Daddy's Girls: Chapter 18
Author's Notes: The updates have been sporadic because we're working on the last few pieces of the story as this is posted, but here's some more action for you. Thanks to everyone who's been reading! Keep Reviewing!!!!
Matt, Brad, and Dusty sat in a diner's booth waiting impatiently for their mystery informant.
"You sure he's gonna show up?" Dusty asked feeling like they were wasting their time.
"I don't see why he'd pass me a note if he wasn't," Brad insisted.
"Could of just wanted to get ya out of his hair."
"It's the only lead we have," Matt reminded.
A man in a baseball cap and black leather jacket then moved into the booth. Brad wasn't sure if he should be happy the bartender showed up or angry for concealing information from him, "Kind of hoping you'd be alone…but considering the circumstances I understand."
"Understand," Brad spoke up in a dangerous tone, "James, If you would of told me something last night, I could of…"
"Could of what? I didn't find out what went down until this afternoon. Do me a favor call me Aaron, my co-workers do.
"Then if you had this information, why didn't you try to reach me sooner," Brad continued to grow angry.
"Simple I had to know if your claim was genuine. For all I know you could be snuffing me out. Now do you want details or do we debate this."
"Tell us where we can find our girls and our friend Buddy," Matt insisted.
"If I didn't feel like I owed Buddy one, I wouldn't be blowing my cover for this."
"Believe me, you have our gratitude for helping us out," Matt reminded.
"I tip Bud off on an exchange going down between Contra World and some guy from Gentech. Some sort of highly toxic virus that turned up missing with all its research data this morning. I don't know how it happened, but those three girls blew his cover. They got heck out of here, before any one of those goons could put their hands on them. Of course, I was kind of surprise that I didn't hear back from Bud this morning."
"The police found his car along the side of the road, with several gun shells." Matt added.
"Can you at least tell us stuff we don't know? Like where they are and if they're alright." Dusty stepped in eager to get to the important stuff.
"I do know there no longer in this country."
"WHAT?" The three fathers express with complete shock.
"The word on the street is that Contra World hired a Mexican shipping company to take some supplies over the boarder. Which just so happen to be early this morning."
"How is that possible? Boarder patrol would of noticed," Matt insisted.
"You see this shipping company is known for shipping illegal products over the boarder. Whether they be drugs, weapons, even women." The nerves in the three fathers spiked by that final comment.
"Hell no not my little Jessenia. She's too pure and innocent to handle that sort of stuff." Dusty spoke up in an outburst.
Brad smirked already knowing Dusty refused to acknowledge that wild side of Jess, "I don't think Buddy would let it come to that."
"I agree," Matt continued to remain calm, "Buddy would watch out for them. But that doesn't answer the question how did they do it."
"Simple there are special compartments made to hide goods, plus boarder patrol gets paid a hefty sum of money to ignore particular shipments."
Matt scratched his chin, "Do you know what company?"
He smirked with a smile as he pulled out a shipping invoice, "I got better then that. I got their shipping log."
Matt grabbed the paper and glanced over it, "There's several possible locations, but if I cross check them with Contra World activity in Mexico, I should come across their whereabouts."
"I'm sure you could," The man smiled as he stood up, "Now I got to head home and get some rest."
"Are they ok?" Brad grabbed his arm forcefully still not satisfied with the information given.
"I can't say, but I wish you fella's the best." He remarked removing Brad's hand.
"Thank you Aaron," Matt added, "you've been a great help."
Once the bartender left, Matt looked at his fellow agents, "We'll let the computer determine Contra World whereabouts in Mexico, then call the team in and get our girls back."
The morning sun slowly crept into the cell echoing a start of a new day. Nobody had been able to sleep, especially with Buddy grunting in pain all night. Worst of all the watch on his wrist indicated he had only half the day to live. All night Roxanne had watch that watch counting away the remaining life of her dear friend. She half heartily thought that if she could pause it he'd live longer, but this was no fairly tale. No rescue would come; instead, he'll just die in her arms. A tear of hopelessness streamed downs her face. I don't want to lose him. He was always been there for me in times of trouble…I love him…I won't let him die! She took one last glance at his face, before gently resting his head on the ground and standing up.
"You want me to take over?" Jess asked figuring Roxy was tired of being a human pillow.
She walked right by Jess ignoring her question and grabbed onto the bars screaming, "GUARD! I want JON! Here NOW!"
Annie and Jess threw curious glances at each other by her request. While Annie chose to remain silent and observe the latest scheme Roxanne was brewing, Jess wasn't going to allow another friend to cut her life short, "What are you doing? Are you crazy?"
"I'm going to save him," She muttered under her breath to herself ignoring Jess's questions.
The guard walked up to her smirking, "I don't have to do jack for you sister."
Roxanne grabbed his uniform thru the bars and slammed his face into it, "GET HIM! OR I'll kill you!"
The guard rubbed his face feeling like the bars had been imprinted on it, then rushed off in a hurry.
