Tone of Deceit
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: It's probably assumed, but fair to remind and point out that this chapter as well as the last two chapters are all occurring within the same time frame. Which is why we've not seen a reaction from Beck's abduction just yet. That will come.
Chapter 19 (The Brash Flame)
Mr. Anthony was suspected of being the one that grabbed both Gabriella and Sherry, so Andre and Robbie wanted to find anything they could about the man. They felt responsible for these two victims being taken, so they wanted to take matters into their own hands if at all possible.
Andre had a plan, but he wasn't sharing it with anyone. He knew nobody would approve of it, and if anyone knew what he wanted to do, they would surely stop him from it. "He's not in here." Robbie said while looking through the man's window. "What do we do now?"
"I got an idea." Andre poked his head around the corner of the house, then made his way towards the back. He heard the sound of running water and rushed towards it, stopping at a wooden fence. There was a hole in the fence, enough for him to peer through.
He saw the tall man standing in front of a garden and shrubs, holding a hose in his hand. "There you are," Andre whispered, "Knew you were home." Robbie walked up behind him, his eyebrows rising slowly. "Okay, here's the thing. These teachers have to have logbooks, records, there's no goddamn way they don't. Who doesn't keep track of their transactions and whatnot?"
"Valid point. But I'm not sure that individual teachers would, it's got to be like one person having records of everyone."
"Oh I'm sure there's that too."
"So what's the plan? I mean, we can't just simply break into his house or something. We're not doing that, right?"
"Not in the way it would be thought." Andre took a deep breath, then called out. "Yo, Mr. Anthony, you home?" Robbie's eyes went wide and he took a small step back. "Hey, I need some advice on this piece I'm working on."
It was not long before the water was turned off and the fence gate opened up. Anthony stared down at Andre with a furrowed brow. "Mr. Harris? Why are you at my home?"
"I dunno." Andre shrugged. "I figured you teachers didn't have a problem with house visits. Can we talk inside? It's a bit warm out here." Anthony raised his eyebrow and shrugged.
"Okay, I suppose for a moment." The instructor led them into his house and Andre felt a spark of adrenaline. His eyes scanned the area, but it was a typical looking living room. Nothing worth noting.
Although, there was an open door that led into what looked like a study. If anything important was available, it would be there. "So Mr. Anthony, I'm wanting to work towards becoming a pianist and I know you were the first teacher to be really harsh on some of my work, so…"
"You do have a lot of potential, but you have some flaws here and there that should be addressed." Andre nodded and folded his arms as Anthony looked towards a hallway. "If you would like, I could give you a few pointers in my music room."
"I would appreciate that." He followed Anthony down the hallway while Robbie excused himself to use the restroom. Robbie had spotted the study as well, so Andre knew it was up to him to keep Mr. Antony preoccupied.
Once in the music room, Andre was impressed to see all the various instruments. It was a breathtaking sight, for in the center was a grand piano while the walls held various string and bass instruments. He could see some flutes as well. This instructor seemed to be one of the genuine instructors.
Or at least, very devoted to playing a role. "This is impressive," Andre said with excitement growing in him. Anthony brightened with pride, his smile growing wider. "I was not expecting all this."
"I've been into all kinds of music for most of my life." Anthony swept his hand towards the piano. "Should we get started?" Andre nodded and rushed to the piano, partially forgetting the purpose for being there.
The lesson felt as a legitimate one, lasting for nearly an hour. The teacher had some good points and Andre actually felt like he came out learning something. Still, he was eager to see what Robbie discovered, if anything at all.
Once outside, Robbie joined him. "I left everything in its place." They walked down the street a bit, with Andre looking over his shoulder. "But I did discover something interesting. He had a folder, surprisingly enough, with all his personal abductions." Andre's heart sank a bit and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Too bad, the man seems cool you know."
"I could hear you guys playing that piano." Robbie gave him a thumbs up, filling him with a sense of pride. "It's a shame, but the man's still a monster and we'll want to let the police know that he's got a record."
"Think they'll be okay with that?"
"You asked Anthony into the house and I stumbled upon something within his home." Robbie pressed his lips together and chuckled. "I'd say there's nothing to worry about."
"Any mention of Sherry or Gabriella in there?" Robbie nodded. "How many people did he take?"
