Shaking Off the Dust Page 29

  “No.” Nothing was more important than the possibility of having Takeshi’s children. I wanted his babies and the future it would bring, even if it was only a slim chance.

  Takeshi stepped beside me and kissed my forehead. His words were in Japanese, but I understood he loved me.

  “I’ve never been to a masked ball.” Brodie was Tom’s ever-present shadow. “I’ve never been anywhere. Can I still go with Tom?” He walked over to me and sat on the bed. “This doesn’t count as your bed, at least not until you go to sleep. That’s what Tom said.”

  “Brodie, say hello to Dr. Santiago. Shake his hand. You too, Tom. If you’re going to hang out here, he should know about it.”

  Brodie walked over to Santiago who had his arms crossed. He went to grab one of them and let his hand stay there for a good ten seconds. The doctor pulled his hand away from his chest, touching it to test the temperature. That’s when Tom shook his hand and took the time to scrutinize him very closely.

  “I like him, Hannah. It’s a shame he’s not local for you to see in our little town.”

  “That was Tom?” Dr. Santiago asked.

  “Yes, how could you tell?”

  “A bigger part of my hand was cold, more equal to an adult hand. You lead an interesting life.”

  “I’d have argued that two weeks ago.” I sighed.

  The next morning I didn’t get breakfast, but I got a nasty overly sweet drink for the glucose testing. I was so disgusted with the lack of food that I bitched about it and got so grumpy that Takeshi taped my mouth shut, not completely but symbolically. He threatened me with Japanese voodoo or the tape. I saw the wisdom of shutting up, leaving on the tape helped. Although I took a certain amount of joy in the fact that I was able to be so grumpy with him. Would that last, I wondered?

  I looked forward to heading home. I could get over the current excitement and settle in, praying this pregnancy would make it to term. The day passed into the next. I did fine. Takeshi watched the heart monitor like it was his full-time job. Around noon, Enrique arrived with Dr. Santiago announcing I was free to go. We agreed I could wear a telemetry heart monitor for the next several days.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Where are we going?” Takeshi asked Enrique.

  “To my home here in the city. I’ve had your clothes delivered there and Rachel is joining us. She will be Hannah’s double at the ball.” Enrique was all business today. The ball was tonight and they had instituted alternate plans.

  “I want a special treat for having to stay home tonight. I want the richest, most chocolate desert and no frowns from you.” I pointed to Takeshi. “I agreed not to go for all the right reasons, but I will see Tomas’s sisters walk into the light. They are young enough to need their brother to be there and know the moment they have stepped over.”

  “Enrique will negotiate a meeting that will be safe and stress free. And I will compromise on a sweet not having chocolate and will eat it with you,” Takeshi said.

  Enrique bowed. “I will do my best. Your room is third on the left at the top of the stairs. I have a housekeeper who speaks passable English.”

  About six p.m., agents arrived with makeup cases to get Rachel ready. They didn’t say much about how the change in plans would affect the evening, but I suspected they’d had a contingency plan set up all along. When Rachel came down the stairs in costume and mask, I was immediately jealous as hell.

  Enrique looked so fine in a black tuxedo with a Spanish flair for embroidery throughout that I wanted a picture. I ran around asking Enrique where to find his camera. He just laughed, but I could see he was pleased.

  Rachel took off the mask and I saw the fake bruises along her cheek and jaw. She looked a little like me, wearing a wig that matched my hair and extra padding up top. It was all very cool.

  As they were about to leave, the doorbell rang and Hector stood there holding a cake box in his one functional arm. I welcomed him in, sitting him right on the couch and taking the box from his hand. The way he had managed to balance a cake box with one arm in a sling was impressive. I knew he had a couple of rib fractures.

  “What idiot fool let you out of the hospital?” I frowned.

  Enrique walked into the room. “I see your dessert has arrived. I asked Hector to pick it up. He’s been calling all day to complain about how bored he is at home. I decided you might pass a pleasant evening together. I’ve asked him to stand guard tonight. His room is prepared and is on the first floor.”

  Hector laughed. “He has three men surrounding the place. I’m a token guard.” He indicated the sling around his arm and shoulder. “I think he decided I would get more rest here than being restless at home.”

