Twenty-Two

 

"Where do you think Anika is going?" Parisa asked as they took the Midtown Tunnel, heading toward Queens.

"I'm guessing a house," he said. "It makes sense that they'd keep Jasmine in a single-family home—no doorman, no nosy neighbors to hear anyone yelling or crying."

She checked her watch. "It's 9:20—forty minutes to the official drop. Westley will be leaving in probably ten minutes. Maybe we're wrong. Anika could be going to a friend's house."

"Then why didn't she say she was leaving when you were in the salon? And why did she exit through the tunnel? And what's in the bag?"

Jared asked a lot of good questions. Her gut told her that Anika was going to make her own drop. But would Jasmine be there? She straightened in her seat as Anika's car slowed down. "She's looking for an address. Don't get too close."

"I won't." He reduced their speed, lingering at a stop sign for an extra beat.

The homes in this neighborhood were modest in size, and rather run-down, with overgrown weeds sprouting through cracked sidewalks and chain-link fences around some properties. Parisa caught her breath as Anika turned in to the short driveway for an old, narrow, two-story colonial with peeling yellow paint. It was between an empty lot and a house that had been boarded up. There were homes across the street, but no one too close.

Jared crossed through the intersection and pulled over behind a parked truck several houses down from the one Anika was at. He cut the engine.

She gripped her gun tightly as she watched for some sign of movement from the residence. There was no one out in this working-class neighborhood on a Monday morning, which could be good. She didn't want to deal with innocent bystanders if things went south.

"What is she waiting for?" Jared questioned.

"I don't know, but we need to get closer."

"Agreed. There's a bus coming down the street behind us. If Anika or anyone in that house is looking in this direction, we'll be out of sight for a second. I'll cross the street. You take this side."

"Got it," she said, her hand on the door.

She split her gaze between Anika and the bus coming up behind them. As it lumbered past them, she jumped out and ran down the street, hiding behind a large tree, two houses down from Anika's location. On the other side, she could see Jared squatting behind a parked car, even closer to the house than she was.

She forced herself to breathe as seconds passed. She really hoped no one was watching her or Jared from one of the other houses. The last thing they needed was a neighbor coming out to investigate.

She was beginning to wonder if anything was going to happen when Anika suddenly opened her car door. She stepped onto the driveway but didn't make any attempt to close her door. In fact, she seemed to be using the car as a barrier between her and the house.

The door to the home slowly opened, and a woman stepped out on the porch. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and tucked under a Yankees baseball cap. She had dark glasses covering her eyes and wore jeans and a New York Yankees sweatshirt.

There was no weapon visible, and the woman didn't look at all threatening, but Parisa had learned a long time ago that appearances could be deceiving. The woman motioned to Anika to come to the porch. Anika shook her head. It didn't appear that they knew each other. They were both wary.

Was Anika waiting to see her sister?

She turned her head at the sound of an engine. A minivan was coming down the street. She used it once again for cover, jogging down to the next house, the next tree. She could hear Anika speaking now.

"My sister or I leave," Anika said.

Her heart raced at Anika's words. Jasmine had to be in the house.

The woman walked over to the open door and said something to someone inside.

While the woman had her back turned, she saw Jared move behind the short brick wall that lined the driveway. He was only a few feet from Anika now.

Her gaze returned to the front of the house. Another woman was shoved through the door, her hands tied behind her back.

Jasmine! Her heart leapt with joy. Jasmine was alive!

She seemed to be crying, her shoulders shaking, her long hair tumbling around her face. She was still wearing the dress she'd had on at the engagement party. A man stood in the doorway behind Jasmine, holding her arm with one hand, a gun in the other.

"Put the bag on the porch," the man ordered.

Anika grabbed the duffel bag from the passenger seat and then walked around the front of the car. She set the bag at the bottom of the steps.

"Open it," the man said. "Show me what's inside."

Anika unzipped the bag and pulled the sides open. "It's all there. Let go of Jasmine."

"Get the bag, Sara," the man told the woman in the baseball cap.

Sara, Ben's girlfriend. The man holding Jasmine was probably Isaac Naru.

She could only imagine what Jared was thinking right now. He'd want to act. He'd want to take down Sara and Isaac, two people who were responsible for the death of his friend. But Jasmine needed to be out of the line of fire. She trusted Jared would wait.

As Sara moved toward the bag, Anika suddenly grabbed it, holding it like a shield in front of her. "Let go of my sister," she said. "Then you get the money."

