In His Power (Beyond Darkness, #1) (3 page)

‘Already done.’

‘Good man!’

‘You might not like what I’ll say next.’

‘Go on.’

‘It looks like Detective Gates is heading the case.’

‘Shit, the one cop I can’t buy. This is personal, I can feel it. I get the sense he’ll be looking into taking me down too.’

‘I hope not.’

‘I suggest you get me everything on the family of the child. We need to work faster than the police. Get them off our turf.’

‘I’ll have everything I find sent to you later.’

‘Perfect.’ He hung up and returned to join his friend.

‘Is everything all right?’ He noticed just how flushed he was.

‘There’s a situation at one of my theme parks.’

‘Sorry to hear that, hope you’ll get it sorted.’

‘Yes, well, we have to. We don’t want too many police snooping around.’

Collin nodded. They sat in silence for a while. There were so many things running through Victors mind. How could this even be? This had never happened before.

‘Don’t feel you need to stay on my account.’

‘There’s no rush. Bradley will take care of the things I need.’

‘You trust that man a great deal.’

‘I do, he’s been with me a while. I know he’s on my side and won’t backstab me.’

‘I hope you’re certain about that.’

‘I am. He’ll never turn on me.’

Collin nodded again. He wouldn’t argue with his best friend. They’d know each other so long, and had always been there for each other.

‘Any plans for the weekend?’ Victor tried to get back to “normal.”

‘Just taking the family away, Gina’s been nagging me about it for ages.’

‘Well, it’s good you’re taking a break.’

‘I guess with what’s going on at your theme park, your weekend will be full.’

‘Pretty much.’

Collin studied Victor a moment.

‘What?’

‘Nadine.’

‘Yes, well it was a long time coming. You and I both know she wasn’t the one.’

‘But you love her.’

‘I loved the look of her. She is a stunning looking woman. I’m not surprised Von did what he did.’

‘I heard he’s in crutches. Does that have anything to do with you?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ He smiled cunningly, and took the last bit of the drink.

‘Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come back to bite you.’

‘Yes, Nadine has quite some dirt on me. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to take me down. This is why I sent her away, out of the country.’

‘You think that will keep her away?’

‘For now. I have eyes on her.’

Collin smiled.

‘Anyway, I better get home. Bradley might have some information for me, soon. And it’s no doubt the police will be looking for me. I’d rather they find me at home than here at the restaurant. I don’t want to cause a scene.’

‘Yes well, I better be off myself.’

They stood up.

‘It’s been a pleasure.’ They hugged briefly, patting each other.

They parted ways.

‘M
iss Nolan?’

London turned around on the hospital bed and looked up at the detective.

‘I’m Detective Gates. I’m working your case.’

She remained silent.

‘I will need to ask you some questions so we can take the necessary action to find your daughter.’

Again she was silent.

‘Will you be able to give me a detail of what happened?’ He studied her.
What a beautiful woman,
he thought, trying to concentrate.

She had beautiful big light brown eyes that drew him in. Her lashes elongated and curled at the ends that further enhanced her eyes. He tried to shake the feeling, and focus on her, but her beauty made it terribly hard.

‘Miss Nolan?’

The words felt trapped in her throat. She’d been struck by grief. Her only daughter had been kidnapped. London didn’t want to think about death.

‘I need your help.’ He sat beside the bed and ran a hand through his dark brown hair. He was tall and lanky, with a soft face, but he also looked intelligent and confident.

‘Oh honey, oh god!’ Portia, London’s mum rushed in. ‘Oh honey.’ She took her into her arms. ‘Dad is on his way up. He just had to park the car.’

London shut her eyes and held onto her mother like a life jacket. Portia bit back her lip and tried to stop herself from crying, but how could she not. She was terrified about where her granddaughter could be.

‘Mrs Nolan?’ Detective Gates asked.

‘Yes.’

‘I’m trying to get more information about Paige. Unfortunately your daughter won’t tell me anything.’

‘She’s in shock! What do you expect?’

‘It’s crucial that we find her within the next twenty-four hours. Beyond that, well...’

