Reunited

"Samantha, what were you thinking, coming down here on your own with the children? You should have given me a call first!" I wasn't worried about her coming to London on her own. I was more concerned about Sparks trying something. "I will call the hotel I am staying. Hopefully, they have a room available for the night."

"No need to do that, they can stay at the house," Melissa offered.

"No, we don't want to be a burden."

Melissa took Samantha by the hand. "It's not a burden at all my dear. You and the children are staying with us, and that is final. Now let's go and see what there is to eat? I bet you are famished." Together they marched to the kitchen to find the others.

Tina and William did not say a word once they started eating. Their little faces buried in their plates. Poor Samantha couldn't stop apologising about their manners. "They never act like this. You must think I never feed them?"

"No don't think like that. It's just been a long day for all three of you," Jennifer assured her.

When Tina finished her food, lifting her little head up from the plate, she reminded her mum about something important for her. "Mummy don't forget my teddy bears batteries need changing." Lifting the cuddly toy from the arm to show her mum.

"Ok Honey. We'll get some later," Samantha reassured her.

"Don't forget mummy," Tina answered back with a worried look on her face.

"It's the soft toy she takes to bed with her. It's an animated talking bear that tells stories. She won't sleep without it telling her a story." Samantha explained to us.

Don't worry we'll get some batteries for your teddy bear," Melissa reassured the little girl.

We stayed till late that evening at the cafe. Anthony and his sister Sophia joined us as well. Samantha sat there praising me. How I helped her fix up her place and been there whenever she needed me. Everyone seemed to take a liking to Samantha and the children. By nine Tina was sleeping on Jennifer's lap and William on Lillian's chest.

That evening Melissa and Jennifer took Samantha and the children in as house guests. Putting them in the guest room, which consisted of a double bed and sofa bed. It was just perfect for them for the night.

The following day when I woke up, Lillian was not in bed. I called out her name, but there was no answer. Checking my mobile, it was six in the morning. I quickly sent her a message.

Jason: "Good Morning. Where are you?"

Lillian: "Downstairs preparing the breakfast for today.

Jason: I'll get ready and come downstairs.

Lillian: "See you in a bit."

Getting ready I went downstairs. Walking into the cafe, it was half full with customers. Jennifer and Samantha were taking orders, while Lillian was doing all the preparations in the kitchen. Randolph is grabbing plates from under the heat lamps and taking them to customers. Getting a pile of menus, I started seating customers who walked into the cafe after me. It was another busy day at the cafe. By the end of the day, we were all dead tired.

When Randolph had some free time, he came up to me and said. "Jason, have you seen the new lady that Jennifer hired? she is a hot babe," he chirped with a smile on his face.

"You know she has two children, right? Jennifer did not hire her. She is down here visiting me from Birmingham," I implied to him.

With the smile disappearing from his face he responded. "Hey, sorry about that. I didn't know. I thought you and Lillian had something going."

"Wow, just a minute. You got me all wrong. Samantha and I are just good friends. I just wanted to tell you that she has been through a lot in her life."

That is when I saw Jennifer going to her office. With Lillian showing something to Samantha in the kitchen. It was my chance to speak to Jennifer. Following her, I closed the door behind me so we could have some privacy.

Frowning her eyebrow, Jennifer asked me. "Everything ok Jason?"

"Yes, everything is good. How comes Samantha is still here?"

"Oh, she insisted on working today, for the hospitality, we showed her yesterday. She is a lovely person. I wish I could find someone like her to work for me. She has not stopped working from the moment we opened this morning."

"What about Tina and William?"

"Melissa is babysitting them."

"Wasn't she working today?"

"I don't know what happened between her and Robert, but she quit yesterday. Do you know anything about it?"

I wanted to tell Jennifer what I saw on Sunday. But telling her may compromise what I was trying to do. The only thought I had was to speak to Melissa. I also wasn't too happy about Samantha staying here with the children. I was worried that Lawrence Sparks would do something.

"Jennifer, I will come and see Melissa tonight. Also, I am not too happy about Samantha and the children being down here with all that is happening."

"Do you think he'll try something?" Jennifer asked with a worried look on her face.

"We'll speak later. I'll come to the house later on this evening."

