Thursday, September 3rd
JORDAN
I awoke to the captain over the intercom, letting the passengers know that we would be arriving at our destination in 15 minutes. I noted the time. 4:15 am.
I took the time to use the restroom and clean myself up a bit. I wanted to be somewhat presentable when I arrived. I couldn't wait to get to the hotel to rest properly and take a nice long shower.
When we finally landed, I was greeted by a driver who informed me that my father would be waiting for me at the hotel's restaurant at 7:30 am. I texted my dad to let him know my plans to rest for an hour and then shower after which I would meet with him.
5:41 A.M.
Once I arrived at The Ritz-Carlton hotel, I checked myself in and made my way up to the suite my dad had reserved for me. I put my duffle bag in the closet provided and didn't even bother to change, taking one look at the bed, I set my alarm for one hour then I laid down and fell asleep. Before I knew it the alarm went off and I took a quick hot shower and got dressed. Since this is an upper-class hotel, I decided to wear a light grey Armani pinstripe suit with a black dress shirt, paired with my favorite black wingtips.
After fighting my errant strands of hair, I went downstairs to meet my dad in the hotel restaurant. By the time I entered the restaurant it was half past 7 am, as the hostess led me to a secluded place in the back of the grandiose room, I couldn't help but to glance around and take in my surroundings with appreciation. The mahogany walls, whitewashed ceiling and the modern decor of the off white and light green furniture blended well together. The huge windows created an almost outdoor atmosphere and lit up the room, making it seem bigger than it actually is that I was overall impressed with the interior design.
When I finally made it to the table, my dad stood up to greet me, I was expecting to see the jovial and light-hearted man that I've grown up with and grown accustomed to. Instead, the man standing before me was disheveled and almost unkempt. His usual short thick black hair was in his face, which was odd because he usually swept his hair to the right, quaffing it up a bit then he would feather the left side, which somehow brought out his chiseled facial features, something my mom always adored and complimented him on, it was a shock to see him looking so distraught. His tall frame usually proud and regal, yet now he was hunched over as he stood there staring at me in his black with blue pinstripes Versace suit and untucked white dress shirt, he looked like the shell of the man that I once knew.
His usual medium golden complexion had paled, even from a distance I would be able to notice that he hadn't shaved for at least 2 days. The look of elation as soon as he saw me, almost broke me, I knew that whatever was going on was serious. My father, Elias Hawkins was not the type of man to appear anything less than GQ smooth at all times.
We embraced as we usually do. It felt like ages since the last time I seen my dad. It felt good inhaling his familiar scent and being in his comforting arms. "Good morning dear, I'm sorry to call on such short notice. But this is urgent and requires the utmost discretion."
"Of course, dad. What is it? What's going on?" I inquired, intrigued by the way my dad's behavior was progressing. I didn't know what to expect, all I knew was that it wasn't good.
"I don't know how to tell you this, I mean...I can hardly believe it for myself." He said as ran his hands through his hair.
"Well, just start from the beginning." I said trying to take the urgency from my voice, almost failing in my attempt.
"I guess there's no easy way to say it." My father took a drink from his orange juice. "Your mother has been taken."
"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "What do you mean she's been taken?" I blinked my eyes as if it were a dream. Maybe this was some sort of joke. But then again, my dad has never been one for such theatrics, at least not to this extent. "This has got to be a joke."
"Jordan, Honey...I assure you; this is no joke. I wish it were." Immediately I knew my dad was serious as the worried and angered look spread across his chiseled features.
"How? How do you know she was taken?" Panic was beginning to take hold of me. I was at a loss for words.
He began to tell me that they arrived at our New York studio a little after 11 pm; my mom had decided to go back to the hotel to get some rest while dad was going to stay at the studio to prepare for the following day. They were on the phone as mom was leaving the building, then that's when dad heard my mom scream and then the sounds muffled on the other end. He said he heard some guys in the background telling her to 'shut the fuck up and get in the car.' After that the line went dead.
He instantly dropped what he was doing and called his security team. After the initial search of the premises and interviews with the police, dad decided to find mom with his resources in house while the cops continued their investigation.
It took me awhile to come to grips with my new reality. Someone had taken my mom while she was leaving our New York studio, it was hard to fathom the reasons why. Dad was a mess to say the least, by the likes to which I have never seen before. But I couldn't blame him, they had been together long before I was born.
I didn't know how to feel about it. I mean what are you supposed to do? How was I supposed to react? All I did know was that I was heartbroken and angry at the same time. I wanted to avenge my mother's kidnapping in the worst possible way. All I can remember is the ringing in my ears as my dad told me the devastating news. Everything after that seemed like a blur.