  “Why does she need to be guarded?” Takeshi kept his eyes on Enrique’s face.

  “I don’t think she does, but there is a concern that Ramirez will be displeased she is not there. He may decide to find her himself,” Enrique said matter-of-factly and shrugged. “We’re taking Tom with us so he can communicate with his sisters. I hope Ramirez will accept that, but there is a chance he will not. My Morse code is rusty, I have one of the other agents acting as interpreter.”

  “Tom’s Morse code is not great either. We developed several shortcuts that I showed you. It will take you and this other agent time for each translation, I’m afraid.” Takeshi stepped behind where I sat next to Hector on the couch and placed his hands on my shoulders. “I am concerned for Hannah’s safety though. Will you call us to let us know if Ramirez agrees to the change in plans?”

  Enrique nodded, and escorted Rachel out of the door.

  The beautiful people all headed out to the masked ball. We homebodies played English Scrabble although it was unfair to Hector, first because he was Spanish, but mostly because I made him take a pain pill and he was groggy. I beat the pants off him and Takeshi. A victory is still a victory. I suspect Takeshi was not playing his best game on purpose. We had a late dinner and moved to the living room to linger over dessert. Okay, so I was the only one lingering. The guys were keeping me company.

  About eleven, Enrique called to say that Tomas Ramirez accepted the change after they demonstrated Tom could communicate with Nina and Isabella. Takeshi seemed relieved. I shrugged and yawned.

  I bullied Hector until he went to bed, walking him to his room. After two nights of both of us in a twin, I was tired and the king-sized mattress was a luxury I was ready to enjoy. I put on my tee shirt and jogging pants, crawled under the sheet, and we both went right to sleep.

  I woke with a start. Someone had a large hand over my mouth. It was Takeshi and he bent into my good ear. “There’s someone in the room with us. Let me handle this. Don’t move or speak. Do you promise?”

  I nodded, and his hand fell from my mouth. I tried to listen for any sounds. Was that a rustling noise near the window? I could feel Takeshi slowly moving away from me. Within a few seconds, he had put the pillows against me where he’d been. The bed moved as he slid out. It was so dark I couldn’t see anything, but I had my eyes open in slits. That was good because the beam from a small flashlight glanced across my face. I closed my eyes completely.

  I could feel someone moving towards the bed. I wasn’t sure if it was the intruder or Shimodo. A large presence loomed over me before a hand clamped over my mouth. It was not Takeshi and there was no gentleness in this touch. I opened my eyes and tried to pull the hand off my mouth and nose. I heard a quiet sound as whoever it was fired a gun into the pillow where Takeshi had been. I gasped, trying to scream.

  They were going to kill him. They thought they had already and my eyes filled with tears. I was truly terrified. No discussion, just shooting. There was no loud report, only a quiet thud as they fired again.

  “Quiet, bitch, or you will join your boyfriend. In fact I can’t wait until I get permission to kill you, but not before I play with you.”

  It was Vincent. This was very bad news.

  He took his hand from my mouth and nose and grabbed my jaw in a cr
ushing grip. I struggled for breath, but managed not to cry out.

  “Only a taste of what I’ll be doing to you, American bitch. Tomas was not gentle, nor will my retribution be. You intrigue Mr. Sanchez, so instead of killing you, as you deserve, I plan to play with you until the others outside are taken care of. Then my companions will take their turn.”

  He let go of my jaw, crawling over me, moving his gun until it was against the side of my head. He used his other hand to push up my tee shirt, ripping off the wires and tape from the heart monitor, before taking my breast roughly into his hand and squeezing hard.

  I watched a shadow rise above him. I closed my eyes, afraid of what I might see. Vincent grunted, falling on top of me. The gun clattered against the headboard, but not before it hit my head.

  Takeshi jerked him off of me and his eyes were so angry, it made me flinch. He’d hit him in the head with a leather bound book, with enough force that its impact made a loud squishing sound. He did it again for good measure then grabbed me out of the bed.

  “Brodie,” I whispered.

  Brodie appeared, taking in the unconscious man in my bed.

