ESCAPE
Chapter Twenty-Six
"Could I please use the hotel
phone?" Cal asked the man behind the counter.
"Yes, of course."
As he walked a few steps away, Charles
noticed that Cal had left the note on the counter. Checking to see that no one
was watching, he slid the paper closer to him and quickly read it. The message
was written on hotel stationery and read Time: 9:00 AM. Message: I believe
that we have a very important matter to discuss. I suggest that you do not
ignore this message and reach me immediately. -Mr. Jack Dawson, with regards
from Rose.
Charles was glad to find that Rose had gotten
safely to Jack, so there was no worry there. Charles was relieved that he could
finally call off all the searches and it wouldn’t mean that Rose would have to
suffer for it.
*****
"Well, Dawson, I just received your
message." Cal spoke into the mouthpiece of the phone.
"Glad that you could count on the hotel
staff."
"Cut the crap. Why did you want to talk
to me?"
Jack’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
"What? Can’t a guy chat with his old buddy? I heard you were in town and
just wanted to talk. We could have a picnic in the park or something..."
"I don’t have time for this!"
"Oh. yes, you do. You came here to find
your family, and I’m the only one that can tell you where they are."
"Wrong. Now that I know you’ve been
alive all these years, I know that they’re with you."
"Wow. Your years at Harvard must have
really paid off. Ever think of a career in detective work? But I’m afraid that
there’s just one little problem with your brilliant plan. You see, unlike other
people that shall go unmentioned, aka you, I don’t leave the doors in my house
untended and unlocked so anyone can just waltz in and take my family right from
under my nose."
"Do you really think that I’m going to
believe that if I meet with you you’re going to give me my family? How stupid
do you think I am?"
"Cal, if you’re going to make it so easy
for me to insult you, I might as well not at all. But you’re gonna have to find
out the answer to your first question on your own. If you’re not at my house in
an hour, I’m gonna assume that you don’t care about Jayvelin, or Rose, or
Jacob, and be on my way. This is your last chance. There’s no way in hell that
I’m gonna let you even have a shot at getting your family back if you don’t
show up." With these final words, the line went dead.