American Heroes Series - 01 - Resurrection (27 page)

She put her hands on his cheeks and he pulled her into his arms again, holding her close.

“You’re very sweet,” she stood on her toes and kissed him tenderly. “I think I could become quite fond of you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

He smiled at her and kissed her again. “I’m already quite fond of you,” he murmured against her lips.

People were starting to enter through the front doors so he let her go, not wanting anyone of consequence to see them in a clutch.  They headed back towards the stairs that led to the second floor where Tyler and Olivia were with a respectable distance between them. 

“I understand that your son is quite the rock star,” she made conversation as they mounted the stairs.

Ethan grinned at her. “So he told you about Fun Bags?”

She nodded with some disapproval. “I asked him if he knew what it meant.”

He chuckled. “He’s a teenage boy, Cyd. He knows what it means.”

“Did you tell him?”

“Hell, no,” he said as they mounted the top of the stairs. “I didn’t have to. Kids know a lot about sexuality these days.  When I had the father to son talk with him about three years ago, he already knew pretty much everything.”

“And you’re telling me that you left my daughter alone with a kid who plays in a rock band called Fun Bags and knows everything there is to know about sex?” she feigned horror. “I may have an issue with that, Special Agent Serreaux.”

He struggled not to laugh. “I already warned you,” he said. “I told you that he has my genes and my genes are very attracted to your genes.”

Cydney just shook her head, grinning as Ethan continued to chuckle at her. They neared the door to the room where they had left the teenagers.

“We had a nice time, anyway,” she said. “He’s a pretty neat kid.”

Ethan’s dark eyes glimmered at her as he put his hand on the doorknob and turned. “I think so.”

She smiled at him as he opened the door for her. But the moment she set foot inside, one look at Tyler picking himself off the floor and she shrieked.

“Tyler!” she exclaimed as Ethan pushed past her on his way to aid his son.

Tyler had his hand to his head, a trickle of blood coming from his right ear. Ethan grabbed his son and helped guide him into a chair.

“Ty,” Ethan’s voice was full of concern. “What in the hell happened?”

Before Tyler could answer, Cydney was looking around the room. “Where’s Olivia?” she demanded.

Tyler was having a difficult time sitting up. “I don’t know,” the light hurt his eyes and he had a huge headache. “Somebody whacked me on the head. I don’t know what happened to Olivia.”

Ethan looked at Cydney, who had a supreme expression of panic on her face. “Oh, my God,” she breathed. “Ethan, not again.”

She was bolting for the hallway but Ethan let go of Tyler and was on her in a flash. “No,” he commanded firmly. “You stay with Tyler and see what you can do to help him. I’ll find Olivia.”

Cydney was starting to panic but Ethan grabbed her by both arms and forced her to look at him. “Cyd, honey,” he shook her gently before she could get up a head of steam. “Look at me; help Tyler. Stay here. I will find Olivia. All right?”

She nodded, terrified. Ethan fled out of the door and she stood there a moment, trying not to get hysterical.  Behind her, Tyler groaned and she turned around, her gaze falling on the injured young man.  He was hurt and needed help.  Pushing aside her panic, she went to him.

Bags of ice and a couch to lie down on helped Tyler tremendously.  Focusing on Tyler helped Cydney calm because she had something else to focus on. The door to the interrogation room was open and she could see police personnel rushing up and down the hall but she couldn’t tell what they were saying. Some phrases here and there weren’t even about Olivia and she was beginning to grow concerned again because she never heard her daughter’s name. She assumed that Ethan would have the entire prefecture looking for a fifteen year old girl.

Tyler had a horrible headache and she gave him a couple of aspirin from her purse.  He tried to get comfortable on the couch but his head was hurting too badly.  Cydney tried to make him more comfortable and then sat down beside him and began to stroke his dark head. She didn’t even ask permission; he was so uncomfortable that, as a mother, she inherently wanted to help him. He didn’t protest. As she stroked his head and gently massaged his left temple, the young man fell into an exhausted sleep.

Still stroking Tyler’s head, Cydney wept when she knew that no one could see her tears.

