The next morning, Angel and I go back to the hotel right away. When we get in, no one is there. Angel tries to call Jagger, but he gets no answer. He gives me one of those concerned looks, and drives me back to the apartment. Ava and Jenny are home, without Ace. Confused, Angel demands answers. Only to be hit with more confusion.
“Jagger left early this morning after a phone call,” Jenny explains. “Ace went with him. They told us to lock the doors and left us with a few guns. He said something about his old place. Then he smashed his phone and stormed out.”
“Why the fuck would he leave you girls alone?”
“He went quickly. Something was definitely off.”
Angel rings Ace’s phone, no answer.
“Stay here, shut and lock the doors. I’m going to find Jagger.”
I nod, and take the heavy, cold gun he hands me. He turns and rushes out the door, and I turn to Jenny and Ava. Both rush over and hold me, and we cling to each other. Confused and concerned. I hear my phone ringing from my bag – letting them go, I reach down to grip it. An unknown number flashes on my screen. I answer it.
“Hello?”
“Willow, it’s me.”
It’s my Father, how the hell did he get my number?
“How did you get my number?”
“It doesn’t matter. You need to listen to me. Jagger is in trouble.”
“What?”
“I called him this morning, and told him where Manchez was located. I told him a huge drug bust is going down at the Warf, and Manchez is making a massive deal. Jagger left and went after him.”
“What?” I cry.
“I just found out…the cops are going to be there. They are going to make a massive bust. It’s going to be a blood bath, you need to stop him.”
“WHAT?”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know!” I cry.
“You need to find him, and you need to get something for me.”
“I don’t need to do anything for you!” I cry.
“Do you want Jagger alive?”
I close my eyes and I feel someone’s hand touch my shoulder. I open my eyes to see Jenny and Ava’s concerned looks.
“Yes.” I answer simply.
“In your dressing table, there is some information.”
“What information?”
“It doesn’t matter, it’s the info I hid in there. Go and find it.”
I run into the room and pull out the drawers, underneath the bottom one, is a fake board. How did I miss that? With my foot, I kick it until it breaks. Inside there are papers in a plastic wrap. I pull them out and quickly read over them. It’s just a bunch of co-ordinates.
“What is this?” I whisper.
“It’s co-ordinates to an island where the biggest drug deals go off.”
God, I feel sick.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Bring it to me.”
“Why?”
“If the cops find you with that, you’re in big…big trouble. If I have it, they’re less likely to care, I was a cop. If Jagger gets hold of it, he will go down too.”
Why do I feel like this is blackmail?
“I don’t know…”
“Willow, you need to trust me. Bring those to me on the corner of South and Broadway in twenty minutes. Come alone.”
“Fine,”
I hang up the phone and stand, running into the office. Ava and Jenny run after me.
“What’s happening?”
“Jagger is in trouble, I need to find him.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. I have to do something first, then I’m going to find him.”
“He said he was going to his house, maybe he’s there.”
“No, it’s two hours away. He wouldn’t go there.”
“Why would he say that?”
“So we wouldn’t follow.” I answer simply.
I knew exactly what Jagger was doing. He was trying to protect me. He didn’t want me anywhere near this show down. I throw the papers into the photocopier and photocopy them. I don’t know why, but I think this information is crucial. I shove the papers at Jenny.
“Wrap these in plastic and hide them real good.”
“What are they?”
“Just do as I say.”
I pull on my shoes and some dark shades, and then I shove the papers under my shirt and rush to the front door. I pick up the gun and put it down my pants.
“Willow…what’re you doing?” Ava panics.
“It’s fine, I have to go.”
“Don’t…it’s dangerous.”
I hug her and Jenny, kissing them both. “Please, stay here.”
“Willow!” They cry as I rush out the door.
~*~*~*~
I see my Father as soon as I step out of the cab; he’s standing on the footpath alone. When I get out of the cab, he sees me and his face hardens. We stare at each other for long moments, before I finally speak.
“Let’s save any chit chat. You wanted the information, you got it. I have to and find Jagger.”
I thrust the papers at him, and he scans them, and then looks up to meet my gaze.
“You won’t find him.” He whispers.
“Excuse me?”
“It’s too later for Jagger…”
“I don’t understand.”
