“Sir, you’re not in a condition to travel,” said Victor refusing to book his ticket.
“I have to. My fiancee has been kidnapped a few hours ago.”
“I’ll come along, sir. I can’t leave you alone in your condition,” insisted Victor.
“Fine, you can book two tickets.” After four hours, Ashton and Victor reached New York. He straight away coordinated with Hayley’s dad and reached the police station where they were still waiting.
With his head bandaged and his left arm injured and in a sling, Ashton entered the police station, looking pale, tired, and haggard. Mrs. Barclay gasped at the sight of him while Hayley’s dad came forward to meet him.
“Hello, son! Why did you come over when you’re so injured?” he scolded Ashton but he just shook his head.
“I’m fine, Uncle Chris. Any news of Hayley? Why was she coming over to Miami when I asked her to rest? She never listens.”
“Ask me about it,” grumbled her dad. “They’re still tracking the white Camry that was involved in the kidnapping. We’ve reached a dead end.” Ashton’s eyes immediately widened on realizing who the white Camry belonged to. Why hadn’t he thought of it before? How could he forget about Francesca Gambino who might have escaped the cops?
“I know who the white Camry belongs to. It’s Francesca Gambino’s car. She’s Salvatore’s daughter and might have escaped the cops. Maybe she’s back for revenge. I wouldn’t be surprised if she caused my accident to have me out of the way first,” said Ashton.
“Oh, God! I wasn’t aware that Gambino had a daughter! This is a fresh lead to the case,” said Mr. Barclay, leading him to the officer in charge of the investigation.
“Where could she have taken Hayley?” asked her mom.
“I have Francesca Gambino’s number. We can trace her location.” So with Ashton’s help, they traced Francesca’s number to Harlem River Dr. It was another dead end, and they had to involve the Navy SEAL Team who had earlier wiped out Gambino’s gang. Francesca Gambino being the daughter of a notorious criminal, they couldn’t take a risk.
“Please rescue my daughter, Ashton,” sobbed Hayley’s mom.
“I will, Mrs. Barclay. I can give up my life to save hers.”
He searched his dad’s phone for saved numbers in case they came in handy. It was in his dad’s pocket when he was rescued from Gambino’s house. Most of the numbers didn’t exist as the men died or were arrested. Some of the numbers worked, but no one accepted the call. It was expected since the SEALs Team wiped the entire gang out.
At last, someone croaked into the phone and he prayed the could find a breakthrough.
“Hello! Big Steve?” repeated the person recognizing his dad’s number. Ashton heaved a sigh of relief that someone at least recognized his father.
“No, I’m Big Steve’s son, Ashton Pierce. I wanted a favor from you. Do you have the number of anyone who knows Francesca Gambino? She has kidnapped my fiancee to take revenge! My fiancee is pregnant. Please help me,” begged Ashton, his eyes filling up with tears of helplessness while Hayley’s parents and the police waited for a breakthrough. The man was silent for a while and then cleared his throat.
“No one is alive, son. Francesca and Costello were in Miami when the police attacked the mansion. I had retired a month earlier, so I was saved from DeLuca’s attack that day.” Ashton’s eyes widened, realizing that all this while Francesca and Costello had been tailing them without their knowledge. It was only when he started their wedding preparations did she plan her attack!
“Can you give me Costello’s number?” He needed it to track down the criminal’s phone.
“Yes, if that helps. There is a man called Miguel whom you can talk to. His father Lorenzo was a good friend of Big Steve’s. He has the keys to the trapdoor of the mansion. The police have sealed the place up but they aren’t aware of the trapdoor entrance that leads to the torture chambers underground. I’m sure it is the safest place to imprison your fiancee. Not a soul would know of her presence there.”
A shudder went down Ashton’s spine, imagining what Hayley was going through in her condition. Why couldn’t Francesca kidnap him instead? “Can you send me a rough layout of this trap door? I don’t know how to access it even if I have the keys.”
