Whoa has it been a long time. So sorry for the lengthy delay. Mechanical difficulties. Hopefully I can update regular from now now. I appoligize to my loyal fans phenoix and Latisha and welcome a new fan Whiskey girl. I am glad you like the series. I know everybody was mad at Mark and I was too. But that was the way the story wrote. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it.
Happy reading.
Thursday Morning
"You cannot expect us to wait here like a bunch of wimpy girls. You are outa your freaking mind if you think I'm gonna go along with that." Nikki exclaimed, shoving away from the breakfast table to pace.
"We're just trying to keep you safe and the situation in control." Paul tried to explain.
"Keep the situation in control? Like we would cause chaos by just being there?" She snapped, glaring across the width of the table.
"Having you there adds stress to the situation. We would spend extra energy looking out for you instead of focusing on the situation and carrying out the plan." Paul stated, trying to remain calm.
"I can take care of myself. You just worry about what you're there to do." Nikki retorted.
"Can you defend yourself if Monica had some of Jack's friends there? What happens if there are so many that they take out the three of us? That leaves you two sitting ducks. Should I describe what happens when a group of rough mean men corner two young females?" Dave asked.
"Dave there is no need to scare us. We fully understand the danger involved. But we feel we have to be there. Arianna is going to be scared to death. Leaving there with a group of big scary men is not going to feel very safe to her." Journey spoke up.
"I told John they were going to pull that card." Randy muttered.
"What?" Nikki asked, turning to look at him.
"Right before John was arrested we were talking about this. He didn't want to take you two with him either." Randy shrugged.
"Well that's a little different. Ari knows John. She doesn't know any of you. She is going to be scared to death." Journey retorted.
"She will be okay. End of discussion, I am not talking about this anymore." Paul said firmly.
"If that's the way you want to play it fine. But think of it this way, which would be safer? Us going with you or going by ourselves?" Journey asked crossing her arms.
"You would think you would have learned the first time you pulled that trick." Dave said, pinning her with an angry look. Journey flushed but refused to back down.
"We could probably beat you there. I know my way around the city like the back of my hand and you all are going to have to follow the instructions we gave you. If we gave you the right ones." Nikki taunted.
"You two want to act like children you will be treated like children. We cannot allow you to be in the area during the drop. So you either promise me you will not leave this building or I will have to stay behind and make sure that you do. However that will mean that the team going will be short a person, could put them in more danger, and might even mess up the plan. And I can assure you that if I do have to stay behind neither of you is going to be very happy. " Dave threatened.
Journey stared at him angrily. "You're mean."
"Maybe, but do I have your promise?" Dave asked tiredly.
"I promise not to leave the building." She replied sullenly. Avoiding eye contact she pushed back from the table and stormed into her room.
"Nikki?" Randy asked. When the young girl did not answer he continued. "You commented just a couple days ago that you wanted to be a part of this family. That your family never had the closeness and the protectiveness that you saw with us. Well this is the other side of it. Got to put up with the bad to have the good. Are you still in?"
"Yea" She replied sighing.
"Yea what?" Dave asked.
"Yea I promise not to leave the building." She snapped as she began cleaning up. "Though I think it's totally unfair."
One hour later the three men joined Detective Jackson and as a group headed for the bad part of town.
"So how are you planning to pass me off?" The detective asked turning to his muscular companions. "I am a forty year old short fat man. I don't exactly fit in."
"How about that you are our trainer and you came to make sure that Arianna is not hurt." Randy suggested.
Paul and Dave pretended to be surprised. "Well what do you know; the kid does have a brain." Dave teased.
"Haha, very funny."
"That will work great. Now some things you need to know. The first thing you want to do is see Arianna, make sure she is not injured. Also don't just give her the money. Make her ask for it then make her tell you what she is receiving it for. If she says the magic words I will arrest her and it will all be over." Detective Jackson instructed them.
Paul gave a short laugh. "It would be nice if life was that simple."
Walking up the rickety steps ten minutes later Paul looked around in disgust. "I would think you would be able to remove the girl based on the living conditions."
"I wish I could but unfortunately the system does not work that way." Detective Jackson replied.
Once they had reached the door Dave looked to make sure everyone was ready before turning and knocking. The door was immediately wrenched open and a lady fitting Monica's description filled the doorway.
"What do you want?" She snarled.
"Delivery service." Paul informed her holding up the briefcase. Watching her eyes fasten greedily on the case he quickly introduced himself and his companions finishing with, "We are here on behalf of John Cena since he was unable to make the payment himself."
Monica cackled in glee. "I heard that he was in jail. Ain't that a hoot? Course I figured that I wouldn't be getting my money and would have to hurt the brat. Not that I would hate doing that."
"Are you saying that if you had not received the money you would have done serious injury to the child currently in your custody?" The detective asked.
"Them was the terms." Monica replied, her attention remaining focused on the money.
