Chapter 8 Mr. Brighten

Chapter 8 Mr. Brighten
“What do you mean he won’t say if he has her or not!” Mr. Brighten screams into the face of an extremely massive man who towers over him by a good six inches yet looks terrified of Mr. Brighten.

“I checked the tracker and it was disabled several hours before we found out who's land she was on.” He answered with a bowed head. “We contacted him before we left the area and once, we heard the chopper. His contact said that he and his men were in the area doing survival skills testing and would be out of communications for the next week.”

“Well that is bullshit and you and I both know it.” Mr. Brighten spits out “What did you guys find from her last known location?”

“We found nothing, just a broken-down camp that looked to be about three days old.” He looks Mr. Brighten in the eyes and continues, “We still have a few men out looking and trying to avoid Logan’s men. We did not find the tracker, so we can only assume she found it after coming down the mountain.”

The man to his left and just as big chimed in at this moment, “Sir, we did find out that her late Aunt left her some property in her will and it is not far from the mountain she was camping on and should have boots at her door in fifteen minutes. If that is where she is headed, we will get her.”

“Good, now that is good news.” Mr. Brighten states in a calmer tone. “Keep me updated on that. I want to know the minute they find her.” He turns and waves his arm in a dismissive way and sits behind his oversized desk.

Both men look at him and leave the room like they were on fire.

Mr. Brighten looks at the image of Sunny in her cap and gown from college on his computer and grazes the picture and says, “Soon my pet, you will be here and you will be punished for disappearing on me.” He takes a deep breath and looks around his dark wood office, to an outsider it would be considered cold and lacking heart. However, to him it is all about showing no mercy and having all the power.

He shakes his mouse alive and the screen changes to a spreadsheet full of the latest figures from his investments. One-page states ‘Russell Funds’, these show the same spreadsheets that Garrett had shown Sunny. Mr. Brighten looks over the numbers with a frown and presses the button on his phone and barks into it, “Simmons, where is Russell?”

“I can call and find out sir, is everything okay, do you need anything I can do?” Came a soft-spoken male voice.

“Yes, you can get me Russell and find out why it looks like I lost money this week.” He yells into the speaker and removes his finger and throws the mouse across the room.

Two hours later, several men dressed in all black storm a small two-story cottage type home set back from the road. They enter the home from both entry points, the interior looks like it has been closed for the season and not been touched for at least a year. Layers of dust are kicked up as the men move through the house in teams of two. Two head upstairs and two head downstairs to the basement/cellar and the remaining two cover the main floor.

“Remember, low voices on the coms until we completely clear the area,” Says one of the same men from Mr. Brightens office.

“Yes sir!” The hushed voices come over the com-link in unison.

“I don’t think she is or has been here Mel.” His partner and the other goon from Mr. Brighten’s office says to his associate.

“I think you are correct, Hollis. I think this is a dead end.” Mel answers as they clear the bottom floor and return to the main living room.

“I got a hundred dollars that says she is with that Marshall guy.” Hollis states with a firm head nod.

“I will see your hundred, however, that raises another question,” Mel answers.

“Oh yeah, what could that be? Why would he be holding her, ransom?” He asks his partner.

Mel shrugs and looks over to the other two teams making their way to them and asks, “Anything?”

“No sir, the house is deserted.” Says the man to the left at about five ten he is the shortest of the group, but he is also just as built as the rest. “So, do we set up a trap and wait?”

“I think that is a good Idea, she is on foot, and if this is her destination then all we have to do is sit and wait.” Mel answers him. But before they can all disperse to get the trap ready, he asks, “Do you guys want in on my bet with Hollis here?”

“What’s the bet” asks the short one.

Hollis is the one to answer with a sly grin, “I bet hundred dollars that this chick is with Marshall and he wants to ransom her.”

Haha laughter rings out and the short one says, “I am in,” he looks at the others and they all nod.

Mel chuckles and hands Hollis a hundred, and the others follow his lead.

“Don’t go thinking that you be keeping all that.” Mel laughs, “Because my side of this bet is that she is with him, but that she is there because she wants to be.”

“Oh, now that is a good point,” chimes in the short one. “I am siding with Mel on this one. Marshall is too much of a Boy Scout to hold someone for ransom.”

“You are correct on that one Murph.” Mel answers him. “Let’s get this done, why don’t we split up and set up the cameras up in all entry points not just to the house, but the property as well.”

They all nod and get to work.