The Desperation Inside

Chapter 8: Evil Inside

Chad's POV

Little brat thought she could get away from me, he thought to himself. All the work he had put in, just to have her pull a disappearing act right before he got back in town. I will find her. She is mine!

Standing at the window of the hotel, Chad stared off in the distance adapting a new plan of attack. He logged back into the computer and began trolling, looking for clues that would lead him to where she might be hiding. Social media and email had been no help, so he decided to take a less.. legal.. approach. After several attempts, he managed to hack in to her credit report, which didn't have much due to her age. It did have one interesting entry, however. A sinister smile crept over his face. So, he thought. The Loft Apartments huh? Wonder how she convinced dear old daddy to let her move out before she turned eighteen. Makes my plan a little easier though.... if she is living alone, I don't have to take a chance on a hotel room.

Picking up the burner phone he had bought, he called Alex. "Hey man I got her. You ready to take a little roadtrip?"

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Jake swore in frustration as he hung up the phone. Where is this guy hiding? he wondered. So far, his contacts had no luck in tracking down this Chad character. A phone hit had come across during the night from a tap on Alex's phone, but it had traced back to a burner phone and they couldn't get an address. Credit cards, bank account, cell phone...no activity showing anywhere. Fearing the worst case scenario, he placed a call to Shaun's brother.

"Drake? Hey this is Jake, Shaun's friend. Did he give you the run down on the Glory situation?" He paused and listened to Drake's response. "Yeah, we were able to track this Alex kid.. but Chad is in the wind. My gut is telling me that 'wind' may blow him this way. You got any guys you trust that would be willing to come do some surveillance for me? I am staying home with her, but I would feel better having someone keep watch outside the house as well."

A few minutes later, the call ended with Jake feeling a ton better. Drake and his roommate, both former Special Ops agents, were coming to help. Jake had worked with him one time before, on a kidnapping case, and had nothing but respect for the skill and dedication he had seen.

Heaving a sigh, he walked thru the house double checking doors and windows. Even though he knew there should be nothing that world lead those pieces of scum here, he wasn't taking any chances. Until those two were either six foot under or in jail, he would not be letting his guard down.

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Glory moved slowly, stretching out her kinked muscles. After Jake had walked out, she had tried to think about what he had said. Maybe taking to someone about it could help? Wasn't that what doctors recommended after trauma? To talk through your feelings with a professional? She had debated internally, going back and forth, creating a pros and cons list in her head.

She could hear muted talking from the living room and figured that Jake must be on the phone. Slipping out of the bed, she padded over and opened the door quietly. Jake was sitting on the chair facing her room, and looked up immediately. She could feel herself blushing slightly as they made eye contact, remembering her meltdown.

"Thanks Shaun, I will let you know when they get here. See ya." Jake ended the call and she could feel his eyes examining her face. "Feeling a little better now?"

"Yes, thank you. I am sorry for freaking out on you." she replied, making sure she kept her eyes down.

"It's fine. Hungry?" Jake laid his phone on the end table and started to stand.

"No, I am actually not hungry yet... I think I need to move around a little more before I can eat anything," Glory quickly replied, a huge yawn erupting as if to prove her right. She made her way to the couch and flopped down on it. "So who is coming?"

"Well, have you met Drake, Shaun's brother?" She shook her head. "Well, he and his roommate are going to come spend some time with us, to help me keep an eye on everything. I have worked with them before, and they will help me make sure those two have no chance at getting to you."

Glory nodded, feeling slightly anxious about two more men invading her living area, but knowing it was necessary. "Ok. Have you seen my phone? I need to check in with my dad."

Jake pointed to the kitchen. "I put it on the counter."

After retrieving the phone, and checking in with her dad, she grimaced and looked back at Jake. "Think there is any chance of us getting into my apartment to get some clothes?"

"Aww... I kind of like what you have been wearing," Jake replied, with a mischievous grin.

Glory blushed in response. "Well, I am sure you do, but with more guys showing up, I feel much too exposed."

"Yeah, I understand. Let me grab my keys and we will go grab you some things."