Chapter 39

*RYKER*

I looked up at Deacon, still stuck in fear in my mind. "Who? What?" I asked, trying to take in the words he was saying to me. "Claud, we know who he is. The man Ivy mentioned on the phone. He was one of the men, that followed the mob guys around back at the Punisher. He was a tag along of sorts back then. It sounds like he has made it up in ranks since then." Deacon said slowly trying to get the words to sink in. "Wasn't he older? Kind of a sad case. Wanted to be bigger than he was?" I asked, realizing who he was talking about. At the point, I was more worried than before. Claud was a follower, a showoff, he wanted someone to pay attention to him. He would be extra loud, a showboat, more arrogant. In a situation like this, that is dangerous. Especially if he feels he has something to prove. I found myself hoping he had proved himself somehow already. Picturing his face close to Iris made me almost double over. "He's dangerous. We have to find her." My words came out more like a whisper. I couldn't breathe. "Boss, take a deep breath. We will find her. I promise. I won't sleep until we know she is safe again." Deacon was sincere. He cared for her. "I know." I said thinking I wouldn't be sleeping either, or eating, or taking in a full breath of air. I walked to the bar and stared at the bottles. I can't drink. I have to be at full mental compacity. Deacon started to walk towards the door. "Where are you going?" I asked more harshly than I meant to. " Heading to security to recheck the outside cams and try to find as much on Claud as I can." He said, softer, showing sympathy for my large amount of mental pain. "I'm coming." I said headed to put my shoes on and throw on a jacket. "Ryk, you need to stay here in case she shows up. Try to rest. Get a drink and wait to see if she calls again." I looked up at him feeling my brows furrow, and my face go tight. "Deacon, I am going. I can't just sit here. I have to do something. You can't expect me to sit here. I am coming." Throwing my jacket on, I put my gun on my hip, and followed him out the door. It's been a long time since I had worn a gun on me. I just had to use it, but I haven't been the man I am right now in so long. It fit like a glove, the anger, the control, even the gun. Felt like a bicycle my body has been longing to ride. All this time, I knew I was just running from myself, from the darkness. Iris quiets the darkness, but at the same time makes it feel alive. I can't explain it. I will burn this place to the ground until I find her. All my men will do the same. Ivy and these mob followers have started a war, one they cannot win. They won't win.

The closer I got to the security building the more in control I felt. Inside that house I felt like a victim, but now I felt like myself. We walked inside the room, all the security men's eyes landed directly on me. "Hello Boss, this is what we have found. Suddenly all the monitors lit up with pictures and full-length bank records, telephone calls and texts, even a medication list. The picture on the screen was of Claud, who hadn't changed much. "We know he spends a lot of time in the lower part of the city. Gas, food, ATMs, pharmacy are all from that area. We have put a track on his phone and money. I have a facial recognition system looking for his face on all of the city cams, paying close attention to those in the Forest. The "Forest" was what people in the city called this crime riddled part of the city. Less beaches and suburbia, more old houses and drug lords. "Is the mob running drugs down there?" I asked looking around to the men. I pointed to the man who had been talking, "What's your name?" He had a newer face, and I couldn't place it. "My name is Zeke sir. I am a MIT graduate, a former FBI Hacker, and cousin to Andrew." I looked at Andrew, who I did remember, and nodded in approval. "What you are doing here, Zeke, is it legal?" When I asked Deacon smiled, "Don't ask that question boss." He said smiling at Zeke. "OK. So how close are we to finding my girl?" I asked. The room fell silent. "They turned off her phone, after the call. They must have taken the sim card out. I haven't been able to track her that way." Zeke spoke up again. "As soon as they call again, I will get through. They have a good I.T guy as well sir." Showing his ego a bit. He wants to win, to find Iris, but also to beat the opposing side's guy, that's good motivation. "Thank you, Zeke." I walked over and held out my hand to shake his. "I'm Ryker." He gave me a nod, shaking my hand, before turning back to his computer screen. He could type fast. I turned to Andrew, "What about the cameras? There should be over 20 out here." I was confused at how they didn't even catch the car. "I believe Ivy told them where they all were." Deacon said quietly like he was hiding something. "What?" I said, turning to face him. I had worked with Deacon so long that unspoken even sounded loud to me. "I brought her in here, not long before her disappearance." His voice almost cracked with emotion, guilt. "Were you fucking her?" I asked, which wasn't fair, but I wasn't thinking clearly enough to wait for an explanation. "No boss. Jesus, Ryk, I would never cross that kind of line." He said now sounding angry at himself. "Sorry. I am sorry Deacon." I reached for a chair in front of the computer screens. I sat there with my head in my hands, running my fingers through the chemicals in my hair. I felt someone lean toward me and jump back, "Boss, I brought her in here when she told me she was curious what we do all day here. She played me too." he said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Not as bad as she did me, Deac, this is all my fault"

I asked to see the footage. They were right, you couldn't see anything out of the norm, unless you looked closely. She was upset when she left. Her driver should have been ready waiting for her. She should be happy to see them, to get away. I looked at her walking away in angst, upset, angry, trying to get away from me. It broke me to watch it. You can't see the car pull up, she disappears, just gone. I felt my eyes get misty, but quickly filled it with rage. "We will find her. We will find her. We will find her." I started almost chanting. I started to myself and then got louder. Darkness growing in my chest. "Yes Ryker, we will find her." Deacon looked at me with worried eyes. "I'll be back." I had to get out, I walked out the door, into the gravel around the building, and vomited all over the ground. This was all more than I could handle. I didn't know how to find her. I didn't know what to do. I had all the resources in the world and was still no closer to getting her back. If she wants to walk away the moment, I bring her here, I will escort her back to campus. I will put a guard on her to keep her safe. I will stay clear of her, and never bother here again. "We will find her." I jumped as Deacon's voice ripped me out of my own mind. "Here." He reached me a VOSS and a towel to dry my mouth. "I don't understand Deacon, I have never had this reaction. Not even when Ivy disappeared," I took a deep breath in and out, "I was angry, dark, and I searched for her, but I didn't have this pit in my stomach." Deacon walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "I think you love her Ryker. I think she has stolen a part of you that you never give anyone. Something I have never seen. She weakens you and strengthens you at the same time. I will do everything in my power to get her back. We can't give them what they want. We have to find her first." I thought for a moment as he spoke. I knew a lot of what he was saying was true. I never thought about love. I haven't thought of love in such a long time.

"I am going to see Rodrick." I said watching Deacon's eyes widen.