"Mornin'." the old man beamed.
"That's right," Max narrowed his eyebrows as he spoke. "It is morning. What I want to know is why is it morning? You should have been back hours ago. Esther is out there with some dangerous men, and you stroll back here like it's just another day on the job for you?"
If the old man was taken aback at all, he didn't show it. "The first time I came back was hours ago. Took care of the car an' everythin'. Every one of ya was out cold, sleepin' like the dead. Even my tinkerin' under the hood didn't stir ya. Figured ya needed it. 'Specially if ya have a run-in comin' up. Can't face your foes with worn-out bodies."
Max didn't know what to say. While he would rather have gotten going as soon as the car was fixed, he couldn't force the others to do so in such a state of useless weariness. The old man did have a point. It would be best to be refreshed when going up against Angoli.
"Come on in." The old man headed for the store. "Git yourself some coffee and we'll git ya on the road in no time."
* * *
About a half an hour and a full tank of gas later, they loaded themselves into the BMW, Max and Martin in the back, Manda in the front with Roden behind the wheel.
The old man gave Roden a nod, and said to "start 'er up". Roden did so with eagerness and trepidation, and the BMW roared to life. He gave a grateful sigh, contented by the reassuring vibrations of the running motor, and felt sure that he had never heard anything so wonderful in all his life. With a look conveying the extent of his absolute gratitude, he got back out of the car to offer the old man a hearty handshake. The old man in turn looked very proud of himself, and murmered something about how nice it was to be appreciated for one's skills.
Before they pulled away, Roden gave the old man another obliged handshake and thanked him thoroughly for all of his help.
"No thanks needed." The old man beamed back, leaning through the window of the car so that he could address them all. "It was my pleasure ta help. You jist do what ya need ta do now. Come back around soon, an' let me know how it all turned out. That'll be thanks enough for me."
"Certainly. No problem." Roden gave one last appreciative smile, and zipped off down the road. No one complained about his speed, not even Manda. It seemed to each of them that they couldn't get to where they needed to go fast enough.
"Alright," Max said after a few minutes. "Which way do we go from here, Martin?"
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ess sat on the immense bed in the over-sized bedroom, and waited. She had no choice but to wait. After the man with the broken nose had his men force her through the gigantic, elaborately adorned entry doors of the most ostentatious house she had ever laid her eyes on, she was dragged up a needlessly wide staircase that rose higher than the stairs to her third floor apartment. Ess made sure that the climb proved a challenge for the men, as she would not go to her doom peacefully. However hard she fought, though, in the end she ended up in an opulently decorated bedroom that was nearly twice the size of her own home.
The dark wood paneling and intricate deep-colored Indian style rugs lent a menacing feel to the space. The massive four-poster bed looked like an antique monstrosity in the middle of the room, while a dimly lit corner held a sitting area that consisted of a very formal looking chair and love seat. In front of an unlit fireplace, which had an ornately carved cherry wood and white marble mantle piece, sat an exceptionally dramatic chaise lounge. It looked poised and ready to catch a swooning damsel upon the entrance of Dracula or some other sinister creature.
If Ess hadn't been in dire circumstances, she would have been somewhat diverted with the spectacle and the grandeur. As it was, it only lent an aura of malice to her predicament.
Once in the room, the man with the broken nose gave her a quick tour, which was rather uncomfortable and awkward for both parties involved. He directed her to the large walk-in closet just off of her en suite bathroom. There were many outfits for all occasions, or so he made her aware, and all the clothes and shoes were in her size.
"Boss had all of your sizes and preference information given to a personal shopper. She took care of the details. If there's anything in there you don't like, Boss will have it replaced with something else." He didn't bother to hide his disinterest and distain for her as he spoke. Lastly, he instructed her to clean up and rest. It was late, and Angoli wouldn't be seeing her until the morning. "I'm leaving now. Too much girly shit for me for one day. Someone will be along to fetch you in the morning for breakfast. You'll be eating with Mr. Angoli, so you better be ready when you're called."
With that he swept out of the room, followed by his thugs who had been hovering at the doorway.
Ess spent a good hour checking any possible modes of escape, the obvious one being the door. She found that it had been locked from the outside, and there appeared to be no lock on the inside. How unfortunate. Her kidnappers could keep her in, but she wouldn't be able to keep them out. Next were the two large windows. The panes could be swung open, but there were bars blocking any attempt at escape. Even without the bars, the drop looked far too risky to attempt without causing severe injury. Even a ballsy move like climbing up the fireplace's chimney had been thwarted by the narrowness of its chute.
As all hope of escape diminished, Ess began to give in to the idea of her capture. She would have to play out her part for as long as she could. With this resolution in mind, she headed to the bathroom. The one positive thing to come of this change in circumstances would be a real shower.
The bathroom held a surprising number of products that Ess used on a daily basis, from her face lotion to her deodorant. There were a few extras, as well, such an imported Japanese night cream and a deliciously scented bottle of Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel. A quick rummage through the closet revealed a full wardrobe in her size, most of the clothes were actually in her taste, with a few gaudy exceptions.
Obviously, the kidnapping had been well planned out. They had to have broken into her apartment and gone through her things in detail in order to be so well prepared for her arrival. Ess had never even noticed. She never suspected anything in her home had been out of place, and had been so oblivious and passive to everything in her life that she didn't even realize it had been invaded. She became angry with herself for being so truly unaware. It was all her own fault that she found herself in this dilemma now. If she had only paid attention to the world around her, she could have been prepared, and may have been able to prevent her own demise. She had only herself to blame.
She resignedly turned on the shower and began to clean up. If there could be any chance for escape now, she must be alert and ever ready. There were no deluded hopes and vain plans now. Her only possibility would be opportunity . . . and maybe Max?
So, after the comforting shower, she simply sat on the bed, waiting for opportunity to offer itself, and fearing to permit herself to sleep. The bed proved very comfortable, however, and at long last, sleep finally did prevail.
The next thing she knew, someone had entered her room and thrown open the curtains. The light came streaming in, stinging her eyes, and making her surroundings appear out of focus. It was morning. Such sudden alertness caused her heart to pound the blood into her head, producing sharp pains throughout her skull. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed a man standing beside her bed.