"Seeing as how we did bring the payment may we see the child?" Dave asked.
"Sure why not?" She shrugged, turning and screaming into the dark void behind her.
Randy watched as a little girl came slowly out of the shadows. Pale and frightened she sported a large bruise along her jaw and a black eye. "Hey we got matching eyes." He told her pointing to the bruise John had given him earlier in the week. He frowned as she shrank away from him in fear. She was acting nothing like the bright and high spirited girl John had described. "John didn't say anything about those bruises when he saw her on Tuesday." He accused Monica.
"Well you know how children are. They play so rough on the playground." Monica responded with a sickeningly sweet smile. The group watched with narrowed eyes as Arianna flinched when the older women attempted to pat her head.
"Now can I have my money?" She asked greedily.
"What do we get in return?" Paul asked, holding the briefcase just out of her reach.
"You get the kid. You can give her to her father or keep her. Not my problem."
"How do we know you won't charge us with kidnapping as soon as we walk out the door with her?" Dave asked.
"I had a custody agreement drawn up. It states full custody is transferred to John Cena." Monica replied, turning to pick up the document and holding it out.
Detective Jackson reached out and grabbed the piece of paper. After quickly reading it he handed the document off and stated in his most authoritative voice. "Monica Evanston, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, ect ect." Slipping a pair of cuffs out of his pocket he spun her around and pulled her arms back. Before he could secure her hands she snapped out of her stunned surprise and began to fight.
Swinging her fist she managed to pop Detective Jackson in the jaw, snapping his head back and leaving him confused. Eyes focused on the case holding the money she charged at Paul. Handing the case to Randy he put out his hands intending to grab the enraged woman and hold her down. Changing course at the last moment she drove her knee into Dave's testicles, causing him to drop like a stone and curl into a fetal position. Not bothering to make sure he was down for good she grabbed a lamp and swung it into Paul's head.
Using all his wrestling agility and skills he was able to avoid the missile and pivoting around brought his fist down. Monica managed to twist causing Paul to hit her shoulder instead of her jaw. Grunting in pain she again tried to swing the lamp. Rather than make contact with her target she was thrown violently to the floor as Dave tackled her from behind. Following her down he laid his body along hers, using his weight to make sure she stayed where he had put her.
Paul grinned down at his friend before walking over to arouse the detective. Taking the hand offered him Detective Jackson pulled himself off the floor. Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs Jackson picked up his handcuffs and quickly snapped them in place. Stepping back quickly he rubbed his jaw where she had hit him.
Climbing off the squirming women Dave looked up to see Paul looking around in confusion. "What's up?"
"Is it just me or did Randy run away from a fight?" Paul asked.
Listening intently Dave pointed to the bedroom, where they could here Randy talking.
"Yea I know its quiet out there but I 'm not worried. How hard is it for three men to restrain one woman?" They heard him saying. Looking at each other in exasperation they walked to the doorway. They watched as Arianna paused in her packing.
"Do you think they are going to be mad that you didn't help them?" She asked.
"Doesn't matter. I was doing the job your father assigned me which was to keep you safe." Randy answered her.
Arianna smiled at that, causing the Cena dimple to flash in her cheek. Turning around to pick up another item she spotted the men in the doorway and went stiff as a stone. Noticing the change in her behavior Randy glanced over and grinned. "Took you long enough." He called out, grinning at the growl a still pale Dave issued.
"We are ready. Are you all set?" Paul asked the seven year old.
"Now let me get this straight. I can no longer stay with Monica because she's going to jail. And I can't stay with my dad because he is already in jail. So I have to go to child services right?" She asked clutching the back pack she had filled.
"Just until Tuesday." Randy rushed to assure her.
Arianna looked sadly at him. "Tell my dad that you did a good job of keeping me safe but now your hands are tied and I have to do it myself." They watched in shock as she dived through the window. Rushing over they glanced down only to see her jump off the fire escape and take off running.
"This mission was doomed from the start." Dave muttered, leaning his head against the window. He was disturbed when Randy brushed him aside to climb out the small window. Squirming he managed to get his tall frame through the hole. Paul stopped him as he hit the first stair.
'Where do you think you are going?" Paul asked loudly.
"I have to go find her. I can't let her wander the streets for the next four days." Randy replied, jerking away from Paul's out stretched arm.
"Randy you can't go out there. Think about this. You don't know the area, which I will remind you is a very bad area and you are not dressed to fit in. Ari has lived here for a while. She knows the area and the people. She probably had a destination in mind." Dave said calmly, thinking he would get through to the young man.
"Doesn't matter. I have to try." Randy called over his shoulder as he ran down the stairs.
"Randy I want you to think about this. It falls under the heading of endangering your life and I thought we had talked about this. I don't want to have to have another discussion." Dave growled. He sighed as Randy ran off without a backward glance. "Damn kids"