Parisa frowned. Anika was acting with a lot of courage, but the kidnappers could shoot her, grab the bag, and kill Jasmine.

"Hand the bag over," the man ordered. "Or you both die."

"Do what he says," Sara said, a pleading note in her voice. "He will kill you."

"Let my sister go," Anika said again. "You don't need her anymore."

"Isaac, please," Sara said, giving the man a pleading look. "She's right. We don’t need Jasmine."

Isaac suddenly shoved Jasmine forward—so hard she stumbled, falling to her knees and then halfway down the stairs, knocking Sara backward against the rail in the process. Anika dropped the bag of money and reached for her sister.

The duffel bag was in the clear. All Sara had to do was grab it. But that didn't seem to be good enough for Isaac. He raised his gun, pointing it at the Kumar sisters.

He was going to kill them.

Parisa came out of hiding, running across the street. Her presence swung Isaac's attention in her direction.

At the same time, Jared rushed toward Anika and Jasmine.

Isaac fired at her as she jumped behind a tree. Then she got off her own shot. Isaac fell back into the house. She ran toward the structure, but Jared was closer.

"Stay with the women," he yelled, as he ran into the house, with his gun drawn.

Sara had disappeared, so she grabbed the duffel bag and urged Anika and Jasmine to the other side of the car.

As they knelt on the ground, Anika had her arms around a shaking and sobbing Jasmine.

She squatted down next to them, putting a reassuring hand on Jasmine's shoulder. "You're okay, Jasmine. You're safe now."

"Home…I want to go home," Jasmine said, gulping for air.

"I know. Soon."

"Are they gone?" Anika asked, her face white, her dark eyes shocked.

She looked toward the house. It was quiet—too quiet. She silently willed Jared to be okay.

"Parisa?" Anika asked. "Should we leave? Before they come back?"

"One second." She glanced around. No one had come out of their house at the sound of gunshots. It was clearly an area where people weren't home during the day or didn't want to get involved. "We'll stay put," she said decisively. "I can protect you until help comes."

She pulled out her phone and punched in Damon's number. He didn't answer. He was probably on his way to the other drop site.

She sent a text: I've got Jasmine. Westley's drop is a decoy. Call me.

"Parisa," Jared said, as he came out of the house with hurried strides.

She stood up, relieved to see him, but he was furious.

"They're gone," he said. "Isaac must have gone out the back door. I don't know how he got away. He was bleeding."

"He must have had a car somewhere. What about Sara?"

"Didn't see her, either. Dammit!" Anger and frustration ran through his eyes.

"I texted Damon. I haven't heard back yet. I was about to call 911."

"Try Damon again," he advised. "This isn't the end. I found bomb-making materials in the house. But what was more terrifying was what wasn't there—the bombs."

"They were making bombs?" Anika asked, her eyes widening even more.

"Yes. You took a hell of a risk coming here on your own," Jared told her. "What were you thinking?"

"Westley said it was the only way to save Jasmine," Anika replied. "They told him they'd kill her if I didn't bring the money here. I didn't know what to do. If I told anyone, I'd be putting my sister's life on the line."

"Jasmine, do you know anything about the bombs?" Parisa asked.

"I heard them talking about an attack. I don't know where or when."

Her heart went out to Jasmine. More than anything, Parisa wanted to just hold her and hug her, but they needed information.

"We need to get Jasmine to the hospital," Anika said, tightening her arm around her sister.

"I'll call 911," Parisa replied, but before she could do so, her phone rang. It was Damon.

"What the hell?" Damon shouted. "You have Jasmine?"

"Yes. We're at 427 Allen Street, Queens. I followed Anika to Jasmine. Westley knew all along he was a decoy. Sara Pillai and Isaac Naru were here when we arrived. Unfortunately, they got away. I shot Isaac. I don't know how badly he's injured, since he managed to run away, but he may need to find an urgent care facility."

"Got it."

"Sara is on foot, I think. She's wearing a NY Yankees sweatshirt, jeans, and a matching baseball cap." She paused, hearing Damon relay the information to someone in the car.

He came back on the line. "Alerts are going out right now. The local cops will be at your location soon, along with an ambulance. Is Jasmine hurt?"

"I don't think so, but she needs to go to the hospital and get checked out. One more thing—Jared is here with me, Damon. Make sure the cops know we're armed."

"Understood."

"And Damon, there are bomb-making materials in the house."