  “Go check on Hector. If he’s all right come back and tell us where he is, then go right back and try to warn him. There are intruders in and outside the house.”

  Takeshi had found his belt and tied up Vincent. He tore up the pillowcase, using it as rope. He had him gagged and tied with hands and legs bound together in a very short time.

  “Get your shoes on. We need to move out of the room,” he insisted.

  I did as I was told, trembling. I put on my shoes and a bra. I went over to where Takeshi was stuffing Vincent into the closet. He used a chair to jam the door shut, came back to the bed and picked up the gun.

  “He was going to kill you.” My hands shook.

  “He was going to rape you. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him. I may come back to castrate him later.” Takeshi voice throbbed with anger.

  Brodie appeared again, excited. “They’ve got Hector tied up downstairs in the kitchen along with the housekeeper.”

  I told Takeshi. “Tom,” I whispered.

  Tom materialized, but seemed put out. “They are using me now. This better be good.”

  “Vincent tried to kill Takeshi and groped me. He fired a gun where Takeshi was sleeping,” I whispered harshly. “That good enough to keep your attention?”

  “He was going to rape you, Hannah,” Takeshi growled.

  “Where is he?” Tom asked.

  “Out cold and tied up in the closet, but there are others. They have Hector and the housekeeper tied up in the kitchen and we believe there may be more men outside doing something to those guards. Vincent was bragging about it. Tell Enrique to get some help here now.”

  Takeshi went through the drawers searching for something.

  I wanted to shout, but I kept my voice in a whisper. “What now?”

  “We need to find someplace to hide you until help arrives.” Takeshi put on jeans. “Brodie, you lead, we follow. You check outside the door. Find us a place to hide Hannah. First we get out of this room. I’m sure they are giving Vincent time to amuse himself with you. Eventually they’ll wonder what’s taking so long.”

  Brodie disappeared and reappeared a few minutes later. I spent the time pacing, my mouth so dry I drank a little water straight from the sink faucet.

  “They are getting jumpy. They’re surprised they haven’t heard you screaming or the bed moving up here. I’m afraid they’ll come to check on you soon.” Brodie talked fast, as if there was no time to spare.

  I shook my head and let out a loud, “No, stop it, get off of me.” I screamed again long and loudly. I hoped that would be enough. I got up on the bed and jumped on it a few times.

  Takeshi grabbed me off the bed and sat me down in a chair across from him. He went to the foot of the bed, pressed his good leg against it, and began to rock it until the headboard hit the wall. “Brodie, find that hiding place now.”

  “How do you know all this stuff? How did you hear him?” I asked Takeshi in a whisper.

  “From the time I was four years old, I spent six days a week training in a martial arts dojo that shared space with my mothers dance studio. After my parents died, my uncle Myamoto entered me in martial arts competitions. He felt it was a way for me to express my anger and frustration over my personal loss.” He continued to push the bed against the wall rhythmically, but he looked around. “Where is Brodie? We’ve been here too long, we have to get you out of this room.”

  “If you can do martial arts, why use a book on Vincent?” I came to stand near Takeshi, needing to touch him.

  Anger flashed behind his eyes. “Because, I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. If I let myself go into my training I would. I think he still has information for Enrique and Bill. A broken neck would impede further interrogation.”

  Brodie appeared. “Hurry down the stairs. They’re clear right now, but I’ll run ahead first. Go to the left, at the stairs. There’s a hidden room inside the front closet. It took me a while to see the button that controls it.”

  Tom appeared. “Enrique’s trying to get untangled from Tomas. Mateo, Bill and Jack are on their way, as well as reinforcements. Enrique says there is a hidden room inside the front closet. The third hook on the left controls the door.”

  I repeated everything to Takeshi in a whisper. He motioned me to go on ahead as his rhythmic bed pushing increased. “Go, I’ll follow soon. Have Brodie let me know when you reach the closet. I don’t want them heading up here until you are safe.”

  “Takeshi, they won’t kill me if they find me. They will you. I need to wait for you.”

