Jail's Bait: Time Served (Book 5)

The opening to Leo’s cave tempted Carmen as she leaned against the crop of rock that her arm was chained to, gazing longingly towards it.  Of course, she ruefully knew that Jake was just outside the cave mouth, looking all around- for Marquis and the others to show up, or even Leo for that matter.  She frowned as Jake came back inside, wiping his forehead.  Its getting a little warm out there, he remarked as he walked over to sit next to her, his once-impeccable suit pants and white dress shirt now making him look like a dirty vagabond; not that it mattered…

She then noticed that he had said something to her.  “What..?” she asked absently.

“I said,” Jake replied with a frown, “why are you staring at me like that..?”

Carmen took a deep breath, and frowned herself.  “It’s you, Jake,” she began.  “You have all these things going for you- you have a supermodel for a mother, and money to burn… you’re handsome and clever; you can have anyone you want- women, men-”

“Hmmph,” Jake said with a stony face.

“Oh, please,” Carmen said with a sarcastic toss to her head, “you grew up in France.  Everyone knows its practically a sin to NOT be bisexual over there.  And if you are a Hill, you know you’re descended from bisexual men…!”

Jake stared at her, then shrugged.  “You have a point,” he conceded.

“My point,” Carmen went on then,” is that you naturally have what most don’t get to ever see in their lifetime- good looks and deep pockets.  Why not go enjoy the good life- vacations on the Riviera, summers in the South China Seas, deep-sea diving in the Carribean, leaving trails of broken hearts across the seven continents… nothing’s holidng you back.  Why stay here, obsessed with revenge...?”

“Tell me, Carmen, how’s your relationship with your father..? Jake asked then, his eyes intense.  “Or your grandfather, even..?”

“Well,” Carmen said, slightly taken aback, “I have a good relationship with my father, and before they passed away, I was very close with my grandparents.”

“Then I can say that you had something that I’ll never know of,” Jake replied soberly.  “My grandfather… he made my mother leave her home at age 14 because of me- he didn’t want me around.  And my father..!  Hiding behind two other men because he doesn’t want to step up and claim his responsibilities-”

“Responsibilities..?” Carmen asked with a half-laugh.  “Man, you’re grown!  Even if you meet him today, your father has no responsibility to you-”

“What about his moral responsibility to me?” Jake asked, wild-eyed.  “He owes me, goddamnit!  I’d give up my good looks and my deep pockets for one weekend, just going fishing, or camping, or hunting with my dad… or throwing the football around, or learning about sex or girls…”

“You don’t know about the birds and the bees..?” Carmen asked archly.

Jake made a face at her.  “You know what I mean.”  He sighed, looking her over.  “What can I do for you?  Do you need anything?”

“Yeah- the keys to this handcuff…” Carmen replied hopefully.

Jake had to smile at her remark.  “Besides that.”

Carmen shook her head.  “Well, the baby and I could use some fresh air… this place smells like a stale zoo.”  She figured if she kept reminding him of her pregnancy, he might let her go.

But it seemed as if Jake knew where she was going with her point.  “I cant let you go, and not right now anyway; someone may be already on our trail.”

“And you’re sure they’re gonna come to a lion’s den, to look for humans..?” Carmen asked exasperatedly.

“Sure they are,” Jake replied confidently; “I left a clue.”

It was then that she realized that the dirty red tie Jake was wearing earlier was now gone.

* * * *

Just down the trail, a group of four men combed their way through the back gardens of HT, as per the advice of a servant who had seen two people in the back grounds a while earlier.  The four men plodded on in silence until something was spotted.  HEY, came Kap’s voice on the silent air.

RahRah, Malik and Marquis ran over to where he stood, holding up a slightly battered cloth of red.  Found this on the tree over here, Kap mentioned.  “Aint that the same kind of red tie Jake was wearing earlier..?”

“Yeah, its made of the best Parisian silk,” Marquis replied, taking the tie and looking it over

“Only the best for cousin Jake, huh..?” RahRah replied with a sneer.

“He’s taken her into the cave, then..?” Kap asked, indicating the small cavern several yards above them.

Marquis frowned, reaching for the tie and staring at it.  “That’s Leo’s cave, which means Jake taking Carmen in there makes no sense.  Leo would tear an enemy apart for trespassing in his cave.”

“And he dislikes Jake like nobody’s business,” Kap speculated.

“But Leo likes Carmen… maybe he didn’t bother Jake because of her,” Malik replied.

“Well, we gotta check.  See if they’re really in there,” RahRah said, his face set.

“See if whose really where?” came a voice behind them.

