DRAGONJULS Storybook
Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: See Part One
Part 16
Chapter Twenty-eight
"You can't be serious?" one of the masked kidnappers asked their leader.
"Haven't I already told you that I do what I want and you follow my orders, not question them?" Katia hissed her voice echoing around the cavern walls.
"There are people out there, if you try anything like that and she screams they will know we're here," the man continued, not caring that he was making the woman angry.
"People out in this weather, they must be mad, show me?" Katia didn't believe him and anyway she could always gag Bardley but that would spoil the fun.
Jace heard the altercation and knew that time was getting shorter before the large woman would carry out her threat of rape! Because that's what it was definitely going to be, no way would she go willingly into the hateful woman's arms?
Several minutes later footsteps came closer and she was suddenly face to face with the leader, who looked at her with a mad gleam in her eyes. "You have been saved tonight, because it looks like some idiots have decided to camp near here and I don't want any trouble this early in the game. But trust me you're time will come and I'm even more frustrated than I was, so believe me, it won't be pleasant for you in the least!" Katia put her face close to Jace's and her breath smelt of stale garlic and her body odour could have been happy in a pigsty. "Please let me warn you that if you make a sound at anytime I will kill them and you will know it was your fault." Katia watched the blonde cringe, 'I could still have some fun with Jace Bardley but if our visitors near the cavern entrance decided to investigate I would have to kill them and there is no knowing who would become involved or how rapidly that would happen. No matter I will have my fun with Catherine Devonshire here instead, and the pleasure will be all mine.'
Jace nodded her head in understanding, the woman would do it, Jace had no doubt about that, it was in the eyes and they never looked anything but full of contempt for life and the world in general.
"How do you know Catherine?"
"At last a spark of interest, I wondered when you would finally ask me that question. Catherine is the lust of my life." Katia spoke in quiet tones close to Jace's face, the stale breath tickling her neck.
"Lust? That's a novel expression, isn't it usually love?" Jace wanted to know more about this woman and why she was taking such drastic action.
"Love? Love is for the foolish romantics of this world! People talk of love and yet mean lust, it is all a charade to get to the same result." The woman's voice became even more accented as she said the words.
"Love isn't foolish or for romantics, it is for everyone! There is a person in the world for us all, you just have to have faith and go and look for them and never give up until you find that person!" Jace said adamantly.
"So, you're a bona fide member of the foolish romantic club, let me tell you that people like you make me sick. When she said she loved you did Catherine follow through and take you to bed?" Katia slowly lowered her head to Jace's neck and flicked out a tongue on her neck, Jace pulled away in disgust.
"No! You're disgusting." Jace threw back defiantly her green eyes sparkling with anger.
"Oh come on Jace Bardley, surely a little necking between friends can be tolerated? After all I've done the same to your precious Catherine." Katia watched the younger woman's eyes take on a look of disbelief.
"Catherine wouldn't have you near her!" Jace spit the words out angrily, she knew that much about her lover. This woman before her wouldn't have got to first base never mind close to her neck, unless she was a vampire and even then, it would be doubtful knowing Catherine.
"Catherine at the time was doing a very good job of fighting off my advances I have to admit. But you must have seen my little gift to remind her of my affection surely?" Katia placed her lips on Jace's neck and sucked hard.
Jace's stomach was churning, and she wasn't going to be able to stop the nausea this time. Retching over Katia's shoulder, what little she had in her stomach became a heaving mess on the floor and triumphantly for Jace all over Katia's hair and her back.
The German made some explicit remarks in her own language. She jumped back quickly, backhanded Jace across the face; sending her sprawling with a bloody nose and her lip split as she crashed to the hard cold surface, unable to stop her fall as her hands and feet were bound. The two men in the cavern both burst out laughing and regretted it as Katia rounded on them with high kicks between the legs. If she suffered, so did they, she shuffled off to her corner close to the fire and continued to curse at the mess on her hair and back.
Jace slowly managed to right herself and although pleased that her distress had hit the target, she was now forced to be in the close proximity of her regurgitated food and that was not a pleasant sight or smell; however it was far better than her previous prospects for the night had been. 'Now what gift had Catherine received from the woman?' Jace thought as she closed her eyes and wished she were home in bed, next to her lover, at least her thoughts would always be wonderful and no one could take that from her.
