Page 60 of Daddy's Pursuit
A couple of topless women wearing diapers and angel wings scampered past.
“Damn. I need to hang out at more parties like this,” Matteo noted.
Before either of the other men could respond, the frantic voice of Elena rang out and she and Macy hurried toward them.
“They took her! Jack Daddy, they took Iris!”
Alarm bells rang inside Jack’s head, but he did his best to quiet them. At first he was under the impression someone had messed with his sweet girl at this party. Or maybe harassed her in some way. But if someone took her, that elevated things to a whole new level. Remaining calm was key, even if it was hard.
“All right, honey. Take a deep breath. Go nice and slow. What happened?” he said in an even tone.
Elena exhaled slowly and then replied, a bit more calmly, “Some men approached Iris when she was about to jump into the swimming pool. One of them took her arm and made her go in the house.”
“We jumped out of the pool,” Macy took over, “and followed. We thought they were… you know… coming on too strong or something. Auntie Athena warned us about guys doing that.”
Elena nodded as she broke in. “But they didn’t take her into a room. They took her away! Like outside. Into a silver SUV!”
Jack’s worst fears were coming true. Someone had actually kidnapped his babygirl! Perhaps there was a logical explanation. Maybe she knew this person. It didn’t sound like that, but as a detective he knew not to assume anything. He’d been trained to gather clues first, then see where they lead. But it was hard not flying off the handle.
This washisbabygirl in danger.
“Did she act like she knew these men?” he asked.
Elena shook her head.
“No,” Macy confirmed.
Jack exchanged concerned glances with Matteo and Trevon.
“Look! We followed them when they were taking her out,” Elena said. “I got this.” She thrust out her unlocked phone to reveal a stilled image. Jack pushed the triangle in the middle and the screen started moving.
What it showed turned his blood cold.
Five men were clustered around Iris, forcing her to walk down the home’s front walkway and toward the driveway.
The video was recorded from far away, and it was shaky, but even from that distance Jack knew damn good and well who several of the men were.
“Frank.” The name came out more as a growl than a word.
His cell rang and he looked at the screen to see the call came up as UNKNOWN.
Somehow, he knew who it would be.
“We’re being watched,” he whispered.
He accepted the call and placed the phone to his ear.
“I’m listening.”
“Man, so rude. Is that any way to greet your old friend? How about ‘good to hear from you’or even the usual ‘hello’.
Jack turned a slow corner until he noted a camera mounted in a corner of the living room.
“So this is your house, huh?”
“One of them. But don’t bother combing over it,” Frank replied. “I don’t keep anything here. It’s a party pad.”
“So that’s what this was tonight? A party?” Jack probed.