* * * *

The four men turned around in surprise.  Standing there was Regine, Ray, Marquette, Lionel and surprisingly, Aunt Ranell.  Marquette came over to her son and kissed his cheek as Malik gaped at his mother.  “MAA, what are you doing here?  And what did you bring them for?” Malik added, gesturing towards the others.

Regine managed to look sheepish.  “Danny told us where you guys were headed and why.  You know I don’t like to drive so Lionel volunteered, and then Ray and Ranell jumped into the car, and Marquette didn’t want to be left behind…”

Malik held up a hand, cutting his mother’s explanation short.  “Okay, fine.  We’re thinking that Jake took Carmen up into Leo’s cave.”

Regine and the others looked up at the yawning mouth in the mountain.  “Why on earth would he do that..?” Regine asked, her hand on her heart.

“I dunno, Ma- we were looking over the grounds when a servant told us they saw two people fitting their descriptions headed in this direction,” Malik replied.  “Here’s the tie Jake was wearing at Crimson Crest, and what footprints we saw head right on up there.”

Marquette was hugging Marquis and soothing down his hair.  “We’ll find her, and we’ll get her and the baby both back safe,” she crooned, cupping his face.  “We’ll also talk about you getting Carmen pregnant later on, okay..?” she whispered with a small smile.

Marquis nodded.  “Yes, Ma’am.”

“If that bone-headed grandson of mine has hurt that pregnant child…” Regine threatened.

Malik wondered if he should be startled that Regine already knew the story, but he decided against it.  “I guess you’re okay with Jake being my son- eh, Ma?” he managed.

“Well, tell the truth, I was hoping that the boy would turn out to be Robbies,” Regine confessed, patting her son on the cheek.

“Hey!!” RahRah said, affronted.

Regine fixed RahRah a wry smile.  “Sorry, kid, but it makes sense, the crazy way he dune started claimin shyt was his and all, then kidnapping… it just sounds like something a son of yours would do, is all.”

“HEY,” Marquis said then, just as offended.

“No offense, Marquis.  I do hide the knives when you come visiting Crimson Crest,” she added, winking at Marquette, who winked back.

“Okay then, are we all ready to check the cave then..?” Marquis asked aloud, trying to change the subject.

“The CAVE..?  Is that where that asshole took Carmen..?” came a new voice from behind them.

Turning as one, the group was startled to see the four new additions coming toward them- Malik recognized Angelina, but wasn’t sure who the twin girls were or the tall black dude that accompanied them.

“Angel..?” Kap cried out with sheer relief.

“Kap..?” Angelina yelled, running to her boyfriend and flinging her arms around him.

Kap grabbed her and pulled her close.  Then he saw who stood behind the twins, staring only at him…. “Melo..?” he managed with a whisper.

“Grandma..?” Danielle and Trya cried out unexpectedly.

Ranell was just as pleasantly shocked.  “Girls???  What a surprise!!” she held out her arms and the twins flew into them.

“So it’s true, then…?  The will reading you flew out here for… we are related to these people?” Tyra asked.

Ranell nodded.  “Yes, my father- your great-grandfather- was Governor Hill’s father as well.  Which makes Governor Hill my older brother,” she sighed wistfully.  “It appears that we had the same set of parents.  Which also means, you girls and I all inherit huge shares of the Hill family estate.”

Danielle’s eyes lit up.  “Hey, Marquis is our flesh-and-blood cousin…!”

Tyra’s eyes sparkled with glee.  “Im an heiress..?  Neiman Makkus, watch out!!”

“But what on earth are you all doing here now?  I thought you two were in California at college,” Ranell asked them, hugging her granddaughters once again.

“We were with our friend here at the clinic down the road from the campus when she was attacked,” Danielle said.  “Melo here practically yanked her out of there and drove her straight up here, so we weren’t gonna leave her alone with this maniac.”

“Now, that’s not true, Tyra… I practically twisted his arm to get me up here to Seattle,” Angelina confessed.

“But are you okay, Angel..?” Kap asked, smoothing back her hair and staring into her face.

“Yeah, I’m fine, it was just a sleeping agent in the syringe.  Jake wasn’t trying to kill me,” she replied.

“Yeah, but I’m trying to kill him…” Kap replied in a deadly sweet voice.

Marquis, meanwhile, had come over to where the 6’4 college football star stood.  “Thanks for bringing the girls up here,” he began, “but Melo, what are you doing here? Really?”

“Didn’t Angel tell you..?   We came to help stop Jake,” Melo replied blandly.

