Deny Tomorrow Read online

  “Okay, ladies,” she heard Tony say. “I’d like you to meet Pilar. She is in charge of all the servants and the complete running of this house. Pilar, this is Arianna and Lisa.”

  All the women stared at each other but didn’t speak or acknowledge one another directly. Arianna wondered if this servant wondered what these two strange women were doing, standing in her kitchen in their bathrobes at two o’clock in the morning. If she was surprised by any of this, she didn’t let on. She must be in on this too, or maybe this happens all the time around here.

  Tony continued, “Pilar is going to be your special hostess while you are here. She’ll see that you have what you need to be comfortable during your stay.”

  Looking right at Arianna, but speaking to the servant, Tony said, “Now, Pilar. I think you should know that Miss Garrett here, Arianna, is not exactly a happy camper. You might say we’ve had a little trouble with her this evening. However, I’m sure that she is not going to give us anymore problems.”

  If he expected some kind of retort, it was not forthcoming. Arianna just stood there glaring at him.

  “So you see,” Tony went on, and though addressing both of them, still looked right at Arianna, “as long as you behave yourself and do what Pilar tells you, this won’t be so bad. And one more thing, just in case either one of you gets any ideas about doing something stupid, like trying to leave or call for help, Carlos here, will be nearby to intervene.”

  So quietly that no one had noticed, a new man had entered the kitchen and had seated himself in the nook directly behind them.

  “Well, Pilar, unless you have any questions then, I’ll leave you to get acquainted with your new charges.”

  Her only response was to shake her head and say, “Good night, sir.” Turning to the girls she said, “Come with me.”

  She led them through a large pantry and down some steps into a lower level hallway where the servant’s quarters were. Using a key from her pocket, she opened a door and invited the girls to enter. Inside the small but neat room, were two twin beds, a nightstand, lamp, dresser, and a TV.

  “There are fresh towels and toiletries in the bathroom. I see you have your own nightclothes. However, if you need anything else, just knock on the door, and Carlos will come and wake me.”

  With that she moved to the nightstand, unplugged the phone and took it with her as she proceeded to leave the room. Pausing by the door she turned and spoke again. “Try to get some sleep. You are safe. No one will bother you.” Then, she left.

  What would she know or did she know the kind of evening they’d had? One thing for sure, she had correctly sensed the anxiety she and Lisa felt as to whether they were safe. After having been rudely wakened once already this night, the possibility of another unwanted intruder loomed large in Arianna’s mind. She heard the door lock behind Pilar. Kidnapped. No doubt about it, Arianna thought. They could call it what they wanted, but it was a pure and simple kidnapping.

  Letting out a deep sigh, she sat down on the bed. “I keep thinking this is a bad dream, and that any moment now, I’m going to wake up, and this will all be over. How in the world did we get mixed up in this anyway?”

  Lisa slumped down on the other bed. “I’m so scared. I can’t stop shaking. What do you think these men want?”

  Arianna let out another long, nervous sigh. “I have no idea. I’ve been trying to figure this out, but I just don’t get it. I’ve asked several times, but they refuse to say what they want with us.”

  Lisa pulled a blanket up around her. “These men have been pretty rough, but so far they haven’t hurt us although they still could. We know they’re going to hack into our accounts, so at a minimum, they’re crooks. And look where they brought us. You know it’s never a good thing when you can identify your kidnapper’s face and where they live.”

  “I thought about that, too,” Arianna said, shifting on the bed. “That seems very odd. Why would they bring us to their home? We can lead the police right back to this place, of course, that’s only if we get out of here alive.”

  “Oh, God, Arianna. Don’t even say that. I’m scared enough already.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you even more. They said they were trying to keep us safe, so I’m sure they wouldn’t kill us. But I’m not going to wait around to find out what they have in store for us. If I can find a way out of here, I’m going. I’ll go to the authorities and tell them everything I know. I’m done trying to figure things out on my own. This is bigger than both of us.”

