Pete
I was on the line with this Ronnie guy five minutes later. I had decided I was going to handle things. So far, all I had done was bark orders and I felt as though maybe I need to get involved in doing something to find my girlfriend.
Was she still my girlfriend? She had faked her death to get away from the life we were starting so I couldn't say I knew how she felt about me. But I knew how I felt about her. That was enough for me.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Pete Wentz. I'm looking for Ronnie, Radka I think?"
"It's Rad-key! Shit. I knew this was a bad idea. I know why you're calling and I swear I told her to call you."
"Where is Toni?"
"Man, I don't know. She wouldn't even tell me where she was heading to next. I gave her the number of a guy who would hook her up with a new passport. He'll know what name she's travelling under. How did you find me?"
"Your friend, Andy Biersack, has been helping us out. He hacked into Marissa Levaik's emails and we found your emails."
Ronnie sighed, "Okay. I'll text you the name and phone number of the guy I hooked her up with."
I wasn't going to take a chance, so I bluffed. "You do know I have Toni's old laptop and I'm looking at a file with mugshots of you in it. If I don't have those details in the next hour, I'm going to release all of the pictures and documents to the press."
He got upset, "Don't fucking blackmail me! If I said I'd do it, I would have done it. Don't fucking test me bitch."
I got the feeling I had pushed the wrong button but continued on anyway. There was a lot at stake. "You heard my terms Rad-key." And I hung up.
In twenty minutes I had a text with the phone number of Radovik Peridonski sent to me. I immediately pressed dial and the call was answered almost just as instantaneously. "Hello Peter. I've been expecting your call."
"So you know what I want then."
He laughed a rich, Russian laugh that was most likely fueled by vodka. "Yes. I do know what you want dear boy. But that name will cost you $20 000 cash."
"Done. Where do we meet?"
"When you have the cash, you text me and I will send you address."
With that, he ended the call. I went to join the others in the room we had congregated in for intelligence gathering. "Alright, I've got the guy who sold Toni her passport and he'll give up her new name for $20 000."
Patrick immediately jumped up, "I'll pitch in half."
I scowled at him and Hurley stood up to diffuse the situation. "We'll each pitch in some cash. It'll look weird if you guys each draw that amount of cash. That way it's under the radar. You can pay for our next round of flights and accommodation. That alright by you Joe?"
Joe showed me a thumbs up and lit a cigarette up. After he finished his smoke he stood up. "I just want you to know before Toni died, she came to the house and sat down with Marie and I and she said a few things I can't get into but I will tell you this. If I don't get Toni back safely, you will answer to Marie."
This irked me. Joe had kept this a secret all along. There was an element of guilt in his helping us. We filed out to the closest bank and withdrew the money we needed. I sent Radovik a text and was soon sent one back with an underground address. I took Joe with me.
"Joe, did she say anything about me?"
"She did. She said she loved you but the stress of the situation was eating at her and she could tell it was affecting you and she hated it."
Soon we had arrived. I had a sense of renewed hope with Joe's revelation. I walked up to the door and said I was here for Radovik.
The bouncer took me and Joe in to a man who was about fifty and looked the part of the Russian mob boss he was playing. "Peter, I see you've also brought an associate. Wise of you when dealing with characters like myself."
I cleared my throat and Joe recognised the signal as to shake his hand. "Yes, this is Joseph Trohman. My bandmate."
He smiled widely. "Yes Christina spoke quite fondly of Joseph."
I looked at him quizzically. He responded by calling one of his henchmen over to take the suitcase and check it. After a minute , he took a sip of the vodka in front of him and slid over a copy of a passport which had a clear as day picture of Toni. "The woman you are looking for travelled to Venezuela under the name Christina Mendes.