He closes his eyes and sighs. “I’m sorry to have to do this to you but…I set him up. I rang him and told him Manchez had you.”
“You’re lying, Angel was with me. Jagger would have called him.”
“Angel didn’t answer.”
“How could you?” I scream.
“I need Jagger out of the way; he’s been a thorn in my side for too long. He’s been trying to get me out of hiding and get that information. It only occurred to me a few months ago, that I could use you to tie him in and get him out of the way. He wanted that information and you had that information…it worked out well. Now I have the information and Jagger will die. Everyone goes home happy.”
I feel sick. All along my Father was behind this.
“How could you? I’m your daughter.”
“And I never intended for you to get hurt, I knew Jagger wouldn’t hurt you. I did what I had to do to get him out of the picture. It had to happen like this, I’m sorry but I had no choice.”
“You’re part of the gang…aren’t you?” I whisper.
“Yes.”
My Father was working with Manchez all along. That’s why all those years ago he tried to take Jagger down, oh God. I feel sick.
“You can’t do this!”
“I have to. I just needed this information first.” He says, waving the papers in my face.
“Please…”
“I’m sorry Willow, but I have to do this.”
He moves quickly, pulling out his gun. “Get in the car.”
My eyes widen, “Dad, please.”
“Look, just do as I ask and no one will get hurt. Get in the car.”
“Dad…”
“NOW!”
I slide into the car, trembling. My Father takes my purse and my phone, and cuffs my hands together. I stare at him with pain in my eyes. I feel so betrayed.
“Now, I won’t let anyone hurt you Willow but I need you here until he’s out of the way. This needs to go as planned, but I promise you won’t get hurt.”
I don’t say anything; I refuse to acknowledge him at all. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead to me. We drive for about twenty minutes and pull up at an old, run down house. My Father pulls me out of the car and drags me inside the house and into a secured room. He puts me on a chair and then ties me to it. A moment later, a man in a dark suit walks in.
He’s tall, around six feet and looks very sophisticated. His eyes are grey and his hair is dark black. His smile is pure evil. I know right away this is Manchez, I know it with every part of me. He smirks and walks forward, running a finger over my cheek, I jerk my head away.
“Fiery daughter you have here, Kane.”
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt her Manchez, please don’t.”
“I don’t intend on hurting her, unless she makes me angry. Now tell me, sweet Willow, where’s Jagger’s gang friends?”
“I don’t know.”
He laughs lightly and cracks his knuckles. “Don’t lie to me; you won’t like how it ends.”
“I’m serious! I don’t know. I got back this morning and they were all gone!”
His eyes meet my Father’s and they nod towards each other.
“Very well, Kane, make sure she’s tied good. We need to get down to the Warf and end Jagger. Have you got the information?”
My Father hands him the papers and Manchez smiles. “Well done my boy.”
“You’re all sick!” I cry, kicking my legs out, “Sick monsters!”
Manchez grins and actually has the nerve to look proud of that fact. “Well, I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever called me, Willow.”
“He’s smarter than you, he is!”
Manchez laughs now. “He’s all love stricken. He thinks we have you; he’ll be putty in our hands. He’s going to show up at that Warf and we are going to shoot him before he’s even out of the car. Easy.”
I close my eyes and swallow. I have to get out of here. I have to warn Jagger.
“Deal with her, Kane, and then meet me in the den. We leave in half an hour. We need to make sure we’re prepared, he will arrive at two pm.”
When Manchez leaves, I stare at my Father.
“Daddy please, don’t hurt him. I love him.”
For the first time, my Father’s face softens a touch.
“I have to do this Willow, I’m sorry.”
“You’ve been in love before; please don’t take that from me.”
“It all ends eventually, all of it.”
“Daddy, please, I’m your daughter.”
His eyes are pained as he fiddles with the ropes on the chair, when he’s secured me; he removes the handcuffs and steps back and meets my gaze.
“I know I never did anything for you Willow, for that I’m sorry. I hope one day I can make it up to you.”
“Dad!” I cry as he leaves the room.