***********
Clare paced about Constance's apartment. Danni was being difficult today; it had been to good to be true yesterday. Now Clare was contemplating leaving, but Constance had asked her to calm down for a few minutes and walked slowly after Danni who had gone into the kitchen.
"What the hell is going on Danni? You just insulted my guest!" Constance spoke sharply.
Danni turned from the counter at the far corner of the kitchen and gave her a cool glance. "I only asked her when she was leaving."
"What's it to you when she leaves for god's sake? We are working on something together and she's the only one I trust with this!" Constance eyed the physio; she didn't understand the woman at all.
"You're getting tired, I thought it in your best interest," Danni replied smoothly.
Constance shook her head at the woman opposite her. "I thank you for your concern, but I will be the judge of when I'm tired or not, you are definitely not my keeper!"
Danni moved away from the counter and moved up close to Constance they were within inches of each other. "Maybe I'd like to have the right to care about you," as she placed a gentle finger to Constance face and traced it from her cheek to her lips.
Constance shifted away suddenly and looked at her with panic in her eyes. "Are you totally mad Danni? I have no interest in you or anything to do with you other than professionally. Why on earth do you think I would even consider it?"
Danni noticed her agitation and smiled wolfishly. "Because I think I turn you on that's why, perfectly valid to me! Let's face it I'm more of a woman for you than that excuse next door, she's just a girl, no experience whatsoever, there's simply no competition."
Constance didn't know if she should laugh at the remarks or cry out in anger at her description of Clare. Taking in a shaky breath, her legs now holding her up by sheer will power alone. "I think you've said enough to convince me that the only person I'm asking to leave my apartment tonight is you Danni! I suggest you get your possessions together and leave my home now!"
Danni looked at her aghast, this hadn't gone the way she planned; she'd been sure that Constance liked her, or more than liked her! "Why?"
"Why? You ask me why? I don't like you Danni; I tolerate you at best, but if I have to chose between you and Clare, Clare will come out on top every time. Get out of my home Danni, I've had enough of this tension." Constance replied, astounded at the audacity of the woman sat heavily down in a chair in the kitchen, and she placed her head in her hands in frustration, her body not only protesting at the lateness of the hour, but also the stress of the conversation.
Clare had heard the raised voices and couldn't stop herself from eavesdropping at the entrance of the kitchen. She smiled as she heard Constance take her side in the discussion, "I think you heard her Danni, she wants you out of her home," Clare spoke with quiet authority from the door.
Danni gave her a sneer and walked briskly by her on the way to her bedroom. "You'll never keep her Clare, you haven't got what it takes!"
Clare watched her go into her room and heard the door slam shut. Walking slowly into the kitchen she looked at the weary and totally frustrated woman slumped in the chair. "Are you okay?"
Constance hadn't expected to have to defend her friend in her home and find out at the same time that her physio had taken a far from professional interest in her. "Yes, I'm alright, maybe I could do with some rest. It's getting late, how about we continue tomorrow? Can you arrange with Enricho to give you leave for a few days to help me with this?"
"I have already requested leave, he agreed in principle if he could call me on certain points if necessary," Clare smiled.
"Guess you're way ahead of me Clare, that's what I like about you." Constance returned the smile and slowly got up from the chair, but her legs refused to respond. Clare reached over and grasped her elbow in support.
"How about I help you to bed and let Danni out personally, and I won't forget the key. Then I'll check that you're okay, let myself out and call back in the morning?" Clare said in a business like tone.
Constance gave her a shy glance, "You don't need to leave," her voice soft and gently pleading.
Clare helped Constance along to her room and didn't answer her question immediately, her own thoughts in turmoil. Opening the door to the room she looked at her friend. "Will you be okay now or do you need some help?"
Constance felt stupid; she'd obviously made one assumption too many. "No, this will be fine, when you leave just let me know," Constance moved further into the room, not looking back.
Clare decided to leave the subject open at the moment and waited for Danni to leave her room. Within half an hour she had her wish, Danni looked at her with dislike evident on her features.
"You don't need to look like the cat that got the canary," Danni said spitefully.