Just then Kap appeared, grabbing Melo by the arm.  “Excuse us, Key,” he said abruptly; turning to Melo, he whispered, “Can I speak to you for a moment, please..?” And before either one of them could manage to reply, Kap had yanked Melo down towards a tree which stood apart fromt the crowd.

Releasing Melo, Kap turned to face him.  “What the fuck are you doing, driving my girl up here like that..?  I didn’t return your calls, so now you get to stalk me..?” he added with a sting.

But Melo’s face was lit up like Christmas, it was obvious that he was very happy to see Kap.  “Are you okay..?  I was worried,” he said, his heart in his s.

Kap saw the look, and his own heart began to beat fast- he tried to calm himself down inwardly.  “Yeah, man, I’m okay,” he sighed, his anger abated.  “Why would you risk coming all the way up here like this?”

“I’m staking my claim,” Melo replied, eyes only for Kap.

Kap’s knees began to shake.  “What the-”

Melo took a deep breath.  “I love you.  I want us to be together, you and me.  I won’t speak on this again until after we find Carmen and disarm Jake, but I can’t live without you anymore.”  He reached out to palm Kap’s hand into his own with a sexy caress.

Kap shivered, but managed to pull his hand away.  “I-I cant do this…” he spluttered, turning away from Melo and going back over to Marquis, where he felt safe.

“What was that all about..?” Marquis asked when kap reached him.

Kap swallowed inwardly.  “Nothing… look, after we get Carmen safe, we have to talk.”

“Excuse me, everyone, I have an announcement,” came another new voice from behind the group.  Everyone turned around to see Stella the maid standing there, maid’s cap, apron dress and all.

“Stella..?  what are you doing here?” Regine asked with some surprise.

“I’ve heard from Master Trey, he is at the hospital… it appears that young Lamar’s transplant surgery has begun,” she declared to the group.

Everyone who knew Lamar turned pale.  “Oh, god…” Malik muttered, running his hands over his head.  “I should be there with him…”

“Master Trey asks us all to remember him in prayer.  Master Dan is also there at the hospital,” Stella added.

“Of course…” Ray muttered with sarcasm.

“Well, my brother SHOULD be there,” Lionel defended; “its his son on the operating table.”

“You know you could have just called here to HT.  There was no reason for you to come all this way…” Regine reprimanded Stella.

“Beggin your pardon, but I feel like news like that should come face to face… I didn’t mind the journey,” Stella replied, her face resolute.

“Well, maybe now I can get a word in edgewise, said another new voice behind everyone, which made them all turn around once again.

Jake stood at the mouth of the cave, his smile and his gun trained on them all.  “Now that you all have fallen silent, thank you for directing your attention this way, I almost think I might not even need this gun to keep the peace.”

“Where’s Carmen??” Marquis yelled at Jake with all his might, hoping that he could make Carmen hear him if she was just inside the cave.

As if in answer, a loud echoing scream shattered the stillness, confirming that she was in Leo’s cave.

The crowd rushed forward en masse, but Jake retrained the pistol at them all and they stopped as one.  “Please, walk slowly up the rise, and follow me,” he said pleasantly, turning to disappear back into the cave mouth.

The group silently filed up the rise, Marquis leading the way.  He reached the opening, turned back to Kap, shrugged, and went inside.  The others immediately followed, and one by one they stepped through the opening, Melo heading up the rear.

The cavern which Leo made into his home was jus large enough to fit everyone inside and then some.  The ceiling just cleared the tallest of those who stood before the chained Carmen and Jake, who held the gun pointed right at her face.

“Welcome to the end-game,” Jake grinned evilly.

* * * *

The group all stood before Jake, who held his gun against the chained Carmen’s throat.  “Carm, are you okay?” Marquis asked her, his eyes wide with concern.

“I’m fine, baby,” Carmen replied wearily; “he didn’t really hurt me- but there’s something you have to know-”

“I know already, everyone does.  Is the baby fine?”

“Yeah, so does that mean… you’re okay with us having the baby?”

Marquis hesitated.  “Well, we never really talked about it, but I don’t see why we cant have a baby now…”

“I love you,” Carmen said with a tear in her eye.  “You’re gonna be a great father.”

“I love you too, baby,” Marquis said with a smile.  “You’re gonna be a great-”

“Ahhh JEZUS,” Jake said, cocking the pistol.  “Would you two give me a damn break??”

“Jake, the game is up,” Marquis said then; “let Carmen go.  End this.”

“Did you bring my father with you..?” Jake asked with a growl.  “You know that’s all I want- the truth.”

“Jake,” Malik said then, stepping forward.  “Your wish is granted.”