***

The gunmen who had started the battle had gotten away.  Estimates were that there had been as many as a dozen, but they had fled one by one, disappearing into the city as the Paris Police gave chase. While half of the precinct was involved in the city-wide search, Ethan, J.D., Christophe and a host of other officers turned the prefecture upside down in the hunt for Olivia Hetherington. No stone was unturned. They went into bathrooms, janitor’s closets and kitchens.  But mostly, Christophe and his men were looking for the watch commander, Sgt. Michel, who was missing as well.  Christophe had known the man for years and was genuinely concerned for his welfare. 

After combing the massive building with an internal manhunt, one of the officers happened to look out of a doorway that led to a tree-lined walkway behind the building.  He caught sight of a man struggling in the bushes and ran outside to investigate.

Sgt. Michel was picking himself up out of the brush, his head so bloodied that one eye was swollen shut.  The police officer helped the Sergeant to stand and practically carried the man into the station.  He began yelling for Inspector Dulay, sending men running for Christophe and finding him with Ethan and J.D. near the information desk.   The three of them ran into the back offices of the first floor, running head-long into Sgt. Michel as he leaned heavily on the other officer.

“Paul,” Christophe grabbed the man urgently. “What happened?”

The sergeant spoke in stammering French. “A man struck me,” he said. “I don’t know who he was.  I was standing near the interrogation room where the children are and was hit from behind. I must have blacked out because when I came to, I heard the girl screaming. I followed the sounds and ended up out towards the walkway on the north side of the building. But I was so weak… I couldn’t run and I fell into the bushes. I don’t know how long I lay there until Depris here found me.”

Ethan was already bolting out of the back of the prefecture building.  There was a tree-lined walkway that paralleled the river on the north side of the island and absolutely nobody was upon it. It was completely empty for about a quarter mile in either direction.  The sun was setting and it felt oddly empty and spooky. Experiencing more panic than he could describe, Ethan began to run towards the west.

Someone was yelling behind him, a booming voice that finally broke through his anxiety.  He slowly came to a halt, breathing heavily as he realized there was no point in him running.  Olivia was long gone by now; there had been plenty of time to take her, get her into a car, and speed away.  It was painful to realize that whatever happened at the front of the building must have been a ruse.  The plan was well executed and they all fell for it. He couldn’t see any other explanation.  Nauseous, he turned around to see J.D. walking towards him.

“She’s gone,” J.D. told him. “Don’t waste your time. She’s out in the city now.”

Ethan was pale, his nostrils flaring with exertion and emotion. “That gun battle out front was a diversion,” he said furiously. “It pulled us away from Olivia so they could get at her.”

J.D. put up a hand. “We don’t know that for sure.”

“Bull,” Ethan burst. “J.D., this sect has fingers in every damn aspect of our world. They had to have a contact inside this station who told them where she was and how well she was guarded.  We were pulled away from her by this gun battle, giving Die Auhänger the opportunity to kidnap her again. Why in the hell do they want her so badly; just tell me that?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re the damn expert!”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry, but I just don’t know.”

Ethan thrust a finger in his face. “I’ll tell you why; this goes beyond that damn robe and all of this Holy Roman Empire crap. There’s more to it that we’re not seeing and it’s going to cost Cydney and Olivia dearly if we don’t figure it out.”

J.D. knew he was upset. And he felt like he had failed both the museum and Cydney Hetherington in particular.  He felt bad enough without Ethan blowing up at him.

“Look,” he said calmly. “Let’s go back inside and see what we can….”

Ethan suddenly pushed past him. “That sergeant,” he growled. “He was the one who was supposed to be watching her. He let her get away.”

J.D. was behind him. “That guy got the crap beat out of him,” he insisted. “What are you thinking? That he just let them take her without a fight?”

Ethan was so furious that he couldn’t answer.  J.D. suddenly grabbed him and forced him to a halt.

“Ethan, stop a minute,” he snapped. “Listen to me. I know you’re upset, but you’re also a Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and right now, you’re exhibiting conduct unbecoming that position. I realize your lady friend’s daughter is involved and you are understandably emotional, but get a hold of yourself. Your behavior isn’t going to do anyone any good.  I need your level head right now. I gotta have it, man. Do you understand me?”