"Why not, I think I just have!" Clare replied with a grin.
"Constance is just like Catherine, besotted with an innocent, but you will need more than that to keep her!" Danni bit back angrily.
"How would you know? What makes you think that I'm innocent? You don't know me Danni, you don't care about other people and what happens to those other people when you interfere in their lives! You're selfish, arrogant and completely without morals when it comes to relationships. I think it's time you looked at yourself in the mirror before it's to late, because there will be someone out there who isn't as generous as Catherine or as polite as Constance in the same circumstances. Beware Danni, the next time, you could get hurt with your brash remarks," Clare responded, her voice tight and angry.
"Are you threatening me little girl?" Danni moved menacingly closer to Clare.
"No, merely pointing out the facts of life as I see them, maybe you should try it one day?" Clare stood her ground and noticed a defeated expression rise on Danni's face.
"Tell Constance I said good bye and I hope to see her around some time," Danni stated flatly as she opened the door.
"Before you go Danni, can I have the key to the apartment?" Clare held out her hand for the object.
"Oh, yeah the key, almost forgot! I guess you get to keep it now?" Danni shrugged at the thought and left Clare at the door, heaving a sigh of relief.
Closing the door she enfolded her fingers over her palm holding onto the key and smiled. Softly knocking on the bedroom door, she entered and saw that Constance appeared to be sleeping. Moving silently over to the edge of the bed, Clare gave her a long thoughtful look. 'What did her friend want from her? Conversely what did she want from her friend?' she thought as she turned to leave the room.
Constance shifted in the bed and mumbled. "Has she gone?"
Turning back Clare smiled slightly and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Yeah, she's gone, and good riddance! Go back to sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
"Are you going to stay?" Constance questioned in a half-slumbering condition.
"Yeah, I'm going to stay," and placed a tender kiss on her forehead as Constance fell back into a much needed sleep.
Tomorrow was another day and they needed to work out a plan to trap Gareth but she still wasn't sure Tito was innocent in all this either; no, he needed to convince her and in a very positive way!
***********
Chapter Twenty-nine
Catherine paced her study; it had been a sleepless night for her, although she'd tried to sleep. Her dreams invaded her at every turn and in the end she decided to shower and go and listen to some music in the gym, at least there it wouldn't disturb anyone. The room was sound proofed, Catherine had insisted on it, she knew her appetite for loud music; but tonight, the music loud or soft had not worked. Now, back in the study, she heard Judy moving around the kitchen, at least now she could get some tea.
Walking out of the study and towards the kitchen with purpose, she surprised the housekeeper who almost jumped through the roof when she silently came up behind her.
"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump," Catherine replied sincerely, but noted her unease, which was far more than any scare she'd innocently inflicted.
"That's okay. You're up early, would you like tea?" Judy replied, her nerves on edge after her discussion with the detective, maybe Jeff would find her and then what?
"Sounds good to me, how are you coping with the situation Judy? I should have asked sooner, but my mind was preoccupied elsewhere." Catherine tilted her head to the right side in a listening action it was quite an endearing trait.
"I'm very well thank you Ms Warriorson, I know you have other things on your mind that are far more important." Judy tried to convey her sympathy at the current situation.
"Yes, Jace's kidnapping is very serious and extremely important, but the welfare of others that are my responsibility are equally as important," considering her next words carefully Catherine continued. "My children like you by the way, also, they say you have helped them with their assignments from school and have been helping them with the reading in the evening, especially Lisa. Thank you Judy, that means a lot to me." Catherine heard the heavy sigh as if the other woman wanted to say something important but didn't know how. "Are you worried about any particular aspect of working here Judy?"
Judy knew there never would be a better time than now to get her particular problem in the open. "I'm not what I appear Ms Warriorson, in fact I'm not a housekeeper at all!"
Catherine gave her a long look out of her sightless eyes and a wry smile creased her face for a moment, "I know, I've always known, you reminded me of Grace when she first arrived here. Only thing was I had to show Grace the ropes, she hadn't been a housekeeper before her arrival here either! So, what's your story?"
