Travis took a while trying to take it all in at once.
“My god Tony! Things are getting out of hand. They’re onto us!”
“Tonight is the only chance we will get at succeeding with the Mayan ritual, and then we can stop for a while until things cool over. I promised you great things if you come along with me. You have seen the past like no one else has. It’s like we traveled through time together. You’re a top student in anthropology, and now you’re on to your master’s degree. With my help from the spirit world, you managed to achieve high grades. If it weren’t for me, you would be living on the streets. You owe me Travis!”
Tony’s words had power over Travis, manipulating him in any way he could.
“Okay! Okay! I will bring her to your place after school. She wants to reconnect with her mother again anyway, and I was going to call you about it, but you called me first,” said Travis.
“Okay, great, then I will see you here later. Make sure it’s just you and Sally and the usual three girls,” said Tony, before hanging up.
Jason drove home after his encounter with Tony. He thought about Helen and how she ended up dead. He had a gut feeling that Danny was right about this guy Tony. Both cases point in the same direction. It was too much of a coincidence for Helen to be seen with the same person who had abducted her from Mexico and also with the person who seemed to be performing these spiritual meetings.
If only Jason knew that his daughter Sally was about to become involved in the middle of all of this.
As he arrived home, he called out to see if Sally was in. He got no reply and thought she must still be at school. He thought about calling her on her cell, but then changed his mind thinking she might be in the middle of a class, so he called Kate instead.
“It’s me, Jason.”
“Jason, did you go to see this Dr. Barrette?”
Jason said, “he wasn’t at home when I got there, so I waited for him until he came back. The guy is slick and stinking rich also.”
Kate pictured him as some old guy preying on young girls.
“What’s he like? Was he cooperative?”
“Well, he’s about my age, has blond hair, seems to workout, and has the coldest looking eyes I have ever seen. He didn’t want to answer my questions at first, but admitted to his whereabouts that night. He said he just went out for a drive. I’m surprised he told the truth. Oh! And he works at the same hospital where Danny is,” said Jason.
“You think Danny could be in danger?” inquired Kate.
“I don’t think so. He has an officer on watch outside his door, and Patricia is with him most of the time,” Jason said.
As school came to an end that afternoon, Sally and Jackie walked out together ready to head on home, when Jackie spotted Travis’s car on the opposite side of the road.
“Hey, look who’s here!” She said teasing her friend.
“Hi ladies. How was school?” Travis said.
Sally answered, “it was okay, thanks.”
She noticed something strange about him, the tone in his voice seemed different.
“What do you say we go for a drive,” he asked Sally.
“Hope you don’t mind Jackie. I will see you tomorrow in class,” Sally said with a smile.
Jackie smiled back, taking the hint.
“Go ahead. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Said Jackie with a wink.
They gave each other a hug and Jackie said, “see you Travis, and you take care of her.”
They drove off, waving goodbye.
After a few minutes on the road, Sally asked, “is everything alright? You seem a little strange.”
Travis slowed down and stopped the car.
“I’m fine. I just want to be alone with you. I didn’t want to tell you in front of Jackie.”
“Tell me what?” She asked.
“I’ve arranged for us to meet with Tony again.”
“Really! When can we go?” Said Sally getting excited.
“He said we can go tonight, but to bring you only. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you in front of Jackie.”
“Tonight! I don’t think so Travis. What will I tell my dad? He will never let me, and I can’t lie to him again.”
Travis looked puzzled.
“Sally! You’re nineteen years old. I don’t think your father can stop you.”
Sally said, “yes, I know that, but he’s so over protective with me lately since he’s been working on this case.”
“Case! What do you mean case? You’re saying he’s a cop?” Asked Travis.
Sally continued. “He’s with the FBI! Travis I thought I told you that!”
Travis was looking nervous now.
“No, Sally! You never mentioned he’s an FBI agent. You said he was working a lot lately, but I thought he’s just doing overtime or has two jobs.”
Sally drew back in her seat.
“Why are you so jumpy Travis? I didn’t think it mattered to you what he did. Are you hiding something from me? Are you in trouble?”
Without saying a word Travis started the car and continued to drive. Both were quiet for a couple of miles when Sally asked, “where are we going?”
Travis didn’t answer her. He just kept on driving, picking up speed as he drove.
She then reached for her cell phone.
“Who are you calling Sally?”
“You’re scaring me Travis. Tell me where we’re going, or I will call my father.”
Her eyes were swelling with tears as Travis reached over taking her cell phone and placed it in his jeans pocket.
“Where do you think we’re going? Tony said we had to come tonight, and that’s what we’re going to do. Now sit back and shut up.”
It was passed school hours, and Sally had not returned home. Jason was getting worried. He tried to reach her by phone, but failed to get through to her. It wasn’t like her not to say where she was going. He knew his daughter well and was sure something was wrong.
Arriving just after six in the evening, Travis pulled over outside Tony’s house. He opened the car door for Sally to step out. She protested at first but finally gave in to him.
“Sally, this won’t take long and you’ll be home in no time. Just tell your father you stayed at school studying.”
She got out of the car and followed him into the house when a thought passed her mind as they walked into the hallway.
“How come you have a key to the front door?” She asked.
Travis turned towards her. “I live here, that’s why. I spend a lot of time at the university, but this is my home.”
“You never mentioned it to me Travis! What’s going on? Why did you really bring me here?” Said Sally, taking a step backward.
Tony was downstairs in the meditation room preparing things for later when he heard Travis and Sally. He made his way up the basement stairs coming face to face with Sally. As soon as she saw him she bolted for the front door.
Tony quickly shouted out to Travis.
“Stop her for god’s sake!”
Sally made it to the front door, opening it, but did not make it outside. Travis was on her in a flash, taking hold of her wrists pulling her back inside. Sally screamed out as she was dragged back in, but Bruce’s barking drowned her screams. The animal felt the tension inside the house, and sensed the fear also, just like a wolf would sense the fear of a deer being stalked for the kill.
“Take her downstairs before somebody hears her, while I go and get my medical kit,” said Tony.
Sally hysterically flared out with both hands striking Travis across the face.
“Why are you doing this?” She cried out.
The next instant the whole room went black as she felt the anesthetic doing its job.