Ethan was still furious but J.D.’s words were sinking in.  After a few moments, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.  He pulled himself from J.D.’s grasp.

“I understand,” he took another deep breath, raking his fingers through his dark hair and struggling for composure. “I know you’re right. But those bastards hurt my son in their quest to get Olivia. They couldn’t have just walked into that station unchallenged. Someone would have seen them.  Everyone in that place has an I.D. badge, even visitors. They couldn’t have just slipped in unseen and made off with a fifteen year old girl and nobody noticed. Someone had to let them in.”

J.D. nodded slowly. “I know that,” he said evenly. “But that sergeant is the only one who saw what happened. We need to tread carefully. If it’s an inside job, then we don’t know who we can trust.”

Ethan was calming rapidly. “Maybe the information desk officer? Maybe the watch commander? Maybe even Dulay.”

“It could be anybody.”

“Goddammit,” Ethan swore softly.

He stood with J.D. a moment as the two collected their thoughts, thinking forward the next few hours. J.D. finally put his hand on his arm and steered him towards the building again.

“Go and talk to Cydney,” he said. “She’s going to need your comfort, not your fury. Be calm. Take her and Tyler back to the hotel and wait for me. I’m going to stay here with Daniels and Penryn and see what I can find out.”

Ethan was feeling weak now that his fury had abated. The adrenalin rush was gone, replaced by an overwhelming hollowness.  He just felt empty and sickened.

“Where’s Cydney’s cell phone?” he asked.

“I gave it back to her.”

“I’d better keep that thing around in case Olivia calls again.”

They reached the door leading into the prefecture. Ethan paused and took a deep breath.  His hesitance was obvious.

“God,” he muttered. “What am I going to tell Cydney?”

J.D. opened the door. “The truth,” he replied. “Tell her the truth. I’ll meet you at the hotel later.”

Ethan passed through the doorway, moving to the stairs without so much as a hind glance to J.D., Christophe and the battered sergeant as he walked by them.  His focus was on the woman on the second floor he was very much in love with. This wasn’t news he was looking forward to delivering.

***

Upon reaching the interrogation room where Ethan had left Cydney and Tyler, he opened the door quietly to see Cydney sitting on the couch stroking Tyler’s swollen head.  His son was sleeping soundly. Cydney’s head snapped to him, her eyes wide with expectation, and he smiled weakly.  With a silent gesture beckoning her out of the room, she dutifully left Tyler sleeping and went out into the corridor with him.  Ethan quietly closed the door and faced her.

“Where’s Olivia?” Cydney asked.

Ethan took a deep breath. “She’s gone,” he said quietly. “Cyd, there’s no easy way to tell you this so I just need to come out and say it.  We suspect that gun battle in front of the prefecture was a ruse to pull us away from Olivia. Once we were occupied, they were able to slip in and take her again.”

Cydney just stared at him. When the wait grew excessive, he began to wonder if she had even understood what he had said. Finally, she shook her head.

“No,” she said flatly. “It’s not true. She’s here, somewhere. She was scared and ran off to hide. We just need to find her.”

Ethan reached out and put his hands on her arms. “Honey, we have a witness who saw someone take her. J.D. is questioning the guy right now.”

Cydney continued to stare at him. Then she shook her head again and turned away from him.

“She’s here, somewhere,” she said confidently as she walked towards the stairs. “I’ll find her. She’s just hiding.”

Ethan went after her and put his arms around her. “No, honey, she’s not,” he murmured against her head. “I need for you and Tyler to come with me so I can have you checked out at the hospital. J.D. will work on locating Olivia.”

Cydney suddenly turned into a wildcat; she violently yanked away from Ethan as he tried to hold on to her. Her hair partially came out of the ponytail, wild and askew across her face.  Shocked, Ethan tried to grab her again but she swung her fists at him and wouldn’t let him get a hold of her.

“No!” she shouted. “I’m not listening to you anymore. You let them take my baby twice and I won’t listen to you anymore.”

Ethan stopped trying to grab hold of her but continued following her down the hall.

“Cydney, please,” he sounded as if he was begging. “I know you’re upset but I need your calm head right now. Please, baby.  I need for you to come back with me so we can get Tyler to the hospital.”