Page 47 of Abigail
“Don’t run off yet,” Abigail pleads. They all stop and head back to take seats on along the edge of the bed. “It’ll be a few minutes before the medicine kicks in to ease this pain in my abdomen. Tell me how everyone is doing.” The women spend about twenty minutes catching Abi up on all the happenings in their lives. The children were all doing well, and their jobs were the same. The surprise information came from Lisa. She has apparently finally decided to move to Jacksonville for good. She’s been ‘visiting’ more often than not over the last six months or so. Abigail knows there’s a bigger story behind the move than wanting to be near her best friend, but Abi, nor any of the other women, pushes her for more information. After Abi’s accident, Lisa made the decision to make the move official. She’s moved in with Hawk and Charlotte until she can find a place of her own.
“Well welcome to Jacksonville,” Abigail says sleepily. “I’m happy you’re going to be around. You can help us with the shelter’s fundraiser now too.” Abi smiles as her mind begins to wander. The pain medication is taking effect and her thoughts are getting muddled.
“All righty,” Charlotte says as she stands. “That’s our cue to clear out. Abi needs to get some sleep.” The women all agree. Emma and Daisy help Abi scoot back under the covers, fluffing her pillows and tucking her in like a baby. Abi is grinning foolishly another side effect from the medicine.
“Thanks ladies,” Abi slurs. “Y’all are the best ever.” Her eyes close as she drifts into blissful pain free sleep.
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
Straw is vivid at what he’s just heard from the admiral’s report on Todd and his current whereabouts. Correction: lack of report. No one has been able to locate him or figure out how he knew Abigail’s location to cause her accident. Straw can’t believe the man is clever enough to have masterminded all of this on his own. Hack and Virus used their combined computer genius skills to get the low down on Todd’s military and even psychological evaluations while he’s been locked up. It just doesn’t add up. While Todd is highly intelligent, his psych evaluations have shown him to be a highly narcissistic, psychopathic individual. He manipulates those around him to bend to his will. He can be very persuasive in his acts to pretend to be normal. However, when pushed, his true colors come shining through. His most recent evals prior to his release hinted at paranoid delusions developing. Evidently Todd had realized the counselors were picking up on his delusions of conspiracies to keep him locked up, and he’d stopped discussing it in therapy, but he hadn’t stopped talking about it in emails and phone conversations with those on the outside. There’d been a flurry of emails and phone calls using a burner phone inside the prison, despite it being illegal. Of course, prisoners often break the rules and Todd is no exception. The calls were to a number they haven’t been able to trace just yet. That needs to be a priority.
Ace relates he’s engaged Daisy’s brothers’ security company to dig into finding Todd. Luke has promised them an update this evening. They are expecting the call any minute. In the meantime, the admiral and Major Olson have gotten a few leads, but they are waiting to hear back on the most promising of them. Everything is hurry up and wait. At the moment, Straw doesn’t have the patience for that. He’s given them five fucking days to sort this shit out while he’s been at the hospital with Abigail. Now that she’s home, he’s more than ready to hunt down that motherfucker to end him. Straw knows that Todd is the admiral’s son and that the admiral loves his son, but it’s past time for Todd to be held accountable for his actions. Not only that, but now there’s another name on Straw’s list to be dealt with too. The man who had helped Todd escape his detail, crash Abi’s SUV, and then helped Todd evade capture again. Straw has a list of things he’s going to inflict on both men as soon as he gets his hands on them, but first they have to find them. Ace’s phone ringing brings Straw back to his living room from the dark place his mind has gone.
“Ace.” He answers his phone pulling it to his ear. Upon hearing the caller, he pulls the phone away as he says, “Luke, I’m putting you on speaker. I’m at Straw’s house. Everyone is here getting an update on the situation. We are hoping you have some good intel for us.” Ace lays his phone on the coffee table turning the volume up as loud as it will go.
