Everyone sat up straighter.
"He said 'Carlyle' instead of 'Leigh'?" Lou asked.
"Yes…..but again, it's not unheard of. Not everyone knows my real name…..but fans who follow me closely know that Ana Leigh is just my pen name."
As Steve continued to watch her, he knew she was hiding something.
He leaned forward to put his elbows on the table and turned to her with a penetrating gaze. "What aren't you telling us?"
She fidgeted in her seat and swallowed. Steve didn't break her gaze.
Interrogation 101, Leeann thought dryly. Break them down with a death stare.
"It's not important….What we need to do right now is find Kiera!" Leeann said. "It was just a crazy fan…..That's all. Can we please focus on finding my daughter?!"
"Indulge me," Steve demanded softly.
Leeann sighed in frustration and stood up. "Okay fine!" She turned back to Steve. "Before he left, he handed me an envelope. When I opened it later, it was a 'Sympathy' card."
"A sympathy card? Why?"
"Yes, a sympathy card…..for the loss of my husband." All eyes were intently focused on her. "I got a lot of them after Travis died. It was right after my first book was released and both my manager and publicist said it was just the fans way of trying to connect with me on some level . But…this guy had also enclosed a black silk scarf, and….." She looked at Steve helplessly before continuing. "…and he'd written a quote from my last book.'"
"What is the quote? And why a black scarf?" Junior asked.
Tani caught Leeann's gaze and Leeann realized the only woman in the room had read her books. It was comforting; Especially when Tani spoke up to help fill in the blanks.
"The black scarf was used in the second novel as a signal from the female character as to when she was alone," Tani said. She could have said more…..so much more….but she left it at that.
"And the quote?" Junior asked again.
Leeann let out a frustrated sigh…..albeit shaky as well. "You would have to read the book to have a frame of reference," she began. "But essentially he quoted a text message from one character to the other that said 'Just confirming our appointment scheduled for January 15th. Please let me know if we need to reschedule."
"Fill in the blanks for us, Leeann," Steve said frustration evident in his voice. "What the hell does this mean?"
"The two main characters were a CIA Agent and a Navy SEAL. They were working together to bring down a terrorist ring that had political ties to the U.S. They would meet also meet periodically to…rendezvous."
"Hence the 'erotic' elements of the book, I take it?" Lou quipped.
Leeann shook her head. "Right."
"Okay, so assuming you got this message a couple of weeks ago…..and today is January 15th….Please tell me you reported the message from the psycho sending you a scarf," Danny said.
Leeann didn't answer.
"You didn't report it?!" Steve asked as he stood up in frustration. "What the hell, Leeann?!"
"Listen to me! You have to understand….My books are political thrillers…but like we've already established, they also have….." She looked at Steve. "…Ummmm…erotic elements to them. Those can attract a certain type of fan. I've had several disturbing letters over the past several years that were concerning to my manager but nothing ever came of them. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with this guy. I assumed he was just another creep who wanted to live out a fantasy from the books. "
Steve didn't like the sound of that. Wanting to live out a fantasy from a book could indicate they were after a stalker rather than a terrorist. Either one was dangerous, but it would be easier to deal with a stalker who had come unhinged than an international terrorist bent on revenge. However, a stalker wanting to live out some sort of erotic fantasy with her wasn't something he was going to allow on any level.
"So tell me about this guy. What did he look like?"
Leeann shrugged, "Pretty average. Maybe 6 feet tall…Dark blond hair….Thin…..He was dressed nice, though; Dress pants and a nice shirt with expensive shoes. He had an accent….I think it was probably British. That's really all I can tell you."
"Did you receive any kind of ransom call?"
She shook her head negatively.
"Then where in God's name were you going when we pulled you over today?!" Steve asked.
"I found out Assad is on the island….so I assumed he was involved." She answered as she stuck her chin out defiantly.
"But you don't know that for sure?" Danny asked.
"NO! But who else could it be?!"
Steve took in a calming breath and willed himself to not lecture her on the carelessness of what she'd done.