  “Hannah, you will obey me on this. I can protect myself better if I know you are safe. I have training. Your job is to protect you and our babies. Now go. Vincent can’t last much longer,” he pointed at the bed.

  Brodie stuck his head through the door. “Now, Hannah, hurry!”

  I walked down the stairs so carefully that I got a cramp in my foot. Brodie kept urging me forward. We reached the closet without incident. I closed it slowly, praying it was well oiled. Like everything in Enrique’s life, it was. Once the door to the closet closed, it was dark inside. My hand flailed up and down until I found the hooks and counted to the third one, trying first to turn it, but in the end I pulled it down and the side of the closet slid open.

  A dim light illuminated a room the size of a bathroom. There was a long table against a wall of monitors showing every room except the bedroom Takeshi and I shared. One monitor was off. I pressed the button in front of it and it came to life.

  “Brodie tell Takeshi I am here. Stay with him. You help him for me please,” I pleaded.

  Brodie disappeared as I sat down in front of the console of monitors. I watched Takeshi push the bed in one final shove and glide out of the room like some deadly ninja. He got to the bottom of the stairs but instead of heading to the closet, to me, he went into the dining room outside the kitchen. My ninja hid behind a buffet table obscured in shadows.

  “Brodie,” I called softly.

  “Hannah,” he grumped. “You told me to stay with the doctor.”

  “Tell him to get his ass in here.”

  “That’s what Tom told him, but he needed to make sure Hector and the housekeeper were all right. Say, that’s so cool, all those TVs. There’s even headphones to hear what’s going on.”

  I’d been so concerned about Takeshi I hadn’t noticed they were hitting Hector about the face. He was bloody and looked unconscious. Yes, Takeshi was right. That had to stop.

  Tom appeared saying, “Put the headset on and flip the flashing red switch. It’s a phone connection to Mateo and Bill.” He was gone in a blink.

  I did as I was told. “Hello,” I whispered.

  “Hannah?”

  “Yes,” I answered.

  “Thank God, it’s Bill. Let me talk to Takeshi.”

  “He’s not here.” I tried not to cry.

&nb
sp; “I’m sorry, Hannah. Is he captured or hurt?”

  “No, he’s fine right now. He told Tom he had to help Hector and the housekeeper. They’re tied up in the kitchen. Bill, they’ve been hitting Hector, a lot.”

  “Tell me everything you see in each room. How many are inside the house?”

  “Takeshi took care of Vincent in the bedroom. He’s tied up and in the closet. He jammed the door so he can’t get out, but he hit him a couple of time with a book. A big, thick hard cover. He was very angry.”

  “Was he the only one in your room?” Bill sounded skeptical.

  “Vincent made a deal with the others to have time alone with me. He was going to rape me,” I stated matter-of-factly. “Shimodo stopped him. I screamed and pretended he was attacking me, so they would hear what they expected and wouldn’t come up for a while.”

  “Hannah, are you all right?” he asked softly.

  “He stopped him, Bill. I’m fine. Takeshi’s in the living room, waiting for some of them to go upstairs to check it out. At least that is what I think he plans. When they do, he’ll sneak into the kitchen to rescue Hector and the housekeeper. There are five men in the kitchen. They all have guns, it looks like automatics.”

  “Damn. We think we’ve taken out all of the men they had outside the house. We are doing a final check. Have Takeshi unlock the back door, if he can get to it at any point. We’ll have people at the door, ready to move Hector and the housekeeper out to waiting medical help. Takeshi can get out that way too. We won’t be coming for you until we are sure we’ve cleared the house. Can you tell him that?”

  “Tom can.” Tom appeared next to me. I told him what to tell Takeshi and he was gone just as suddenly.

  Brodie showed up again, looking very excited. “Tom had me stay in the kitchen with Hector. He told me to put my hand in the chest of the guard who hit Hector. It did stop him. I heard one of the guards laughing. He said they would not be able to get a plane out of Madrid after tomorrow. He bragged there wouldn’t be much left of the airport considering the amount of explosives his boss had sold. Hector called for Tom, but his tattoo is almost gone, so I don’t think Tom heard him. I let him know I was there. He can’t say anything, but I’m very sure he wanted me to tell you.”