  Lisa got up and checked the door. It was definitely locked. “I wish I could lock the door from this side, too. I’m afraid someone may come into our room while we’re sleeping.” She plopped back down on the bed. “You were really brave tonight, Ari. I was proud of how you stood up to these guys, but you need to be careful. I don’t think these men play around. I saw a gun in Tony’s waistband.”

  “Yeah, me too, but I’m not going to make this easy for them.”

  The girls talked until they were talked out. Lisa nodded off first, and Arianna made her way to the bathroom to freshen up a bit before going to bed. Slipping off her robe, she looked into the mirror. Her hair was sticking up everywhere, and her eyes had dark circles under them. And oh, dear! Her pajamas. You could see her breasts right through the gauzy material, and when she checked the side view, it was obvious that her bottom was barely covered. She could only imagine how much cheek she’d shown draped over Juan’s shoulder. And to think, these guys had seen all of this. Especially that quiet one… Zach.

  The way he had looked at her had unnerved her enough, but now, knowing that he had practically seen her naked, made her feel… made her feel…what? What exactly was it she was feeling about this guy and about the part of him practically seeing her naked? Surely not…flushed? Tinged with excitement? Oh! For God’s sake, Arianna. Stop it!

  Tired. That was it. Yes, she was so tired she wasn’t thinking straight anymore. She finished up in the bathroom and stumbled out to her bed and fell in. She was bone tired, but fought off the sleep until she could fight it no more. Slowly she drifted into an uneasy slumber.

  “I’M AFRAID it’s going to be a long night, guys,” Zach said to Tony and Juan who had joined him in his office. “We’ve got some loose ends to tie up, and we need to take care of them tonight.”

  A servant came in and set a pot of coffee on the desk. “Anything else, sir?

  Zach waved him off.

  “How’s your hand?” Tony asked, turning to Juan.

  “I think I’ll live, but what the hell. It took all the patience I could muster to keep from clobbering her. If tonight is any example, she’s going to be handful.”

  This brought a smile to everyone’s face. It wouldn’t be so funny except that Juan was a trained killing machine. Under normal circumstances he could have dispatched with this girl in an instant and come away without a scratch on him.

  “Okay, let’s get to work,” Zach said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “We’re going to be up all night the way it is. Juan, get me a full dossier on these two. We need to know where they work, who their relatives are, friends, etc… as much background as you can get.”

  “Tony, get someone at the Agency to hack into their accounts… computer, cell phone, Facebook, Twitter, all of them. You have the one girl’s code. Get someone working on the blond’s… Arianna’s code. Find out who they’re talking to, who they’re tweeting, and friends with on Facebook. Have someone monitor their communication so they can communicate back. If it’s a phone message, text back. Keep a running dialogue going so it appears they’re still around and everything is normal in their life.”

  Zach took a sip of coffee and ran his hand through his hair. “Uh…have someone phone in a message to where they work and make an excuse for why they suddenly aren’t around…family emergency or something like that. If we work this right, no one will even know they’re missing. As long as it doesn’t take us too long to get this CIA spy, I’m pretty sure
we can pull this off. They’ll be staying in touch with everyone without really staying in touch.”

  “While you guys are working on this,” Zach continued, “I’m going to talk to Veritas about setting up a couple of decoys. We need to smoke this mole out so we can nail him. I need him to keep thinking he’s on the trail of these two women. I’ll work out the details once I talk to someone at the Agency.”

  Tony stifled a yawn, then stood up and stretched. He was struggling to stay awake. “Okay. Let’s get going on this. The sooner we get the ball rolling, the sooner we can turn in.”

  Zach nodded. “And one last thing. Juan, send someone back to the house to gather some of their clothes and personal effects and bring them here. Then, have them move the girl’s car too. Put it in storage somewhere for now. And guys…”

  Juan and Tony turned to look at Zach. “Let’s wrap this up fast. I don’t want these women around here for too long.”

