The Auction House Deal: Bought by A Billionaire

Ed and Marcus claimed they couldn’t have a civilian go back to the field office with them, so they dispatched me home with Stan. He didn’t say much, but I was pretty sure he was satisfied we had at least uncovered a lead by the way his lips slightly upturned at the corners when I mentioned our success.

Back at the house, Geoffrey, who’d been on a short vacation, welcomed me home.

"Glad to have you back, Geoffrey," I said. I threw my keys on the side table by the door.

"I’m glad to be here. Where’s Mrs. Thaddeus?" He tried to look around me, and only saw Stan, towering at the door.

At first I thought he meant my mother, but after a second, I realized he was talking about Hannah.

"There’s been some bad news," I said. "She’s been kidnapped."

"Oh no," his face looked concerned.

"I’m working on locating her. I think we have a lead. The FBI is working on finding out more about a suspicious black car..."

"Like the one that attempted to mow you down?"

"The same, I think." Stan lumbered past me. "This is Stan," I said.

Stan turned and offered Geoffrey his hand. The two men shook. "I’m Geoffrey," he said.

"I had to let the other bodyguards go. This is our skeleton crew," I told Geoffrey.

He looked the tall, muscular bodyguard up and down. "He doesn’t look like a skeleton."

"You know what I mean." He followed me toward the kitchen. "We were just out, laying a trap. Pretty sure we’re on to something."

"Is there anything you need?" he asked.

I looked him in the face. "I need Hannah."

"Of course. I know. I have faith in you. You’ll be able to find her."

"It’s so depressing here without her." I checked in the fridge, looking for something to bolt down. I grabbed an apple and bit into it, still excited from the outing to find the man in the black car. Hoping that Ed and Marcus would call me back soon, I plopped on the couch.

Geoffrey watched me and anticipated my movements, bringing me the remote from the TV stand.

"Thanks," I said. "Wanna watch the game?" I clicked until I reached a channel with a basketball game.

"I have some correspondence to catch up with, but just let me know if I can be any help."

Geoffrey left down the hall, and I checked my phone. There were no texts, no contact yet whatsoever. I watched the game, barely following what was happening because I was thinking about Hannah.

Lori knocked, and I heard Geoffrey answer the door. "Hello Lori," he said.

"Welcome back, Geoffrey," she flung her arms around him and gave him a hug. I watched from the sofa, craning my head to see them embrace.

"Roman," Lori said, walking into the living room. "Have you heard anything about Hannah?"

"No," Roman said. "But we might have a lead. I went out today with Ed and Marcus." I took off my shirt and started to unstrap the bullet proof vest.

"What’s that all about?" Lori said, concerned.

"Just something we did to try to draw out the kidnapper."

Lori sat down next to me, still watching me as I put my shirt back on.

She didn’t know I had been shot at. I had kept that detail a secret. I didn’t want to worry her. If Lauren caught wind of it, she’d be trying to lock me in my bedroom just to keep me safe.

"I know you’d do anything for my sister, but don’t be stupid. Stay safe." Lori crossed her arms and sat back.

"Okay. I just want Hannah back."

"Me too. That’s why I’m here. It’s so frustrating. I try to get some work done, but all I can think about is Hannah. We really just wanted to have some fun that night. No one thought it would end up with anyone getting hurt."

"I know," I looked at her. I knew she wouldn’t do anything to purposely jeopardize Hannah.

"I’ve been getting a craving for crepes. Can I make you some?" she asked. "I remember making some when we were young. Martin used to fill them with all kinds of interesting things - chocolates and marshmallows, hazelnut spread. For some reason I’ve just had a hankering for them. Maybe because they make me think of Hannah."

"It’s so great that you were so close," I said.

She stood up and headed back to the kitchen. I could hear her puttering around, getting out the bowls and cooking utensils, then the ingredients.

On the couch I waited, putting my leg on the tufted stool in front of me. Within a couple of minutes, I could smell the crepes being heated up in the pan, the scent of batter and butter mixed to form the delicious delicacies.

I thought it was strange that Lori had mentioned Martin to me. She and Hannah didn’t discuss him much, as if it pained them to speak of him.

It made me consider that if Lori lost Hannah, too, she’d be devastated. Both Martin and Hannah had been the two people who had looked out for and protected Lori. Hannah had told me that Martin was the only one to stand up to their father, often speaking up on the girls’ behalf.

Plus, I knew from experience that Hannah would do anything to protect her sister, Lori. In fact, Court had used that threat so that Hannah would go along with his scheme to sell her to the highest bidder. What he hadn’t anticipated was that the bidder would be me, and I would support Hannah in taking him down.

Even though I hadn’t met Martin, comparing myself to Hannah’s description of him, I would guess that we would get along.

Lori came back with a plate of crepes. They were drizzled with chocolate and had strawberries on top.

"They look great, Lori," I said.

"Thanks. Martin loved strawberries he always insisted on having them with almost anything. Hannah, on the other hand, loves chocolate."

"So you have the best of both right on this plate," I said.

"You betcha," she sat down with her own plate next to me on the couch and took a bite.

"These are delicious. Thank you." "I left one for Geoffrey," Lori said. "I’ll let him know."

As Lori returned to the kitchen with our empty plates, my phone rang and buzzed in my pants. I fumbled in my pocket to quickly take it out.

"Good news," said Ed, and my face lit up.

"You found the bastard?"

"Not quite yet. I’m sending over a picture of who we think might be responsible."

As I clicked to my email, I opened the file, containing the picture. Looking closely on the phone, the man looked familiar but I couldn’t place him. I didn’t show it to Lori, because I didn’t want to upset her - or get her hopes up.

"The good news is," Ed continued, "that we think we found someone who spotted him at a hotel a good distance from this area."

"I thought for sure he would have taken Hannah somewhere close," I said.

"Look. There’s a lot we don’t know yet. We still have to keep an open mind. Just wanted to let you know. Marcus and I will go check this lead, and..."

"Not without me, you don’t," I said while standing up. "I’m going."

"Roman, I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Don’t really care. I’ll take Stan if I have to, but there’s no way I’m not going to find Hannah."

"Calm down. I get it. I get it," said Ed. "It’s just - if it were up to me, you could come with us, no problem, but Marcus is trying to play this by the books."

"Put him on," I said. Presumably, he handed the phone to Marcus.

I held the phone out to Lori. "Take it," I mouthed.

She put the silver rectangle up to her ear, unsure about what she was going to hear.

"Hello?" she asked in a timid voice.

"Hello?" Marcus repeated into the phone. "Lori? Is that you?"

She smiled, a bright tint on her cheeks. "How have you been?" she asked.

"Oh, the usual. Just trying to catch the bad guy. I’m glad to hear from you."

In a casual tone, I said, "He thinks he knows where Hannah is, but he won’t let us help."

"What?" Lori said. "Is it that dangerous? Marcus, you’re not putting yourself in danger, are you?"

"No, no," he said quickly. "It’s just that..."

I took the phone out of her hand and put it on speaker. "So I can come, right?" I said. "Please give us the location. I just want to be nearby. I won’t interfere with your operation. I’m sure the victim’s sister will want to know what’s going on, right, Lori?"

"Um, well..." Lori sounded hesitant. "I think Marcus is right that you shouldn’t interfere, Roman, but... If you could keep me updated... I’m just really scared for Hannah..."

"Okay!" cried Marcus, followed by a sigh. "Okay, Roman. But you do what Ed and I say to the letter. I’m texting you the location."

I took my phone bank, buzzing with anticipation.

"We’re going to find Hanna," I said.