CHAPTER 32
MIDAFTERNOON: NOTTINGHAM HOUSE
Sara joins Ian on the stairs as he watches the cops move around the dead man and Hugo. "Are you OK?" She slips her hand into his.
"I've had Hugo since Emma was a baby." Ian looks at Sara briefly then back at Hugo. "His brother Zanus was my first dog. Six months after Zanus died Father gave me Hugo." He hears a whimper and looks pass Sara to see Loki lying at the top of the stairs. "Loki is terrified of all these people. I should take him out to the backyard until Martha can take him to the house." He brushes his knuckle down Sara's cheek. "I'm going to get her back."
"I know. Just don't take too long doing it."
"Mobi will be here in a few hours." He passes Sara and walks up to the landing picking up the trembling dog. "Come on let's get you outside before you make another mess." He carries the dog down the stairs.
Sara joins Vicki as Ian disappears through the living room. "Hey Vick"
"Hey Pez, Hugo did some damage. Danny told me Felix was shot as well."
Sara winces at the sight of the dead man. "He's at the vets. He should be fine though."
"How's Emma taking it? Shouldn't she be home from school soon?"
"No, she has a really bad cold. Ian took her to Irons for the day. I guess she'll be staying there for a while. So what's the verdict?" Sara asks changing the subject.
"Man died almost immediately. Hugo took a large chunk out."
"Taking Hugo?"
Vicki nods "A forensic animal pathologist is going to check him out." She zips up the body bag just as Captain Dante enters the house.
"Damn" Sara mutters
"Detective what are you doing here?" Dante demands
"My job." Sara snaps
"Your job is not to investigate vicious dogs." Dante retorts
"First off my dogs are not vicious without provocation." Ian says joining them his voice cold. "Second, I called Sara because this event will unfortunately... affect our daughter. I thought she would want to be involved."
Dante turns to find the large, imposing man looking at him with barely hidden disdain. "And where is the girl?"
Ian looks at Loki who is slowly inching towards the body bags to investigate. "Loki, upstairs." He orders
Sara sees Loki looking at the body bags with interest. "Loki, come here." She calls and once he reaches her side she pats his head. "Good boy. Go upstairs."
"Emma is ill." Ian informs Dante. "She went to my Father's for the day so someone could keep an eye on her all day."
"Are all your dogs trained to kill?" Dante demands
"My dogs are trained to be pets first. I would never allow a dog trained only to kill to be around my daughter. They only attack when provoked or feel threatened."
"And what of the other dog?" Dante asks with a sneer "The mutt?"
Ian ignores the man's tone. "Loki is a stray that Emma brought home this summer. He is too skittish to be trained like Hugo and Felix so he is primarily a pet."
"So this was either an attempted robbery or possibly kidnapping." Dante remarks thoughtfully.
"It could be." Ian glances at Sara.
SOMEWHERE
Emma stirs opening her eyes slowly she lifts her head to see a man sitting in a chair in the corner of an unfamiliar room. "Where am I?" She demands
"Sorry about drugging you." He apologizes "Didn't want you to hurt anyone."
"My Dad is going to be majorly pissed when he finds out I'm gone." Emma sneezes.
"Kleenex is on the nightstand."
"Who are you?" Emma questions rubbing at her eyes.
"You don't remember me?" He lifts his brow.
Emma looks the man over noting his face and height searching her memory. "No. Should I?"
"You were a child when I last saw you... and it was only briefly."
"And you thought I'd remember you?"
"You never know." The man smiles
"What do you want with me?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"Where's my Dad?"
"At home. I'm going to call him in a few minutes. Is there anything you want me to tell him anything?"
"Yeah tell him to kick your ass." Emma sneezes
"I'll check in on you in a while." He walks out of the room.
Emma coughs and curls up on the bed. 'Daddy.'
NOTTINGHAM HOUSE
Ian watches as the police talk and mill about as he stands at the living room window. 'Where are you Emma?'
"So nothing is missing?" Dante asks
"No." Ian answers 'Only my child.'
"How can you be sure?" Dante demands. "Did you check everything?"
"I checked everything." Ian glances at the man annoyed.
"Weapons?"
