10
Chance
“Okay class! That’s enough for today. Pack your things up and head on home. Remember to do your homework for tomorrow, I want to see those bottle rockets fly!” I shout my parting words for the day to the class, somewhat struggling to make myself heard over the din of the final bell. It’s been another great day at the school, and looking over the smiling faces of the kids in my class makes me feel like I have the best job in the world.
As the kids file out they shout ‘bye!’ to me one by one until it’s just Ashlee and I left in the class. Ashlee is at at her desk and furiously drawing something. I smile and go over to her desk. Ashlee looks up at me as I approach and holds up another picture of us a family.
“Do you like it Ms. Tanner? Do you?!”
I crouch down so I’m at eye level with Ashlee. “I told you Ashlee, you can call me Chance when the other kids go home, and I love it.”
Ashlee throws her arms around me and I think I feel my heart explode with happiness. She’s a lovely little girl and I feel so blessed that I get to look after her during the day while Rogan is at work.
“I don’t want to call you Chance, I want to call you mommy!”
The words hit me like a freight train and I stare at her speechless. My brain is working at a million miles an hour trying to conjure up the best response. Luckily there’s a knock at the door, saving me from the possibility that I might say something wrong.
“Ah. Principle Voores!” I stand up and welcome the Principle. Ashlee goes quiet at the sight of the woman. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Just checking in Ms. Tanner.” Ellen smiles and walks into the classroom with her hands clasped behind her back. “You’ve been here nearly two weeks now is that right? I trust you’re settling in okay?”
“Oh just perfect.” I say. “I love the class and I think they like me too. I like everything about this town.”
“So I hear.” Ellen smiles and winks at me. “I hear that you and Ashlee’s father are quite taken with each other? All the female teachers here are quite jealous.”
I blush, not realizing that my relationship with Rogan had been the talk of the school. I look over at Ashlee, and see that she has gone back to drawing.
“Well…” I stammer, not really sure I want to have a conversation this personal between Ashlee and my boss. “You know… it’s still early days.”
“Indeed.” Ellen says. “Well. I just thought I’d stop by to make sure everything is okay - and just to check if you’re all prepared for the lunch tomorrow.”
I close my eyes for a second and curse myself silently. There was a charity lunch tomorrow at the school, and I had been put in charge of getting decorating supplies. “I… have most things sorted. I need to pick some bunting up tonight though. Thanks for reminding me!”
Ellen goes on her way, and I thank the gods for the chance reminder. I mark some of the kid’s work at my desk while Ashlee works on homework and does some drawing. Liv messaged last night to say she’d be a bit late picking up Ashlee from school, and Rogan had a meeting, so I offered to watch her while waiting for Liv.
Liv swings by about an hour after school finishes and we chat briefly in my room while Ashlee runs around the room pretending to be a superhero.
“We still on for drinks this weekend Chance?”
“Of course.” I say. “I’m surprised that Rogan actually suggested them.”
“Me too!” Liv giggles. “I think you’re turning my brother into a gentleman.”
I say goodbye to Liv and Ashlee, finish up marking work and head to the mall to get the supplies I need for the charity lunch tomorrow. I find some nice kitty cat themed bunting in a craft shop run by a sweet old lady. Everything is going well, I’ll have to come in early tomorrow to set up the room for the lunch, but it’s been another great day.
I hand my basket of supplies to the sweet old lady behind the counter. While she scans my items I think about how Ashlee called me mommy, and what it would be like to be a family with her and Rogan. It’s a nice daydream, and it’s one that I’ve been having more and more often recently.
“I know that look.” Says the old lady at the counter.
“Excuse me?”
“That look. You’re positively glowing from head to toe. You have the look of a girl that is in love.”
“Do I?”
“Oh yes.” The lady nods vigorously. “You look the way I used to when I was thinking of my James. Is he a catch?” She puts the bunting into a bag for me and passes it over.
“Quite.” I admit. “But how do you know I’m in love?”
“Oh darling. There’s only one thing that can make a woman smile like that. Good love or…” She looks around the empty shop and leans in. “A good cock!” The not-so-sweet old lady bursts into a fit of laughter, and her eyes disappear in a sea of a thousand creases. “Tell me I’m wrong darling!”
