The morning finds Maxine in the kitchen of the Rusk Mansion. She was still in her robe covering her nightclothes. She yawned as she poured coffee into her cup. Ivanova walks in sleepily as her arms hang by her side.
"Any left for me?" she inquires with a smile.
Maxine smiles as she slides a cup over in front of her and pours coffee into her cup. Both women sit beside each other as the sunlight begins to stream through the windows. Ivanova leans on Maxine's shoulder as she tries to wake up. Maxine quietly turns and kisses the top of Ivanova's head.
"Morning sweetness," cooed Maxine, causing a smile to appear on Ivanova's face.
Maxine's cellphone buzzed on the kitchen table. Maxine takes a quick look at it and put it down.
"What's that?" Ivanova inquires.
"Message from Chloe, I'll look at it later," answers Maxine.
"You may want to look at it now, If you don't she may keep sending messages until you do or go insane," jokes Ivanova.
Maxine sighs as she shakes her head, "Yeah, you're probably right."
Maxine casually picks up her phone and unlocks it and selects the texting app. Her casual expression soon disappears as one of great concern takes its place. She stands as she keeps her eyes fixed on the phone. She steps away from the table, causing Ivanova to look at her with worry.
"Maxine, what's wrong?" Ivanova asks, standing up from the table.
Maxine looks back at Ivanova, shows her the phone screen containing the text and accompanying picture showing Chloe being held between the two thugs dressed as cops.
"Victor Rusk has Chloe, If I want her back unharmed I am to get picked up by a couple of his employees at the park," Maxine explains as she looks over the text.
Ivanova rises quickly to her feet. She moves toward Maxine as she holds her hands out to look at the text. Worry can be seen on her face as she looks up at Maxine.
"What are we going to do?" she asks.
"We do nothing, I, on the other hand, will go and get Chloe back somehow," Maxine says as she sets down her phone and exits the kitchen, followed by Ivanova.
Maxine quickly gets dressed, as does Ivanova. Ivanova begins to search in their closet as Maxine puts on her jacket. Maxine takes up her knife but puts it down while looking back at Ivanova.
"I better not try to bring it, they may hurt Chloe in response."
Ivanova nods, she pulls out a box, "Here is something from Chloe's bag of tricks."
Ivanova pulls a necklace and transmitter out that was used when she was kidnapped long ago by the Krane sisters. She places the fancy necklace around Maxine's neck. She even tries to test the transmitter which beeps.
"We better get to the park where they will meet me and pick me up." Maxine states.
"I'm going with you," Ivanova said.
Maxine shakes her head and puts out her hand, " No you're not, besides who's going to operate the transmitter if you are already there beside me?"
"Fine, Let's just go then," Ivanova sighs.
At the park, Maxine walks down a path into the large center clearing. The Twins sit inside a gazebo watching her approach. They rise to their feet as Maxine enters.
"You must be Maxine," says Maria.
"I am and you are? Wait you look familiar." Maxine says.
"You met me," Sophia says raising her hand slightly.
Maxine looks at both women in turn, "Twins huh? I see."
"Maria and my sister Sophia, here to take you to your friend and our employer Victor Rusk," Maria introduces.
Maxine shrugs her shoulder, "Well let's get this over with."
Sophia moves closer to her sister whispering something. Maria nods and moves toward Maxine.
"Your necklace is very pretty," Maria says as she handles it gingerly.
"What about it, it was a gift from my fiancee, had it for a while."
"I would like to believe that, but you see, my sister is very observant, and she knows that you don't wear such things as jewelry, you don't even wear the engagement ring do you?"
Maxine stands stiff-backed as Maria tightens her grip on the necklace and pulls it off in a swift move. Maria drops it in a nearby wastebasket, turns to face Maxine, and gestures toward an SUV.
"Your chariot awaits," taunts Maria.
Maxine walks with Sophia near her toward the vehicle with Maria a little way ahead.
"I'm sorry to put you through this, but it's the only way we can be free fro-" Sophia starts toward Maxine.
"Sophia! Keep your mouth shut! She doesn't need to know about that!" snaps Maria.
Sophia stops short and just nods to her sister then towards Maxine and whispers, "Again, I'm sorry."
They get to the SUV where Maria opens the back door and looks at Maxine with contempt, "Inside you will find a blindfold, put it on, then we will be on our way."
Sophia opens her door to the SUV and looks back at Maxine, she breaks eye contact and enters mournfully the front passenger side of the vehicle. Maxine sits in the back and closes the door. She takes up the blindfold, looks out of the window, and sees Ivanova run into view. Maxine shakes her head at her to answer some unspoken question and puts on the blindfold. Maria starts the SUV.
Ivanova can do nothing but watch the SUV drive away from the park and off into the distance.
YOU ARE READING
The Beautiful Guardian: Vengence
Action(PART TWO) A brother of a slain enemy comes into town bent on revenge. An unknown assassin begins to hunt. Future inlaws coming in for a visit. Maxine sure has her hands full!
