There was a noise from the other side of the closed door, subdued and humming. A television show, perhaps.
I crept forward and put my ear to the door. I thought maybe I heard a quiet chuckle, but maybe it was just the television. I didn’t want to get too relaxed, it could be an ambush waiting for me, guns blazing all around. But at least Millie was safe. Now it was just me and my future. I’d never been too sure about my fate. If this was it, then so be it.
I eased my hand onto the cold metal door handle and carefully tested the door. It opened.
I took a deep breath, and slowly, I pushed it further open.
It opened silently into the workshop and I felt a rush of cool air on my face.
My gun was drawn in front of my eyes, my steps soft as I moved towards the humming noise. As I stepped inside the workshop, I could see the light was coming from an old television across the other side of the room. There was a truck between me and the television, and I moved around it carefully.
The warehouse was at least two floors tall and the lighting was almost non-existent. It was cold and the dank air smelled of diesel. Looking around the room, I saw a calendar of naked women over my left shoulder pinned up by the door next to a row of key hooks. On my right there was a pile of dirty work clothes next to a greasy looking sink. Plenty of work tools around, but all neatly placed on benches or hanging on the wall, so no danger of tripping at least.
Being careful not to make a sound, I gently stepped forward. With my weapon focused ahead, I pointed it at where the light was coming from. My heart was pounding in my ears as I neared the corner of the truck, from where the kidnapper would be revealed.
As I stepped around the truck, I saw the shadow of a person sitting on a chair, staring at the light coming from the television, watching an old show quietly. The person was sitting in an armchair, almost sinister enough to be the armchair of a Bond villain. The television was sitting on two milk crates, a makeshift table for viewing pleasure.
I stepped closer, keeping near to the truck for cover.
It was a male.
The man was leaning back in the chair, relaxed, totally engrossed in the comedy show. The noise was down low and again I heard a low laugh, soft as though he was stifling it, probably so as not to wake Millie in the other room.
I came within a few feet.
My finger was poised on the trigger, every muscle in my body was tensed for action.
I was ready to pump the person full of bullets with one false movement.
I glanced around the workshop as I cleared the safety of the truck, but it was dark and still. We were alone, I was certain of that.
I stepped closer.
Then I sighed.
The noise made the man snap his head around, his eyes focused directly on my gun.
I could see the panic in his eyes as he flicked his gaze to the open office door. He was wondering about Millie, what had happened to her.
His look was alarmed as he stared back at me and my gun.
It took him a moment, and then he recognized me.
“They must take school applications very seriously these days,” he quipped. “You’ve really done your research.”
He closed his eyes with a sigh. Of what? Resignation. Perhaps even relief.
The man looked old and tired, and ready for the end.
“Damon Hardy, my name is Jack Valentine.” I kept my focus on him, my voice was cold. “And I’m a private investigator.”
Chapter 28
He didn’t move.
Keeping his eyes closed, he spoke.
“Where’s Millie?”
Damon Hardy looked worn out.
His eyes looked heavy, his skin looked dehydrated and his face looked sunken.
Life and illness had taken its toll.
“She’s safe, Damon.” I reassured him. “I made sure of that.”
He looked at me with disgust.
“She was always safe,” he replied, with a hard edge to his voice. “Do you really think I would have hurt her?”
With heavy movements he turned back to the television, and stood to turn it off.
“Don’t make any sudden moves.” I warned him.
He stopped in his tracks. “I’m too old to make sudden movements,” he responded with a sad laugh, then he turned back to look at me. “I don’t have long left, you know?”
He continued to the old television set and turned it off. He was past worrying about me and what I might do. He was a man at the end.
He tried to smile, as he moved back to his chair and sat down with a sigh. “So that’s it then? Chase has got Millie back, and we all walk away, back to our normal lives.”
I frowned and shook my head.
“It’s not that simple.”
Damon looked at me questioningly.
“Isn’t it? I didn’t kidnap Millie. She’s my granddaughter. We’ve had a lovely time together. Far nicer than she has with that excuse for a father of hers. I didn’t harm a single hair on that girl’s head. She’s my angel, you know. I would do anything for my Millie. She’s so sweet, so lovely, and so, so beautiful.” He shook
