Taking A Chance - Chapter 30

Michael stood looking out the window; the quiet rolling countryside that usually brought him so much pleasure did nothing for his mood now. He hadn’t slept or eaten in since they were taken; his only sustenance was the coffee that Madeline and Gracie insisted he drink and he had no choice but to comply, they wouldn’t leave him alone otherwise.

Grandmama Adrian had been told what was going on and she agreed to handle the business end until Nikita and Lisa were back with them. She wouldn’t let him believe otherwise and knowing her she probably felt that she had done too much planning for anyone or anything to mess things up now. She simply wouldn’t have it.

About two and a half hours after he had spoken to her, Chuck Davenport arrived with a few other members of his security team along with the $5Million dollar ransom. Michael didn’t want to know how Adrian had pulled it off so quickly; perhaps it helped when you were the bank’s biggest client and taking your business elsewhere meant imminent closure. He was sure the Bank’s Manager was gently persuaded to do the right thing. Grandmama could be as subtle as a big stick when she wanted to be and this was one of those times when he truly appreciated it.

“Mrs. Mason called and explained the situation” Chuck said in greeting, his arm rested briefly on Michael’s shoulder in a show of sympathy. “Where do you want us to set up?” No further words were needed they were long past that.

Mick’s contacts had located Nikita’s car pushed into a ravine partially hidden from view from the roadside. He was now pursuing a witness who remembered seeing an accident involving two cars, but thought nothing of it when the lady and little girl where lifted into an ambulance which quickly arrived on the scene and driven away. He was a little surprised when one of the men drove away in Nikita’s car after but hadn’t thought it suspicious enough to report. He was not close enough to get a good look at any of the men involved.

A quick check at the local hospitals proved futile. No one matching their descriptions had been checked into any of the hospitals. One ambulance attendant admitted that one of the vehicles had been missing earlier but had mysteriously reappeared about two hours after. Both leads turned into dead-ends as no one had been paying particular attention. They were practically right back where they started and that bit of news did not lighten Michael’s mood.

The call had come at 9:00 a.m. just as stated and Michael had been given the opportunity to talk to both Lisa and Nikita who tried to reassure him that they were both fine and hadn’t been hurt. He could still hear the tremor in Lisa ’s voice as she said she loved him and wanted to come home; before he had the chance to reply the call had been terminated. He made a promise then that he would bring them home safely.

The memories of happier times flashed before him. His meeting Nikita for the first time and the way she made him come alive again. He remembered the talking, the laughter, the loving, Lord, he had finally found a woman he really wanted to spend the rest of his life with, his soul mate, he couldn’t believe this was happening to them now.

He thought of Lisa’s love and complete trust in him when she had climbed a tree in the backyard and Gracie found her and in a panic had yelled for him. He’d come racing out to find Lisa up the tree as high as she could go, his heart raced but she had calmly let go of the branch she was clinging to and dropped into his arms, saying that she knew he would catch her. There was no way he could let either of them down now. No way at all. He needed them both in his life and heaven help anyone who tried to change that.

He was brought back to the present at Walter’s approach. “Hi Michael, how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine”

Walter knew differently, but he wasn’t about to say. “I have everything you asked for and a little extra”. He paused looking meaningfully at Madeline. “Everything is in the library, Davenport’s there organising the team. You might want the take a look”.

“Thanks Uncle Walter”.

Michael excused himself and accompanied Walter to the library where Davenport and the others where checking out the small arsenal that Walter had procured, they all knew what was at stake and the risk involved and everyman was prepared to take those risks.

Before Michael could say anything there was a brief knock on the door and Madeline entered followed by a sheepish looking Paul who shrugged his shoulders in apology as if to say that he couldn’t stop her.

“Madeline, you shouldn’t be here”. Michael said softly he; had tried to avoid her seeing the guns and what might be entailed.

“Where else would I be Michael? It’s my daughter out there as well you know”. She replied just as softly. “I have no intention of getting in your way, but I do have a right to know what is going on”. All eyes were on her as she walked towards the guns.

“Do you think all of this will be necessary?”

“I just want to be prepared for anything”. He was being cautious trying not to upset her. So far she hadn’t broken down and cried like most women would. He knew what she was going through but he didn’t know how much she could take. He didn’t know her breaking point.

Madeline carefully picked up a gun from the table and Paul stepped forward to take it from her.

“Give that to me honey. Let Michael and his team handle this”. He was afraid that she might actually hurt herself. He could only watch in surprise as she quickly stripped and reassembled the gun before replacing it on the table.

“Don’t worry Paul, I know what I’m doing. My first husband Charles was an army man. He though it wise that I should learn to defend myself should the need arise”.

Michael was quickly gaining a new respect for his mother-in-law to be. She was full of surprises. He knew what was coming next and he had no intention of letting it happen. It was way too dangerous.