Deadline (18 page)

After what seemed like hours to
Trevor, but in actuality was about 10 minutes, Patel returned to
the room.

There was a sudden change in his
attitude.

He instructed Amman to release the
straps around Trevanian’s chest. Amman hesitated, surprised at this
development. Patel barked his orders again and Amman
complied.

“
Well, Mr. Trevanian, it
appears you have friends in some very high places. I just took a
call from Nairo Kumat, the Director of ISI, who received a call
from the President of our country demanding your immediate release.
They vouch for your story. It appears you are in fact a journalist
and were kidnapped by these people.”

“
That’s just what I have
been trying to tell you all along.” Trevanian felt a sense of
immense relief flood through his body. Braden Young had come
through for him. He didn’t know how, but he didn’t care. He only
wanted out of this place to file his story.

“
My apologies for any
inconvenience, Mr. Trevanian. You must realize we were only doing
our jobs in the security of our nation.”

“
Your jobs!” exclaimed
Trevanian. “What is that? Is it your job to go around torturing and
terrorizing people in the guise of national security? You’re no
better than those in al-Qaida. How many innocent people have you
caught up in your web in the past?”

“
It is understandable that
you would be angry, Mr. Trevanian.” Patel spoke in a calm,
civilized English manner. “But you must admit your circumstances
were rather suspicious.”

“
That’s no excuse for your
actions to threaten to torture me. Your methods leave a lot to be
desired. Believe me, you haven’t heard the last of this,
Patel.”

“
You are free to leave
now. Mr. Trevanian. Can we assist you by driving you
anywhere?

“
So kind of you to offer,”
said Trevanian facetiously. “I need to get somewhere quickly to
write and file my story. Where’s the nearest major media outlet?
And I need my laptop and voice recorder returned to me.”

“
The Associated Press
office here in Peshawar can help you out, I am sure. I will have
some one drive you there immediately. I will see that your personal
belongings are returned to you immediately. Again, my apologies for
any inconvenience we have caused.” Patel spoke in a solicitous
manner.

He sounded almost civilized.
Almost.

But Trevanian was in a hurry. “Right,
Major. Apology accepted. Now please get me to the AP office as soon
as possible. I’m on an important deadline.”

Chapter 53

Westin Hotel Lobby 6:30
PM

BRADEN YOUNG stormed up to the hotel’s
Guest Relations counter.

He identified himself as managing
editor of the Daily Express and demanded the room number of Dennis
Newman.

The young girl behind the counter was
momentarily unnerved by Young’s abrasive and belligerent tone. She
soon recovered and resumed the professional demeanor of a hotel
clerk.

“
Mr. Newman is in Room
1116. Is he expecting you, Mr. Young? I can call up to tell him
you’re here.”

“
Never mind, my dear,”
said Young in a softer tone. His anger temporarily abated. There
was no point in taking it out on the clerk. It wasn’t her fault. “I
prefer to surprise Dennis. He’s an old journalism colleague. We
have a lot of old times to talk over.”

“
Certainly, Mr. Young.
Take the elevators on the right to the 11th floor. Have a good
evening.” The young woman smiled sweetly at him.

Same to you and thanks for your help.”
Young headed for the bank of elevators.

Dennis was certainly in for the
surprise of his life. The bastard.

Young exited the elevator and followed
the numbered rooms until 1116 stood before him. He rapped loudly on
the door.

A few moments passed and the door
opened. Dennis stood before him.

The handsome blonde anchorman was
wearing his red Jockey shorts. His golden tanned, muscle toned body
on majestic display. His sprayed coiffure was neatly in place, with
nary a hair astray. He flashed a smile with those ivory white
teeth.

“
Why Braden, what a nice
surprise. Haven’t seen you in years, old chap.” Dennis greeted him
warmly like a long lost old friend.

Young roughly pushed him back and
marched into the room, inviting himself.

“
Don’t give me that ‘old
chap’ routine, you son of a bitch. What have you done with
Megan?”

“
Megan. Oh, she was here a
couple of hours ago. Unfortunately she caught me in rather awkward
circumstances. It was rather sudden and unexpected, I’m afraid. I
was entertaining a new acquaintance and Megan became rather upset
and left. I have no idea where she went, old chap.”

“
You piece of dog shit.
You mean she caught you with your dick out of your pants again
after she actually thought you were sorry. I’m afraid you’ve
finally sent her over the edge, Dennis. She may have done something
terrible to herself. She left me a phone message that has me
concerned.”

“
Oh come on, Braden. She’s
never going to do something to herself over me chasing another
piece of tail. You’re a man of the world, Braden. You know how it
is. Men will be men.” Dennis’s smarmy confident smile sent Braden
over the edge.

“
Yes, I know how it is,
Dennis. Men will be men and a mongrel will always seek to rut in
the alleys. You can’t keep it in your pants, you bastard. Just stay
away from me and my daughter.”

He suddenly brought his left fist
forward striking Dennis square on the jaw. He felt his knuckles
connect and skin scrape as they smashed into Dennis’s face. Dennis
fell back, spread eagled on the floor.

Braden Young was not normally a
violent person, but this action gave him a deep sense of
satisfaction. Without another word, he turned and headed back to
the elevator.

As the elevator descended rapidly, he
wondered where next to look for Megan.

Where would she go? Had she harmed
herself?

Suddenly, nothing at this moment
seemed more important in Young’s life than the welfare of his
daughter.

He exited the elevator and headed for
the hotel’s main entrance. His cell phone rang.

When he answered the phone, it was the
voice of his administrative assistant Denise Taylor. She sounded
panicked.