"Okay, so let's assume for a second that Assad isn't behind this because it would make our jobs easier." Steve said optimistically. "Tani and Junior, go to Kiera's school and talk to everyone…..and I mean everyone…..who was on the playground, around the playground, or within viewing distance of the playground today. We need to know everything they saw."
They both got up from the table to leave just as Jerry opened up the conference room door, "That may not be necessary. We have someone calling claiming to be Kahlil Assad."
One of Leeann's hands went to her chest as her other grabbed Steve's forearm. Everyone got up and walked to the common area around the smart table.
"Patch them through, Jer." Steve instructed. After confirmation that the call had come through, Steve began. "This is Commander Steve McGarrett with the Five-0 task force. Who am I speaking to?"
"Commander McGarrett….." the voice began and Steve felt his heart sink. "How fortuitous to be speaking with you again. Imagine my delight when I realized our paths were going to cross again."
Steve cast a cautionary glance to Leeann willing her to be quiet and let him handle the conversation. She grabbed his hand in agreement and gave a slight squeeze, but he found her shaking.
"Assad." He answered sardonically.
"The one and only," he confirmed.
"You know the rules, Assad. We don't negotiate with terrorists."
He felt Leeann tense beside him, so he squeezed her hand again.
Trust me….it seemed to say.
"Oh I am very aware of your country's policies, Commander. However, as this is not an international situation, I am believing you will reconsider. After all, you believe I have the child. Correct?"
"Are you saying you DON'T?"
"I may be a lot of things, Commander, but I do have my scruples. Unlike many of my counterparts, I do not involve women or children in my…negotiations."
"Why should I believe you?"
"It is true," Assad answered. "Commander Carlyle and his team cost me a great deal of money and other 'income'. But they paid for that error with their lives. I considered that payment in full. However, the income I lost from them is just a drop in the bucket for me. Please understand, when they were dead…I considered the debt paid. There is no need for me to go after anyone else."
Leeann choked back a sob and a hand flew to her mouth as she tried to stay silent listening to the man who had viciously murdered her husband. Steve put his arms around her and pull her close. She quietly cried into his shoulder.
"So what is this about, Assad?" Steve asked. His instincts told him this could get very messy…..Assuming Assad was telling him the truth. "If you don't have the girl, how do you know what's going on?"
"Let's just say, the one who took the girl is on my list. He owes me. So as fate would have it, we may have to work together this time, Commander McGarrett. I get him…..You get the girl…..and all is right with the world."
Steve cast cautionary glances at his team. "I'm going to transfer this call to my office so we can talk privately," he told Assad.
"Whatever you wish, Commander."
When Assad was 'on hold', Steve loosened his hold on Leeann and put his palms on either side of her face forcing her to look at him. He saw fire…..and pain…behind her vibrant green eyes.
"Stay here," he insisted. "I'm going to talk to him and see what I can find out."
"Like HELL you will!" she spat. "I want to hear what he has to say!"
"Listen to me," he demanded. "If you want to get Kiera back, you have to trust me. I will talk to him…..and I'll let you ALL know what we come up with."
He looked around his team before turning back to Leeann. "Kahlil Assad is not someone to mess with. If he has knowledge of WHO has Kiera or WHERE she is, we need to find that out ASAP. I've dealt with him before. Sometimes we have to deal with the devil to get what we want. Do you understand me?"
Leeann was hesitant but finally shook her head in agreement.
Steve walked towards his office and looked back towards her with an encouraging smile before closing his door and picking up the call.
"What can you tell me?" he began his conversation with Assad.
**************************h50*********************h50*************************h50
The conversation began as Leeann stood helpless.
Danny came to her side. "Steve will find out where she is," he said confidently. "And we'll do whatever we can to get her back."
"I know," Leeann said and she pressed fingers to her temples to try and ease the headache that could quickly turn in to a migraine.
"Come with me," Tani said conspiratorially. "I have some aspirin in my office. Let's go have some girl talk."