Love Rock'ollection: The Brutal Strength Rock Star Trilogy, books 1-3 (50 page)

“You’ve gotta get some rest, babe,” Chris said taking her hand and pulling her up.

“No. I’m fine.” She shook her head.

“Just for a bit.” Tucking a loose strand of her hair back behind her ear, he pressed, “Babe, you’re so tired, I bet you’re having trouble seeing straight. You remembering that he was a big hunter, well that’s a huge lead. There was nothing about that in his file. The police are expanding their search to include remote hunting areas. They’re also checking to see if any of the inmates he was friends with have any connections in the area. They think someone must be helping him. Let them do their work. You need to get some rest.”

As he led her away, he hoped for the best but inwardly braced for the worst. He feared they might never find Daniels unless he wanted to be found.

“DO YOU REALLY think this will help?” JR asked Beth, squirming in the green room chair as the makeup technician applied a final brush of powder to his face.

“I hope so.” She shrugged. “I’ve got Avery and Marcus making a national public appeal. But I also wanted to make a local statement. The investigator in charge seems to think there’s a real good chance they’re still in the area.”

“They’re ready for you on set, Mr. Raymond.”

JR nodded as the makeup technician unsnapped the apron from around his neck. Looking determined, he followed the aide down the news station hall. The tech crew scurried around making final preparations as he took his seat on the busy set of CTV news. Local anchorman, Mitch Connell, an attractive middle aged man in a suit and tie, hopped up and shook JR’s hand. “Sorry to hear about this dilemma.”

JR nodded. “I just want to get this over with. I’m not real comfortable being interviewed.”

“Right, right. No worries.” Mitch turned to his director. “Ready, Carrie?”

The tall woman with reading glasses on the tip of her nose gave him a nod over her clipboard and made a rolling motion with her hand to the cameraman.

“We’re live in downtown Vancouver with Brutal Strength’s drummer, John Raymond,” Connell began. “In a shocking development, Samantha Daniels, a twenty one year old intern at Black Cat Records, has apparently been abducted today by this man,” he narrated as a picture of Pace Daniels flashed behind them on the set. “The alleged kidnapper is Pace Daniels, the victim’s father, recently paroled from the Texas state prison system after serving seventeen years for the killing of Samantha’s mother.”

Mitch leaned forward. “We’ve posted the surveillance tapes from the hotel on our website. Daniels should be considered armed and dangerous. The authorities have reason to believe he may still be in the area. We are encouraging anyone who has information on his whereabouts to notify the police as soon as possible.”

He turned to JR. “Would you like to add anything, Mr. Raymond?”

JR nodded. “Mr. Daniels, if you’re listening, please let Samantha go. There’s no reason for you to keep her. She’s done nothing to you. Please don’t harm her. We need her back. I need her back. Sam, if you can hear me, I wanted you to know that I love you and I’m so sorry…” Overcome with emotion, he couldn’t finish the sentence.

“We can edit that emotional stuff out,” Mitch said, making a motion with his hand across his neck for the cameraman to end the taping.

“No, we won’t,” the set manager countermanded. “A heart felt appeal like that will keep people engaged.”

“I hope they find your girl real soon.” Mitch leaned over tapping JR on the knee. “We’ll repeat this on the ten o’clock news and again in the morning, too.”

SAM OPENED HER eyes in total darkness. Throat dry as sandpaper, heart pounding with fear, she struggled to sit up before realizing that her hands and feet were bound. Her slight movements sent a stabbing pain through her head that made her eyes water. For a moment she worried the blow had left her vision impaired, but gradually her eyes adjusted to the low level of lighting. Glancing around at her surroundings, she could make out the vague outline of four walls. Apparently, she was in a small room, maybe ten by ten, that didn’t appear to have any windows. A muted glow came from under the lone door. Someone was watching television in the other room.
Her father
. The mere thought of him sent her into a panic. How would she ever forget the cold calculating look in his eyes? Was that something that haunted Sara’s memories as well? How had he gotten here? Surely, he hadn’t escaped. He’d only served seventeen years. She thought it had been a twenty year sentence. Had the legal system deteriorated so much that they’d let a monster like him out early?

She wondered what he was going to do with her. Nothing good, she was sure. She needed to get away. Shimmying across the bed on her rear end, she made her way to the edge. She sat up slowly. Even then the room began to swim. For a moment, she feared that she’d pass out again. Mercifully, the dizziness passed, leaving only a mild nausea in its wake.

