AN: Thank you all so much for reading and those of you who reviewed with your kind comments!
My daily updates were unexpected even for me. A short break plus down time when I returned to work post Christmas has allowed for some time to do my writing. While I wish I can continue to update so often, it may not always be the case so here is an apology in advance. I will try to post as regularly as I have been but I hope you will all continue to follow my story if I have to leave you hanging a little longer between chapters.
This one's for "McMoni"...whose apologies are not necessary :-) Thank you very much for reading. I'm really happy to hear you are enjoying this.
Tanith
Chapter 42
Just as Steve's place had been devoid of its occupant, Whitney's newly acquired home was similarly empty. Mike turned to Irene, feeling at a loss for where to look next. "Now what?"
"We'll need a search warrant if you want to check the place out," said Irene. "But I doubt we'll be able to convince a judge to issue one tonight. We still don't know for sure that Steve is in any kind of trouble."
"I know. Maybe it's time we pay George Holden a visit," Mike suggested.
"You think he'll be willing to help?"
"If we can convince him that our concern is for the safety of his son and my daughter then he might cooperate."
Irene nodded in agreement. "It's worth a try. I have his address."
"Good. Let's go," Mike said, leading the way back to his car. He tried not to think about where else they should be looking if George Holden was not going to yield any useful information. They were out of options and now not only was his partner AWOHL but his daughter and her fiancé seems to have disappeared as well. Of course, it could just be a matter of poor timing but the coincidence didn't make him feel any less worried as a friend and as a father.
Rough hands hauled Steve to his feet and held him upright as he regained his senses. Then a fist slugged him in the mouth, whipping his head back from the force of the blow. Black spots invaded his vision and for a moment he thought he was going to pass out for a second time. When clarity returned, he stood defiantly, glaring at the man who hit him. Spitting the blood out of his mouth, he croaked, "That all you got?"
"Dad, he's a cop!" Whitney protested, seeing one of his father's cronies prepare to deliver another blow.
"I know what he is. Alright, that's enough," George Holden said then to his son, he ordered gruffly, "Go do something useful for once and get some rope." He approached the young cop who was being held by his two henchmen. "You've put me in a very awkward position." Opening the leather case in his hands, he read out the identification details. "Inspector Steven Keller, San Francisco Police Department." Looking up to meet the detective's gaze, he continued, "The question is, what am I going to do with you?"
"I can tell ya one thing, Mr. Holden. You're not going to be able bribe your way out of this one," Steve slurred sarcastically.
George studied the man before him and sneered. "Yes, well, that does put you in a rather undesirable place, doesn't it?"
"What're you going to do – kill a cop?" Steve challenged. He had no idea what he was dealing with but knew he was in a lot of trouble. Would the corporate tycoon murder to protect himself and his son from prosecution? Then the chilling memory of seeing Christina before he was knocked out came back to him. What was the little girl doing there? Or more importantly, what did George want with her? Then there was Jeannie. The image of her barely conscious form flooded back to him.
"Lets just say that you weren't exactly a house guest I had expected to see. I can assure you that whatever I do decide will not be in your best interest," George said.
"Where's the little girl?" Steve demanded.
"What girl?" George shrugged.
"Christina Lee. I saw her before I had my lights knocked out!" Steve shot back.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Inspector. Perhaps, you were hallucinating? I heard you've been in a number of accidents lately."
Steve began to struggle in earnest. "You son-of-a-bitch! What have you done to her?"
"Do calm yourself, Inspector, or things will get very uncomfortable for you," Holden Senior warned.
"Where's Jeannie? And don't tell me you don't know about her either!" Steve raised his voice several decibels.
Whitney's return brought the attention of his father. "Tie him up and gag him or I'll shut him up permanently," George instructed bluntly.
With the help of his father's bully boys who wrestled and forced the struggling cop face down on to the floor, Whitney worked to secure Steve's hands behind his back but his relentless struggles made the task all the more difficult.
"You think Jeannie's still gonna love you after this? You really screwed up, Whitney!" Steve growled. "She's never gonna forgive you!"
"Shut up, Keller!" Whitney snapped between clenched teeth. "Believe it or not, I'm doing you a favor so just shut your mouth for once!"
"You know I'm right! That's why you're keeping her drugged, isn't it? The only way you'll have her is when she's unconscious!" Steve's fury was uncontainable and the words poured out of him, attacking every last shred of confidence Whitney had for Jeannie's loyalty to him. At this point he wasn't sure what he was trying to accomplish but he didn't see any way out of his current predicament and if these were going to be his last words then maybe they were also his last chance of rattling Whitney's conscience. If the jerk had one, Steve thought darkly. He figured that if Whitney truly loved Jeannie even in his own twisted way, maybe he'll do the right thing and let her go. Then maybe Christina will also have a chance.
Whitney's impatience quickly turned to anger. It was all Keller's fault that his world was crumbling all around him. It was his fault Jeannie started having doubts about them. Then, knowing exactly where to hurt his rival and with the intentions of silencing him temporarily, he drove his knee into Steve's lower back.
An agonized cry tore from Steve's throat and through his clenched teeth. His vain struggles were extinguished as he lay face down, breathless from the merciless pain that Whitney was inflicting. Breathing in sharp shallow gasps, Steve squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best to relax to minimize the discomfort.
Satisfied that Steve's wrists were finally bound securely, Whitney moved away, allowing the two burly men to drag the weakened cop to his feet.
Short of breath and in a world of pain, Steve could barely hold his own weight up. The next thing he felt was a wadded material being shoved into his mouth and strapped in place with a bandana. He shook his head, trying to loosen the gag and renewed his struggles but all it earned him was a hard punch in the gut. He folded over and coughed into the gag, unable to breathe.
"Bring him in there," George directed his two cronies, pointing to the living room.
Steve had no choice but to comply as the men forced him into another room then shoved him into the corner. His body hit the wall with a thud and he slid down to the floor. Badly winded, Steve's muffled coughing and ineffectual attempts to breathe drew Holden Senior's attention.
"Get that gag off him before he chokes," George ordered in a bored manner.
Steve felt, rather than saw someone lean down and yank the gag down over his chin. The obstructing material was then pried out of his mouth. Relief washed over him when he was finally able to draw small gulps of air into his lungs through his mouth. Leaning his head back against the wall, Steve found Whitney's face hovering in front of him and he was unable to resist the temptation to retaliate. Shooting his head forward, he smashed it against Whitney's nose. He'd always had a gut feeling that Whitney was bad news but never thought he would go as far as this.
Whitney cried out and fell back on his haunches, covering his nose with one hand. Warm, sticky blood oozed through his fingers. He swore and scrambled to his feet, preparing to even up the score.