“Hey guys,” Luke begins. “First off, Straw I’m pleased to hear your woman is recovering well. I’m sorry you all have had to go through this. Now, as to what we’ve gathered, this may cause some increased tension. I’m assuming the admiral is there as well?” Luke’s question is not to be unexpected. He likely wants to curb what he’d normally say out of respect for the older man’s feelings regarding his son.
“Yes,” the admiral replies. “I’m here. Don’t be concerned about sugar coating your findings. I’ve known for many years my son is highly disturbed. I’m not sure there’s anything you can tell me that will surprise me at this point.”
“Noted, Admiral,” Luke answers soberly. He sighs loudly before diving in. “The number you had me trace is also a burner phone. After scouring through security footage, I’ve found the purchaser of both burner phones.” He pauses a second before continuing, “I’ve also found when and how Todd got the burner phone in the prison. “Admiral this is going to sting a little, but I’ve confirmed my information is accurate.”
“Just spit it out, son,” the admiral demands. His face contorted into a tight mask of control. Straw suspects however, the man is a mess on the inside. Luke clears his throat and continues.
“The burner phones were purchased by Dean Jenkins.” Luke pauses as gasps are heard around the room.
“Dammit!” the admiral growls, shaking his head in disbelief. Luke continues.
“He gave it to Todd on one of his visits to the prison. While I don’t know what’s been said in phone conversations, the texts seem to indicate Dean has been trying to convince Todd to cooperate with his treatment and medication regimen. More than once, he’s told Todd he is being paranoid, and he needs help to overcome his delusions. Todd seems to have used his manipulation tactics on his brother. He’s convinced Dean to give him the address to Straw’s house, even before he was released. Todd had repeatedly assured Dean he is taking his medicine, and that he only wants to see his little girl. I have to give him credit. He was very convincing in his texts. I can see why Dean relented.” The room descends into silence as they absorb this bit of information. Straw hasn’t met Dean yet. He’s stationed in Virginia Beach. When he came to visit the admiral, Straw had been deployed. Straw has mixed feelings for Ellie’s uncle. Straw can understand the man wants to help his brother, but the fact he put Abigail and Ellie in danger has put a black mark on the man. It’s not something Straw is sure he can forgive.
“Any information on how he found out where Abigail and Ellie were the day of the crash?” Major Olson asks. Straw looks toward the phone, hoping the man has an answer for them.
“Todd’s buddy, Michael Hampton, who was with him that day, had sent a text to Todd not long before he picked him up,” Luke informs them. “It seems that he’s been tailing Abigail for weeks. Once Todd had Straw’s address, the man began to follow her. He knows where she works, Ellie’s school, and their routine. From what I can deduce from their text conversations, Todd was planning to snatch Ellie from the school. I guess Abigail beat him to it. So, they decided to follow and take Ellie by force.”
“Any idea where this asshole’s at?” Straw asks. Hawk’s head jerks to look at him. Straw realizes he’s just called the admiral’s son an asshole, but he’s beyond caring about hurting the admiral’s feelings. Todd is a threat to his family, and he needs to eliminate it sooner rather than later. He doesn’t have it in him to play nice.
“Yes,” Luke replies confidently. “He’s been very care to not use the burner phone, credit or debit cards, or his real name for several days. That is until today. The burner phone pinged a cell tower in Maysville this morning. Deep diving his friend’s bank account, the man bought a lot camping equipment a few weeks ago. I suspect they’re camping in the Croatan National Forest. It’s a great place for them to hideout not too far away but far enough to not be seen by any of your team that’s looking for him.”
“Thank you, Luke,” Straw says as he begins to plan his next moves. He needs to make sure Charlotte and some of the women stay here to look after Abigail and Ellie. He’ll have Tank and a couple of the others stand guard over the women while he heads out to hunt in the forest. “I’m in your debt. If you ever need anything, please, just ask, and you’ll have it.” Straw means every word. Daisy’s brother has given him the information he needs to make his family safe. There’s not enough money, time, or effort he could give the man to repay him for it.