Staggering to her feet, Sam hopped around the room, trying not to make a sound. The only additional furnishings she found were a chair and a tall chest of drawers. They were bare. Tears of frustration spilled from her eyes. She had hoped to find something lying around to help her cut her bonds. Maybe there was something in the drawers, but she didn’t know how to get them open with her hands tied.

As Sam mulled it over, footsteps approached. Heart beating frantically, she took two big hops backward and flopped back onto the bed. The door opened slowly. She closed her eyes trying to breathe evenly. Maybe he would think she was asleep.

“I know you’re awake,” he said in a gravelly voice. He switched on the overhead light, momentarily blinding her. He stood next to the bed, his six foot three frame casting a sinister shadow over her.

As she blinked and her eyes adjusted, she noted to her dismay that though he’d aged some since the last photograph she’d seen of him, he was in excellent shape. Bulging biceps flexed menacingly as he rubbed the top of his head which was completely devoid of hair. Bald or shaven, she didn’t know and didn’t care. He glared down at her, a grim expression sharpening the lines of his face.

“Wh…what do you want from me?” she blurted out, voice trembling.

“What?” He barked a rough laugh. “No hi, Papa, how are you? So sorry I never wrote or visited you in prison.”

Was he for real?
After all, he’d killed her mother.

“I bet
she,
” he spit out the word like it contained all the evil in the world, “poisoned your mind against me.”

Sara
. Sam’s heart sank. So that was it. He was using her as bait for her sister.

“That sanctimonious bitch. She sold me out You can’t imagine what I suffered because of her.” Eyes unfocused, he began stroking the pistol he’d tucked into the waistband of his jeans. “No matter. I’ll soon fix her wagon.” He directed his gaze back on her again. “You, my dear are just a means to an end.”

Sam’s heart stuttered, and her stomach muscles tightened. His words confirmed her worst fears.

“I just watched your celebrity boyfriend on the news,” he taunted her. “That rock band guy’s got it bad for you, sweetie. He was all gushy and shit, asking for me to bring you back.” He began pacing, muttering under his breath. “Too many people are looking for us now. I’m gonna have to move up the schedule.”

He turned, pausing in the doorway to glance back at her. A malicious sneer spread across his face. “I think it’s about time for a little family reunion.”

SARA’S EYES FLEW open at the harsh ring of her cell phone. She must have finally drifted off to sleep in the living room of the suite. Afraid that her restlessness would keep Chris awake, she had long since abandoned their bed.

“Hello,” she answered in a rough whisper. It was six AM and the number on the display was one she didn’t recognize. Her heart thudded in her chest. She only hoped it was good news.

“Hello, Sara.”

When she heard the voice on the other end, the one from her nightmares, she started to shake. Her words froze in her throat.

“I know you know who this is. I’ve got Sam, but it’s you I really want. She’s alive…for now, but I have to tell you I’m not liking all the attention. It’s making me jumpy. You know that I can be… erratic. I want you to come meet me at Alice Lake Provincial Park in Squamish, cabin fourteen. Alone. We’ll make a trade. You for her. You bring anybody else, especially the cops and I’ll kill her. This is just between you and me.” He hung up.

Sara brought a trembling hand to her mouth. He must have gotten her number off of Sam’s cell.
Shit, shit, shit.
Terror sank its razor sharp talons deep into her heart. She covered her face with her hands, briefly considering her options. Only one made sense. She didn’t want anyone else to get hurt, certainly not Chris. The path was clear. Papa was right. This
was
just between the two of them.

Resolved, she rose to her feet and took a deep breath. Her mouth set in a determined line, she crossed the room and picked up the hotel phone. “This is Sara Daniels. I need to have a car brought around right now… No, not a cab, a rental…Yes, I realize how early it is, but this is urgent…Thank you. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

After hanging up, Sara didn’t move for a moment. Going out there alone wasn’t wise, and she knew what the outcome probably would be. But she also knew that Papa meant every word he said. He wasn’t one to make idle threats. It was the only chance for Sam. She had to try.

Sara went back into the bedroom and grabbed her things. She glanced down at Chris, knowing that in all likelihood it would be for the last time. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, lying on his side, sprawled across the bed. His arm still stretched out toward where she had lain. His brown hair was a riotous mess on the pillow and his shirtless chest stark against the hotel sheets. There was a tenuous connection between the two of them now. Just thinking of being separated from him made her feel like a rubber band being stretched taut.

Brushing aside a lock of hair from his brow, she leaned over and gently kissed him goodbye.

CHRIS WOKE WITH a start, gripped by a strange sense of unease. Instinctively, he knew. Stumbling to his feet, he shrugged on his shirt and checked all the rooms in the suite just to be sure. Room after room turned up empty, confirming what his heart had already told him. She was gone.