Page 152 of Don't Leave Me

Michael turned to me. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. Thank you for finding out she was in trouble,” he said calmly as he put the phone to his ear.

I nodded again, almost relieved to hear him say that. I was starting to think that this was all my fault.

“Daniel, it’s Michael. My fiancee is in very dire trouble and I need help to get her out of a kidnapping situation,” Michael cut straight to the chase. “Yes, she was abducted and now is being held captive and her kidnapper has a gun in his possession.” A pause again. “His name is Jack Maynor. I believe they’re at his residence in the Lower East Side right now,” he went on, stating Jack’s address. “I’m headed there now.”

36

Chapter 36

It felt like a dream as Michael and I took a cab from Chelsea to Jack’s apartment. I couldn’t stop imagining all the terrible things that Hana had gone through and what she was currently going through. Did he really know that Hana told me – and how? We were being so careful and acted so naturally when we went back out to him. Perhaps he just assumed. And because she told me, she put herself in danger and now they are potentially dead in his apartment. Because of me.

“They’re not just gonna barge in there, are they?” I looked to Michael as we sat in the dreadful New York City traffic – I knew that the subway would be faster, but Michael insisted on a cab.

“No. They know how to deal with these situations. I’m sure they have a team dedicated to cases just like this,” he assured me, sounding so confident – but I knew inside he was panicking, just like I was.

I gulped and stared out the window. I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to just get out of the cab and run.

An impossibly slow 15 minutes later, we arrived a block away from Jack’s apartment as Officer Daniel told us to. Daniel, a Hispanic man in his late 50s or early 60s with a typical police mustache in a covert windbreaker waved Michael down as we got out. I noticed two black cars parked on the curb with two SUV’s on the corner.

“We pulled up surveillance on the building – it looks like a male and female entered the building 60 minutes ago and exited together 20 minutes later, approximately 40 minutes ago. Can you identify them with this?” Daniel cut straight to the point, pulling out his phone and revealing a video – it was the entrance of Jack’s apartment building, and there was Hana and Jack bundled up, Hana walking a pace ahead of Jack. Hana’s face was sullen as she looked down and Jack eyes were intent as he watched Hana carefully going up the stairs, following her. They both looked exhausted. He pulled up another video of Jack and Hana hand in hand, Jack carrying a large duffle bag and Hana clutching onto her purse.

“That’s them,” Michael confirmed. “So they’ve left? Where are they? Have you checked ATM records, put out an APB?” he interrogated, clearly losing his self-containment.

Officer Daniel almost looked defeated. “Michael, are you sure this is a kidnapping situation? Are you sure,” he looked over at me quickly and then lowered his voice, “that she hasn’t just left you for another man?” he eyed Michael carefully.

Michael scoffed and then looked at me with wide eyes. He turned back to Officer Daniel.

“Yes she’s been kidnapped! She was at dinner with Billie earlier and she told her that she was drugged and kidnapped and held against her will! That fucker Jack has been threatening her with a gun! Check his records – I’m sure he has a long history of criminal activity!” Michael was nearly yelling, exasperated.

“Look, Michael, we’re just being cautious. It’s hard to tell if anything is even wrong by the surveillance we pulled up. Perhaps she told you,” Officer Daniel looked at me now, “Billie, is it? Perhaps she told you that she was kidnapped - that’s an easier excuse than her running out on her fiance,” he suggested with sad eyes, then looked at Michael again. “Your fiancee has a history of mental illness, isn’t that right?”

I could see Michael tense up. I couldn’t believe that was happening.

“So does Jack,” I quickly interjected. “He’s been arrested for drugs and assault. He was just released from the psych ward not even two months ago. He’s proven to be dangerous and unstable. Hana has no prior history of anything like that,” I explained, trying to get this man to understand what was going on.

Officer Daniel looked at Michael and then back at me. “Hana also has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. People can make odd decisions when they’re manic; sometimes it’s not the best thing for them, but it’s their decision,” he explained blankly. “And I understand she has a previous relationship with Jack, is that correct?” he sighed, his eyebrows raised now as if this was all inconveniencing him.

Michael had remained quiet, his head lowered and his hands on his hips.

“This is Jack’s doing, Dan. This isn’t Hana. She’s in serious danger and you’re not fucking taking this seriously,” Michael growled, looking like he was ready to attack. “He had been stalking Hana previously. He came to our work, he loitered outside her apartment. And now he’s taken her against her will and you’re doingnothingto help her!”

“Why didn’t you report any of this stalking?” Officer Daniel asked with suspicion.

I started to lose hope. They didn’t believe us.

“Because I handled it my goddamn self. Just like I’m going to have to handle this. If I fucking kill him, it’s on your hands!” Michael pointed at Officer Daniel and then stormed off.

I watched with wide eyes and then turned back to Officer Daniel.

“She’s not manic. I know my best friend. She wouldn’t lie to me. She really needs our help,” I pleaded with him.

“We’re going to keep an eye on them. That’s all we can do for now,” he said, watching Michael pace about 30 feet away from us.

“How? They’ve obviously fled!”

I was trying to at least gain more information on what they were doing.

“We’re pulling up credit card and ATM records now. They couldn’t have gone far in 40 minutes – it’s New York City for Christ’s sake,” he exhaled, then walked away.

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