Judy related her career history and her traumatic engagement to the deputy head to her eventual final beating at his hands; the post being advertised in the local paper, and her attendance at the interview, everything else was history! Sitting quietly after she had bared her soul or it felt like that to her, she waited for some reaction from the other woman seated opposite her sipping tea.
"Do you want to leave here?" Catherine asked, her tone sympathetic.
"No, I want to be here to help you all through this, I know I can help in some way," Judy responded with conviction.
"Well, that settles that point, and when it's all over, perhaps we will talk again about what you really want to do with the qualification you possess. If you like it here, what about teaching in the local high school if there are vacancies?" Catherine remarked practically; the woman obviously was wasted as a housekeeper, even though she was turning out to be a good one.
"I appreciate your compassion, especially in the circumstances." Judy went over to the teapot and poured more tea for them both.
"It appears when I became resident here on 'Destiny', things that I would normally not suffer have become common place; must be an element on the ranch that brings out the best in people. My husband always intended this place as a retreat from the harsher realities of life; only he and our son never experienced that dream. I guess his caretaker is trying to rectify that for them both." Catherine looked into her now full mug of tea in a contemplative mood.
"Detective Armstrong is coming towards the house Ms Warriorson," Judy informed her. "Do you want to see him in the study alone?" Perhaps she would have the chance to ask who the caretaker was at some other time?
"Yes, good idea. Please bring more tea for me and whatever the detective drinks Judy." Catherine drank another mouthful from her mug and then raised herself to her six feet and left the room towards the main entrance and the detective's unexpected visit early in the morning.
***********
Constance waited for Clare to call her and confirm that she had contacted Gareth Cuthbert and asked him to attend a special meeting of VP's in New York in two days time. Enricho had been advised that the meeting was a ploy to trap Gareth and that he needed to say nothing at all unless the African VP wanted to confirm the meeting in light of the recent events at the home of Ms Devonshire. Rita had been asked to arrange a special meeting room for the visit. She had chosen the boardroom; it had the prestige feel for an extraordinary meeting. Once news circulated around the building that a meeting was arranged in the boardroom of all places, then Gareth would get the right kind of message relayed back to him by his spies, because he obviously had them.
Fortunately Eduardo was away from the European office and he couldn't be contacted; that left Tito and he had been told to attend the meeting, it would be his chance to redeem himself if he could.
The phone rang in Constance's apartment. "Hello?"
"Hi, we have a green light at this end, Rita has arranged the boardroom and Enricho is saying nothing on the subject other than a meeting will be in progress in that room that day. He's quite the prevaricator Constance, I'm not surprised Ms Devonshire likes him." Clare chatted on obviously pleased with the way the events were panning out.
Constance bit her lip at her friend's praise of the caretaker VP in New York, her role! "Great, so Gareth is coming over?"
"Oh yeah, his secretary called to confirm his flight and could a driver be on time to pick him up at the airport. She gave me his flight number and other details, so I guess he's coming." Clare smiled into the phone she was very pleased with the progress.
"Good, when are you coming back here?" Constance wanted to discuss the final details with her friend, not only that she missed Clare's company.
"Oh Constance, Enricho wants to go over the Anderson book deal and I can help him on that one, so I'll be back later. This isn't a problem is it?" Clare asked her tentatively.
"No, no of course not, it's your time. I'll see you later, I could do with a little more sleep anyway, and it's going to be a long two days I suspect. See you later Clare, bye," Constance disconnected the call.
Clare held her handset in her hand dumbfounded, which was sure a sharp reply? Puzzled, but to busy to consider it further she went off in search of Enricho.
Constance paced slowly about the apartment for several minutes, she'd been childish to severe the connection between Clare and herself so abruptly on the phone. She was jealous! Clare's references to Enricho had broken down a barrier she'd been keeping up between her feelings for Clare on the friendship front and what she would prefer to progress to with her friend. But.....would Clare? Although Clare had stayed the night, it had only been because of the circumstances nothing more. Clare had never given her any reason to think that she was interested in her other than as a friend; maybe she was over-reacting to the situation she was in at the moment. That would have to be the answer for the time being, at least until this mess with Cuthbert was straightened out.
