Days of Darkness

Chapter 30

"You kidn*pped her to give her back?" I said incredulously.

"To be accurate," the man said, leaning forward, "you have been kidn*pped. The child, who Mr. Donaldson and you kidn*pped, has been returned to her rightful owner."

"Children aren't owned," I spat. The mere thought of his disregard of her rights swelled my anger.

"Semantics," the man said, shaking his head, "the fact of the matter is, she is safe with us, and we would prefer you to remain at her side." My head was still trying to shake off the fog. I relaxed in the chair and let the situation unfold. I couldn't fathom why they took me. I thought it in Teegan's best interest for me to remain at her side. Sam needed me here as much as Teegan needed me near.

"Sam!" I said loudly. I wondered if they took him as well. I remembered the fight in the cabin when I tried to stall for his return. I was outnumbered so quickly though I did make them pay.

"Mr. Donaldson is no longer in the picture," the man said and raised his hand at my shocked looked, "not dead, I assure you, just not involved anymore." Sam didn't know where we were. I didn't know where we were. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. When I opened them again, the man was still sitting, waiting patiently with a blank expression. I hated the way he had greased his jet black hair. Almost as if it was folded, not parted, across the top of his head. Hitler had a better stylist.

"Untie me," I demanded. The man chuckled. So he was human.

"It is my understanding you took out three trained men," the man said, "and with the child in your arms. I would hate to see what you would do to me with both hands free." His revelation took me by surprise. They had no idea that Teegan had lent me those skills. Knowledge was power.

"Please untie me," I said calmly. I added a smile which he matched. He leaned forward and placed his hands on my knees. My first thought was to try and bite his nose off. I shelved the plan. The whereabouts of Teegan had to be ascertained first. I tried to relax further.

"You are still tense," the man said, releasing my knees. "We'll talk a moment longer, and if I am assured of your compliance, I'll release you." He leaned back in his chair.

"When you are released, you will remain on the grounds," he said slowly, "it will be a condition of you seeing Esmeralda. Or Teegan of you prefer. Attempt to leave or contact the outside, and we'll revoke your rights, send you out and you'll never see her again."

"I can leave?" I asked.

"And never return," he said, nodding his head. He watched me as plans ran through my mind. I could find Sam and return. Contact the authorities as a last ditch maneuver. "We have the ability to move the child someplace you would never find her," he continued, "The child doesn't exist according to the government, so proving she was taken will be difficult. Sort of like a murder with no body."

"I can see her if I stay?" I clarified. He nodded.

They had no idea how much Teegan and I loved Sam. Had they known, I wouldn't be here. A smile crossed my face as I remembered the feelings that Sam could send to me through her. So much honesty. Nothing hidden in our feelings.

"I understand she is addictive," the man said, misinterpreting my smile, "you, and everyone concerned would be better off if you stayed and cared for the child." My smiled deepened. They wanted to limit Teegan's exposure. Control me and lessen the chance of collusion. I relaxed in the chair. Time was to my advantage.

"If you let me care for her, I'll agree," I lied. For the first time in my life, honesty seemed worthless. The man looked at me for a moment, trying to judge my truthfulness. I gave the best drunken addicted smile I could.

"If I cut the ties," the man clarified, "you're not going to get violent?"

"No, and please call me Natalie," I said calmly. He smiled and pulled a pair of wire cutters out of his pocket. He leaned forward and snipped near my left ankle and repeated it on the other. I let them stay where they were, giving him the confidence to rise and snip the plastic zip tie around my wrists. I pulled my wrists forward slowly to rub them.

"My name is Frank Sorenson," he said, holding out his hand. I shook it weakly.

"You're not Mr. Corbett?" I asked, my eyebrows rising on their own.

"No, though I suspect you will be meeting him in a day or two," Frank said with a friendly smile, "would you like to freshen up before you see the child?"

"Yes, of course," I replied, thinking a bathroom was exactly what I needed. I had no idea how long I had been out, but my bladder was telling me it was more than a few hours.

I spent a long time in the bathroom. I had dried blood on my face, a mascara disaster, and my hair had a lunatic thing going on. I straightened up as best I could, wishing I had my purse. I would need some clothes and toiletries if I was going to stay for any length of time. I wondered how long it would take for Sam to find us. I didn't even know where here was.

"Well you look a lot better," Frank said. His smile had that used-car salesperson feel about it.

"I'll need some clothes and things," I said, smoothing out my shirt. It had some blood stains on it that I didn't think were mine. I was thankful it was flannel and not one of my white blouses.

