Nothing On You

Chapter Twenty-three

Me: Emily, come over now. 

Emily: Bruno, what happened?

Me: Come. 

I text back. I put Lani aside on the couch and set my phone on the table. Pacing the room, my thoughts run rampant, all going to the same extreme. Could she be? But no, she can't be not this easily...she can't be. She just can't. My blood turns to ice, sending freezing chills up my spine. I shiver as goosebumps rise on my skin. My eyes begin pulsate, heat rushing to them as they swell, tears forming. I hear a knock at the door.

"Bruno," Emily says as I open the door. "What happened?"

"E-email," I say the shock blatantly obvious in my tone. "I got another email." 

"Ok," she says, watching me intently. "Where's your laptop?" I lead her into the kitchen, type in my password and log in to my email account. "Was it another video?" No words escape. She looks at me. I nod. She directs her attention back to the screen. Then I remember something. I take out my phone.

Me: Devi, send Tim over to my place. I need his help.

Devi: Why?

Me. Just send him over. 

Devi: Alright.

I slip my phone back in my pocket. 

"Did you watch the video?" Emily asks. 

"No, I paused it after I opened it," I manage to say. Then there's a knock at the door. I open the door to see Tim, his laptop bag over his shoulder. He gives me daps. 

"What's up, Devi said that you needed my help?" he asks. 

"Yeah," I say slowly. "the people who have her," a knot grows in my throat. "they sent me another video."

"I'll see if I can trace it, then I'll try to pin down exactly where it came from." he walks in, taking a seat next to Emily as I close and lock the door. ___________________________________________________________________________

Emily sleeps away, head rested on her arms. My laptop sits in front of her angled towards Tim. He rubs his eyes and takes yet another sip of coffee. A beeping noise interrupst the silence. Tim's fingertips fly across one keyboard then the other. 

Hunched over she doesn't look up, I can't tell if she's breathing or not. Her arms lay limply on the arm rests of the chair. My blood pressure begins rise. I stare  waiting to see some sign of life, movement, anything but there's nothing.  Images of her...every time I close my eyes I see them again. 

"Bruno," Tim says. My eyes snap open. "I've got something..." he starts, opening a series of windows. " I'm picking up a phone signal."

"See these three red dots here?" he points to the screen. 

"Yeah?"

"They're cell phone towers and that white dot is Izziah's cellphone."

"You...you found her?" I ask cautiously, my breath catching in my throat. "She has to be within a 10 mile radius of this dot." Then the dot disappears. "But, where did it go?"

"Hold on," Tim says as he starts typing again but nothing happens. "Dammit," he seethes under his breath. "I lost it."

_____________________________________________________________________________

I dial the number. The dial tone rings three times before I hear a voice on the line. "Meet me where we first met. Come alone."  I hang up and take a walk down the pier down by the beach. Are people around, hanging out at the bars and buying things from the shops, situated side by side. I met Natalie just outside one of the bars here, she was just about to walk in when I saw her. She was wearing that one shouldered red dress of her's. I ended up spending that whole night with her, buying her drinks, dancing with her, talking to her. I was interested in her and all she wanted was my money. That's where it all started, and that's is where it's going to end. 

The Black Swan. The letters are lit in red against the black onning. Just across the walk way I lean against the railing, arms crossed. Then she shows up. I tilt my head ushering her over. I put my hands in my pockets and we start walking further down the pier. 

 "Natalie," I start pushing my hands deep in my pockets. "You need to tell where she is." Walking past a three to four stores awards nothing. I let some time pass before I speak again. Then I stop, turning to her. Instead of feeling anger swell up in my muscles, a pain in my head follows as I close my eyes seeing Iz again. I put my hand over my face and take a few breaths. 

'Bru-Bruno are you ok?" Natalie says, concern becoming attached to her tone. Eyes throbbing, I look at her. 

"Natalie, Nat please," I say calling her by her old nickname. "Just...tell me...tell me where she is. I see her, hurting, in pain, every time I close my eyes. I'm worried about her. I just want her back safe, that's all I want." I look into her eyes, noticing the bright red lines surrounding them.

"I wish I could tell you...I really wish I knew. I was taken off the deal, I don't know where Izziah is."