My Kidnapper's Mistake

Chapter 12: First Plans

Anya's P.O.V.

"That plan has so many weak spots." I retorted.
Julian and I were sitting on the living room floor, with the building plans of the venue for the Charity Gala spread out on the coffee table. Most of the guys were all off doing something and the ones who were here were already fast asleep, since it was already quarter to twelve at night.
"Then fix it." Julian ordered with a triumphant grin.
"I had a feeling that having you as a leader wouldn't be all that pleasant. And if you're planning on having me do your job you better find a better code for it than fix it." I huffed leaning in closer to the table.
"For one none of you can set foot in or near the Gala, Freeman's men will probably know what you look like after the first job." I finally informed him.
"So only you and, or Clive will be able to get near her." Julian scrunched up his nose like he had smelled something rotten.
"Yes, but this isn't going to be just a grab and go. She will be heavily guarded. Clive will have to get close to her and drug her just enough to get her compliant."
"So where do we come in?"
"You will be waiting a block away, each in a similar car but with a different escape route. Clive will take her to the first floor of rooms and then down the fire escape. I will have cleared the fire escape of any men and they will meet me at the bottom."
"That sounds like a lot could go wrong." Julian sounded sceptical.
"It can, but there are a lot more ways to abort early on without blowing our cover."
"And how do you suppose you're going to fight anyone blocking the fire exit?" Julian quirked his eyebrow at me.
"I..uhm... I." I stutter.
"Double lessons then and let's hope we'll be able to get you in a good enough shape to pull this off."
We sat in silence both caught up in our own thoughts until I spoke up again.
"How does all this work?"
"What work?"
"With you and the Boss? Are you like a gang with him being the Chief and you leading this group or what?"
"Something like that. See we are part of a world wide organization. They have, say Supervisors, like the Boss in every state to oversee the various teams in that state." Julian explained.
"How do you become part of a team?"
"They recruit you or save you."
"Are those the only ways?"
"Those are the only ways I know of. We haven't heard of any other ways and the Orginization doesn't take well to people just joining in."
"So, I am in fact in danger for just being in this house?"
Julian looked down and I only caught a glimpse of his guilty expression.
"Yes." He whispered.
I sighed getting up. I knew that I should probably feel scared, even mad that he had kept me here, but I didn't. For some unexplained reason I didn't. I was a law student, wasn't I supposed to frown on criminal activity? I haven't felt this alive in years.
I stopped at the door leading to the stairs and turned around to see Julian not studying the maps but sitting with his head hung low, his chin almost touching his chest.
"Julian." I called in a whisper and his head shot up and whirled around so fast I was surprised he didn't get whiplash, "I'll need to go dress shopping if I'm going to that Gala."
"Yes... Right... We'll get to that tomorrow." Julian didn't seem like he had even comprehended what he had just said.

***

Julian hadn't invited any of the other guys along for our dress shopping expedition. The first few dresses got a rather awkward response from Julian, everyone got the 'you look nice' with his nervous neck rub. Until I put my foot down and told him that if he wanted to spend the entire week in the mall that he should start giving real comments so that I could narrow down the search. Still it took ages to find a dress.

I twirled in front of the mirror. The red dress had a jewel studded illusion neckline and the bust ended in jewel flowers. The soft satin flowed around my legs the slits in the skirt all but disapearing when I stood still.
"That is the one!" Julian shouted, earning strict glares from the store's staff.
"You really think so? You're not just saying this because you want to get home?"
"I love it. You look gorgeous. It brings out the green in your eyes. And there will always be the underlying desire to go home no matter how long we shop."
"Fine I'll take it, but only because you complemented my eyes on this one and not my legs."
"Thank goodness!"
"You're forgetting that we still haven't gotten shoes." I chuckled as I walked back to the fitting room.

***

"We're back." I hollered from the foyer and Kevin immediately popped his head around the corner leading to the kitchen.
"I'm beat. Can you believe how picky she is. I can do with a cold beer right about now."
"Well, why don't you go up to your rooms and relax I'll bring that beer up." Kevin said a bit too quick for comfort.
Julian and I gave each other a sceptical look.
"Kevin what did you do?" I asked slowly.
"Nothing!" He all but shouts.
"Where is Brian?" Julian questioned.
"He went out a while ago." This I believed because Kevin said it at normal speed and pitch.
"I'm parched. Think I'll just get myself a bottle of cold water from the fridge." I emphasised the phrase.
"No! Why don't you go relax and I'll bring you some lemonade, its way better than plain old water." Kevin started to usher us to the stairs and at close quarters I could see that he had a dark stain in his shirt.
"Is that blood?" I pointed at his chest.
"No?"
"That is not something you should be answering with another question." Julian warns and with our combined effort we manage to evade Kevin and slip into the kitchen.

I never made it past the first few steps. I gasped, I could not believe that he would do such a thing. There on the kitchen island lay a fully grown stag. Something clicked around me and snapped me out of my daze.
"Is that dead?" I finally got out when my breath returned.
"I promise I'll clean it up before dinner."
"I don't care when you clean it up the question is why is it in here in the first place?" Julian looked furious. This scenario made me think of us as parents and Kevin as the misbehaving child, I couldn't help but laugh at the entire situation. I doubled over with laughter, where have these guys been all my life? How will I ever be able to live without this constant amusement? Their expressions as they watched me didn't help either, it only made me laugh harder. I finally wiped away a tear and straightened out.
"Where did you get this? Wait. Tell us later. First thing, can anybody skin a deer?"
I wasn't planning on letting any meat go to waste, this deer wasn't going to die without reason.
"I think Brian aught to know." Julian suggested and I could see that he still didn't know what to make of my outburst.
"Well then call him and tell him to get his butt over here asap." I ordered and put my apron on, which Kevin tied behind my back.
"What are you planing on doing?" Julian wanted to know, phone in hand.
"Thanks to Kevin, you'll be having deer stew for dinner for a while."
Julian groaned, but Kevin sounded delighted.