"I have a few knives, guns, and swords which are all locked up. The swords and knives are downstairs and the guns are in my study." Ian replies as his phone rings. "Excuse me." He steps out into the backyard and presses talk. "Yes?"
"Got everything?" Dante asks Sara
Sara nods her eyes on Ian. "I believe so."
"Good. I will go speak with the press, considering he's connected to the most powerful person in New York he's an interest." Dante looks around "Finish this up."
"Hello Captain... or is it just Nottingham?"
Ian stiffens at the old military title. "Who is this?"
"You'll figure it out."
"Let me talk to Emma." Ian demands
"She's busy right now. Don't worry... she'll be fine. I won't hurt her."
"Then why take her? She's ill."
"Don't worry. She'll be taken care of."
"If there is one mark on her no matter how insignificant I will rip your throat out." Ian threatens
The man chuckles "I have no doubt that you would. I'll call back in a few hours. Tell Mobius I said hello... oh and sorry about your dogs." He hangs up.
Ian looks at the phone in his hand. 'Emma'
"Ian?"
Ian turns to look at Sara who looks worried.
"Was it the person who took Emma?"
"She's fine." Ian assures.
"Do you believe him?"
"I have no choice." Ian reaches out cupping her cheek. "I think I would know if she was hurt."
"I want her back here." Sara says pained.
"I'll get her back... no matter what."
"I know."
"You should get back to work."
"But"
"You don't want people to wonder and ask questions."
"I want to stay with you. I don't care if they ask questions."
Ian smiles sadly. "Our girl definitely gets her stubborn side from you."
"Damn straight." Sara gives him a small smile. "I can't pretend to work while she's out there with some stranger."
"Martha is going over to Father's. Mobi's plane will be here in a few hours."
"What are you going to do?"
"Only think I can do.... wait."
"Ian" Martha interrupts
Ian turns to look at Martha. "Yes?"
"Dawn is on Emma's phone. What do you want me to tell her?"
"Tell her Emma is sick and she'll be out of touch for a few days."
"All right." Martha walks back into the house.
"I'll go back to work and then make my excuses and come back here."
Ian nods "I'll be here."
COUPLE OF HOURS LATER: NOTTINGHAM HOUSE
Ian enters Emma's bedroom and picks up a picture of he, Emma, and Lauren and smiles sadly, "I have never not known where she is. Sure I don't know exactly where she is when she goes out with her friends but I've always had a hint as to where look."
Sara joins him. "Scares you huh?"
Ian nods
"Ian, who do you think is behind this?" Sara asks softly.
"I don't know." Ian says heavily. "I have been trying to figure that out, but I can't. Everyone but Mobius is dead."
"Except one, Brother."
Ian and Sara look to the doorway to see Mobius standing in the doorway. "Mobi their dead... all of them... trust me."
"What about Derek?"
"Derek's dead. He died not long after the Dragons where formed."
"Did he? He disappeared, we never found a body."
"Who's Derek?" Sara demands confused.
"He was in our unit. He disappeared on a recon mission in Peru. We believed he was dead but we never found a body... and we never really bothered to look."
"If he is alive where has he been all these years?" Ian muses
"Who knows... we were trained to hide... to blend. He could have gone anywhere."
"What was this Derek like?" Sara asks
"Strange. He wasn't much for working together. All of us were what you would consider loners but we learned how to take orders and work together. Derek never did." Ian shrugs
"Does Emma know him?"
"She only met him a few times. He didn't go out of his way to spend any time with her like the others did. He might not look the same either." Ian says thoughtfully.
"How are you going to find someone you haven't seen in 7 years and who might not look the same?" Sara demands
"I don't know Sara. I'm still trying to figure this all out." Ian rubs the back of his neck. "Hopefully he'll call soon."
LATE EVENING
Ian sits beside Sara as she curls up on their bed holding Emma's favored stuffed dog, Floppy. "I gave her Floppy when she was six months old after a conversation with Martha. She had told me that in her family her Dad always gave her and her siblings their favored stuffed animals. It took me a few hours to find this one and when I gave it to Emma, she gave me a big smile and started chewing on his ears. She loved the ears. She'd carry him around the house by his ears. When Martha put Floppy in the washer, Emma would sit in front of the washer and dryer and wait until he was clean. She would take a coloring book or some other toy into the laundry room and just sit there and quietly play while she was waiting." He chuckles
"How'd he get his name?"