Just after eight that night, Lillian and I were outside Melissa's house knocking on the door. Jennifer opened the door. I didn't like the expression on her face.

At once I asked her. "What's wrong, what has happened?"

"She isn't in Jason. When we came home, she grabbed her jacket and ran out, before I could tell her you wanted to speak to her."

"Fuck!" I screamed out.

"What's happened, Jason!" Jennifer screamed back.

"Let's go inside."

Samantha was in the living room with the children. Tina and William were listening to a story that was playing on Tina's soft toy. With all of us in the living room, I explained to Samantha as well the situation with Lawrence Spark. Jennifer was sure that Sparks wouldn't do anything after what happened at Tony's restaurant. I tried to explain to her that men like that don't just walk away. I also explained to Samantha that it wasn't safe for her down here with the children.

We called Melissa on her smartphone many times, but there was no answer. Each time we called we left her a voice mail to call us back. It was ten when I called Randolph, telling him to drive around to see if he could spot her anywhere. I took my car and did the same. The girls stayed at home, just in case she turned up.

By midnight I called John to tell him what happened. I then met with Randolph at Southgate Police Station. Going inside the station, behind the counter on duty was the last person I wanted to see. It was constable Smith.

"I would like to report a missing person constable?" I calmly said.

How long have they been missing? Also, how old is the person missing? He asked.

"She's in her sixties and has been missing since eight this evening," I replied.

His response was. "You have to wait for twenty-four hours till you report a missing person."

My calmness just flew out the window. Banging my hand on the counter, I yelled. "Look you piece of shit, don't give me the twenty-four hours line. You and I know that law does not exist. You only get that in the movies. So, do your job!" Seeing the veins on my neck ready to pop, he knew I meant business.

Leaving the station, Randolph said. "Shit, Jason, you can't speak to the police like that."

"To my eyes, he's not considered as a police officer. He is more like a weasel." Randolph started laughing as we made our way back to the cars.

When we got back to the house, we waited for a while. Samantha and Lillian went to sleep on the double bed in the guest room. Jennifer went as well to have a little lie-down. Randolph slept over on the triple couch while I took the single couch.

I stayed awake most of the night, just sitting there opposite the living room window, in the quietness of the dark. I could hear Randolph's light breathing. Sitting there, I would doze off, waking up whenever a car drove by the house. It was past four in the morning when my eyes closed for a few hours.

With only a couple of hours of sleep. When I got up everyone was still sleeping. At this time in the morning, Jennifer is usually at the cafe. It looks like today she won't be opening due to the situation with Melissa.

I went straight to the hotel, where I still had the room booked until Sunday. Entering the lobby area, Daniel approached me calling out my name.

"Mr Ward, could I have a word with you please?

"Daniel, if it's about the payment of my room, you can use the credit card you have on file."

"No sir I'm not worried about the amount due. I just wanted to let you know. A gentleman came looking for you last night. He arrived at ten in the evening and waited here an hour for you. Before he left, he wrote you a message." Handing me over a piece of paper, folded in half. Thanking Daniel, I turned to walk outside to read the message in private.

Slowly unfolding the paper, I read what it said.

"I have news about Melissa. Meet me at Oakwood Underground Station. Be there at ten."

Chapter 10

After a shower, which I thought would freshen me up, I was still half sleep, after two hours of shut eye last night. It was ten minutes before ten in the morning. Waiting here at the station, like instructed on the note. My only thought is, was I meant to be here last night at ten or this morning? It will not be too long till I find out.

Standing outside the station, I am scanning each person to see if I can recognise anyone. I notice someone across the street watching me. It was the young man, who was with Melissa on Sunday. Not knowing what to do, I waited a few minutes. I was ready to make a move towards him. That is when he looked to his left and right. Once the road was clear, he started crossing the street towards me.

Standing in front of me, no more than a metre away I asked. "Where is Melissa?"

With fear in his voice he replied. "I didn't want to hurt anyone." I could see the fear in his eyes. He was continuously looking around him at the pedestrians.

"Are we waiting for anyone else?" I asked him while staring into his eyes.

"No, no!" he squealed.

