Thirty One

Hollie and Mark left his office at exactly six o’clock and headed to the company parking lot. Holly’s little car sat at the end of the row, she’d parked it the only way she knew how. Diagonal, Mark’s smile broadened on seeing it. “Wow what a unique way to park” he teased, they stopped just by his silver Porsche “What are you doing for dinner” he suddenly asked. She shrugged, “I was just gonna fix myself a snack” he narrowed his eyes, “A snack?” she nodded, “You wanna stop by my place? I could fix some dinner for us both?” he invited; she thought about it then accepted the invitation.

“Sure why not”

“Great, so, what d’you like to eat?”

“What have you got?”

“Um…”

“Tell you what, why don’t your surprise me?”

“Okay”

“So I’ll call round about eight, eight thirty?”

“Eight’s fine”

“Okay, see you then”

He bent down and kissed her.

“Bye”

“Bye Hols”

He watched her walk to her car and after making sure she was safely inside he got into his own. He was about to drive off when his eldest brother approached, a frown on his face as he tapped the trunk, Mark stopped then put down the window.

“Yeah?”

“Dad tells me you’re taking on the Ingebrigtsen case?”

“Yeah I am”

“D’you think that’s wise?”

“Yeah!”

“Oh come on Mark, you aren’t exactly the best man for the job.”

“Oh say’s who, you?”

“Well, yeah”

“Tough”

“Mark!”

“I gotta go I have a dinner date this evening”

It was about a half hour drive from the office to his home, Mark pushed a CD into the player and listened as he journeyed, a police car came out of nowhere and immediately flashed him to pull over. “Great” he thought as he slowed to a halt and watched the occupant get out and approach. He opened the window and smiled, he hadn’t been speeding, he knew he hadn’t “Evening Officer, to what do I owe this honour?” he inquired, the young man sneered.

“Your tail light is broken Sir”

“What? I think you must be mistaken”

“No! No mistake, it’s definitely out Sir”

“Really? I doubt it I’ll just take a look shall I”

“Please Sir, stay right where you are”

“Why should I? You have said my tail light is broken and I said I don’t believe you and would like to check it out for myself”

The young man took a step back, allowing him to step out.

“I told you it wasn’t broken, I’d like to know what you think you’re playing at.”

The young man drew his baton and promptly smashed one of Mark’s tail lights.

“It is now, what you gonna do about it?”

Mark drew in a deep breath, “Oh now I get it”

“Get what sir?”

“Is this how it’s gonna be?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about Sir”

“Am I to be harassed, now that I’ve taken on the Ingebrigtsen case?”

“I’m simply writing you a ticket for the tail light being out Sir”

Mark snatched the ticket and got back behind the wheel, he was fuming, this was all he needed, cops harassing him. He pulled open the glove compartment and pushed it inside, along with the rest of them. He was use to being stopped, but not when hadn’t done anything wrong. He was usually being given a ticket for speeding.

He let himself into his apartment and placed his case on the floor and jacket behind the chair, Hollie would be there soon and so he made a start on dinner but his thoughts were still on the cop who’d stopped him, he still couldn’t believe what had just happened, maybe taking the case wasn’t such a good idea after all? He wondered just what he’d be letting himself in for by doing so, yet there was just something about Christian; he had looked so defenceless, satisfied with his dinner preparations, he went to shower and change.

Hollie glanced along the row of sweaters, wondering just what to wear, it wasn’t as if they were going out to dinner so something informal was called for, she had already decided on a pair of Calvin Klein jeans and was now pulling out various sweaters. “Ah I’ll wear my pink one” she said aloud, before hurrying to change.