I hang my head and cry, my back aches and my wrists burn from the ropes. I sit limply until I hear the cars pulling out of the driveway. I know there’s a man guarding my door. I struggle in the binds, pulling and yanking. I notice they’re a little looser than normal. My Father did them quite tight to begin with so why are they lose now? I keep pulling and yanking until my wrists are bleeding, but the binds are coming loose.
Another hour of pulling and I manage to free myself. Part of me wonders if my Father tied those ropes weakly on purpose or if he just missed a knot. I stare around the room, it’s empty and there’s nothing I can use as a weapon. Except the chair…I flip it over and quickly kick one of the heavy wooden legs, breaking it off. The door opens just as I pick it up, and a man steps through. His eyes widen when he sees that I’m free.
I swing before he can raise his gun, connecting with his head and sending him stumbling backwards. I hit him again and again until he lies unconsciously on the floor. I pick up his gun and tuck it into my pants, and then I sneak off down the long halls of the house. I tread quietly, in case there are more people hanging around. When I reach the kitchen, I peer in and realize it’s empty. I race forward, digging around for some car keys.
When I find a set, I rush towards the front door. That’s when I hear a voice. I spin around and see a man standing in the hall, glaring at me. I fumble quickly for my gun, oh God, can I do this? Can I shoot someone? He picks up a knife from the bench as he storms towards me. Looks like I don’t get a choice. I raise the gun and I shoot, hitting him in the chest. He makes a gurgled sound and falls backwards, and I turn and run, not looking back.
I find the car easily enough, and I get in. I don’t have a phone, but I have to warn Jagger. I look down at the time, it’s twelve thirty. I have to get to him before he gets to the Warf. I turn the car on and press the gas, speeding towards the end of the road. I flog the engine in the car the entire way home, when I pull up at my apartment, I leap out.
I run inside, but Jenny and Ava aren’t here. Oh God, what if something has happened to them? I need to get hold of Jagger; I don’t know how I’ll do that. There might be only one other person who knows a way to contact him. His sister. I rush forward and find a phone book, frantically searching for Maggie’s practice. I finally see it, and I dial the number.
“Doctor Maggie’s office, Amelia speaking?”
“Yes, hello, I was wondering if I could speak to Maggie please.”
“Doctor Maggie doesn’t take phone calls, I’m sorry. May I take a message?”
“No, please, it’s urgent. Tell her it’s about her Brother.”
“Just a moment, I’ll see what I can do.”
She puts me on hold and I anxiously tap my fingers against the counter while I wait. About five minutes later, the phone comes off hold.
“Hello?”
It’s Maggie.
“Maggie, it’s Willow.”
“Oh Willow, how are you?”
“We have a problem? I need to get hold of Jagger and I can’t find him.”
“Have you tried his phone?”
“He left it here, he’s in serious danger, he’ll die if I don’t get hold of him.”
“Have you called the police?” she cries, sounding worried.
“I can’t do that, it’s too dangerous.”
“Willow, what’s going on?”
I quickly tell her the truth, from start to finish. She’s silent a long moment.
“I knew it was off, the whole situation.”
“It doesn’t matter now; do you have his number at home?”
“Yes, I’ll get it.”
She puts the phone down and comes back a moment later and reads me a number.
“Thank you Maggie,”
“Please, let me know when you know anything.”
“I promise.”
I hang up and quickly dial the number she gave me. Come on Jagger, please be there.
“Hello?”
It’s not Jagger, it’s Bull.
“Bull! It’s Willow, we have a problem.”
“Willow? How did you get a phone, are you ok?”
“I’m not with Manchez.”
“What?”
“He didn’t take me…well…he did but…Jagger is being set up. You have to stop him from going to that Warf.”
“He’s already gone!”
“No! Shit! Where is it?”
He prattles off the address. “I’ll get Rusty and we’ll go too. He has Angel and Ace with him.”
“They’re going to shoot him the minute he shows Bull.”
“Shit, I’m on my way. Jenny and Ava are here, they’re safe!”
“Ok, good, I’m going now.”
I hang up quickly and rush towards my room. I pull on some joggers and jeans, then I tuck the gun into my pants and I rush out. I get into my car, leaving the other one on the driveway. I wonder if that guard woke up and warned Manchez of my whereabouts. God, I hope I get there before Manchez does. Please God, don’t let Jagger get hurt.