Ian shrugs "We just started calling him Floppy and she just picked it up." Ian brushes his knuckle down Sara's cheek. "Are you OK?"
Nodding Sara starts to sit up and groans as a wave of dizziness hits her.
"Sara?"
"I'm fine." Sara assures "Just dizzy." She lies down
"Have you had anything to eat since breakfast?" Ian asks as the doorbell rings.
"No." Sara answers after a moment of thought.
Ian looks towards the door then back at Sara. "I will go see who that is."
Sara sighs "OK."
Ian leans down kissing her. "I love you."
"I know. I love you." Sara watches as he leaves the bedroom then smiles seeing a picture of toddler Emma with her arms around Ian's neck giggling after giving him a kiss. 'They are so sweet and cute together.' "Where are you Em?" She whispers sadly.
Downstairs Ian finds Aras talking with Mobius. "Aras." He nods
"Where's Sara?"
"Upstairs, go on up." Ian steps aside allowing Aras to walk up the stairs then heads back to the kitchen. "I'm not sure what to do Mobi." He says heavily. "My whole life I've known what to do... or I was told what to do."
"You will know when you need to know."
"God I hope so. If something happens to Emma..." He looks towards the door. "Sara will never forgive me."
Upstairs Aras enters the bedroom where she finds her sister lying on the bed tears dried on her cheeks. "Hey Sis."
"How'd..."
"Ian called." Aras sits beside her twin. "You OK?"
Sara shakes her head. "Someone took my baby... out of her bed."
"Why wasn't she at school?"
"She's sick... she caught a cold yesterday and Ian let her stay home."
"Why aren't the cops looking for her?"
"Ian and Mobius think it might be an old acquaintance of theirs. I gave them 48 hours to find her before they tell the truth. Ian wants to deal with him in his way."
"I'm sure they'll find her."
"I know. I know he'll do anything to get her back."
"And he will."
Sara brushes at the tears on her cheeks. "I'm scared."
"About what?"
"What if something happens to her? That would destroy him... I could lose both of them."
"Hey he won't leave."
"She's everything to him Aras. What if this man wants to trade Emma for Ian? What if he wants to kill Ian? What if..."
"Sara deep breath" Aras instructs
"I lost him once Aras... I can't lose him again."
"Hey you won't." Aras assures
Downstairs Ian's phone rings and he presses talk. "Yes?"
"Hey Captain... how's Mobius?"
"So it is you Derek."
"So you figured it out." Derek laughs. "Surprise, I'm alive."
"You took my daughter to prove that you're alive?!" Ian says angrily.
"No."
"Then why?"
"Meet me in an hour at the Park by the water fountain on the south side." Derek hangs up.
Ian closes his phone and stares at it.
"Well?" Mobi asks
"He wants to meet in an hour."
"Plan?"
"I go."
"Do you want me to go and follow him?"
"No. He'll spot a tail."
"What are you going to tell her?"
"The truth." Ian walks out of the living room and heads up the stairs to the bedroom. He enters to find Aras and Sara talking.
Noticing Ian in the doorway Aras stands "Well I'll be downstairs." She walks out of the room leaving the two alone.
"What is it?" Sara asks once she and Ian are alone.
"Derek just called."
"So he admitted it was he who took Emma?"
Ian nods
"Did he say why he took Emma?"
"No." Ian admits reluctantly. "He wants to meet with me."
"When?"
"In an hour."
"I'm going with you." She starts to stand only waver on her feet the world spinning.
"Sara" Ian grabs her helping her to sit. "Are you OK?"
Sara nods "Just dizzy."
Ian watches her closely and brushes her hair back. "You didn't eat much at breakfast." He says thoughtfully.
Sara shrugs "I haven't been very hungry lately."
"Hungry now?"
"No."
"You need to eat something. Do you want me to bring you something to eat?"
"No. You'll be late."
"When I get back then?"
Sara shrugs "Just go see him." She buries her face in his neck and takes a deep breath. "I love you."