The other problem she had was should she inform Catherine of her plans or leave it for now? Once it was over Catherine would either give a sigh of relief or give her the sack if she didn't handle the situation correctly. However, that last option didn't take any long residence in her thoughts; she would not fail.
At least she was right about one thing, she still needed some sleep, her body was still recuperating and so slowly it seemed. Time was the great healer they say, but she would like to see time move a little faster, for her body at least.
***********
"Detective Armstrong take a seat." Catherine waived her hand in the general direction of the furniture in the room.
Armstrong watched the tall beautiful woman walk towards her chair behind the large imposing desk in the centre of the room. He had been surprised when she opened the main door to him, and amazed when she gave the uncanny impression that she saw him too, when all reports had indicated that she was blind. "Thanks." He sat down easily in the chair opposite her desk facing her directly.
Catherine saw his shadow take the seat directly in front of her; it made her smile briefly. "Detective Armstrong, I'm sure your visit this early in the morning warrants either good or bad news. What is it today?"
Armstrong gave her a keen glance and saw that her expression was fixed, interested but refusing to acknowledge any type of emotion. "Yes, we intercepted your mail this morning,' he saw her arch her eyebrow in question. "This is normal in the circumstances Ms Warriorson, a precaution merely to avoid further distress."
"I know what the woman is capable of detective; she almost killed me in prison, I have a six inch scar on my back as a goodwill gesture. So, if you think that I'm squeamish than you would be wrong. Do you have any news?" Catherine questioned him bluntly, her expression never changing.
Armstrong shifted uncomfortably in his chair, she had a formidable presence that was a fact that you couldn't overlook and had obviously been around. "There is a ransom note, although it's a rather odd one."
"Odd Detective, how so?" Catherine inclined her head in question.
"The ransom isn't money, it's you!" Armstrong advised her, his voice surprised at the contents.
"No surprise to me detective; it's exactly what she came here for, only she decided that taking Jace was going to be the icing on the cake," Catherine quietly informed him.
"We obviously cannot allow this to happen, having two hostages and no request for money is to dangerous," Armstrong gave her a long look.
"Unfortunately she has something very special to me and if having the chance to get Jace Bardley back, is my going into her clutches she has the upper hand at the moment. When and where?" Catherine then replied as if she was undertaking a business deal.
"This isn't a business deal Ms Warriorson. This could mean your life and that of Ms Bardley, are you going to risk that?" Armstrong hissed out his frustration, she was way too calm about this.
"Oh, but detective that's exactly what it is, a deal, pure and simple and Ms Bardley is already dead unless we get her out of there soon, and I mean soon detective," Catherine stated in a dry tone. Refusing to acknowledge the small voice of her conscience that said Jace might already be dead.
Armstrong cleared his throat and was relieved when the housekeeper brought in the tea, it might soothe his nerves. Catherine Warriorson obviously had nerves of steel. Maybe she wasn't having an affair with Jace Bardley as the newspapers had implied; she certainly didn't look like the upset lover, more like a concerned friend.
"Where and when detective?" Catherine resumed the conversation immediately after Judy left the room.
"Lunchtime today. They want you to go to a deserted farm about hundred miles away alone," Armstrong said quietly.
"That about sums up the facts detective, are you going to use a wire or have you other instruments far more discreet these days?" Catherine asked him with interest.
"We propose the wire and I will monitor it personally. This has a risk attached to it, you realise that of course?" He saw her turn to the window and stare out her face blank of any emotion.
"Risk, I'm dead as soon as she has me anyway detective, if this saves Jace's life and mine in the long run, then we have to take that risk. Tell me did you contact Jace's ex-husband?" Catherine kept her back to the detective.
"Yes, he's working in Europe on a documentary series, one of our compatriots pulled him in for questioning. He's very upset at the situation, but says he had nothing to do with it; his only contact with his ex-wife was around three weeks ago on this ranch. He wanted to see his daughter I believe, and he left after that event." Armstrong noticed a tightening of her jaw at the words 'his daughter'.
"Did he say how he threatened her and indeed how he knew that Jace had the baby in the first place, we didn't exactly publicise it," Catherine's voiced strained; she loathed Peter Adamson.
