"Where are you?" Austin demanded. Something about the man's oily voice turned him off. Austin imagined him to be a small man with a weasel-shaped face. From the voice alone Austin did not like the man on the other end of the line.
"I'm about two blocks away from the mother of your child. I could go and see her right now if I wanted to," the other voice said.
"What's your name? Your real name."
"Not a chance, I'm not telling you anything until I see some money. You can call me H."
Austin snorted and debated hanging up the phone. He hated code names and jerks who liked to play spy. They had no idea how the real world of security and espionage worked. Austin smoothed his tie and ran his hand along the clean-cut line of his jaw before continuing. "Tell me where you are and I'll bring you the money," Austin said, restraining the anger in his voice.
"Meet me in Philadelphia with the money and I will give you proof of where your girl is."
"How did you hear about me?" Austin asked. "Has Marie been running around and telling lies?"
"No," H said. "She hasn't mentioned you once. But she's interfering in some business of mine. Her act seemed shady, so I did some digging and I learned that you've been digging, as well. You haven't gone to the police yet. That's rather strange. This woman has kidnapped your daughter. Why don't you just have the kid listed as kidnapped?"
"I know how to discipline my woman," Austin said. "I don't need the cops' help on that and now I don't need their help finding her either."
"For twenty-thousand dollars she's all yours."
"I'll give you five."
"This isn't a negotiation."
"You just said she's interfering with your business, so it's in your best interest to get rid of her as quickly as possible. So why don't we do five and we'll both be happy."
"Fine, ten, but not a penny less. Bearer bonds."
"I'll give you five in Philly and the other five once I have Marie."
"No chance," H replied. "You're going to get your girl and get right back on the plane and I'm going to get screwed. No way. I don't know you or if I can trust you. I'll give you more proof and her address and then you give me the ten thousand."
Austin let out a long sigh. He leaned back in his chair and did some mental calculation. Ten thousand dollars was a lot of money. But he knew he would have to pay. Marie was out there somewhere having a hell of time. She was making Austin look like a fool. He was sitting at home waiting for her like a chump. He couldn't do it anymore. He needed to get her back. She was coming home whether she liked it or not. "Fine, where do we meet?"
"There's a bar on Samson Street called Nodding Head. You say the time and place and I'll be waiting at the bar.
"Tomorrow at noon," Austin said.
"See you then."
The call ended and Austin looked up at Charlie, "Prep the alpha team. We're getting on a plane to Philly. I'll have the girls get hotel rooms and plane tickets."
"Last minute plane trips and ten thousand dollars. This is getting a little expensive, don't you think, Austin? If she wants to go, let her go. You can find a dozen girls better than Marie."
"Is this called Wills Security, or St. Clare Security?" Austin demanded turning on Charlie with a snarl. "Don't question me again."
With a nod Charlie walked out of the room and with a yell Austin grabbed his coffee mug and crashed it against the opposite wall of the office. He was going to make Marie pay. He was spending a lot of money on her and she would regret every last penny. But once he was done with her she would never run again. He would beat the urge out of her. This was an expensive lesson, but it was one she would be forced to learn well.
Chapter Thirty
Elmsworth College, it sounded stately and elegant and a little beyond Marie's means. But she shook that thought away. No more putting herself down. It was just a name for Pete's sake. She couldn't let herself get dissuaded just from a name. So she checked it out online and it looked perfect. It was a local college where she could get a good hotel management degree. Marie liked running the Hawks' mansion, but the history stuff wasn't her favorite part. She liked when tours came in and she could show other people around; she liked the party and hosting. She could see herself running a small inn one day, if she were lucky.
So with Cate in tow, Marie went to check out the college in person. Axel was there, too, of course. He had called and asked what she had been planning for the day and then invited himself along. She was glad he was there. Marie was turning over quite a few new leaves, but she still felt shy and nervous most of the time. Having Axel there would help give her more confidence and make her feel safe.
The school was about forty minutes away from Harksburg and Marie felt a twinge of sadness once they passed the town limits. This would be the first time she would leave Harksburg since declaring it home. She felt safe and enjoyed the little town and she was sad to see it recede in her rearview mirror.
But any sadness or hesitation was washed away once they actually arrived at Elmsworth College. It was situated on a low hill with a lovely view of the mountainous country around it. It had been a woman's college once and it still held that antique charm. The exterior of the buildings were brick and the walks were lined with stately and large oaks. The paths were made of cobblestone and lined with peonies and daffodils.
"It's so pretty!" Cate exclaimed as she leaned over to smell a flower.
"It looks like something out of a chick flick," Axel said as he glanced at a bulletin board covered in flyers advertising empty rooms and guitar lessons.
"Is there something so wrong with that?" Marie asked. "You can't expect the entire world to look like a boxing gym."
"Now that is a world I want to live in. Nothing but gyms as far as the eye can see," Axel said as he pulled Marie close and planted a kiss on her lips.
She gave him a crooked smiled and pushed him away. She could tell he was just teasing because he was pleased. This was a good idea. This could be a good thing.
They walked inside one of the buildings, which Marie was surprised and pleased to see was very modern. All of the classrooms were "smart" classrooms with computers and projectors. She flipped through one of the course books and saw listings for entrepreneurship, accounting, sales, taxes, record keeping, and vendor selection. It all looked intense, but they were things she wanted to learn more about.
"Cate starts school next fall," Marie said to Axel. "Then I won't have to worry about daycare and I'll have some free time during the day."
"Sounds perfect," Axel said. "You should apply now." He reached for a pamphlet that listed the materials she would need.
But that was the problem: she would be starting a real life here and a real life was one Austin could track. Could he find her this way? Marie looked over to Cate who was gleefully running around a fountain, getting the occasional splash of water on her. She was trapped. She needed to get a good job so she could always provide for Cate. But, even more than that, she deserved a real life – a life where she wasn't looking over her shoulder or hiding. But what if that new life put her and Cate in danger? She didn't want anything to happen to her daughter, but she also knew she couldn't spend her life doing nothing.
"I can see you changing your mind," Axel chided gently.
"I know. But I have to think of Cate."
"Cate wants you to do this. You know she wouldn't want you to put your life on hold for her."
"It's about her safety. He could find me through this."
"He might, but he might not and I will be here for you, no matter what. If Austin comes here, I will deal with him for you."
Marie put the pamphlet back and turned away angrily. They had been having the same discussion for weeks now. Axel didn't understand. It was all too easy for him to be tough and brave, but it was different for Marie. She didn't have to worry about just herself, but Cate, as well. She couldn't put her daughter in danger.
She was halfway out the door when Axel grabbed her wrist and stopped her. His touch was loose and she could have escaped at any moment, but instead she sighed and looked at him. He pulled her into a hug and she leaned against his strong chest and breathed in the scent of him. He was so solid and real; she still couldn't quite get enough of him.
"I'm not going to tell you what to do. It is your decision; I just want you to know that you aren't alone in this."
Marie nodded into his chest and watched Cate play. "I don't know what I'm going to do," she admitted. "I never know what the right thing to do is."