Freedom
Chapter 24
RPOV
It's been 33 fucking hours since Steph was taken! That son-of-a-bitch had better be ready for the wrath I'm about to reign down on him. My men and the authorities, FBI Agent Tony Dirks, his partner, Agent David Samuels and Henry Shepard, NJ State Police, Internal Affairs are all gathered around the conference table in conference room B as we all review the intel gathered thus far. What it all amounts to is a load of shit! We're no closer to locating her now, over a day later than we were after Hal's interrogation of Tom. I am sick with worry over what could be happening to my babe and helpless as to where to turn next. I need to detach myself from this emotionally, transform myself into Ranger, mercenary and special ops leader. Fuck! Easier said than done.
SPOV
I've been here a day, that is if the damn drugs that asshole has given me hasn't knocked me out for longer than that. I can only tell because of the light I could see coming in from the window is gone and has been for a long time. Joe came down a few hours ago and when I asked him again for water, or food, or something, he insisted I tell him why I love him. I tried… I tried really hard to lie to him, but when I opened my mouth, all I could do was cry. Gut wrenching sobs took over my body and I couldn't do it. I'm pathetic! I need more time to come to terms with betraying Carlos. I know he'll understand, self-preservation and all that. I'm being put in a horrible position. And truth be told, if I give in too quickly, won't that just seem insincere and he'll see right through it? And even if I were able to tell him what he wanted to hear and he did believe me, wouldn't he just move me? I heard him mutter something about needing to make arrangements to be here longer than he thought as he was going upstairs earlier. So does that mean we're not far from Trenton? If I can hold out a little while longer, it gives Carlos and the guys that much more time to find me. Right? Ah, hell. I've been thinking this through so much, I'm confusing myself! What I wouldn't give for something to eat, even twigs and bark would be better than nothing.
"Stephanie… wake up." Huh? Carlos? My eyes still closed, I smiled, turning over in the bed. When I opened my eyes, I was greeted with a very happy looking Italian lying next to me that didn't look a thing like Carlos. Joe. Shit! It wasn't a dream.
"Looks like someone remembered one of the things they love about me…" Oh shit! He thinks the smile I had was for him. Hmmm… maybe this could work in my favor.
"Ya, well, I had good dreams last night." That wasn't entirely a lie. I did have good dreams… of Carlos. But he didn't need to know that.
"It's been a while, Cupcake, why don't I give you a little reminder of what you've been missing." He said, moving his body against mine, kissing me. Oh, god, I'm going to vomit!
I pulled back "Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like our next time to be special, not me chained to a bed after not showering or brushing my teeth for days." Oh, please, please take the bait on this.
"I agree, you need to wash his scent off you. I'll bring down some supplies and give you a little time to freshen up. I've got a lot of new things in mind for you, Cupcake. You aren't going to withhold anything from me anymore now that we've found each other again. I know you still have two more things to tell me, but they can wait until after you've had some crackers and apple juice so we can get that stomach of yours to quiet down. I'll be right back." Oh, thank god he didn't push the sex thing. It's one thing to lie about why I love him…not. It's another thing entirely to be unfaithful to Carlos. I can't… I won't let that happen.
True enough, Joe followed through on the crackers and juice. I tried to eat it slowly, but I'm so hungry, it was hard. My stomach settled down after getting some food on it, so I was grateful for that. Joe took my blanket away and stared at my body while I ate, insisting I tell him two more reasons why I love him. I told him I loved how manly he is doing his job and how much of a family man he will be. He seemed to not only buy it, but eat it up. Guess I'm a better actress than I thought.
Joe went over to the stairs and pulled out a washcloth, a bar of soap, toothbrush and toothpaste and ten minutes to freshen up and use the facilities, chaperone free. When Joe came back downstairs, he caught me off guard, sneaking up behind me. I felt the now familiar feeling of a needle entering my arm and started to slump in his arms. "I have to go take care of some business, Cupcake. You be a good girl and get some rest. We have time to make up for when I get back home." I was vaguely aware of his hands on my body, rubbing his hands up my sides, cupping my breasts before darkness took over.
BPOV
I just got a message on my cell phone from the lab where I sent the vial of blood I took from Bomber a couple of days ago. I forgot all about it, what with the excitement around here.
Stephanie has now been gone 54 hours. Tank and Hal took off this morning about an hour ago on a lead they thought would turn into something. We're all waiting anxiously on any word from them as we all pursue our own leads and hunches. Rangeman has never been in such a frenzied state before.
I called the lab back and requested they fax the results of the blood panel I ordered. Expecting to find she was anemic, I wasn't too surprised to see it confirmed, but the other result staring me in the face from the fax just sent over has me in a full blown panic and I don't do panic.
I called down to the monitor room. "Location on Ranger!"
"He's in his office."
