Dangerously Close, page 19
But where would she have gone? She didn’t know anyone in New York City, especially when she grew up in Manhattan. Even her parents were still in Manhattan. She worked at one of her father’s banks...
One of her father’s banks.
Hunter’s mind skidded to a halt. “Matthew, let me call you back. I think I know where she’s at, but I have to do some research.”
“What do you want me to do? Return to Headquarters?”
“Not yet. Lurk around this area a little longer. I might need your help, but let Faulkner know we were detained.”
“Should I tell him about Ashley?”
“No. Tell him you had a flat tire or something.”
“Okay, but eventually—”
“Matthew, just try to put him off until I get back to you,” Hunter snapped before he ended the call.
Using the search engines on his phone, he looked up Ashley Reynold’s bank, and quickly dialed the number. When the polite receptionist answered, Hunter took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“Good afternoon. I need to speak with Miss Reynolds.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but she’s not in today.”
“How about her father?”
“Her... father?” The woman sounded hesitant.
“Yes. Isn’t he the owner of the bank?”
“Well, yes, but he is rarely at this branch.”
“Do you know where his main office is?” Hunter asked.
“Why, yes. It’s in New York City.”
His anxiety level kicked up a notch. “That’s great. Can you give me the address, please?”
After he ended the phone call, he typed the address into his GPS. The bank wasn’t far away at all.
He put the car into gear and headed toward the bank. He was determined to find her before Zander or his men did. Especially, since Hunter was positive Zander had men posted around her bank, or her father’s.
ASHLEY WRUNG HER COLD hands as she entered her father’s bank. She hadn’t been here since before she graduated college. Her father was a workaholic, and she knew that the only time she got to spend with him would be where he worked. She didn’t mind. He acted thrilled to think that she wanted to do what he did. She’d wondered if she only wanted to go into the banking business just to get his attention.
The place was busy for the afternoon, which was good. Maybe she wouldn’t feel like everyone was staring at her.
She nodded to the security guard. They’d never met before, but she’d always made it a point to outwardly acknowledge those who worked at her bank. She didn’t want to be like her father and not know anyone’s name.
She went into the first office on her left, and greeted the loan officer. Ashley smiled. “Hi, could you see if Bobby Reynolds is available to see his daughter?”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, Miss Reynolds. I almost didn’t recognize you. But yes, let me ring his office.” The slender thirty-something-year-old woman with curly red hair picked up the phone and dialed a number.
After a lengthy pause, the woman cleared her throat. “Hi, this is Paula downstairs. Miss Reynolds would like to see her father. Is he available?”
Ashley had the urge to nibble at her fingernails – a bad habit she had as a child when she felt vulnerable. But she resisted, but kept her hands fisted at her sides.
“Oh, okay. Thanks.” Paula hung up the phone and smiled. “Your father is in a meeting, but he’ll be out in about ten minutes.” She pushed away from her desk and stood. “But I’ll take you upstairs.”
“Great. Thanks.”
Paula took her to the employees’ elevator. As they waited for the door to open, Ashley ran her gaze around the lobby, praying she didn’t see anyone familiar – especially that one person she didn’t want to see.
The bell on the elevator dinged before the doors opened. She and Paula walked on and the woman pushed the number two button. Once the doors closed again, Paula turned to look at Ashley.
“So I hear you are Vice President at one of your father’s other banks.”
“Yes, I am.”
“That should be an exciting job.”
Ashley nodded. “It is.” Then again, the past few days had given her more excitement – both good and bad – than she’d ever had.
The door opened and they walked off the elevator. Paula pointed to the small lobby near the conference room.
“You can sit over there while you wait.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want me to get you some coffee, or a soda?”
“No, but thank you. I’m fine.” Ashley gave the other woman a nod before walking toward the chairs. As she passed the conference room, the shades were open, and she could see the eight people sitting around the large oblong table – with her father at the head.
Someone was talking, and the way her father was staring, made him look as though he was in a different world. Ashley recognized that look very well. She’d felt it many times during the meetings she had.
Her father’s gaze moved to the window as she passed. When he noticed her, his eyes widened and he jumped to his feet. Not saying a word to the others in the room, he darted to the door, flung it open, and ran to her. Tears of happiness swam in his eyes. A lump of emotion lodged in her throat, making her want to cry, too.
He wrapped his arms around her and gave her the biggest hug she’d ever received. A small sob released from him as he tightened his arms.
“Oh, you’re safe!” he cried.
Safe? He couldn’t have possibly known what had happened to her.
“Uh, Father? We need to talk—”
“Yes, you’re right.”
He pulled her into his office and closed the door behind him. With tears of joy still swimming in his eyes, he took hold of her hands and ran his gaze up and down her. The man’s expression worried her. He looked genuinely relieved and elated.
“I never thought I’d see you again,” he said with a cracked voice.