London felt the lump in her throat. She couldn’t think about it. Her baby was safe somewhere. She prayed that whoever took her, was taking good care of her.

‘Perhaps you could help. We need recent photos, and any piece of clothing that has her scent for the dogs. This is important.’

‘Yes, of course. I’ll have her father do that.’

‘I wish London could give us more details about the incident, but I’ll leave it for now.’ He stood up and nodded. ‘I will be in touch. And don’t worry. We’re doing everything we can to bring your daughter back to you.’ He hesitated for a moment, but then decided that leaving was the next best action.

‘Oh darling.’ Portia took her daughter into her arms again. ‘We will pray sweetheart. The whole church is praying for us.’ She held onto her like a little girl.

London felt numb. Nothing and no one could change the way she felt. The only thing that would make her feel better, would be her daughter walking through that door. How she wished it was all just a dream!

****

T
he police had come and left. He hadn’t provided enough answers for them, and they promised to be back. Victor was just grateful Detective Gates hadn’t come along. He was in his study when the there was a light knock on the door.

‘Come in, Bradley.’

Bradley stepped in carrying a box full of discs and a folder.

‘I take it all the footage is here?’

‘Yes, the police have some, but not all the footage.’

‘That’s great. Did you get the information on the victim?’

‘It’s all in the folder.’ He lifted the brown folder from the box and handed it to him.

Victor opened the file. The picture on the front of the folder took his breath away.

‘My god,’ he uttered.

‘I know.’

‘She’s so beautiful.’ He’d never felt this instant attraction to anyone that fast. The feeling had made him keener than before to pursue this. ‘She’s important now.’

Bradley smiled mildly.

‘What, you think I can’t love someone in an instant?’

‘My lips are sealed.’

‘You can fall in love with a flower for its beauty,’ he said. ‘This woman is a beautiful flower. I must help her.’ The shift in his heart was undeniable. ‘What are the police saying, have any idea?’

‘They’re not having any luck, and London, the mother of the child, isn’t saying anything.’

Victor rubbed his chin, his eyes not leaving the beautiful picture. ‘Has anyone else seen the footage?’

‘No.’

‘I will have a look at it and see if I can spot anything odd. But I’d like you to get hold of our IT expert to have a detailed look. He might see something we don’t.’

‘Yes, will do.’

‘Thanks for this Bradley. I’ll call you as soon as I find something. We’ll take everything from there.’

Bradley nodded and left Victor. Victor sat back into the large leather chair and sighed. He would have to pull all the resources he had, to find this child. He lifted the folder and studied London’s picture. His eyes trailed down her oval face, he was sucked into her beautiful eyes and he loved her long dark locks. She had the smoothest caramel skin he’d ever seen. In the picture, her cheeks had hint of blush that enhanced her cheekbones.

‘Such beauty. Why did they do this to you?’ he had to ask. He studied the picture of the little girl. She had golden blonde curly locks with green eyes. She was beautiful.  He rubbed his chin and continued to study the pictures of both London and Paige.

‘Where are they taking you?’ He picked up the data stick that had all the records of the park on that day.

He took time to study the images. He took a while to finally spot London and Paige. They’d been on a few rides, fed the animals and taken photos with some of the characters. He took time to really study the images. He rewound, fast forwarded and sometimes just paused. Then after a while something caught his eye. He rewound to the merry-go-round ride. He leaned in a little closer and zoomed in the picture. A moment later he clicked on the second photo of London and Paige feeding the animals. Next he clicked on the image of London and Paige taking photos with the Disney characters. There was one common denominator in all of them!

He sat back and took it all in. There was a clue, a starting point, and he knew just what he would do. After a moment he picked up the phone and called Bradley.

‘I have something,’ he said. ‘We need to talk and set up a plan of action.’

‘When do you need me?’

‘As soon as you can get here. The sooner we make a plan, the better. I think I have an idea of what is going on.’

‘Okay, I’ll be there within the next hour.’

‘Perfect. We’ll talk then.