I remember getting up and walking out of the hotel furious, not really knowing what to do. I don't even remember if he tried to stop me or not. Feeling helpless and at a loss of what to do next, I was angry and frustrated. So much so that when I walked outside to get some fresh air I smashed my phone against the hotel wall, I watched as it shattered against the brick siding. Instantly regretting my hasty decision that wasn't my best idea. My first initial thought was Sydney and that I wasn't going to be able to call her so I could let her know the news with the recent developments, and I would be gone for a while. I know she would be prone to worry, I had to try to call her and tell her what happened. "FUCK!!!" I yelled, scaring a guy in a business suit as he walked passed a moment before. He looked at me, I gave him an apologetic look, he just smiled awkwardly and kept on walking.
I paced outside the front of the building, my mind in a haze. Thinking of all the possible outcomes, the worst of them all scared me the most. This was the first time in my young life that I was at a loss for words, thoughts and a strategy or a plan eluded me.
My immediate thought was to call Sydney, but then I remembered that she would be in class, and I had just idiotically smashed my phone to smithereens. Fucking idiot. I shook my head, but then again, I could hardly blame myself, only now I needed a new phone.
I was desperate to talk with Sydney. I knew she would be able to make some sense of this mess or at the very least calm my nerves and anxiousness. Before I knew it, I smiled at the thought of her. I missed her, I needed her more than anything right now, but I also knew the ramifications if something should happen. She didn't, I don't know what I would do if something happened to her. It would be my fault and I couldn't have that on my conscience, I refuse to put her in harms way, especially since we knew so little about what was going on.
So, I concentrated on something that would bring me comfort. Which was her smile and the way her emerald eyes would brighten when she was excited about something, anything. It didn't matter if it was me or not. I just loved the light in her eyes. The almost childlike wonder when I would surprise her. Or the way her hair would fall along the side of her face when she was deep in thought, and she would instinctively take a strand and gently put it behind her ear. I smiled at the thought of her, surprising even myself to the point where out of all of the darkness clouding my mind, the thought of her managed to make me smile and bring me solace.
Sadly, even that didn't last long, my mind drifted back to earlier. I had to at least try to clear my head. But my focus was mainly on the worst of what was to come. The possibility of never seeing my mother again, the worst of which is that even if we did find her, all we might find would be her remains. If she was even found at all. I hated the negative thoughts that manifested within my mind. I'm not a mathematician by any means but I do know that there were too many variables to this equation that I didn't even know the complete formula to even find the solvent.
However, I did know that there was something that I wasn't seeing. Something that was right in front of us that could be the start of finding her. My intuition told me that much. And if watching crime shows or crime documentaries has taught me anything, yeah, yeah, I know, trying to find and solve my mother's kidnapping by putting it in the hands of criminal tv shows is a somewhat crazy and probably idiotic idea, I am aware that I lack the skills set to investigate something of this magnitude, but I felt like I had to do something other than sit around. Something is better than nothing at this point. After much deliberation and just trying to calm my thoughts, I decided to head back into the hotel.
I walked back towards the restaurant and asked the hostess if the gentleman in the black suit was still there, to which she informed me that he left 15 minutes prior and told her to inform me that he was going to be in his room. I talked to one of the people at the front desk and asked what room my dad was staying in. Which happened to be the penthouse suite.
8:07 A.M.
I rode the elevator up to the penthouse and knocked on his door. A few moments later my dad answered looking not so disheveled as he did earlier. He slightly resembled the man I have grown accustomed to. His hair was wet and still a mess like he just got out of the shower. He was clean shaven, and he changed into what he considers more casual attire, with light beige khakis, a white cotton button dress shirt, and black leather loafers.
"Hey dad." I greeted as he stepped aside.
"Hey kiddo." He replied as I entered the spacious room while he closed the door behind me.
I took a quick look around the room. The room itself was grand with white marble floors that shined to where it seemed like a mirror. The sunlight emanated through the massive window that was opposite of where we now stood. Expensive grey furniture was placed close to the window where 50" tv was placed on the wall. An entertainment waist high entertainment center stood under it. In the middle of the room was an immaculate black and white marble dining room table that seated up to 8 people. To the right was a nice sized kitchen area with an island. The countertops were also black and white, matching the tabletop.
He led me through the corridor of the room and through the dining area and gestured for me to take a seat on one of the couches in the living room area. I chose a seat closest to the big window across from the entrance.
He took a seat in the chair that was to my left. I situated myself so I could face him. We sat in silence for a few minutes, him looking at the floor, I suspect gathering his thoughts. I was about to ask him something, but he broke the silence instead.