  Arianna woke with a start and a feeling of panic. It took her a moment to calm her breathing and get her bearings as to where she was and why. She looked at the clock and could see it was almost noon. Considering the circumstances, she couldn’t believe she had slept so long and so soundly. Slowly she began to recall the events of the night before...the break-in, kidnapping, her kidnappers, him. Only Lisa saying good morning broke her reverie.

  “Morning,” she mumbled back. Looking around the room, she was surprised to see a couple of boxes sitting just inside the door. Knowing that someone had been in the room while she slept was yet another jolt to her already skittish nerves.

  She rummaged through the boxes and saw that they contained a jumble of some of their clothes, an assortment of personal effects, and the contents of their purses, minus their cell phones, of course.

  “Wow! I never heard them come in the room, did you?” Arianna asked.

  Lisa shook her head. “That’s spooky.”

  Wondering if they were still locked in, she tried the door. To her surprise, it opened. Peeking tentatively into the hallway, she saw no one but heard sounds coming from the kitchen above. Closing the door, she stood immobilized as she pondered what to do next. Finally, she said, “Well, I guess we should get dressed and venture out to see what the day brings?” Grabbing some clothes from one of the boxes, she headed into the bathroom.

  “Wait for me,” Lisa said, afraid of being alone. Snatching some clothes out of the box, she scooted in behind Arianna. First one showering and then the other, the two women dressed and moved toward the bedroom door.

  “You ready for this?” Arianna asked, scrunching her wavy, blond hair into place.

  “Still pretty nervous,” Lisa said. “I’m afraid of what might happen next.”

  Arianna turned and gave her a reassuring hug. “Everything is going to be all right, Lisa. Just be brave, and we’ll get through this together, okay?” Stepping back she squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and exhaled sharply. “Okay. Let’s do this.” She led the way down the hall, up the steps, and into the kitchen.

  Noticing the women’s arrival, Pilar greeted them with a single word, “Ladies.”

  Barely moving their lips, they mumbled back, “Morning.”

  Almost immediately Arianna’s attention was drawn to the view seen through the expanse of windows in the back of the kitchen. In the full light of the beautiful, tropical day, she could see, what in the dark of night, had been hidden from them. This house sat high on a bluff that overlooked the sparkling, blue Caribbean Sea.

  As if drawn by a magnet, she moved out the backdoor, past a man standing guard and onto a covered veranda. The outside dining area had a large rattan dining table and matching chairs with seating for eight. It also featured a BBQ grill, outdoor kitchen, and a seating area with wicker loveseats and sofas, adorned with overstuffed cream and pastel cushions. A fire pit in the center of the area made a cozy gathering place for the occupants of the house.

  Transfixed by the beauty of this island paradise, she hadn’t heard Lisa come up behind her until she spoke. “Man! Can you believe this place?”

  Arianna shook her head. She had been in some luxurious homes before, but none as magnificent as this.

  Her attention was drawn to water cascading over the edge of some rocks in the massive pool that snaked around the property. A spectacular waterfall formed the opening to a secluded grotto, nestled beneath the natural rock formation. Chaise lounges, deck chairs, and patio tables with cream-colored canvas umbrellas ringed the perimeter.

  On out toward the ocean, a cement rail ran along the edge of the bluff with a built-in viewing area perched in the middle. To the right of this, a large staircase provided access to the beach below. And finally, on down toward the far end of the property, lay two tennis courts, a basketball court, putting green, and a stable.

  “Wow! Talk about a playground for the rich and famous,” Lisa said. “This place looks like party central?”

  “Yeah, this is unbelievable, but right now, I’m more concerned about finding a way out of here than how beautiful it is. I see a tall wrought iron fence that wraps around the side and front of the property,” Arianna said, pointing toward the house. “That means the only way out in that direction is through the security gate, which is manned. You’ve got the ocean all around the back so unless you’re a fish, no way out there. Hmm….maybe down along the beach? Maybe we could walk out of here. This is an island, after all. Eventually it has to lead back to civilization.”