"I love you too." Ian replies then carefully moves out of her embrace and looks her over. "I'll be back in a while."
Sara nods "Be careful."
"I will." He kisses her sweetly then moves off the bed and heads out of the room.
Sara stares after him then curls up in bed hugging Floppy. 'Be safe my girl.'
HOUR LATER: PARK
"Hello Captain. It's good to see you."
Ian turns and looks at the man his old friend. 'Hair changed but looks the same.' "Where's my daughter?" He demands
"She's fine." Derek assures "You've done well over the years. Plush job... granted you work for him." He shakes his head. "Adoring and smart child... and one hot lover. Damn she's fine."
Ian remains calm. "What do you want?"
"My life back."
"You chose to join the unit... at least you had the choice." Ian says bitterly. "What do you want? Money? To kill me? Fine do it... just have Emma dropped off at the house. You want to kill me do it but leave Emma out of this."
"She's in it... you brought her into this world."
"I want to talk to her before we go into this."
"I figured you would." Derek removes his phone and dials a number. "Give her the phone."
WAREHOUSE
Emma looks up as the door opens and a man enters with a phone.
"Here" he hands her the phone.
PARK
Ian takes the phone. "Emma"
"Daddy" Emma says relieved.
"You OK, Em?"
"I don't feel good. My head hurts, my nose is stuffed up, my throat itches, and I'm bored." Emma grumbles.
"You'll be home soon." Ian assures
Emma sighs, "OK Daddy."
"Everything will be OK Em."
"Daddy"
"Get some sleep, OK?"
"I love you Daddy."
"I love you too. I'll see you later." Ian hangs up the phone and hands it to Derek. "You hurt her in anyway I will rip your head off." He warns "Now what do you want? Money?"
"No. I have enough money."
"Then what?"
"You'll find out in a few hours." Derek walks away.
Ian watches as Derek walks away.
CHAPTER 33
8PM: NOTTINGHAM HOUSE
Ian sits on the porch swing in the backyard and stares out at the yard his mind drifting back to that weekend when they were playing with Emma.
//"Get back here you." He reaches for Emma who ducks under his arms.
Sara laughs "You two."
"Gotcha." Ian finally catches Emma.
Emma laughs "Daddy"//
"Ian"
Ian looks up to see Sara standing there wearing one of his sweaters hugging herself, "Come 'ere." He holds his hand out as she takes his hand he pulls her onto his lap. "Are you OK?"
"No." Sara buries her face in his neck. "You?"
"I was just thinking about Saturday. Hearing her laugh... you laugh."
"I want her back."
"So do I." Ian says trying to keep his voice calm.
Sara frowns at his tone, 'If I'm worried and missing her it must be worse for him. She's everything to him... his whole life.' She lifts her head looking at Ian startled at the pain and fear in his eyes... as well as the tears he's trying to hold back. 'My sweet Ian.' She rests her forehead against his cheek.
Ian sighs heavily. "I don't know what he wants Sara and that scares me, I can't figure out what he wants, why he took her. I'm running on nothing Sara... and I don't like it."
"Ian I have something I need to tell you" Sara begins when she is interrupted Ian's phone ringing.
"I have to get this"
"I know." Sara sighs
Ian removes his phone and flips it open. "Yes?"
"I located the files you wanted." Kenneth informs Ian.
"Thank you. I will come get them." Ian hangs up. "I have to go."
"Where?"
"I asked Father to locate Derek's file from his personal files on us." Ian returns the phone to his pocket as he remembers that she began to say something as his phone rang. "You said you had something to tell me, what is it?" He reaches out brushing her hair back.
Sara looks down "We'll talk about it later."
"You sure?" He asks
Sara nods
Ian leans in kissing her sweetly. "I'll be back in a while."
"OK." She watches Ian walk into the house taking a deep breath she stands and follows him into the house.
30 MINS LATER: 1111 FAUST
Ian enters his Father's study where he's reading a book. "Sir"
"It's on my desk." Kenneth says without looking up.
Ian goes over to the desk and pauses when he sees a photo album open to a picture of himself and Emma as he helps the child tie her shoes. "Where did you get this picture?" He asks curiously.
