Chapter Twenty One - FBI Agent In Training (Maybe ...)-1

With a gasp, I shot straight up in my seat, my head whipping around from side to side. Bright light streamed in from the windows and for a moment, everything felt like a dream. Or rather, a nightmare. My hands ran over the plush material beneath me, making me realize how real the last few events in my mind were absolutely real. I had been kidnapped. Oh, would the drama in my young adult life ever end? The first thought that came to me ran along the lines of, "Scream! Shout! Get someone's attention!" And I almost did it. But then I thought, there's no one around right now. All my screaming and thrashing would do me absolutely no good. And calling for help? Yeah, right. Like the guys who snatched me from my home are going to come down and offer me tea and cookies before sending me back on my way home. I refused to treat this the way I saw on TV. All I had to do was bide my time. If I started kicking and screaming, I could get backhanded or worse, killed. I needed to play it cool and safe. When the timing felt right, I would make my break for it. So I sat there. And waited. And waited. And waited. I had no concept of time at this point. How long had I been out? How long ago did I get thrown into this room? Why hadn't anyone come to get me yet? Shaking my head, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down a bit. I couldn't lose any hope on the situation. Someone would come for me. Someone always comes. By what I had determined to be about the third hour of my alertness, however, my hope began diminishing and boredom started to creep in. I hesitantly stood, as if the ground beneath me would detonate and began to explore. The first thing on my list was grab the door handle, checking to see if someone slipped up and left it unlocked. But of course, it only twisted side to side and never opened. With a sigh, I turned my attention to the rest of the room, really taking it in. The place in which I remained captive didn't really seem like the place I would have guessed. Well, I suppose I also wouldn't have guessed being snatched from my house. And that shows us just how good I am at anticipating events. Walking around the room, I realized that it was decked out to the nines. Whoever owned this place rolled in the dough. The room itself was enormous; thick and plush carpet covered the floors. A large and intricately carved oak desk sat on a throw rug, a picture window right behind it. Large red drapes with golden ties framed the window. Turning, I viewed the love seat on which I woke up on. Beige colored with fluffy pillows, it looked as comfortable as it felt. A glass coffee table with frosted detailing and beautiful stained wood legs had a platter with a vintage crystal carafe filled with water. A similar crystal cup sat beside the carafe, already filled with water. As if my throat only just then remembered how parched it felt, my body propelled me forward towards the glass and downed it without a second though, quickly filling it up once again. By the third glass, I decided to sip it instead, returning my attention to the room. Overall, it felt crazy elaborate and upscale. I couldn't imagine someone like this taking me. What were the reasons? What could possibly have possessed someone so wealthy to take me of all people? Ransom came to mind, but then quickly brushed that off. Whoever took me had to know that my family didn't have a whole lot of money. No way that could be a motive. The sound of footfalls drew my attention back to the present and I quickly settled myself down on the small sofa, placing the glass back down on the tray. The lock clicked and I stiffened, trying to keep my breathing even before the people behind that door came in. "Ah, Gabrielle. You're awake. Lovely." Looking over my shoulder, I found a man entered the room flanked by two rather large men. He walked around the love seat I was currently perched on and situated himself behind the large oak desk sitting in front of the window. "I trust you slept well?" I gave him a tight lipped smile, observing my current opponents. The two men standing were extremely well built and tall. They seemed to be in their early thirties and had their hands locked together in front of their bodies and had their eyes trained straight ahead. I'm pretty sure that the only reasons they moved were to accommodate the man sitting in the chair between them. He was a bit older, probably in his fifties or early sixties. His hair had already turned a dark gray and a few streaks of white and light gray were scattered about. The wrinkles in his face were set into grim looking lines, probably from years of frowning. Despite the fact that he didn't have the same muscle or youth of the men beside him, this man intimidated me way more than the other two. He had the authority here; he could snap his fingers and, well ... no more Gabrielle. Clearing my throat, I sat up a bit straighter and replied, "Yes, well, you know what they say: toxic chemicals sooth the soul." His jaw clenched and he forced a chuckle, but it sounded more like a series of grunts. "You have your fathers humor." Staring me down, he continued, "He never amused me." I gulped and scooted farther back on the plush cushions, staring at my hands. Regardless of the light and comfortable feel of the room, tension ran high and the burgundy drapes and beautiful artwork did nothing to decrease the frightening persona of the men in front of me. So this man knew my father. Were they in cahoots? Did they work together? I couldn't even fathom what was happening right now. Everything in my life seemed to connecting together in an annoying circle, a circle that I wasn't even a part of. I felt so confused. "How is your home life, Gabrielle? I'm curious," he said, leaning forward, his arms on the desk and hands folded together. I narrowed my eyes at him, folding my own arms over my chest. "Well, I live with my foster family, my father is completely AWOL and my mother has been dead for years after being murdered." Smiling with no humor, I cocked my head to the side and continued, "Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that you already know that. You probably already know about the random notes that have been following me around the past several months as well." He smirked and said nothing, proving me right. The small back and forth banter we were having did nothing to calm my nerves. I felt like all I did at the time was stall the inevitable. My eyes widened. Would I be dead by the time this was all over? "So, uhm ... what now?" The words came out quiet and muffled. I hated to appear so ... vulnerable, but this guy had the ace in this hand of poker. All I had were a bunch of jokers. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face, swiveling back and forth slightly in his over-sized leather chair. "Well, at this point, we're waiting on negotiations. With you here now, things should be sped up a little and hopefully we'll be able to put all this behind us soon." The look on his face told me that I didn't want to know the definition of the phrase 'put all this behind us' ... Tension filled the room once again and we lapsed into silence. I couldn't even figure out why he needed to be in here with all his henchmen. After all, I clearly showed no signs of escape. I was completely confined and no one knew where I was.