Chapter 61 CUNNING BASTARD
“Would you like me to take Elisabeth to a warehouse? Only then will you release my children...” She trembled.
“Are you sure he has your children?” I furrowed my brow. A cunning man wouldn't be foolish enough to kidnap children, which could attract the attention of the police or the press.
“What? Why would he lie?” She spoke in shock.
“To scare you and make you do everything he orders!” I took another step forward, standing in front of the gun. “He's using you; let me help you.”
“No, you're lying!” She shouted, cocking the gun. “Back off!”
In a quick move, I disarmed her by hitting the gun under the handle, making it jump and fall to the ground, along with the cell phone I had inadvertently dropped in the action. Caroline hurriedly crouched down, trying to reach the gun. I kicked it back towards Greg, who promptly picked it up and aimed it at the nurse.
“It's over, Caroline!” I said mercilessly.
The phone lit up again. I looked down, following the nurse's gaze as she read the message:
“It's you or your children; choose!”
“No!” She shouted, stepping back. Her hand hit the gun that Greg had kicked towards her, grabbing it. She looked at us. “Please, I beg you...Forgive me and take care of my children; my parents can look after them.”
“I won't!” I said it angrily, turning back to the nurse. “Caroline, that's your name, right?”
She nodded, turning back to Elisabeth.
“Ma'am, forgive me; I really have no choice...” She cried.
“What does he have against you? Tell me, let me help you!” I assessed her posture, aware that she was being forced into this. The phone vibrated again, and I looked at the notification screen, reading quickly because I couldn't see the whole message on the device that had locked the screen. “I see... He took someone important to you, didn't he?”
“My children! That damn man pretended to care about me, about my family... I didn't know; he was so convincing.” Caroline cried desperately. “I put them in danger; I'll do anything to get them out of there.”
“What does he want?” I clenched my fists, nervous about the situation and needing to assess it carefully, as I did when I was on the battlefield. “Answer me!”
“Lis, are you feeling okay?” I frowned as she became limp.
“I...” She began to gasp, fanning herself. “I think I'm going to faint.”
Pitching forward, Elisabeth fainted in my arms. I pulled her closer, assessing her pulse.
“What's her heart rate?” Greg inquired, alert to all reactions.
I placed two fingers on her neck, checking the time on my wristwatch.
“It's at 100 beats per minute, accelerated.” I commented, looking concerned at him concerned.
“She's nervous; that's why she fainted, but she'll be fine... Patrick,” he started, but I cut him off.
“I know...He's not just anyone!” I took a deep breath, nervous, looking at Elisabeth's unconscious face.
Tears streamed from her eyes even though she was unconscious. I caressed her face, thinking about everything this woman had gone through alone at the hands of that psychopath.
“Greg, I will protect her!” I raised my gaze determined. “Do you understand me?”
“I was getting bored with this monotonous security life anyway.” He chuckled, nodding. “Let's finish him off!”
We arrived at my house, in a region near the mountains of Seattle, where it was safer. I carried Elisabeth in my arms to my room, keeping the curtains closed for her privacy. I took off her shoes from her delicate feet and gave her a massage, lost in thought.
“How did you end up in the hands of such a sick person?” I pulled the sheet to cover her and looked over my shoulders. “I will find out who he is!”
I knew that, just as I would investigate him, I was being investigated. However, the damn man had an advantage: I was a public figure with a crazy ex-wife willing to talk!
With firm steps, I went to the living room where Greg was waiting for me, opening a bottle of whiskey and pouring two glasses.
“Aren't you going to complain that I'm drinking?” I looked at him ironically.
“You need something stronger than your medication after today.” Handing me the glass, Greg sat in the armchair, staring at me. “So?”
“How is Mrs. Eva?” I took a sip, pondering.
“She's okay; it'll take a while for her to wake up. Do you need me to examine Elisabeth?”
“No, let her rest... Her body forced her to this, let's respect that!” Tapping my fingers against the glass, I stared at him. “I need to speak with Heloise in person.”
“That's out of the question!” Greg stood up, refilling his glass. “It won't change the outcome; it might make things worse. She doesn't just want to see you dead, but destroyed!”
“You're right!” I slumped on the couch, irritated. “We need to find out who this guy is and who his contacts are. Do we still have your CIA friend?”
“I've already contacted him while taking care of your secretary.” Greg sighed. “We're picking a new fight at this point, we don't have time for this.”
“You said you were getting bored.” I took another sip, clicking my tongue. “If you want to back out, that's fine, I'll go ahead.”
“You wouldn't survive without me.” He stared at me.
“As far as I remember, you're only alive because of me!” We stared at each other and laughed. “He's a good one, Greg; we don't know where to start.”
“Everyone leaves traces, buddy. This idiot won't be any different. Besides, we also have a trump card in our hands.” I followed his gaze to the top of the stairs, where Elisabeth stood, staring at us quietly. “He will reveal himself at some point because of her.”
Patting my back, Greg left the room while Lis came down towards me.
“And my grandmother, is she okay? Where is she?” She asked anxiously and was agitated.
“Take it easy, Lis. She's fine, sleeping in the guest room on the floor where you were under surveillance.” I sat her beside me. “You're both safe here.”
“Patrick, I want to make a request...” Lis squeezed her hands together. “Promise me you'll take care of my grandmother if something happens to me?”
“Nothing will...”
“PROMISE ME!” She shouted, holding my face in her hands with tears in her eyes. “Please, just promise.”