Kenneth looks over at his son. "Elizabeth started a scrapbook of pictures of you and Emma... she never finished it. She adored that girl."
Ian turns the picture and smiles slightly at the picture of Emma climbing onto Irons lap with a book. "Things changed when Elizabeth came around... I wish they had stayed that way."
"Nothing stays the same."
"No it doesn't."
Kenneth frowns at Ian's tone then closes his book then stands walking over to his desk he carefully rests his hand on Ian's shoulder.
Ian glances at his Father's hand then back at the photo album. "Did you have anything to do with Derek taking her?"
Kenneth quickly removes his hand from Ian's shoulder. "Do you think I would do something like that?"
"You never approved of her Father." Ian says bitterly.
"I have never hid that I never approved of her, but no I had nothing to do with it. I would have been the first suspect and we both know it."
Ian stares at his Father then nods looking back at the picture. "You might want to be ready to do some media damage because if anything happens to her I am going to take Derek and whoever else helped apart piece by piece."
"So warned." Kenneth acknowledges.
"I should get back." Ian says thoughtfully. "Sara is a little freaked out right now." He stands looking at his Father briefly. "Thank you." He starts towards the door.
"Ian"
Ian stops and looks at his Father, "Yes?"
"Good luck... I do hope you find her... safe."
Ian nods then continues out of the study.
11PM: NOTTINGHAM HOUSE
Ian sits at his desk reading over the file.
"Did you find anything?" Mobius asks from the doorway.
"No, I've read this file five times... I can't find anything." Ian runs his hands over his face.
"Well I might have saved you some trouble." Aras says joining them.
"Where's Sara?" Ian asks
"She's still asleep." Aras assures "From what you told me" she looks at Mobius then back at Ian. "I found something you might be interested in."
"What?" Ian demands
"I made a call to someone who is... freaky... to say the least. Anyway he knows when anyone comes into town with... interesting plans." She pauses "He told me that someone has taken over one of the warehouses in the old district. Whoever took it over hasn't allowed anyone in and has put up a very secure system."
"Any idea of who might be there?" Ian asks.
"He didn't exactly say." Aras shrugs
"What's the address?" Ian questions. "I can find out who bought it."
"Here" Aras hands him the piece of paper she wrote the address on.
"Thanks Aras." Ian takes the piece of paper and reads the address.
AFTER MIDNIGHT
Ian sighs leaning back in his chair running his hands over his face. "It's a dummy corporation... under the name of Landon Inc. If it's connected to Derek it's buried."
"Ian, go get some sleep."
"I'm fine." Ian says without looking at Mobius.
"At least take a breather. I will continue with the research."
Ian sighs standing, "I should go check on Sara."
"Go then. I will come get you if I find anything."
Ian nods standing he pushes his chair back allowing his brother to take his place. Ian walks out of the room his whole body feeling heavy as he heads up the stairs to the bedroom where he finds Sara asleep. He sits on the edge of the bed and stares at her tear stained face. 'My sweet Sara.' He gently strokes her cheek with his thumb. 'I'm going to get her back, I swear.'
COUPLE OF HOURS LATER
Ian hears a slight knock at the door and stands going to the door he opens it to find Mobius standing there. He steps out to the hall and closes the door behind him. "Well?"
"I think the probability of Derek owning the building is high." Mobius informs Ian.
"Security cameras?"
"I managed to hack into the Department of Transportation cameras around that area."
"And?"
"I found some cars that don't seem to fit into the area... considering most of the area is homeless and such."
"Is it Derek?"
"No way to know for sure unless we go in. All the cars that come and go have blacked out windows. If Derek is there he's never been outside."
"Emma could be in that area." Ian says hopefully.
"Only one way to find out... we go check it out."
"Let's wait until its lighter. We'll go when the sun starts to go up."
Mobius nods "I will go get everything ready. Is there anything particular you want?"
"No. Just the normal."
Mobius nods
"Grab what you want."
"Try to get some sleep, brother."
"I'm fine."
"How is Sara?"
"Asleep."
Mobius nods then walks away.
Ian returns to the bedroom as Sara stirs whimpering. He quickly returns to the bed to comfort her. "Shh, my Lady." He soothes
Sara burrows into the familiar arms and sighs in her sleep.