"I've gone over and over the events in my head and I can't make any sense of it. At least…" His voice trailed off, as he raked his fingers through his hair, still not meeting my eyes. Although I understood his anxiety and frustration, I wanted to know what he was thinking.
"At least what dad?" I asked in a slightly urgent tone, I tried to remain calm. Trying my hardest to brace myself for whatever was to come next.
"At least not yet." He said as he looked me in the eye. Then continued, "Although I do have some ideas on how to find her, but that would mean we would have to contact people from my past." I knew just the type of 'people' he was referring to; I didn't really care who we had to contact, just as long as we found my mom.
"Let's do it then." I said without hesitation.
"You do understand that if we do this, we risk everything. I mean everything. We might not be able to come back from this." His voice now a lot more serious as he tried convey the gravity of the situation.
"I don't care dad, as long as we find mom. I'm willing to do whatever it takes." I was bound and determined to find the assholes who took my mother.
Just then dad smiled mischievously. I knew that smile, I knew he had already started formulating a plan. Because if there's one thing to know about my father, you don't fuck with him or anyone he cares about, 'cause he will do something about it. "Good. I thought as much. I know just the person to call." My dad stood up and walked over to the bar as he took out his phone and dialed a number, he poured himself a drink and swiftly swallowed some of the contents.
"Hey Angelo?...This is Elias...…." he said as he started to pace the bar area. I remembered Angelo Vega from when I was younger. I had spent a summer with him and his family almost ten years ago. "Yeah, good to hear from you too. Listen, I hate to do this, but you know that favor you owe me?....Well I'm calling it in. Can you meet me at the Ritz-Carlton? Penthouse suite...…. Alright see you then, and Angelo, I'm going to need you to come alone." Just as I remembered, those types of conversations never took along, with little said and everyone involved knew the urgency behind them. I was glad this was a favor the other person owed and not the other way around.
And let me say this, off the record. Angelo was definitely not the type of guy you wanted to owe a favor. Him or the organization he represents. From the little that is known about his "business dealings", him and his organization are notorious for the number of people they have, let's just say assisted in the past.
I leaned my head back on the couch, staring at the ceiling deep in thought. I couldn't believe we were right back to where we started. The exact life that we were so desperately trying to escape. I guess it is true, that somehow you always find your way back. But like I said, I would do anything to find my mom, just like I know she and dad would do anything for me in this situation.
"Did you eat kiddo?" He inquired; he snapped me out of my mental state of hysteria, his eyes laced with worry. I wasn't sure it had too much to do with me but for my mom. Most likely both.
I quickly thought back to the day's prior events. I didn't even eat breakfast after I found out what happened. It hadn't even occurred to me until now. But I just simply answered, "No."
"Are you hungry?" His concern still evident.
I thought about it for a bit. "Not right now." I couldn't even think about food.
"You should eat something anyway. You're going to need your strength. I'll order room service." He stated as he walked to the hotel phone that was on the kitchen counter.
"Okay pops." I said with a halfhearted smile. I couldn't stand the silence anymore, so I turned on the tv for background noise. Nothing but drivel on so I left it on CNN.
I heard dad in the background ordering room service. Once he was done, he made another call, I caught the gist of it, sounded like dad had ordered one of the security guards to get me a new phone. I had planned on getting it myself, but it looks like dad was way ahead of me. Once dad was done with his calls, I watched him through my peripheral vision as he sat down in the chair he previously occupied.
He cleared his throat; I knew what that meant. I turned off the tv and turned my attention to my dad. "Look kiddo, I know this should have been one of the first things I asked you, but I'm asking you now. Are you sure you want to be apart of this? Because this is a lot to on and I don't,"
"Dad, before you say anything else. I want you to know that I'm all in. Whatever it takes to get mom back. I don't care what it is we have to do; I want mom home just as much as you. And you know damn well she would do the same for either of us."
"I can't say you're wrong about that. Your mom would definitely be raising all kinds of hell." A small smile spread across his masculine features.
"Yeah, she would. And you and I are no different. We're family, we would, and we will do everything we can for family." I knew how mom would probably react if the tables were turned. She would walk into the fray if that's what it took.
"You're right about that kiddo. I just want to make sure that you're ready." I knew dad was just checking to see if I could handle this, it was at times of distress that I really wished he would trust me to make my own decisions. Then again, this is the man who practically encourages me to rebel.
It didn't take long for Angelo to show, only an hour and a half later. We had just finished eating brunch when he knocked at the door an hour and a half later. We took a seat at the dining room table and began our two-hour long discussion and speculations of what might have taken place. Within that amount of time, we had managed to formulate some sort of plan. Which to me was better than nothing.