  “Ladies,” Pilar said, interrupting their conversation, “if you’re done admiring the view, I have lunch prepared for you.”

  If Pilar had overheard any of their conversation concerning avenues of escape, she said nothing. They followed her back into the kitchen and had a seat in the dining nook.

  “Where are those men who brought us here last night?” Arianna asked.

  At first it didn’t seem like Pilar was going to answer. Finally, she replied, “Gone on business, I suppose.”

  A young, black maid approached the table. “Good afternoon, ladies. My name is Stella.” She set a plate with a chicken salad croissant and a ramekin of fresh tropical fruit in front of each of them. “What would you like to drink? We have tea, lemonade, soda, or water. ”

  Arianna’s mouth dropped open. If it weren’t for the fact they were being held against their will, one might have thought they were merely vacationing in some posh resort.

  “Pilar,” Lisa said, while cutting her sandwich in half, “I was wondering…who are those men that brought us here, and what do they want with us?”

  Once again Pilar was slow to respond. “You two ask a lot of questions.” She set two glasses of tea in front of them. “But I do not discuss the business of my employer. All I know is that you are to be under my supervision for the time being.”

  Arianna sensed that this lady knew a lot about her employer’s business, and could tell them many things. The problem would be to get any useful information out of her. Trying a different tact, she asked, “So, Pilar, how long has your employer been in the kidnapping business and do you babysit his victims like this very often?”

  If she hoped for a reaction to her sarcastic remark, it didn’t happen. “Finish your lunch, ladies,” the housekeeper replied. “I have work to do. Please rinse your dishes and put them in the dishwasher, and then follow me.”

  It was clear Pilar was not going to be waiting on them anymore than she had to, and it even looked like they would be asked to pitch in and help. Lisa dutifully complied, rinsing her plate and carefully placing it in the dishwasher, while Arianna clunked her dishes in the sink, then turned and walked away. There was no way she was lifting a finger around here.

  “Miss Garrett. Let us understand something,” Pilar said. “You either need to come along with me so that I can supervise your whereabouts or you will be locked away in your room. What is your preference?”

  Well, since she put it that way, the choice was simple. Locked away, she had no chance to escape, so she would go a
long with Pilar. Before she could answer however, Lisa jumped in and said, “We’re going with you.”

  “Very good, then,” Pilar responded. “Follow me.”

  The girls followed Pilar down the hall into the foyer and ascended the circular staircase to the second floor. Carlos, the guard, trailed nonchalantly behind them. Greeting two other maids along the way, they walked down a long, wide hallway where Arianna counted about six bedrooms. This seemed curious since other than Pilar, the servants, and the tagalong guard, she had not seen another soul the entire day. She wondered again, where her abductors had gone.

  They entered a bedroom, a man’s Arianna guessed by the masculine decor. The room was furnished with rich mahogany furniture, and a peek inside the walk-in closet revealed all male clothing. Two sets of French doors opened onto a balcony that ran along the entire length of the bedroom.

  Pilar handed her a set of sheets. “I think the time will pass more quickly if you stay busy. Perhaps you might make the bed.”

  Arianna looked at the sheets, back at Pilar, and then, pitched them onto the bed.

  “Look, Pilar. Don’t take this wrong, but you might as well understand something. You work for Tony or whoever your boss is, and you have to do these chores. But I’m being held here against my will. I’ll tag along with you if I must, but I’m not going to be doing any housework, so don’t ask.” With that she went out onto the balcony, plopped down on a chaise lounge and made herself comfortable.

  Tony? Pilar thought. Is that who she thinks owns this place… is in charge around here? Oh, was she in for a huge surprise. But she thought she understood how Arianna had gotten that impression. She had been Zach’s nanny since he was born, and even as a little boy, he had been a person of few words. Because he’d probably let Tony do all the talking last night, the girl had assumed Tony was in charge. Oh, well. So be it. She was sure that at the proper time, Arianna would learn the truth.