****

I
t had been over twenty-four hours and the police had come up with nothing. They were chasing a ghost. The images from the park hadn’t done anything, and Detective Gates was loosing hope minute by minute. He wanted so much to make things right for London. There was something so vulnerable about her he wanted to protect, and make things okay. He also couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful she was. He knew it wasn’t the time and place, but it was something that couldn’t be ignored.

He thought about the plan of action. They’d obtained a piece of Paige’s clothing. The dogs had turned up nothing which ruled out murder. He was certain that Paige hadn’t been murdered. But the trail had ended. But he wouldn’t give up, that wasn’t him. He would get to the bottom of this once and for all, and he knew just who he had to visit.

Victor and Detective Gates hadn’t got along. Victor had tried to offer him the high life, but he wouldn’t be bribed by him. When he’d set out to join the police force, Victor was the exact person he would hunt down, and shut down for good. He wouldn’t be swayed by money, instead he was swayed by his conscious. He couldn’t prove anything yet, but he knew that Victor was an evil man, operating dark deeds.

He’s studied him. Tried to follow his tracks, but he always came up with a dead end. But now that the missing girl had come from the park that Victor owned, Detective Gates was convinced the man had something to do with it. If not, he was certain they would still dig up some dirt on him.

He parked outside one of Victors many houses. It was a sunny afternoon and he would’ve rather been out lounging around, than being on the property of the one man he loathed. He ran a hand through his hair a habit stemmed from anxiety. It didn’t matter what he told himself, Victor always made him feel self conscious. The man was extremely intimidating with his looks and immense wealth. Detective Gates made a mental note he would be in and out of Victor’s house as quick as possible. All he wanted were a few answers to the questions he had, that would be it.

He stepped out of the car and walked towards the huge door. He rang the bell, and he was let in. Bradley led the detective to Victor’s study, where Victor drank a glass of brandy.

‘Ah detective.’ He smiled. ‘Can I offer you a drink?’

‘A bit early in the day, and I’m on duty.’

‘Well, it’s never too early for a drink. Life is for living. If you want a drink, one should always have one. But then again, like you said, you’re on the job.’ He walked around to the large oak desk, and sat in an equally large chair. ‘Please, have a seat.’ He nodded at the seat opposite him.

Detective Gates adjusted his tie, and then sat down.

‘What can I do for you?’ asked Victor.

‘I think you know why I’m here.’

Victor sat back and smiled.

‘It’s about the missing girl.’

‘Yes, that’s a sad thing. And for it to happen at my park is even more dreadful.’

The detective watched the way Victor avoided his eyes. He also noticed how he touched his face from time to time as he spoke.

‘Mister Adamovich, I will cut to the chase.’

‘Go on.’

‘You have tampered with the evidence.’

Victor looked at him a moment.

‘I know you have. Not all the tapes we retrieved from the park are there. There are some gaps in some of them.’

‘Are you accusing me of something, detective?’

‘Is there something you want to tell me?’ He looked him in the eye and this time Victor didn’t look away.

‘No there isn’t.’ He kept his gaze.

‘This is serious. A child’s life could be at stake, and you choose to lie to me.’

‘Do I need to ring my attorney, detective?’

Detective Gates knew it was a long shot getting what he wanted from Victor, but it had confirmed his suspicions. This meant he would keep a closer eye on, Victor Adamovich.

‘No, but you might.’

‘I see. I think Bradley will show you out now.’ He looked over at his right hand man.

‘Detective.’ Bradley opened the door.

‘I’ll be in touch. Don’t leave town.’

Victor laughed lightly. ‘You should consider working for me. We’d make a good team.’

‘I doubt that.’ The detective said without turning.

Bradley shut the door behind them, and was gone for a couple of minutes. The minute he walked back into the room, Victor was ready to make the next move.

‘Did you hear from IT?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Okay, get everything we’ve got so far together. Time isn’t on our side, and the quicker we stay ahead of the police, the better.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘I must see her,’ he said. A strange feeling drifted through him. He’d studied her picture a lot.

‘She’s not speaking to anyone, not even the police,’ said Bradley. ‘Inside information said its stress and shock.’