Mark emerged from his bedroom dressed to kill; he’d chosen a pair of black jeans and black polo neck sweater, he’d just applied some expensive aftershave when his cell phone rang. “Great” he said aloud, it was his mother, no doubt calling to try and talk him out of taking the case. “Mark, what’s this daddy’s been telling me?” he rolled his eyes “Is it true, are you taking on some criminal case?” she went on; he sank dejectedly onto the sofa and listened to her droning on about what she would tell the girls at the golf club. “Why not tell them it ain’t any of their concern” he suggested, she drew in a shocked breath “What? Mark don’t be ridiculous, you can’t possibly hope to win this, stick to what you know huh?” he closed his eyes, knowing they were more worried about their precious reputation than they were of him and how he felt always seemed to get to him. “I’m taking the case mom” he told her firmly, there was a pause, “Fine, but don’t be surprised if it all falls apart” Mark raised his eyebrows, “Gee Mom, nice to know you got so much faith in me” he muttered. The buzzer went and he got up to answer it, “I gotta go, I’m expecting company” his mother rang off seconds later, leaving her youngest son to answer the door.

Hollie smiled then entered, whatever was cooking smelt good and she was famished. “Hey are you okay?” she inquired, noting his mood, he smiled down at her “Course, here let me take your coat?” she slipped it off and watched him hang it up. “I hope you’re hungry” he said on returning, she nodded “Starving” he stared at her, boy did she suit pink.

“Good” was all he said.

Adams stared wide-eyed at his partner. “What the hell do you mean she never came back?” he’d gone back to FBI headquarters to find Jo.

Gerry shrugged then threw his arms in the air, “She just said she had stuff to do” Adams slowly shook his head. “Oh and you let her go?” Gerry looked guilty, “Sorry bud” he apologised, “So you get everything you needed over at the precinct?” Adams nodded, “Yeah, well most anyway. So what we got?” Gerry hurried over to his pc and brought up the data he needed. “We got a lead on those hair samples and you ain’t gonna believe it” Adams lent on the table, “Try me?” he said, Gerry punched a few letters onto the screen, “Well I’ll be damned” said Adams, his eyes wide.

Jo pulled on the rope with her teeth, she was almost free, Christian lay on his back, semi conscious, Jo knew if they were to stand any sort of chance she would have to help him to come round. Once free she quickly crawled over to him, untied him then shook him violently as she called his name, his eyes flickered open but closed again, “Oh no you don’t” she said aloud, raising her hand she slapped him several times “Wake up!” she yelled, “Chris wake up!” he blinked a few times before sitting up, “What the fuck?” he said groggily.

“Chris you gotta stay awake, we’re in trouble”

“What?”

“We’re in trouble Chris”

“Anderson, where is he?”

“He’s taking us some place”

“Shit! I don’t feel so good”

“No! Chris you gotta stay awake”

“I feel sick”

Jo begun to panic as the van slowed to a halt, “Shit” she thought “I’ve really done it this time” she told herself.

Hollie heard her cell phone ring in the next room, Mark glanced down to where she lay, “You wanna get it?” he asked considerately, she thought for a second, she knew it’d be Jo, her timing impeccable as usual, she shook her head. “You sure?” she nodded, she didn’t want to spoil the moment, Mark was on top of her and they were about to make love for the second time that night, and still the phone rang. Hollie drew in a deep breath “I think you better get it, sounds as if it may be important” she pouted as he rolled onto his back and watched her get out of bed, “It’ll be Jo, she always does this, she’ll be wanting to sound off about Adams again. Hello” she growled down the receiver, there were a pause then Jo’s voice, low and steady. “Don’t talk just listen” she was instructed, “I’m in real big trouble, I need you to call Adams and tell him I’m on the old Northern Cove road, tell him we’ve been kidnapped” Hollie felt her heart jump to her mouth, “What?” she yelled down the receiver, Mark now sat up and leaned on his elbow. “Please just do it” Hollie screamed Jo’s name down the receiver but it had gone dead. “Hols what’s wrong?” asked Mark, Hollie burst into tears as she dialled 911.

Detective Lloyd answered her call and assured her that they would go check it out immediately, “Just sit tight Miss Logan” he said as he indicated to his partner, who it just so happened was also on the phone

“I’m on my way, stop panicking” he said “King, come on Logan’s in trouble” said Lloyd as he headed for the door.