"About six students." Andre shut his eyes. "Each have gone to the same buyer though, so it looks like he's got a favorite that maybe the gang sells to. A client involved in prostitution named Roger Mansfield."
He froze, a chill shooting down his spine. His hands closed tight and his jaw locked in place. Robbie's eyebrow rose and Andre glared down at the ground with fire burning in his eyes. "What's wrong?"
He turned back around. "Go home, Robbie. Tell the Vegas what you found." Hatred coursed through his veins and Robbie called out to him.
"Who the hell is the guy?"
"Don't worry about it. Just go." The original plan he had, he opted for not going through; but now he had every bit of reason to go through with it. Upon reaching Mr. Anthony's house, he called out to the instructor once more until the man came back from his back yard.
"Andre? What is it?"
"Roger Mansfield. I want you to take me to him." Anthony jerked his head back, his jaw dropped open and he furrowed his brow after several seconds. "I know you've talked to that bastard, and I want you to take me there."
"What-How do you even know that name?"
"Because the asshole is my slimeball father, and if you don't take me to him, I'll take you to the cops." Anthony's face sank and his eyes darkened. The man's hands balled up firmly and he let out a strange growl. "Understand?"
"Pity, I thought we had a pretty good lesson today."
"Yeah man, well, it's a damn shame. Too bad you got mixed up with an asshole. I'll try not to do that when I start my career." He smirked, hoping his confidence might throw the man off. "Now, let's go."
"You think you hold the cards, Andre? You don't. Still, if it means that much to you." Anthony turned away with a sigh and started walking towards his car, shaking out his arms.
It was a long shot and he knew it; but that only added to his surprise when Anthony took him right where he wanted to go. It was true, Roger was his father, but in name only. His mother was a prostitute that tried to get out of that life, but Roger simply would not let her go easily.
No, the man had her killed. She was visiting her boyfriend and his two sons when a group of men broke into the house, tied them up, and set fire to the place. Andre, just a boy at the time, hid under a bed until the firefighters found him. He remembered hearing his father's name said multiple times; but investigators didn't want to listen to a child.
The pair drove to a strip club, of all places, and Andre followed quietly. He kept his head bowed and hands clasped together at his waist. Anthony walked up to a burly man standing outside the door, he had a flashy suit and bright green eyes. "No minors," the man said while pointing to Andre.
Anthony raised his hand. "I need to speak to the Tailor." The man's brow furrowed and he slowly opened the door.
"Come on in."
As they made their way inside, Andre looked over his shoulder with a sneer. Anthony walked without looking at the women dancing on the various stage or the patrons flashing money in the air while Andre had to close his eyes a few times from the strobe lights flashing. The smoke in the air choked out his lungs, causing a burning sensation in his chest.
When they finally reached the back hallways, Andre saw multiple private rooms with some doors opened and others closed. He heard moans of pleasure and screams that pierced the air. He could also hear muffled sobs behind some doors.
Before reaching the last door in the hallway, Andre stopped when something caught his eye in the final room to the left. There was a girl lying on the bed, her naked body was covered in bruises, with the darkest around her wrists and her neck. Her dark hair splattered the pillow and hung loosely over the edge of the bed.
The sight turned his stomach, threatening to force his dinner up; but something made him continue to gaze at this unconscious woman. For her soft features and round face were familiar.
Finally it hit him, and he let out a low whisper. "Gabriella." His hands clenched and his chest grew tight with rage. "Shit." He looked back to Anthony with narrow eyes, imagining how wonderful it would feel to slowly choke the life out of this man.
Anthony knocked on the door and Andre steeled himself, his pulse quickened and impatience grew. Finally the door opened and a man poked his head out. His complexion was darker than night, his eyes were clouded and grey like the hair pulled into a ponytail. The man had a thick moustache and goatee that was dyed red.
Andre knew this man in an instant. "I brought you someone," Anthony spoke. The man's eyes had immediately travelled to Andre, stress lines formed around the man's lips and eyes, and he slowly opened the door.
"Come inside, Anthony." The man pointed to Andre. "You stay right here, I will deal with you after I discuss." He had to wonder if the man knew who he was, yet he felt as though the answer would come soon.