"Roxy think about what your doing! He's only going to make this worst. This is not what Buddy wants," Jess tried to convince her she was doing something insane.
"Don't you dare lecture me on what Buddy wants!" She replied gripping the cell bars angry. "He's too sick to know when to throw in the towel."
"Annie talk some sense into her!"
Annie's eyes clearly signaled to Jess the complete stupidity of her request. "Yeah, right, like anything I say is going to have any effect. Just what exactly would you like me to do?"
Before Jess could pursue the matter further, the guard returned with Jon.
"What do you want?" Jon said in an irritated tone, "I'm in a middle of something important."
"Help him." Roxanne insisted.
"Is he ready to speak?" Jon asked curiously. Roxanne stood there in silence. "I didn't think so," Jon replied turning his back.
"Wait!" She hit the bars completely furious with herself and closed her eyes, as if she was about to say something she would regret, "What if I agree to your terms?"
Jon turned around surprised by her offer. The look on her face clearly showed she seriously meant every word. He approached the bars and let his hand caress her face. He whispered softly for only her to hear, "You'll come with me?"
A single tear fell down her face, as she realized she was selling her soul to the devil. "Yes," she answered in a quiet tone staring into his dark eyes.
"You must really care about him," He remarked noticing her reaction. "Open the door."
The guard unlocked the door, and Jon entered the cell. Both Jess and Annie hovered over a sleeping Buddy ready to protect their friend.
"Step aside girls!" Jon ordered
"You have to get through us first!" Annie stubbornly replied uncertain, if Roxanne had given Buddy a cure or an instant death. She knew she had just sealed her own death sentence, but she didn't care. I'd rather die trying to protect him than let the bastard kill him first.
"It's alright Annie…Jess he's going to help." Roxanne added with reinsurance.
"I don't believe that," Annie growled, adopting a defensive stance.
Jess, still having faith in her friend, grabbed Annie and forcefully moved her out of the way before she got them both killed.
A small snicker pursed from Jon lips as he knelt over Buddy, "Well it's your lucky day a damsel has thrown herself upon your grave." Jon pulled out a syringe from his pocket and injected it into Buddy's arm. "He'll be fine within a couple hours." He remarked directly to Annie and Jess.
As he headed out of the cell he grabbed Roxanne by the arm, "Come along Roxy we have business to discuss." Even though it appeared he was forcing Roxanne to follow, she willingly complied with his wishes without letting her eyes meet her cellmates.
"ROXY WHERE ARE YOU GOING!" Annie shouted already knowing she did something stupid.
"What exactly did you agree to?" Jess asked worried.
Leaving both girls in the dark, Roxanne left the dungeon ignoring the questions and shouts from behind her.
"I can't believe she did that!" Annie started trashing her the moment she dropped out of sight, "Of all the inconsiderate things to do. We're suppose to stay together, and she goes off on her own solo again."
"But Buddy will be alright…. right?" Jess asked as she knelt down next to Buddy and placed a hand on his head to see if his fever had broken.
"I don't know only time will tell." She sat down Indian style and held Buddy's hand. Thank god he got the antidote, but at what high of a price did she pay for it?After maneuvering the compound, Roxanne now found herself in Jon's quarters. She felt completely tense about the situation, and the room change wasn't making it any easier. It was bad enough Lester had made a forceful advance upon her a few years ago, but now she managed to get herself in the same predicament. Yet this time she had nobody to turn to. Buddy's life was more important then her own worthless one or that's what she told herself.
He came up behind her and placed both his hands on her shoulders, "You seem nervous."
"I've…I've never done…. something like this before."
"That's surprising considering how attractive you are," He teased lightly into her ear, then turned her around to face him, "Despite what you maybe be thinking, my intentions are not as dishonorable as my cousin."
She eyed him more serious, "Then what exactly do you want with me then?"
"You agreed to place your life into my hands did you not. Your mine, and you'll do whatever I tell you to."
"Only as long as he stays alive," Roxanne remarked in an aggressive tone.
"Of course I'm a man of my word, but you better remember who owns you."
She stood tall unwilling to show regret, "I won't."
"Good…you can take your clothes off now." He added in a sharp tone.
"WHAT!" Her eyes nearly jumped from their sockets, "But you just told me…"
Jon starts to laugh, as if the look on her face was priceless, "I though I'd get that reaction."
She crossed her arms with sarcasm, "Oh very funny."
"Catch," He remarked as he threw her a pile of ragged clothes, "I want you to put those on."
The rags appeared to be clothing belonging to possibly the locals, "Going to humiliate me with a wardrobe change?"
"I'll explain once I get back from my meeting." He approached her and ran his hand through her hair, "You're going to remove all your belongings and these ridiculous multicolor from your hair. I have a job for you, that will test your loyalty to me." Just as Jon was about to leave her alone, he halted at the door. "Don't get any ideas about escaping. Or I will shoot your friends," he coldly added before shutting the door behind him.
She dropped the clothes on the ground and slumped to her knees. There was no going back, and if she cross him more then one life would be at stake.