I say nothing, but smile at the old lady while pushing my tongue against the inside of my cheek. I can feel my cheeks burning up a little and make a hurried exit. I walk through the mall toward the parking lot and laugh to myself as I recall the old lady’s manic laugh.
It’s time to head home and go and pay Rogan a visit. We’ve been having sex properly for a few days now, and we haven’t been able to keep our hands off of each other. I’ve even stayed over at his house a couple of nights. Waking up in Rogan’s arms is one of the best feelings in the world.
I turn the corner to head through the exit that leads to the parking lot when I bump into someone.
“Oops, sorry, I was -” I look up at the man and the first thing I see is his gold teeth. “… a million miles away.” I recognize him instantly and freeze solid. He was one of the sharks that was on my doorstop asking for money a few weeks ago.
Gold Teeth’s eyes almost seem to widen in terror and he glances down at the ground. “No, it’s my fault. Sorry Ms. Tanner - forget this ever happened!”
The stubby faced thug gives me wide berth and starts walking in the opposite direction as fast as he possibly can. I don’t understand at all. Just a few days ago this thug was threatening me on the doorstep to my home. Now he’s running away like I’m bad news. What gives?
“Hey!” I don’t know what possesses me, but I shout after the thug and start walking after him. “What gives?! Where do you think you’re going?!”
The thug looks half back at me and panic washes over his face anew at seeing that I’m following him. “Forget you saw me!” He croaks while breaking into a full on sprint through the car park. “We told your boyfriend we’d stay away! I didn’t know you were here! I swear!”
Wait? Boyfriend? What? I chase the thug through the car park until we reach a tacky BMW with gold rims on the wheels. He squeezes down the side of his parking space when I shout again. He turns and I hear his keys drop somewhere underfoot.
“Oh god.” He groans. “What do you want?! I told you it was an accident. I’m leaving! Please don’t tell your boyfriend!”
“Shut up.” I snap. “Just answer me this question. “What do you mean my boyfriend told you to stay away from me? What are you talking about? Which boyfriend?”
I stare the thug down, watching half in disgust as his small dark eyes roll around in his fat head nervously.
“Your boyfriend sent a couple of his friends to pay us a visit. He told us to forgot about the debt or else. I promise, I wasn’t following you… just leave me alone!”
Gold Teeth scrambles onto the floor, trying to grab the keys which had fallen underneath his car.
I turn around and leave him, walking back to my car as I clutch my shopping with shaking hands. I climb into the car quietly and sit there for a second while my whole body trembles with rage. I turn on the engine and put on my seatbelt. Had Rogan been spying on me? Fire burns through my body at the thought. I’m heading home as fast as possible and we’re having words. I’m about to throw the car into gear and reverse out of the space when I hear a knock on the window. I turn and see Gold Teeth standing there, and he’s holding a gun. He motions for me to wind down the window and I do so.
“Turn it off and get out.” He says. “I changed my mind. You’re coming with me.”
*
Rogan
To my surprise, I’m the first one back to the house. Chance is usually back by now, and the first thing I do when I get in is to kiss her. I try her cell a few times but there’s no answer. I don’t know what it is, but something feels as if it’s wrong. I head outside and notice that her car isn’t on her drive. I try her phone a few more times but there’s still no answer. I walk over to her place and knock on the door. The door is closed and there’s no sign of forced entry.
I pull my phone out and quick as a flash I’m in my car. I speed dial to conference call Hank and Tony. Hank picks up first, and Tony follows a second later. I put them on speaker, throw the car into reverse gear and shoot of the driveway. As I get to the end I throw the handbrake on and the front of the car skids across the road until it’s facing in the direction I want it. I put my foot down and floor it.
“Rogan, it’s Hank here. What’s going on?”
“Genesis Collection.” I say as I tear down the street at 100mph. “Chance is missing. I’ve got a horrible feeling that they’ve taken her.” I handbrake slide around a few corners.
“Fuck.” Tony is the one to answer this time. “Do you want us to go after them?”