"He mentioned that he had indicated that he wanted access to 'his' child and that Ms Bardley had refused unless he went through the courts. He wasn't happy about that, but has since resigned himself to the fact that he will not have access to his child, as he's far too busy at the moment to spend time in court." Armstrong saw a brief satisfied smile pass across her face, so Jace Bardley did mean more than a friend to her after all.
"How did he know about the baby?" Catherine persisted with the question that had plagued her ever since Adamson had turned up at 'Destiny'.
"He works for a foreign studio; the German producer advised him of the event when the producer was in LA, it appears that the news was available there. Adamson assumed that her parents had known, he found out that wasn't the case when he saw his ex-wife." Armstrong answered her question, there didn't appear to be anything sinister here at all.
"Interesting, so Adamson doesn't have a connection to Ms Schmidt and he no longer wants to be involved in the upbringing of his child?" Catherine murmured.
"It would appear so on both counts, but as to the access that can always come around again." Armstrong advised her.
"It could, but it won't! I have that in hand already. I need to talk to several people before we leave in what........a couple of hours?" Catherine gave him a brief glance.
Armstrong nodded his head and then realised she couldn't see that, "Yes, I'll be back with another officer to help you with the wire and then we will leave for the rendezvous."
"Thanks for making this easy for me detective, arguing about a situation that had to happen would have been a waste of both our energies, and we will be best served by consolidating our efforts. We are going to need it!" Catherine picked up her mug of tea and drank the residue as the detective let himself out of the room.
'This is turning out to be one adventure after another since I've been involved with you Jace, do you think that we can have some quiet time soon, or there is going to be nothing left of me but skin and bones?' Catherine looked down at her emaciated body although she couldn't see it, it certainly felt like that now; she hoped she had enough reserves for this final battle.
***********
Grace sat at the end of Catherine's bed holding a sleeping Elena in her arms and contemplated her friend, who was now wired and ready for another dangerous situation. Did this woman want to take over the lead in the 'James Bond' movies?
Catherine turned to her friend as she pulled on a thick white sweater over her heavy towelling shirt, it was going to be cold out there.
"I can hear her sleeping again, must be a family past-time, I wonder if Jace's sister exhibits the same tendency?" Catherine absently said.
"Have you talked to her family?" Grace asked her seriously.
"I wanted to, I even dialled the number last night but I couldn't do it! I chickened out Grace. What was I going to say! Sorry, but Jace is living with me now, congratulations you're grandparents, and Jace has a beautiful baby girl. Oh, by the way she's been kidnapped by an ex-con who has a grudge against me from my prison days." Catherine sat down heavily next to her friend and reached a gentle hand out, which Grace steered towards the baby's head.
"Yes, well it does kind of sound dramatic, pity it's all true!" Grace touched her friend's cheek in gentle sympathy.
"Which part do you pity?" Catherine asked her quietly.
Grace gave her a sharp look Catherine was joking surely. "The part about the ex-con, whatever else did you think?"
"Nothing really, I'm certain that now they're not exactly going to be to happy about me in her life! I've not exactly been good for their little girl now have I?" Catherine shook her head at the desolate thought.
Grace chuckled softly. "You were right the other day Catherine, you're head does need to be examined. Jace came alive the day she met you, and you better believe that my friend. Whatever happens now you will be together, and as with all the other obstacles that have been placed in the way of your life you will overcome them together! I can't predict an outcome here Catherine, but I'm positive about the effect you two have on each other and everything else fades into the background. I'm going to make arrangements for my wedding, because you're going to promise to give me away and Jace is going to be my maid of honour."
Catherine let a solitary tear track down her cheeks at her friend's consistent optimism in the face of tremendous odds; she gave the only answer she could. "I promise."
"Excellent, because I'm not going to tell Jake or Lisa that you're going okay? I want you back here tomorrow as early as possible got me?" Grace saw Catherine's single tear and stopped her own it would be too much for them both to cry.
"I...no we will be back tomorrow Grace, one way or the other." Catherine quickly placed a kiss on her daughter's head and smiled at the downy cap of hair.
Grace heard the remark but refused to comment, there simply wasn't anything more that she could say on the subject. It was now up to Catherine, Jace and the police. The two women sat beside each other deep in thought, until Catherine was called to leave the property.
Continued in Part 17
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