“Father? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing now. I’m just very happy to see my daughter is all right.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” She forced a laugh. “I just got home from being on vacation.”
A sober look crossed his face and his smile dropped. “Vacation?”
“Yes. Remember when I wrote you and Mom and told you I was going on vacation with my friends?”
Slowly, his head shook. “No, Ashley. We never received any letter stating that.”
Hitching a breath, she knew exactly who’d been behind that. And yet, how could Zander get her parents’ mail?
“Dad? Where did you think I was?”
He wiped his moist eyes. “You’d been kidnapped. We received the ransom note and everything.”
Her head pounded with confusion. “Ransom note? Father, I wasn’t kidnapped.”
“Then where have you been for all this time?”
“Well, that’s rather a long story, and I don’t know if we have the time.”
His face hardened, and he nodded. “We have all the time in the world.” He motioned to one of the chairs in front of his large desk.
She wrung her cold hands against her middle as she sat in the chair. Her father took his chair on the other side of the desk. He steepled his fingers under his chin, resting his elbows on the desktop.
“Before I begin,” she said, “I want to know why you thought I was kidnapped.”
“When you’d been missing for one week, your mother went to your apartment and found the place in shambles. There was a note pinned to your refrigerator. It said, we have your daughter. Do not call the police or she will be killed. We will contact you in two days.”
Ashley swallowed the lump of fear growing in her throat. “Did they contact you?”
“Yes. They called me. They said I needed to give them one million dollars for your safe return.” His eyes watered again. “I pleaded with them to give me more time. I didn’t have one million dollars, but I could get it.” He sniffed and cleared his throat.
“And you didn’t call the police at all?”
“No. I didn’t dare.”
“You didn’t tell anyone?” she questioned, still not believing any of this.
“Well, your boyfriend dropped by right after that. He was concerned because he hadn’t heard from you. I broke down and told him. He promised he would help me.”
She clenched her teeth. Why would Zander volunteer to help? He didn’t do anything unless it was to his advantage. “Dad? Did you give him any money?”
He nodded, swiping a lock of his brownish-gray hair off his wrinkled forehead. “I told him I’d pay him if he could find you. He promised me he’d find you.” His voice broke. “I’m glad he did.”
She shook her head quickly. “No, he didn’t find me. I was never lost, Dad... and Zander knew it.” She grumbled. “The rotten jerk took advantage of you and took your money.”
“Ashley? What are you saying?” His expression hardened.
She mentally prepared her notes before saying them. Although, was there really a calm way to say what she’d been through? She didn’t think she could tell him without causing him to panic.
As she relayed her memories, tears swam in his eyes. Then, in a split second, his face hardened and he fisted his hands on top of his desk. Anger swept over his face, and she could only assume he hated Zander as much as she did.
By the time she ended, her father’s body shook. He grumbled a few choice curses aimed toward Zander, and shook his head.
“I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”
“Father, no.” She reached across the table and touched his arm. “Let my FBI friend, Hunter, handle this. He’s more experienced.”
Her father was quiet for a few more moments before he heaved a breath. “Do you think Zander was the one who wrote the ransom note?”
“Yes. He’s that evil.”
“Then I should call the police.” He jumped to his feet. “We need to stop him.”
“We must believe the FBI will do it for us. They’ve been watching him for months, now.”
Growling, her father pushed his fingers through his hair. “That’s probably where he got the money to buy his new house in Buffalo. I’m helping him buy it.”
The news caught her attention and she sat up straighter. “He’s purchased a new home? Just recently?”
“Yes. His father told me Zander bought a home almost three weeks ago.”
“Oh, Father.” She grasped his hands from across the desk. “I think I know what he might be using the house for.” She fumbled in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I need to call the FBI and talk to Hunter.”
She punched in her search engine for the FBI office in New York City, and then called. It took a few people of transferring her before she finally found someone who might be able to help her. “I just need Hunter Thomas’ cell number.”
“You said this is Ashley Reynolds?”
She hesitated, only because she still didn’t know whom to trust at that place. The man on the other end of the phone hadn’t yet introduced himself to her. “Yes. Please, help me. I know Hunter is worried about me.”
“Where are you? We’ll send him to you.”
“No,” she snapped. “I won’t say anything until I can talk to him directly.”
Her father left his desk and walked around to stand beside her. He laid a supporting hand on her shoulder and nodded. He mouthed the words, you can do this.
“Miss Reynolds, please calm down. We just want to help.”
“Who am I talking to?” she asked.
“This is Kyle Clemmons. I’m on Hunter’s team, and we’re looking for Zander Caruthers. But we need to know where you are so that we can keep you safe.”
“Only Hunter can keep me safe. So if you want to help me, you’ll get me his cell phone number right now! And if you want a lead to Zander Caruthers, you might check out his new home in Buffalo. I’m sure you’ll find human trafficking going on in there.”
“Miss Ashley, please tell us where you are.”
“No.” She stood, determined to make these people listen. “I only want to talk to Hunter.”