This guy was scared that someone might see him. Noticing a restaurant next to the station, I gestured him to go inside. "Let's go inside you can tell me what happened." Pointing to an empty table by nodding my head, he went and sat down. "A cup of coffee ok for you?" I asked him.

"Yes"

Sitting opposite each other, I waited till he took a couple of sips of coffee before I started to interrogate him.

I started with the simple stuff. "What's your name?"

"Albert."

"Ok, Albert, how do you know Melissa?"

With a long sigh, he started telling me what he knew.

"After the situation at Tony's restaurant. Mr Sparks used me as his messenger. Transporting packages from A to B. I made many trips to Robert Clark's office, transferring documents there. At times, I would spend a couple of hours, waiting to return a package to Sparks office. Melissa was always friendly with me. She would always advise me to get out of this line of work. Telling me, that there was more than this to life."

Taking a couple of sips from his coffee before he continued. Patiently I waited to see what he would say next.

"Until one day I noticed him..." he paused.

"Noticed what Albert?"

"I saw him open the safe box. I observed him put the code on the safe box pad. I planned to rob him and do a runner with the money. Trusting Melissa, I told her my idea. She advised me not to do anything silly. We made arrangements to go on Sunday to see what was in there. Once the safe door opened, we both stood back glaring at the pile of notes. Stacked on top of each other. Reading my mind, Melissa said. 'Don't even think about it.' Opening a small drawer, we found a pile of documents. Sitting on top was a small burgundy notepad. Melissa took the notebook and started flicking through the pages. Reading what was inside. With a smile on her face, she told me. 'We have enough here to put Lawrence Sparks away for a very long time.'"

"That is what she wanted to talk to me about," I whispered.

"What?" Albert said.

I had to move quickly. Melissa may be in great danger. Thinking for a moment before I glanced at Albert. "That night your partner in the toilet had a gun. What about you?" As he reached into his jacket, I put my hand on top of his, stopping him pulling out whatever he had in his pocket. "Let's go to my car."

In the car, he pulled out a Glock 30s with three cartridges. Dropping them in the palm of my hand, like the weight of the world was lifted off his chest. "I was so excited when I received this weapon. Now I am so glad I am rid of it." He sighed.

Pushing one of the magazines into the pistol's handle, I then pulled back the slide to allow a bullet to go into the chamber. "Now we are ready for action! Your work is finished here, Albert."

"I'm coming with you. If it weren't for Melissa, I would probably be dead in a ditch somewhere." Pulling the seat belt, he buckled himself up ready to go.

"Ok, I warned you. Don't complain when things get ugly."

Albert looked at me curiously when I drove directly to the van hire company. Not slowing down when I turned into the driving lot. Driving to the entrance of the offices, without stopping

"Are you planning on driving inside!" Albert yelled.

That is when I put my foot on the brake pedal all the way. The car stopped a few feet from the entrance of the building. Grabbing a bunch of large cable ties from under my car seat, I gave them to Albert. "Hold onto these!"

"What the fuck are these for!"

Without answering his question, with the Glock in my hand, I flew out of the car. Slamming the door open to the van hire office, the same building I watched Melissa and Albert enter a few days ago. Once inside, the only thing separating me and the office desks was a counter up to my waist. There were two occupants in the room. One of them was Cockney. He was nearest to me. The other one was Snakes. He was on the other side of the office.

Leaping over the counter towards Cockney. On seeing me, he froze where he was standing. With the Glock in my hand, I struck him on the side of the face knocking him out. Turning to snakes, he was making a move towards one of the desks. Pointing the gun in front of him I fire a warning shot on the desk. At the same time yelling.

"That's a warning. Next one will splatter your brains on the wall behind you." He stopped, putting his hands up in the air. "Get your ass over here asshole, next to your friend," I ordered Snakes.

With both of them sitting on the floor, hands tied behind their backs and feet together. Cockney started to come around. "You are a fucking dead man!" he screamed at me.

"What are we going to do with them?" Albert asked while looking outside. Just in case anyone else came.

"I could extract the information I need from them slowly. No harm will come to either of these goons even though it will be painful. It would be time-consuming though, the time I do not have." I explained to Albert. He just stood there looking at me, probably wondering what I was going to do next.