The two men stepped inside and Andre leaned against the wall to the right, crossing his arms and grunting angrily. His gaze fixated on Gabriella and the urge to murder these two men only increased.
His phone buzzed in his pocket so while glancing sideways at the open office door, he carefully removed his phone. He was in the corner, so still visible but not entirely.
When checked the phone, he saw a text from Trina. "Where in God's name are you? Robbie just got to the police about Anthony and said you went back to the fucking house? The police have searched the place."
"At the 'Hen House'," he replied with swift fingers. "Looks like it's owned by the guy listed in Anthony's records." His eyes flickered up as he heard Roger shouting at Anthony, calling him an idiot for bringing Andre to him. His gaze travelled back to Gabriella and his anger turned to grief. "Gabriella. She's here."
"What? Andre, don't do anything stupid."
"I'm going to find Sherri. I'm going to get this asshole to tell me where she is."
"No. No you are not. Andre, you are in great danger and you need to get out of there."
"I can't do that, Trina. I'm sorry, but this is personal. Send the police, because Gabriella…she looks like she's breathing, but she's had a rough time of it." A lump grew in his throat and he quickly swallowed it down. He quickly pocketed the phone and looked over at the office door.
Slowly he poked his head into view and raised his eyebrows upon hearing Anthony cry out in anguish. His eyes grew large when he saw Roger pushing a knife into the man's gut. "Fuckin' useless." Anthony staggered back, gasping for air.
Roger turned his head slowly, his nostrils flaring. "Come on in." The man's lips curled back, revealing a row of stained teeth. "Son."
Anthony collapsed to the ground, holding his stomach with his left hand. His right arm stretched out and flexed, and blood began to pool underneath. "Why the hell did you do that?" Andre wanted to rush to the man, to try and help him-as much as he hated the guy, he didn't actually want to witness an actual death.
"Because he is a useless moron…I did not ask for anyone else at this point, I did not request males, and I certainly did not expect you."
"Yeah?" He spread his arms out. "What're you going to do? Run me through with that knife too?"
"No. I want to know why you are here."
Thinking better of the aggressive words forming in his head, he saw opportunity. "I want to join your prostitution ring." Roger's eyebrow rose and he tilted his head.
"Say that again?"
"I want to join you." Roger threw his head back and laughter echoed off the walls in the room. "Like father like son, am I right?" Andre glared down at Anthony, who was gazing up at him with pained eyes. "In fact, it's probably a good thing you stabbed this bastard."
"Oh? Is it?"
"Yes." Here was an opportunity to show loyalty, so that this man didn't assume he was lying. "In fact, Mr. Anthony was betraying you." He saw the teacher's eyes wider. The man opened his mouth, but only a rasp escaped. "He called the police on the way here, said he was going to prove how bad you were, trying to convince me away from joining your side." Andre shrugged and took a step forward, studying Roger's steely-eyed glare now fixated on the teacher. "Only, what's a son going to do? Let his father be fooled?"
With that, the bouncer burst into the office, causing Roger to shoot an angry look at the man. "Sir, the cops, they're pulling up outside!" Roger grimaced and Andre turned his head. "There's like five or six cars out there, and it looks like they've got a fucking swat team."
"Son of a bitch!" Roger put his hand on Andre's shoulder and pointed to a door in the back of the office. "Come with me. If you want to join me so fucking much, we'll have to get out of here." With a nod, Andre looked over his shoulder and followed the man out the back door.
"Where are we going?"
"My other hideout." He paused for a moment, giving one last look to the bouncer. "Torch this joint." Andre's heart stopped, realizing just how dangerous and psychotic Roger truly was. As he followed the man, he prayed the police could get everyone out of that building before the bouncer started to burn the place down.
"You really love fire."
Roger shrugged and opened the door to a dark, Chevy SUV. "Get in." He followed the man's orders and quickly put on his seatbelt.
As they drove away, Andre took one last look at the building. Trina popped into view of the doorway, looking around with a sense of urgency. The woman balled her fist up and quickly punched the outside wall. He didn't have to question just how much shit would be thrown his way if he got out of this mess alive, he could only hope she'd trust his plan. If nothing else, his father would lead him to Sherri.
Well, not sure what to say there. What are your thoughts on everything?