“That’s going to be a big problem, then, because Hunter Ryan is dead.”
The familiar, eerie voice behind her made both her and her father jump and swung around toward the door. The man with the sandy-brown hair and muscular chest stepped into her father’s room, closing the door behind him and locking it. In his hand, he pointed a gun at her.
“Zander.” The man’s name stumbled out of her mouth. Fear nearly suffocated her. Would anyone be able to save her now?
TWENTY
Ashley trembled, and her mind refused to put together what Zander had just said. It was shocking enough to think he was really here. And that he’d won.
Her father slowly stepped in front of her, blocking her from Zander.
“You are in big trouble, Mr. Caruthers, and if I were you, I’d leave this place immediately.”
The arrogant man arched his eyebrow. “You think I’m afraid of you?” He shook his head. “Sorry, Bobby, but I’m not afraid of anyone or anything.” He turned his glare to Ashley. “Hang up the phone. Now!”
She nodded and pretended to click the end button on her phone as she placed it on her father’s desk. She hoped the man named Kyle was trustworthy, because right now, she and her father needed the FBI’s help, and by leaving the phone on, maybe they’d trace the call.
Zander smiled smugly. He had an air of arrogance around him. He actually thought he was invincible.
“Well, whatever you want,” she said with a quaky voice, “we’ll not give it to you.”
Zander tsked and walked closer to her. “Are you still waiting for your lover to come to rescue you? Because I made sure nothing got in my way. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Hunter is dead.”
Her eyes stung with tears, but she refused to believe him. He was lying, which was his way of gaining the upper hand. While they were dating, he’d done it many times with his associates. She inhaled a breath of courage. “I don’t think so.”
Zander’s eyes widened and he chuckled. “You don’t think so?”
“I want proof that Hunter is dead,” she snapped. “Never again will I believe the words that come out of your lying mouth.”
His gaze narrowed on her as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth with spots of blood. “Tell me, Ashley, does this look like the type of material from a shirt your wonderful boyfriend was wearing this morning? In fact, he almost looked like he wore the clothes of an Amish man. He was driving a black Ferrari, too. Am I right?”
Her throat tightened as she struggled with her emotions. Could Zander be telling her the truth? There was no way he would have known what Hunter wore or what he drove unless... A sob caught in her chest. No! He couldn’t be dead. She still needed more proof.
She took a shaky breath. “I don’t believe you.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Zander flipped his hand through the air. “Because I have you now.” He moved his glare to her father. “And if you want to live, you’ll do as I say, too.”
Her father lifted his chin stubbornly. “You’ll not get one more dime from me. Do you understand?”
“I don’t want any more of your money.” He switched his glare back to Ashley. “I want what you have taken from me.”
She held onto her father’s arm, peeking over his shoulder as she threw a scowl at Zander. “Oh, do you mean the suitcase full of dirty money that was supposed to go to pay for all of those women who were in bondage?”
Zander’s chest shook with a silent laugh, before it exploded from his mouth, loudly. “Really? Are you telling me that money was all you saw in that suitcase?”
She sucked in a quick breath. There was more? “Maybe.”
In three quick strides, he came toward them. He dropped his gun in his suit pocket and shoved her father to the floor. Zander stood so close to her that she could smell his overpowering scent of aftershave. He wrapped his fingers around her throat, but thankfully, didn’t squeeze. His dark glare bore into her eyes.
“I want the suitcase back. I want everything back.”
“I don’t have it.” She tried to swallow, but it hurt because of his strong fingers. “The FBI took it to their lab to examine it.”
He stared at her for a few nerve-wracking moments before growling, and pushing her away. He reached down and grabbed her father’s arm, yanking the older man to his feet. He reached in his pocket for his gun and pushed it up to her father’s forehead.
“You have twenty-four hours to get me that suitcase, or your father dies.”
Her heart twisted painfully, and yet a hate-filled anger erupted inside of her. “You’re not going to kill my father.” She shook her head. “You don’t kill people. You take the coward’s way and have other people kill those you want eliminated.”
“You’re right. I don’t kill people myself,” Zander said smugly, “because I take the smarter route. I’m in charge. I have a large organization. My men fear me. They’ll do as I say because I pay well, and I keep them out of prison.”
She folded her arms. “Oh, let me guess. You have a judge or two on your payroll, too? Maybe even the prison warden? I’m sure a lot of people will deny they know you once you are brought down. I really think you’ll find who your true friends are at that point.”
He pushed her father away and stormed toward her, dropping the gun back in his suit-coat pocket. He shoved her against the wall, wrapping his fingers around her neck. This time, he tightened his grip, cutting off her ability to breathe deeply.
“I’m never going down. I’m what your FBI friends call a crime boss, which means I’m untouchable. I don’t leave anything behind for the cops to find. I clean up my messes well. So well, in fact, that nobody knows I’ve been there.”