“
Oh, Mr. Young. I’m so
glad you had your cell phone on. Something awful has
happened!”

“
Calm down, Denise,” said
Young reassuringly. “Whatever is the matter?”

“
I’m afraid something has
happened to your daughter, Megan. The hospital called and she is in
intensive care. They have urged that you get right down there.
Apparently it is very serious.”

The news hit Braden Young like a pile
driver.

“
What on earth happened to
her, Denise?” Young asked. “Did they say? “

“
I don’t have the details,
sir. But they said she drowned and was rescued by a passing boater.
She is in critical condition in ICU at Toronto General. They
suggest you get down there right away.”

“
Certainly, Denise, I am
on my way. Thanks for calling and please ask Paul O’Connor to take
over as acting managing editor until I am able to
return.”

“
Yes, sir,” Denise Taylor
replied. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of such sad news, Mr. Young. I
do hope your daughter will be all right.”

“
Thank you, Denise. Tell
Paul I’ll try to get back as soon as I possibly can.”

Young terminated the call and went out
the front entrance to hail a cab. As he sat in the back seat on the
short drive to Toronto General Hospital, he felt that his entire
world had suddenly been shattered like fragile crystal.

Braden realized Megan meant more to
him than anything else, including his precious newspaper career. He
thought of the years that had been lost. Now it may all be too
late.

Oh Megan, honey. What have you gone
and done now? If anything happens to you, I will kill that son of a
bitch.

Chapter 54

Andrew Chase’s Office 7:05
PM

ANDREW CHASE tried to work at his
desk, but thoughts of Katie Cannon flooded through his mind,
distracting him.

Thoughts of her in the clutches of the
Wolfman overwhelmed him. He feared that he may never see her alive
again. It took an event like this to crystallize things for
him.

Chase knew deep down he truly loved
Katie Cannon.

He could not bear to think of life
without her. It would be empty and lonely, only a shell of an
existence.

What was he thinking of even
contemplating Ashley’s offer of marriage and the money incentive
she was waving at him. Without Katie by his side, the newspaper
would mean nothing.

Chase realized he needed to talk to
Katie about making their relationship pubic. He planned to do that
if and when she was rescued from the Wolfman.

He only hoped it wasn’t too
late.

In the meantime, he could keep busy by
taking action on another front. He needed to call Ashley right
away. He picked up the phone and entered her number.

“
Ashley, Andrew here,” he
said in response to her voice.

“
Andrew, darling. What a
lovely surprise. I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. Never
mind, I’m delighted you’ve called. Does this mean we can start
planning the wedding?”

Andrew hesitated, not sure how to put
things. He managed to find the words.

“
Well, that’s just it,
Ashley. I am really flattered by your proposal and a year ago I
would have jumped at the opportunity. But I’m afraid our time is
past. This relationship could never work now because I’m in love
with someone else. I could never give her up at any
price.”

“
Andrew, that’s just your
dick talking. Be sensible.” Ashley’s tone took on an icy
edge.

“
You need some one in your
life from the same class. Your little whore would not fit into the
circles we travel in. Remember you’re also desperately in need of a
cash infusion to save that newspaper of yours.”

Andrew tried to restrain his rising
anger.

“
It’s not just about sex,
Ashley. I am in love with this person and I would appreciate you
not referring to her as ‘my whore’. As for the cash strings, you
and daddy can keep your money. I’ll find it somewhere. I and my
newspaper are not for sale.”

“
Andrew, Andrew,” Ashley
sighed. “You just don’t make practical sense. You will end up in
bankruptcy court. You and your little slut will eke out your lives
in penniless penitence.”

“
So be it,” replied
Andrew. “Better that than to be your toy boy until you tire of me.
Have a good life, Ashley.”

Andrew terminated the call.

He felt helpless. Katie was in trouble
and he desperately wished he could do something about
it.

But it was out of his hands. He
thought it best to leave it to the police. Hopefully they could
track this killer down and rescue Katie before it was too
late.

He needed to divert his attention
elsewhere. Andrew glanced at the clock on his wall and it read 7:25
p.m. Time was steadily counting down until the midnight deadline
for Rupert White’s offer to purchase the Daily Express.

Chase had told Ashley his paper wasn’t
for sale at any price. But was that really true? Did he really have
any other option if he couldn’t find more financing?

Perhaps they could limp along for a
couple of years, three at the most. It seemed his world was
crumbling.

First the newspaper was at risk, and
then the love of his life was in danger. Perhaps he should just
call Rupert White and accept his offer. That would solve his
immediate financial problem.

Wake up, Chase, he thought. Stop being
such a wimp! You’re more of a man than this. You’ve always been a
fighter and gone after what you want. Stop feeling sorry for
yourself and get your ass into gear.

Chase turned to his Rolodex on his
desk and looked up the numbers of several colleagues in the
financial world. It was well after normal business hours, but he
planned to shake the trees until he got the financing he
needed.

He wasn’t going down without a
fight.

Andrew started to make his
calls.

Chapter 55

Toronto General Hospital
7:15 PM

BRADEN YOUNG stood by the hospital bed
staring down helplessly at his little girl.

Megan lay there silently. Eyes closed.
She was in a coma. She seemed so peaceful and serene.

There were only the ominous gongs of a
ventilator pushing air into her lungs. The melodious chimes of an
IV pump putting precious fluids into her body. He heard the
insistent buzz of a cardiac monitor with its fluorescent green
lights flickering.

Braden stood staring at his daughter.
The person lying on the narrow hospital bed was a beautiful young
woman, but he only saw a little girl in pigtails, vibrant and alive
in a pink princess dress, wearing a golden tiara.