“Sure! Give me a minute.”
“Thanks a lot for your help.”
“My pleasure, son. May your dad’s soul rest in peace. He has done a lot for me, but I couldn’t pay him back. I hope you are able to rescue your fiancee. God bless you.” The call ended and after three minutes, his phone beeped with two messages: one was a rough sketch of the layout of the trapdoor and the other was Miguel and Costello’s phone numbers.
Ashton called Miguel immediately and prayed he accepted his call.
“Hello, Uncle Steve?” asked a shocked voice from the other end.
“No, I’m his son, Ashton Pierce. I need some help from you, please. Do you have the keys to the trap door of the mansion?”
“No, Costello came over to see me yesterday and took them. Why? Is there any problem?”
“No, no. Thanks a lot.”
He disconnected the call and turned towards the police officers. “Yes, Francesca Gambino and her dad’s chief guard, Costello are involved. They have taken Hayley to their mansion in Cypress Hills. This is the layout of the trap door that leads to the torture chambers underground. They might have imprisoned Hayley there.”
The police immediately contacted the SEALS Team and forwarded them all the leads to the case.
“I’m heading to Cypress Hills too. I can’t sit here and wait,” said Ashton.
“No, it’s too dangerous, Mr. Pierce. You are injured.”
“I’m fine, officer. I’ll die of tension here if I don’t see her intact. She is pregnant with my baby, officer. How can I stay here and wait for her?” Tears of helplessness fell from his eyes, and it was Hayley’s dad who had to comfort him.
“I’m sure we can wait at a distance outside the mansion for Hayley. Please, officer.”
“No, Mr. Barclay, please understand and have faith in us. I would suggest you go home. We will rescue Ms. Barclay and bring her home.”
“Come on, son. There’s nothing we can do here.” Mr. Barclay pulled a distraught Ashton with him to his car. His wife followed him, with tears in her eyes, at seeing Ashton’s condition. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind now about Ashton’s feelings for Hayley. It was clear he loved her more than he loved himself. Victor followed them with the luggage and climbed into Robert Barclay’s car. They all headed home, but Ashton lost consciousness on the way when the wound on his forehead started bleeding.
“Chris, his bandage is soaked. We have to take him to the hospital.”
Henry drove them over to the hospital nearby and they started treating his wound. With no update about Hayley, it was the worst night of their lives. Ashton regained consciousness, but he was uncontrollable, begging Mr. Barclay to let him drive over to Cypress Hills.
“I’ll die here if you don’t take me. I’ll escape, Uncle Chris.”
“Alright, son. You’re the most stubborn boy alive, I guess. I’ll take you there but mind you, we won’t go inside.”
Reluctantly, Hayley’s mom left to go home with Robert Barclay while Henry drove Christopher Barclay and Ashton to Cypress Hills. The entire place was eerily quiet when they went there. Didn’t the SEALS Team arrive yet? Where were they? They eyed one another cluelessly.
Henry parked at quite a distance from the mansion and switched off the headlights. They sat quietly in the darkness as no one had any idea about what was happening. Did they not find Hayley here? Did Francesca take her somewhere else? They were too scared to talk to one another as they waited for something to happen.
It was nearly two o’clock in the night. The entire neighborhood was fast asleep. The only sound was the occasional creatures of the night. With no moon and a dim streetlight burning far ahead, it was difficult to see a thing.
How long would they wait? Did they rescue Hayley already? They couldn’t switch on the mobile and ask the officer in charge in case it gave them away. A feeling of dread gripped Ashton’s heart. What would he do if Francesca killed Hayley? The mad woman was capable of anything. Panicking, he clutched onto Mr. Barclay’s hand but before he could say a word, a white Camry drove past them and stopped in front of the mansion gates. Mr. Barclay gripped Ashton’s hand to prevent him from doing anything foolish.
They watched with their breaths stuck in their throats. Was Hayley in the car? Was she alive? Should they wait for the SEALS Team or take matters into their hands?