Page 114 of Billion-Dollar Attitudes

Meagan has gone to sleep

"Meagan I screamed, running out, trying not to gag. Meagan, honey, are you here! Make a noise so I can find you!"

Grabbing a washcloth to hold over my nose, I looked around the apartment one more time, but no Meagan. With beads of sweat popping out on my forehead, I went back into her room. Her bed was unmade and there were clothes strewn about. I stopped abruptly. My sister was a neat freak. I had never seen her room in disarray like this. Then, stepping closer, I noticed a bottle of pills emptied out on her dresser. Grabbing a kleenex to avoid leaving my fingerprints, I picked it up and read the label. Ambien.

"Fuck!" I ran outside and out to my car. Grabbing my phone, I dialed 911. "I need help," I said when the operator answered. "I think someone has kidnapped my sister." I gave the operator Meagan's address and then hung up. I paced back and forth, waiting for the police to arrive, and decided to listen to Chase's voicemails in the meantime.

Dude, call me. The cops are looking for you. Something about the investigation.

The second voicemail was more urgent.

Hey, man, where are you? Something has happened at Meagan's apartment, and they're looking to question you? What the hell is going on?

I glanced around and didn't see cop cars or hear sirens. So, I was about to call Chase back when all of a sudden, a FaceTime call came in. I could tell it was Meagan frantically trying to tell me something before someone slapped her across the face. She dropped the phone... but the call was still connected, and I could see her lying inside a car trunk with a man's hand over her mouth.

"Meagan," I screamed into the phone. And before the call was disconnected, the phone captured a sign in the background. Bob's Bobtail Bar. It was a strip joint I had frequented in my younger days located across town — a favorite of the Navy guys. I jumped into my car and headed for Coronado Beach.

As I was pulling out, I saw a black SUV with tinted windows turning in and slammed on my brakes. I grabbed my phone before jumping out so I could show them better than telling them what was happening. As I was getting out of my car, I saw the driver's door of the SUV open, and an officer stepped out. He was wearing a sheriff's uniform, but I could see the glint of a gun in his hand.

"Fuck!" I remembered I had a Sig Sauer in my glovebox that wasn't registered to me.

You don't need them to search your car, Guy. Play it cool.

I reached for my phone and held it up. "I'm Guy Jackson. We have an emergency," I said calmly, even though my heart was pounding in my chest.

"Mr. Jackson. We've been trying to reach you. Is your sister Meagan Jackson?"

"Yes, sir. Please look at this. Someone has kidnapped her. She's over near Coronado Beach, outside a bar." By now, his partner had approached and was watching me while Officer Clemont was looking at the replay of the FaceTime I had recorded, holding my ID.

"I'm going to need that phone, Mr. Jackson," he said as he put out his hand.

"No, I need it for my business." My mind was reeling... there was no way I would be cut off from my family and Ariel. It was my lifeline right now.

"If you don't hand over your phone, I'll have to arrest you for obstruction of justice," he said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

I hesitated for a moment, but then I realized that I had no choice. Let's talk inside the cruiser. Clemont said, and I felt his large palm at my back guiding me toward the SUV.

"How did you know about my sister?" I asked, trying not to reflect the fear I felt in my gut. Why did it feel like I was about to be arrested?

"We got a 911 call from her neighbor, who said a ruckus was happening inside Ms. Meagan Jackson's apartment. The witness said your sister had told her that you," he glanced at his clipboard and continued. "Ms. Jackson, and her brother, a Guy Jackson, had been fighting a few days ago.”

"So you wanted to question me? Did you go to her apartment to check on her?" I couldn't believe what a cluster fuck this was while my sister was probably fighting for her life or already dead.

"We were at your place trying to question you when we got your 911 call that there was a problem at this here address."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I could hear the radio crackling as Clemont's partner reported Meagan's whereabouts. "Look, can we go search for her? She's my sister! We fight about stuff sometimes… but that doesn't mean anything!" I protested. "You got a sister, officer?"

He nodded. "Then you know what I mean, right?"

"I don't know who is worse, my kid sister or my wife." Officer Clemont chuckled. "But I wouldn’t change them even if I could."

"Oh, man. I hear you." Clemont was a reasonable man. At least one thing was going in my direction this evening.

Suddenly, my phone came to life in the officer's hands. It was another FaceTime of Meagan's body lying on a dark road with her hands taped behind her back and her mouth taped shut. Her eyes were wide when someone wearing a black boot kicked her in the head and rolled her into the ditch. "Meagan," I screamed. And again, the person using the phone just threw it on the ground face up, displaying the surroundings.

"Shit! Transmit this. Let's get a location." Clemont snapped. And within a minute, her location came over the radio.

Thankfully she was not far from us. The sirens blared, and lights of all colors flashed as Clemont raced down the parkway. The ambulance arrived as we pulled up, and I ran over to where Meagan was lying in the muddy ditch. Her eyes blinked open at the sound of my voice and closed again.

---