“No need to thank me, Straw,” Luke replies. “You all are Daisy’s family, so that makes us family. If I find anything further, I’ll send it to you. Later.” The call disconnects. The room is silent for a moment as they all think on this information.
“Straw,” the admiral begins. “I can see the wheels turning in your head, young man. I understand why, but I’m going to ask you to stand down. Please out of respect for me, give me time to bring him in legally…if I can’t then you’ll have my blessing and my backing to keep you free from the blow back.” Straw stares at the man. Someone he’s respected and looked up to over the years as an example of a great man. Straw doesn’t want to deny him, but they’ve tried it his way, and Abigail had almost died. Todd had almost taken Ellie from them. Straw had made himself a promise that those two precious females would never have to live in fear again, and he’s resolute to make that a reality.
“All due respect, Sir,” Straw begins. He sees Hawk shift in his seat, knowing the man is wanting Straw to curb whatever it is he’s about to say. “We tried it your way when Todd was released, and we all know how that turned out. Abigail fighting for her life. Ellie waking up screaming after nightmares of the crash. I won’t allow anything to happen to them again.” Straw holds up a hand to halt the admiral from commenting. “I love them more than my own life, my freedom. You have until I get the things together that I need to track him and get him secured. Otherwise, I’m going hunting and Iwillmake them safe. Whatever it takes.” Straw stares the admiral down. The man is unflinching as he stares back. Straw can feel the eyes of every man in the room on him, but he won’t back down. Short of the admiral killing him or locking him up, nothing is going to stop him from dealing with this situation once and for all.
“I understand,” the admiral finally concedes. His shoulders slump, defeat and resignation clear in his appearance. He looks toward Major Olson. “Let’s go.” The men rise and head for the front door. Hawk escorts them out. The remaining men in the room look to Straw. He waits with bated breath to see what his brothers have to say to him. He hopes to have them at his back, but he will go it alone if need be.
“So,” Virus asks, “What’s the plan?” Straw cocks his eyebrow at the man. Normally not very talkative, Straw is amazed that Virus is the one to get right to the point. “I’m assuming you have a plan?” Virus ends in askance.
“Nothing definite,” Straw admits. “I don’t want any of you to get caught up in this, but I do need a little help. I need some of you to stay here and look after my family. I will risk myself, but if anything, happens to Abigail or Ellie…I…I can’t let that occur. Their safety and wellbeing are the most important.”
“Straw,” Tank’s deep booming voice interrupts. “You know that I will never let those two be harmed, but if you do something to get your ass locked up, that will hurt them just as badly. Abigail and Ellie love you as much as you love them. They need you more than you realize. So you stay here and take care of your woman. Let me go deal with Todd.”
“Tank, I won’t allow you to sacrifice yourself like that,” Straw argues. “This is for me to finish. Please just look after them until I can return.” Hawk returns about this time, taking command of the room.
“Look, we aren’t going to have much time to plan,” Hawk says as he enters the room. “Jenkins and Olson want to bring Todd in legal like and have him committed permanently. I, for one, don’t share their optimism. The man has shown himself to be unstable at best. I say we given Jenkins 24 hours. If Todd isn’t in custody by then, we move. That is my opinion, but Straw this is your woman, so ultimately it’s your call.” All eyes pin Straw in their gaze. He has a decision to make, one that will affect not only him but his family and everyone in this room. His mind races through possibilities. His eyes look toward the ceiling, thinking of the woman sleeping upstairs in their bed. She would want him to give Jenkins his 24 hours. He knows this without doubt. It goes against his better judgment, but he doesn’t want to allow Todd to come between him and Abigail. If he gives into his desire for revenge, Abigail might not be able to forgive him.
“Fine,” Straw concedes. “We plan and be ready if Todd’s not in custody by this time tomorrow, then we make our move. I still don’t want you guys to be at risk, though.” Straw looks around the room at his brothers who have gathered.