"Of course," Frank said, his hand leading the way down the hall, "Abigail, who you'll meet a little later, will acquire whatever you need. You'll find Mr. Corbett very generous." I smiled, thinking I might try to find out how generous. The asshole could afford a new wardrobe.

I noticed that Frank was keeping his distance from me. I've never had anyone afraid of me outside of a courtroom. It was empowering. I almost raised my hand quickly, too see if I could make him flinch. I decided not too when I noticed a couple of larger fellows waiting at the end of the hall. These guys were a lot larger than Frank, and it didn't look like they were hired for their business sense. Both wore skin tight black shirts tucked into black slacks. They didn't lack for muscle.

"In case you made a different decision," Frank said, answering my unasked question about the two men. I was more of a prisoner than it looked. I wondered if the offer to go was real, not that I would leave Teegan alone.

The hall opened into a large bright room, three stories of windows lined the far wall with a sleek modern spiral staircase leading upward on the right side. The room was designed for entertaining with plush couches and tables strewn about a large circle fireplace in the center. The colors were earthy, which blended well with the old growth pines that lay a stone's throw outside of the windows. The left side housed a bar that would be the envy of any drinking establishment. Beyond the windows, a stone patio held seating for another twenty people with a large fire pit built from large irregular rock.

Frank smiled thinking I was impressed. I feigned indifference though I desperately wanted to shout to see if there was an echo. As much as I claimed that wealth didn't hold much appeal, I was impressed. The top of the bar looked liked it was cut from one large pine and stained to bring the grain out. It must have been a monster of a tree. As we walked past, I ran my fingers along it, finding it smooth and quite beautiful.

"The tree that it was carved from came from this lot," Frank said. I hated that he saw me admire it. I didn't want to like him, the owner, or anything he owned. "Mr. Corbett hated to waste such a magnificent living thing. You'll find parts of the tree throughout the house as molding, picture frames, and even a rocking chair."

"It was probably more impressive before he killed it," I said without warmth. Frank gave me a knowing chuckle. My offhanded insult was understood and ignored.

"The child is on the second floor," Frank said, pointing through the double doors next to the bar.

"The child's name is Teegan," I said, "and why not the spiral stairs." They looked intriguing, and I had a childish desire to climb them.

"Those stairs lead to the guest portions of the house," Frank said as I followed, "Teegan is located in the private section. Close to Mr. Corbett's room when he is in residence." We walked through a huge kitchen, bypassing what looked like a small theater room, and began to climb a more normal staircase.

Your room is next to Teegan's," Frank continued, "there will be attendants outside in the hall if you should need anything." He stopped and turned around, "they can arrange for walks on the grounds. You'll find the landscaping quite beautiful and soothing this time of year."

"By attendants, you mean guards," I said. He turned back and began climbing again. I followed.

"Trust will come in time," Frank said, "and they are guarding the child."

"Teegan," I repeated. I hated how he tried to dehumanize my daughter.

"As you wish," Franks said, "Teegan is the one I am charged to protect." He stopped again and paused before turning toward me. I think he had been debating with himself about speaking. "I'm not your enemy, Ms. Williams. The welfare of Teegan, and, therefore, you, is my highest priority. The cooperation we seek requires your happiness. You will lack for nothing here."

"Freedom?" I responded.

"Trips can be arranged," Frank continued, turning back up the stairs, "Teegan will remain here and someone will take you anywhere you want to go. You're a guest, a rather privileged guest." A gilded cage was the only thing that came to mind. I smiled at him when he glanced back to see if I was following.

The idea that I would stay cooped up in this mansion was ludicrous. I had become used to Sam next to me in bed. The way he immersed me with love, straight from the source, was a d**g I wasn't willing to give up. I even loved his apprehension. He had no idea I could feel that as well. A gorgeous man who would never take me for granted. The father of my future child. Teegan's father.

We stopped outside of a door to what I believed was Teegan's room. Frank was about to open the door, then stopped. He let a loud sigh escape and turned to me.

"There are men on the grounds and in the house," Frank said, "camera's throughout," he pointed to a corner in the hallway where I could see a darkened lens. "I know your defensive skills are exceptional, but we will not hesitate to use force to keep Teegan on the premises." His eyes went all puppy dog, "please don't put Teegan at risk."

"You are the ones who put her at risk," I corrected.

"May I remind you, she was in a cabin in the woods," Frank said, then shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to say you weren't doing the best you could." The apology was misplaced but honest. I let it go though the need to defend Sam and me was strong.