"We'll be there in ten minutes," he said tersely.

She put the phone into her pocket and gave Anika and Jasmine a reassuring look. "Help is on its way."

Jared pulled out a pocketknife and cut the tie off Jasmine's hands.

Jasmine made a grimace as she moved her arms. Her face was pale, dark shadows under her very wide eyes, a few bruises across her jaw. She'd been through hell, but thank God she was alive.

"Did they hurt you?" Anika asked her sister.

"Not—not really," Jasmine said, tears coming down her face. "But I—I thought they were going to kill me."

"You're going to be okay," Parisa reassured her.

"I've never been so scared. I thought I was going to die."

"Who took you out of the consulate?" Jared asked.

"Two men," she said, her eyes pained. "They said Ben set me up. Is that true?"

"Was one of those men the guy who was in the house with you?" Jared continued.

"No. Isaac came later."

"You know him?" Jared asked.

"No. But I heard Sara call him Isaac. I remembered her from school in Bezikstan. I used to tutor her and some of her friends." Jasmine sucked in a breath. "I asked her why she was doing this, and she said she didn't have a choice. I begged her to help me, but she said they'd kill her if she went against them, that Isaac was obsessed with Brothers of the Earth throwing over the Bezikstan government, making sure everyone in the world knows their righteous cause. I guess the diamond will fund their efforts."

Jared squatted in front of Jasmine. "Did you hear any other names? Did they talk about what they were planning? Did anyone else come to the house?"

"Sometimes I heard male voices. Once, they were arguing, but I don't know what about. Other times, it seemed really quiet. They kept me in a closet most of the time. They'd open the door to give me food or water or let me use the bathroom a couple times a day. I never saw anything but the bedroom, the bathroom and the closet." Jasmine shuddered. "I didn't think I was ever getting out of there."

Anika squeezed Jasmine, then gave them a ferociously protective glare. "Stop asking her so many questions. She's traumatized."

"We need to find the kidnappers before they hurt anyone else, before they set off a bomb somewhere in the city," Jared said grimly. "Jasmine, you said they brought you food. What was it?"

"Uh, it was Indian food."

"Did it always come from the same restaurant?"

"Roti," she said. "The wrappers said Roti."

"Good, that's good," he told her. "Can you remember anything else?"

"They said kaala kaua several times."

"They said the word raven in Hindi?" Parisa cut in.

Jasmine nodded. "I don't know what they meant by it."

"Do you?" Jared asked her, as he stood up.

"I don't know," she muttered, the word feeling familiar in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"I'm going to run through the house again before the cops get here," Jared said. "You're okay?"

"Yes. Go," she said, hearing a distant siren. Turning back to Jasmine, she said, "Was there anything else that might help us identify them or figure out where they are?"

Jasmine shook her head. "I'm sorry. I want to help, but I don't know."

"It's okay. You're doing great."

"Ben asked me to let his friends work the party. I never imagined he'd set this up," Jasmine said, more tears welling up in her eyes. "Ben is like my little brother. Where is he?"

"He's in FBI custody. But he's not talking," Parisa answered.

"What do you mean?" Jasmine asked in confusion.

"Neil and Elizabeth hired a lawyer, who advised Ben not to speak."

"Which is breaking our mother's heart," Anika said bitterly. "Elizabeth was her best friend."

"Ben must be in trouble. He wouldn't have done all this if he wasn't being threatened," Jasmine said.

Parisa wondered how Jasmine could still defend Ben after what she'd been through. "Maybe you can talk him into helping us find your kidnappers," she said.

"I will do anything," Jasmine replied. Turning to her sister, she said, "How is Westley?"

"He's going to be really happy you're all right," Anika said with a tearful smile. "He's been completely distraught. The man adores you."

"His parents must hate me for all the trouble."

"They don't blame you. They were willing to pay whatever the kidnappers wanted to get you back," Anika said. "The Larimers love you, Jasmine. And, most importantly, Westley loves you. I don't think I realized how much until all this happened. I'm sorry if I ever gave you doubts about him."

"You were being a protective sister," Jasmine said. "But I should have spoken up about the ring. I never wanted to wear it. I should have made Westley understand that."

"Well, you won't have to wear it again," Parisa put in. "I doubt the Larimers will ever see that ring again."

"Maybe it was cursed," Jasmine said.

She nodded, thinking that it felt like a hundred years since she and Jasmine had first spoken about the ring in Jasmine's bedroom at the consulate.

