately in a way that caused her to never be able to have children. An heir. And if she dies…"
"You're talking about her brother, Joshua. Is that what you mean? Asked Ben. "Actually, I wouldn't put it past him."
"Well actually I was thinking about Ethaniel. I know he didn't hurt her himself because he was with up at the time, but maybe he hired someone to do it. I think he is jealous of her. I believe he wants to be precept of this house. Maybe he conspired with an evil force to remove Abi from his way" said Nick.
"No way, Nick" responded Ben. "I know Ethaniel for many years. He, as me, will give his life for Abi, nor will he ever submit to the dark side."
"So you think Joshua is involved?" asked Nick.
"Nick, who is this Joshua you guys are talking about?" inquired Derek.
Both young men looked at Derek shocked.
"Abi didn't tell you about her step brother? That's strange…" Nick stopped talking and stared at Derek's surprised look.
"She told you? didn't she tell me about him?" said Derek with obvious disappointment in his voice.
"Sorry Derek. I was sure you knew" was Nick's response. He turned back to the detective and asked,
"So Ben, what makes you think Joshua is involved? I was under the impression these two were deeply in love."
"Well, that's what he wanted people to believe. Only his closest friends new the truth. Ethaniel and I were his friends when we were teenagers, but we both cared for Abi so we eventually stopped hanging with him. He pretended he loved his baby sister, he pretended to be her best friend, especially in public. He was the kindest most caring brother in public. It was all an act. He hated her. Since the moment she came to the house, he hated her for stealing his father from him. Until Abi, he was his father's pride and joy. Then this little girl came in and took the attention away from him. His father loved her as if she was his own. She became the most important thing to their parents especially with her abilities. She needed constant protection and guidance. She doesn't know just how much he hates her."
Ben stopped for a minute to look at the effect his words had on the other two men.
"When we were his friends, he constantly told us how he hates her and how he wished she was dead. I once told Abi these things, but she didn't believe me. She refused to believe. She said I invented these things since I'm in love with her and do anything to come between them. I never mentioned it again."
Derek looked at the young detective and asked "And were you? In love with Abi I mean?"
Ben stopped the car. He looked back at Derek and said, "Yes, I was. I still am."
Derek's look went up to see they arrived at the legacy house.
They entered the house. Inside the entire house members, and also Rachel and Alex were waiting for them.
Derek looked at Rachel and Alex. "Where is Kat?" he asked.
"I sent her to Dr. Goldman's camp" answered Rachel.
"That's good. I need to talk to the both of you in Abi's office."
Nick and Ben stayed behind to tell the others all that had happened.
In Abi's office Rachel and Alex listened amazed to Derek's news about Abi's disappearance. He also informed them of all the details he and Nick learnt from Ben.
"Alex, have you found out anything in your search of the net?" asked the now tired precept.
"Yes," said Alex. "I found out a few interesting things. Ethaniel also helped me out by translating all the papers Abi found. The most important event, I believe, is a suicide, which happened here in this house when Abi was a child, about 7 years old. It seems a man accused her father of causing his bankruptcy."
Nick who came in at that moment asked Derek "Do you believe this man might have returned to hurt Abi? Maybe he is the dark force Josh has conspired with?"
"Possible" said Derek. "Ok, Rachel I want you to go talk to Abi's father business partners. See what you can find out about this man. Do you have his name Alex?" he asked.
"Yes, It's Erickson" Replied Alex.
+++
Abi felt pain go through her body.
The two hooded men looked at the young woman on the bed they fixed. It was a damp cold warehouse. It had no windows and hardly any light.
"So what do we do now? Asked one of the men.
"Now we wait till she wakes up Erickson" replied the other hooded man.
They took of their hooded robes. Both were dressed as policemen.
"Do you think she'll wake up soon?" asked the one called Erickson.
"Yes. She's always been a strong bitch."
Abi listened to the two men talking. She kept her eyes closed. She felt her heart beating like crazy. She knew these people. She was sure of it. She recognized the first's name and the other by his voice. It was her best friend in the world. Or so she thought.
What am I going to do now? She thought to herself.
She then felt the presence of one of the man next to her.
"Come on bitch" he screamed at her. "I know you are only pretending, open your eyes."
Abi opened her eyes and stared at the blue eyes of the man she thought was the love of her life.