I took the stairs up to Ranger and Stephanie's office, not surprised to see him talking with several people including Eddie Gazarra, Steph's cousin and a detective with the TPD.
"Ranger, I need to talk with you."
"Bobby, it will need to wait, we're in the middle of something here."
"No! It really can't wait. Can I speak with you in private?" Eddie looked at me like I was an alien, what with how I just talked to Ranger. Tank, Hal and Agent Dirks simply stared at me.
Ranger addressed Eddie, "Can you give us a moment, please? There's a conference room next door you can wait in, I'll come get you when we're done."
When Eddie left the room, Ranger walked right up to me, got up in my face and told me, "This had better be good Bobby, that was our first strong lead yet!"
"I just got the results back from Stephanie's blood work that I drew several days ago."
"And…"
"It confirms my suspicion. She's anemic."
He interrupted before I could continue. "That's why you had to interrupt our train of thought? Eddie was about to tell us where Joe could be hiding Steph."
"No, that's not all. You may want to sit down for this."
"I don't think…"
"I'm not asking, I'm telling you. Sit down."
"Fuck Bobby, you're pushing it!"
Ranger sat at the table beside Tank and I sat on the other side of him. "The blood panel I ordered tested for a whole array of possible reasons for what was going on with her. Let me be the first to congratulate you. You're going to be a father."
I have never seen Ranger look so pale. Even after being shot and losing blood, that still couldn't compare to what he looks like now.
"Ranger, did you hear me?"
He nodded. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. And by the numbers, she's probably in her eighth week." A huge grin appeared my friend's face before it quickly disappeared and he tried to cover it with his blank face, but worry took over.
"This ups the stakes so much more… she doesn't know she needs to protect our baby…"
"It's probably for the best, actually."
"How the fuck can you say that?" Tank found his voice and butted in.
"Imagine you're Morelli. You just rescued the woman you love from a man you despise. He won't raise your child. We all know he's trying to convince her to love him again, to see reason. And we all know how stubborn Bomber is. If he lays a hand on her and she lowers her hands to protect her belly where her child with you is growing, he's going to lose it! He'll make sure she loses the baby and in a bad way."
Lester, looking confused asked, "How do you mean?"
"I hate to say this, but a few well placed punches, or kicks. He could even resort to an old fashioned method women used to do before abortion was legal by going up the vagina and piercing the placenta with a sharp object. I'm not saying he's going to, I'm just saying he's messed up in the head and will stop at nothing to make her his property. She was already feeling tired and a bit ill before he took her. If it gets much worse, and he suspects and gets her a test to confirm… let's just say it's of the utmost importance to find her, ASAP. She's not showing yet, so that's a definite plus."
We all looked at Ranger who just sat there looking as evil as I've ever seen him. Witnessing what Ranger is capable when serving his country in battle or on a mission is one thing. Seeing him seething over what Stephanie could be up against and the retaliation he wants to inflict is a whole other level of malevolence. He excused himself, went to his office next door and slammed the door. We all heard a primal, inhuman, roar that could wake the dead, followed by a loud crash and a few thuds.
Moments later, Ranger walked back in, the knuckles on his right hand red, face clenched tight, jaw muscles twitching. He was containing his rage.
Tank went to the conference room Eddie was sent to and walked back in with him. Eddie looked at Ranger, then the rest of us before continuing.
"Eddie, sorry for the interruption, please, continue." Let's get on with this fucked up situation.
"You asked me for Chief Drake's personnel file, and even though it took some doing, I brought a copy with me today. If anyone asks, you didn't get it from me."
RPOV
When Bobby told me Steph and I were going to have a baby, I was thrilled. Then scared out of my mind. Not knowing what she's endured so far, I pray she hasn't lost the baby already. Most importantly though, I pray she's alright. Hearing the possible ways that Morelli could make sure she didn't carry my child to term, I lost it. Stephanie will be devastated if she found out she was pregnant and lost our child, especially at Morelli's hands. If I don't find some release for the frustration that's been building over the last couple of days, I'm going to explode!
When Det. Gazarra returned to the conference room, we got back down to business. He gave us Chief Drake's personnel file and I instantly searched for information on his family. He has three sisters, one in Colorado, one in Washington, and one right here in New Jersey. Bingo! I instantly texted the rest of the core team to respond to the conference room. Our first real lead after chasing so many false one's over the last two days.
After everyone reported to the conference room, I handed Lester my laptop. "Do a search on Erminna Drake. She's Chief Drake's youngest sister." We all waited tentatively as the results were pulled up.
"Looks like she's a retired middle school teacher. She has a humble two bedroom house in Elizabeth, NJ and a condo in Florida that she only pays utilities on in the winter."
"That's got to be it! I want a full response on this one. Contract workers can stay behind, core team, Dirks & Samuels and three others of your choosing, Tank. Get geared up! Helicopter lifts off in fifteen." Finally! The fucking missing puzzle piece and not a moment too soon!