She straightened as two police cars and an ambulance pulled up in front of the house. Four uniformed officers walked up the driveway. She put her gun on the hood of the car and moved around the vehicle to speak to them, as the EMTs attended to Jasmine.

As she identified herself as an FBI agent to the officers, Jared came out of the house. He gave the officers a brief explanation of what was inside. Two of the officers went into the house to investigate, while the other two went to speak to Jasmine and Anika.

"Did you find anything else?" she asked Jared.

"A lot of food wrappers from the restaurant Jasmine mentioned," he muttered. "It's a few blocks from here. We need to check it out."

"Damon is on his way with every other agency in the city."

"Send them over when they get here," he said shortly.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, she knew she wasn't going to stop him, nor did she really want to. Jasmine was safe. It was Jared's turn now to call the shots.

"You're supposed to be at the airport in…" She checked her watch. "An hour."

"We need to find Isaac. That's all that matters."

She made a quick decision. "Go. I'll catch up."

He gave her a hard look. "This isn't good-bye."

"I know," she said, really wanting to believe that. "I'll talk to the police. You do your spook thing."

She moved down the sidewalk, planning on distracting the officers from questioning where Jared was going, but two neighbors had finally come out of their house from across the street and were now conversing with the police, so she left them alone.

"Thank you, Parisa," Anika said, moving over to her as the EMTs sat Jasmine on the back of the ambulance. "You saved Jasmine's life and mine, too. Who are you?"

"You know who I am."

"I don't think I do. Are you a police officer?"

"No."

Anika gave her a sharp look. "You're not going to tell me, are you? Well, it's fine. I'm still grateful."

"What you did was very risky, Anika. You should have had backup. You should have told someone what you were doing."

"Westley and I didn't think we had a choice. But for a moment there, I thought I'd probably made the stupidest decision of my life—until you showed up. Why did you follow me?"

"Because I saw you and Westley meeting in secret the other day. I wondered if you and Westley had something going on."

Her eyes widened. "Really? You followed me the other day, too? I certainly raised your suspicions. Why?"

"Because you lied to me when you got the text from Westley and told me it was from your boss. I knew you were up to something. I'm just glad it was about saving Jasmine and nothing else."

"I guess I'm not a very good liar. But I would never be interested in Westley. He is far too arrogant and controlling for me. However, he does really love my sister. He only asked me to help because the kidnappers told him it had to be me."

"You're very brave, Anika."

"I have a feeling I'm going to start crying as soon as the adrenaline wears off." She paused as a stream of black SUVs came down the street.

Damon was one of the first people to hit the sidewalk, followed by a dozen other agents. Police detectives and other law enforcement personnel were close behind. But it was the car that pulled up next that made her heart fill with emotion.

The Kumars—Raj and Kenisha—and the Larimers—Phillip and Westley—ran toward the ambulance. Anika went to join them.

"That's a happy scene," Damon said, as he joined her.

"It could have very easily gone the other way."

"Thanks to you, it didn't. What made you follow Anika?"

"I had a hunch," she said lightly, knowing that Damon would have a lot more questions.

"We'll get into all that later. What has Jasmine told you? Start with the bombs. Is there an attack forthcoming?"

"She doesn't know what their plans are. I haven't been in the house, but I heard there was evidence of bomb-making materials. Jasmine said she'd speak to Ben. Maybe she can get him to tell us more. She still seems to believe he has a good heart. I don't know why she's not blaming him for what happened to her, but she's not."

"I'll try to make that happen as soon as possible. Anything else I need to know?"

"We need to find Isaac and Sara as soon as possible."

"Local police just picked up Sara at a bus stop."

Relief washed over her. "That's the best news you could have given me. What about Isaac?"

"No sign of him, and Sara claims she doesn't know where he is, but we've got every agency in New York looking for him, and I think we have a good chance of getting her to talk. I need to get inside the house. Are you sticking around?"

Before she could answer that question, she saw Vincent Rowland come down the street with another FBI agent. "I don't think so," she said. "Jared told me there were a lot of food wrappers inside the house from a local café. He went to check it out. I'm going to catch up with him. I'll call you if the lead is worth anything."

Damon gave her a hard nod. "Stay in touch."

"I will. I don't think this is over yet."

As Damon went into the house, she retrieved her gun and managed to slip away without drawing anyone's attention. Jared's car was gone, but he'd said the restaurant was only a few blocks away. Pulling out her phone, she checked for the address and then started jogging down the street.