Chapter 24

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Victor strode purposefully towards Jake who was struggling against Danny. Jack stepped in front of Victor who had a murderous look on his face as he shouted again, "What did you do to my son, Jake!"

"Martin's not here, Victor." Jack said as he placed his hands on Victor's arms to hold him back. "Let us handle it."

Victor pushed against Jack and shouted, "Where is he!"

"It feels like shit doesn't it Victor? To not know if he's hurt or even alive; that your son, your only child is out there and you can't do a goddamn thing about it!" Jake seethed in return as Danny moved around in front of him and started to push him back.

"If you have a vendetta you take it out against me. You're a chicken shit to take it out on my kid." Victor towered over Jack as he continued in his tirade.

"Your kid is just a big a fuck up as you." Jake retaliated.

Danny got an angry look on his face as he pushed Jake hard up against the wall and shouted, "Shut up. Cool it."

Jake took no notice of Danny's request and continued, "Your son let that kid get kidnapped. He was right there and he didn't stop it. He's just like you Victor. He has all the tools and power to prevent a child from getting hurt and he failed just like you! It's your fault, Victor. It's your fault that Clarkson killed my boy."

Victor stopped struggling against Jack and in a tone full of venom replied, "And you, Jake, you took my son. You hurt my son! You're just like Clarkson!"

"That's enough." Jack pushed Victor back and out the door.

Jake stopped fighting against Danny and slumped back stunned. He went lax against the wall and lowered his eyes. Danny released his hold and had Jake sit back down on the bed.

As the tension in the room fell, Sam walked up to where Jake sat and asked, "We need to know everything you can tell us about Harry Davidge. Where you met him, where he works, lives, dates, everything."

"I don't know that stuff." Jake replied without looking up.

"He helps you kidnap someone and you don't know him that well? I find that really hard to believe." Danny replied as sneered in Jake's face.

"It's true. I met him at Lou's Bar in Queens." Jake replied as he looked up at the agents hovering around him.

"And what? You were talking over a beer and said, 'Hey, can you help me kidnap someone?'" Viv asked as she leaned against the dresser.

"No, I had already planned it all out. I went there to ask around to find someone who might be hired as muscle. The bartender nodded to Harry." Jake replied.

"Calm down Victor." Jack ordered as he walked behind him ensuring that he wouldn't try and go back into the room.

"You calm down, Jack. It's not your kid that's missing." Victor stopped and turned back around to face Jack. He put his hands on his hips, lowered his eyes as he blew out a frustrated breath. He looked at the open doorway and said, "I want to hurt him for doing this Jack."

"I know you do; so do I. But right now we have to focus that energy on finding Martin."

Victor rubbed a hand over his forehead as he tried to compose himself. He looked at Jack and asked, "What did you find out? You said Martin's not here, where is he?"

Jack folded his arms and replied, "Jake Miller did initiate the kidnapping but he's no longer in control….." Jack finished debriefing Victor on everything Jake told them up until he came storming in.

"So now we are looking for this Harry?" Victor asked defeatedly.

"Yeah."

Victor stepped to the railing and leaned forward with his hands gripping the metal frame, "So the person who is supposed to call at 11:30 – that's Harry."

Jack stood alongside Victor and softly said, "Yeah, it seems so."

The two men stood together for a beat when Victor glanced at his watch and stood up straight, "He's going to be calling soon. We should get back to the city." The older man glanced towards Jake's room and said, "Besides you better get me out of here before I do something we both regret."

"Right." Jack watched as Victor headed down the stairwell before walking back to room to find Danny and Viv talking to Jake.

"So you had set up the cell phone to be untraceable and now Harry has it?" Viv questioned.

"Yeah." Jake replied. "He knows that it can't be traced, too."

Danny looked at Jake really irritated and slapped him on the back of the head. "Wow, you really thought this whole thing through didn't you?"

Sam spotted Jack and walked over to him. "How's Victor?"

"We are going to head back to the city to get ready for the ransom drop."

Sam nodded her head and said, "I'll go with you."

Viv joined them and said, "We'll send Jake back for processing and then Danny and I will go to this Lou's Bar to see if we can find out anything. I called Mac and he is tracking down Harry's home address and will send some agents there to look around."

Jack shook his head and said, "Keep in touch and let us know if you find out anything."

He gave her a quick nod and started to follow Sam out before looking back at the pathetic state of Jake Miller. It was sad to think that a father seeking vengeance for the loss of his son would inflict the same pain back on someone else.

Jack turned around and walked out. He had to get ready to pay to get Martin back. He prayed that the loose cannon named Harry could be trusted but something in his gut doubted it.