"What are you going to do you motherfucker?" Cockney spat out.

Pointing the gun at Cockneys leg, I fired a shot on his outer thigh. He started screaming. "You shot me, you fucking shot me!"

"Where is Lawrence Sparks and Robert Clark!" I shouted.

Cockney continued to insult me. "You fucking bastard, I'm bleeding!" As he watched the blood squirt from his leg.

Turning to Snakes, I pointed the gun at him. "Do you want to join your friend? Both of you can sit here and bleed to death." Firing a warning shot at his groin, making a hole at the crotch point on his trousers. Snakes started shaking as he sat in a pool of urine. "You're lucky, that could have been your blood between your legs. Are you going to answer my question now?"

"I'll tell you whatever you want to know!" Snakes cried out.

That is what Snakes did. Whatever question we fired at him, he gave us an answer. How many men Sparks had at his disposal. What kind of firepower they were packing. And the most important thing, where they had Melissa.

Sparks was holding Melissa hostage at a derelict building in Radlett off the M25. It was a thirty-minute drive from our location. I had no choice but to take Albert with me. He knew the way there. Also, as he visited the place a few times, he knew his way around the building.

I called John telling him about our progress and that I was heading to Harperbury Hospital. Letting Albert drive, while I assessed our firepower. Three Glocks and five full magazines. "What is it with your ex-boss. When he buys Glock pistols in bulk, does he get a discount?" He tried to force a smile, but I could see he was scared. We both didn't know what was waiting for us at Harperbury Hospital.

"Hey, when we get there you don't have to come in. Just direct me to what part of the building I need to go." I assured him.

"I am in until the end," was his reply.

When we got there, I called John back. "I'm here John. What should I do? Have the local police been informed?"

"Take it easy Rambo. We'll be there in ten minutes," It was Major Harry speaking.

Within a few minutes, a police helicopter was hovering above us for a moment before it landed. Once the landing skids hit the ground, Major Harry, John and two others jumped out of the helicopter. All dressed in army gear.

With a bullet proof vest in his hand. John threw it at me. "Put this on. We don't want you walking in there half naked."

"It's a different ball game now. You have to wait here." I told Albert. He just stood there glaring at the semi-automatic rifles.

With a rifle in my hand, we started to make our way into the building. Once we were in the building, John sarcastically said.

"You remember what you have to do right?"

"Like riding a bike. You never forget."

"Ladies shut the fuck up. What are you trying to do, give us away?" Major angrily responded.

It was three large empty rooms. We swept through them quickly. These goons Sparks hired were no match. We picked them one by one they didn't even get the chance to fire a shot.

John and the other two soldiers stayed behind to look out. The next row of rooms had interconnecting doors. With a long corridor going along the side of them. With large windows looking into the rooms.

Walking through the room with Major Harry on the outside in the corridor. Suddenly the Major started pointing ahead, signalling something was happening in the next room. Gripping my rifle tighter, I slowly approached the door. There was a loud bang. It came from the direction of the corridor. When I looked the Major wasn't there.

Entering the next room, I stopped. In front of me was Sparks, holding little Tina by her arm. In his other hand, a pistol pointing directly down at the crown of her head. On his right, Robert was holding Lillian by the waist with the barrel of his pistol pointing at her head. On the floor in front of Lillian was Samantha clutching William in her hand, who was holding Tina's cuddly toy. Standing at the entrance of the corridor was one of Sparks men pointing a gun at me.

Rushing behind me was John and the two other soldiers. Entering the room, I stopped them by holding out my hand. All three halted.

"The guns gentlemen, the guns put them down, please. Unless you want me to!" Sparks said while looking down at the top of Tina's head. With all four of us dropping our semi-automatics to the ground. "The pistols as well gentlemen." John and the other two pulled their guns out of their holsters, putting them on top of the other guns. "You too Jason?"

"They picked me up on the way. Handed me just that semi-automatic," pointing to the gun on the floor. "Told me there's some garbage to clean up at Harperbury Hospital." I sarcastically remarked.

Gritting his teeth, Sparks replied. "I knew that this was going to be fun when your girlfriends called a taxi. The only thing is the taxi driver got the destination wrong and brought them here instead."