“No. I’m heading to Liv’s house now to pick up her and Ashlee. These bastards must have been watching Chance and I to know our schedule. I don’t want to risk getting Liv and Ashlee involved in this too.”
“Okay boss.” Hank says. “What’s the plan?”
“I’m going to pick up Liv and Ashlee, and take them to the office. Hank, I want you to do a flyby check of the Genesis Collection office, Tony, I need you to head to our place straight away and start doing a cell search.”
“They won’t be there.” Tony says. “They’re idiots, but they’re not that dumb.”
“I know that. I want you check just in case and see if there are any signs of life. Give me updates as they happen.”
“Will do.” Hank says. “I’ll head out right now. Meet you back at the office after.”
Hank drops out the call, leaving me alone with Tony.
“Who am I searching for boss?” Tony asks as I throw the car around another corner. I swing onto the road that leads to Liv’s estate.
“Run a GPS search on both the thugs cells, and then run one for Chance too.”
“And we’re sure this is Genesis Collection?” Tony asks.
“What are you asking me here Tony?”
I almost hear him shrug down the phone. “I’m not ruling out that’s it’s them, I’m just double checking… do you want me to look into Chance? There’s always the possibility this could be someone else.”
I pause as I think his offer over. My foot is all the way to the floor and I’m weaving through traffic at over a hundred miles an hour. The turn to Liv’s estate comes up and I swing the car around the corner, narrowly missing a bus as I do so.
“Do it.” I say with regret. I can’t look into Chance’s past without feeling like I’m betraying her trust, but Tony is right, there’s always the possibility this could be something else altogether. A SEAL is always prepared, and that means considering all options, and reviewing all information in front of us before acting. I throw the car around another corner and skid onto Liv’s street.
“Look I’m almost at Liv’s.” I say. “Most likely this is those idiots from Genesis, but look into Chance’s past and see if it could be anyone else. Run the GPS on her cell too. I’m picking Liv and Ashlee up now, I’ll be back at the office in fifteen minutes. I want to know what’s happened and we’re going to act on it. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.” Tony says. “See you in fifteen boss.”
Tony ends the call, leaving me alone in the car with my thoughts and fury. I bring the car to a screeching halt outside Liv’s house, bolt out and hammer my fist down on her front door. Liv answers and I can see on her face she knows something is wrong.
“Rogan. What’s happened? Is everything okay?”
“Some bad people might have Chance, and they might be coming here too. I need you both to come with me now.” I run into the living room and grab Ashlee. She looks up at me and bursts into a wide smile.
“Daddy!”
“Hey Princess. Come on, we’re going on a little adventure.” I turn around and Liv is standing in the door.
“What do you mean? What’s happening?!”
“There’s no time to explain Liv, just get in the car, I’m taking you and Ashlee to my office.”
Liv hears the tone in my voice and senses there’s no time to stand around asking questions. I jog across the front lawn with Ashlee in my arms and set her into a child seat in the back. I turn around and to my relief I see Liv has shut her front door and is halfway to the car with Milo in her arms. She climbs into the front passenger seat without saying a word. I climb in the driver’s side just in time to see Milo spring into the back. I start the engine and pull away from the curb quickly. Ashlee is giggling on the back seat as Milo licks her face.
“Are we going on an adventure Daddy?!”
“Yes Princess. You and Aunt Liv are going to the office for a little sleepover with Uncle Tony and Uncle Hank.”
Liv stares at me and whispers under her breath. “Jesus Rogan, what is going on here? Does this have something to do with Chance? Is she okay?”
“She will be.” I say as I screech out of Liv’s estate and back onto the highway. “There’s no time to explain now, not with…” I glance to the back in Ashlee’s direction and Liv nods.
“But is she alright?” Liv whispers. She looks concerned, and I can tell that she’s just as worried about Chance as I am.
“She will be.” I say the words and feel like I’m telling myself more than I’m telling Liv.
“And if she’s not?”
I tighten my grip on the wheel and put my foot down. If those mother fuckers so much as hurt one hair on her head they’re going to regret it. Not saving Chance is not an option.
I’m ready for war.