SPOV
The next time I woke up, Joe was laying next to me, his hand gliding over my breasts, then down my body until it was stroking my thigh. I shuddered in disgust when I felt his hand rubbing the promised land. I'm feeling sick to my stomach from all the damn drugs he was giving me and now this. I looked away from him, feeling the tears welling up.
"Cupcake, this is one area we never had a problem. Unless you count you only liking missionary. I can't to feel you surrounding me, just like old times."
"I don't feel good, Joe. You keep drugging me, and I've hardly eaten anything. I can't…"
"Oh, I think you can and you will. You don't have to do any of the work, just roll over and get on your knees. I promise you'll like it this way." Little did he know I love it that way, but would never let him get me in that position when we were together.
"No, Joe! I'm not having sex with you!" I wasn't prepared for what came next. Joe wrapped his hand around my neck and lifted me so I was on my knees. He slapped me across the face, hard. My cheek felt like it was burning.
"DO NOT TELL ME NO!" He turned me around and forced me on my knees. "You'll do what you're told or I'll drug you again and we'll try it that way!" I couldn't help but cry. What did I do to deserve this? Do I do as he say or do I fight and get raped. This cannot be happening.
I heard Joe's cell phone ringing and jumped at the interruption. He answered it gruffly. Guess he didn't like someone interrupting his plans to get off against my will. I listened to his half of the conversation, trying to figure out what was going on but he hardly spoke.
"What?"
"Fuck!"
"Thanks, man."
He ends the phone call and after kicking the bed frame and pacing for a few moments, he stands over me, looking at me with a fury that tells me this is the Joe I never knew when we were together. He looked even further gone than the Joe that beat me when I ended our relationship. "Our location has been compromised!" He re-cuffed me to the head board and stomped up the stairs, slamming the door behind him.
Carlos! He's on his way. I knew it! I have to stall Joe to give the guys more time to get here. Oh, thank god. Come on Steph, you can do this.
When Joe came back downstairs, I was ready for him. "Joe, I don't feel so good, I think I'm going to throw up." It's the only thing I could come up with, knowing how much he hated being around me the last time I vomited.
"I'll give you five minutes to take care of business, then I'll give you a bag just in case. We are leaving, sick or not." It would have to do.
Looking at his watch a dozen times, Joe impatiently announced it was time to go. As we started up the stairs with me in the lead, I turned suddenly and shoved with all my might, catching Joe off guard. I watched Joe tumble down and lay at the bottom in a heap. I bolted up the last few steps and tried to open the door, but it was locked. The fucker put a padlock on the inside of the door. Shit! Now what? I quietly descended the steps to retrieve the keys from his still unmoving body.
Just as I peeled the keys from his grasp, Joe opened his eyes and backhanded me. "I should've known you'd betray me if given the chance." He shoved me off him, hard, sending me flying across the room, hitting my back and head against the metal pillar in the middle of the room. "I don't want to get rough with you Stephanie!"
"Then don't!" I stood, ready to fight him as he came my way. I was trying to use the self-defense training Lester taught me, but I'm so weak, it's hard to stand up, much less find strength.
"Don't talk back to me! I will not tolerate my wife being disobedient! I will break that sassy spirit of yours!" Smack, his fist punch landed on my right cheekbone with enough force to send me back to the ground. "I'll get him out of your mind, given enough time." Oofh! He kicked me in the gut, making me double over in pain. "You're mine now, Cupcake. I'll work hard on getting that through your pretty little head once we get to Montana. I've got a cabin I paid cash for and put in a name untraceable to me. We'll have lots of privacy and time to get reacquainted… properly this time. Manoso and his goons will never find you!" I sat up in shock over his plans and he punched my left temple causing the room to spin around me. "I don't want to have to keep repeating these lessons with you, Cupcake! I don't know why you keep making me discipline you!"
He turned to ascend the stairs and I was confused. I thought it was of the utmost importance for us to leave right then. "I'll be right back, I have to get something. Don't move!" Like I could if I tried after he beat the shit out of me.
I must have passed out briefly. When I awoke, my arms were tied together in front of me. When I looked up at Joe, he was once again injecting me with something. For god's sake! How much more of this can I take? "We're trying a something different this time, Cupcake. Let's see how you like it." I could feel it working immediately, it felt nothing like the other shots he'd given me before. With the others, I would simply fall into the darkness. With this shot, a painful burning sensation started with the tips of my fingers and toes, and it was slowly crawling up my body. It felt like someone was dipping me into lava. My limbs were burning and by the time it got to my torso, I was crying uncontrollably, but I couldn't move. After several minutes, I laid there, unable to move, yet fully awake and aware of Joe looking down at me, quite proud of himself. Fuck… I'm paralyzed!
Every time I think he's pushed the threshold of insanity to its limit, he pushes even harder.