Chapter 14: Chapter 13

Elena got a call from Belinda the day after, saying that someone had broken into her house, but they didn’t take anything.

“Elena, what is going on?” Belinda asked. She sounded like how any parent would.

She was naturally concerned for her friend, and was praying for her to return safely, but after seeing what happened, she didn’t know what to think or do now.

“It’s Malik, Belinda. He was the one to break into the house. After seeing me here, he went there to try to kill me,” Elena told her.

Belinda was quiet for a while. “Go to the police now, both of you.”

“We can’t, they just don’t seem to believe me, so I’ll take matters into my own hands.” Elena told her.

“Just be careful Elena.” Belinda said before hanging up.

Leona and Elena looked at each.

“So, he went to Chicago to kill you?” Leona asked.

Elena gave a short nod.

“We should go to someone; I know an officer in New York.” Elena took up her phone and began to dial the number.

Leona gave her a look. “New York?”

“The police here and in Chicago won’t be of any help to us, because I think Malik might have paid them off, I think we can both speak to him together he’ll hurry with the investigation.” Elena told her.

Leona agreed, she didn’t want the husband around her and her family. Now, after the call Elena just got, she feared for their safety.

Together Leona and Elena explained to the investigator what was happening.

‘’Ok, thank you for your information. We will look into this matter as soon as possible.’’

Elena let out a breath but knew they weren’t in the clear as yet, because Malik was out there still.

“Ok, hmm I’ll see you tomorrow. I have to go pick the kids up and they have a scorer game in the morning.” Leona jumped up.

‘’And Leona, try to act as normal as possible. We can’t let Malik suspect a thing; else things might go left.’’

‘’Ok, yes. Sure.’’

Elena rested a hand on her shoulder. ‘’We’ll get through this. Ok?’’

That night, Elena didn’t sleep a wink. She feared for both her, Leona, and the kids. Because there was no telling what Malik might do to them, there was also no telling if Leona could remain calm and not hint him to their plan.

When Elena finally got some sleep, her phone alarm went off in the next 2 hours, a groan escaped her lips. But she knew there were things to be taken take care of. And that was to put Malik away, because she didn’t want him to go around doing the same thing to another woman.

Before leaving her hotel room, Elena looked at the gun and placed in her hand bag and hugged it to her side.

It was a good thing she took the gun Malik was hiding, it was there just in case things got out of hand.

As Elena drove to Leona’s house, she went over everything in her head, all she had pieced together and all that she learnt about her ever so loving husband.

But what she really wanted to know was how he got someone with the same tattoo, birth mark and DNA as him.

Unless the morgue assistant was in on all this as well.

Elena tried to call Leona back but again her phone went to the voice mail box, causing Elena to think the worse.

‘’I just hope she is alright,’’ Elena mumbled to herself.

She then laughed, thinking how both of them were being played for a fool.

When Elena parked just down the street, she got out of her car and stared ahead of her in shock, the huge beautiful Victorian house was on fire.

She hurried over to a man who was videoing the scene.

‘’Do you know what happened?’’

‘’I just got here to be honest, but I heard that the husband came and packed his family up in his car. It seemed as if they left in a hurry and shortly after the house was on fire. This lady said they were arguing moments before, but I don’t know how true that was.’’

Elena got back into her car thinking hard.

Her phone ringing caused her to jump, thinking that it was Leona, she answered the phone.

‘’Elena Perry. We found some information on your husband, and I hope you are sitting down.’’

Elena pulled over and told the investigator to continue.

‘’We were actually investigating Klay Franco a few years ago, but he had an untimely death, and we closed the case. But there is no doubt that this is the same person you call Malik Franco, and Joshua Swan. We have reopened the case and from the things we found, we can make an arrest.’’

‘’Ok, that’s great news but I don’t know where he is at the moment. I fear he had kidnapped his family.’’

‘’Did his other wife ever told you about places they have been to, maybe a vacation home?’’

‘’No, but… well I bugged her phone and their cars, so maybe I can track that and send the location to you.’’

The man on the other end sighed.

‘’What you did was illegal, but in this case I’ll let it slide.’’

‘’But would you and your people make it to us in time? I mean, I’m scared of what he might do to his kids and wife.’’

‘’Don’t worry, just leave it all to us. And please don’t try to take matters into your own hands, your husband is a dangerous man.’’

After getting off the phone, Elena tracked Mailk and went to where the signal was coming from. She wasn’t going to wait on anyone to come from all the way in New York, in that time, Leona and her kids might end up dead.

It wasn’t a long drive, but the old run-down factory was the only building around. The worse part of it was that Elena didn’t pass anyone on her was there, and a feeling of dread washed over her.

Elena looked around before getting out of the car, she left the door open and the engine running just in case. She then walked to the building but kept low.

A few birds that were picking at the ground flew away to her approach, she had to cover her mouth from screaming and force her heart to calm down.

Elena peeked through a broken window and gasped after seeing Leona all tied up along with the kids.

‘I can’t wait for no cops,’ Elena thought.

Elena kept low as she looked for an entrance and after finding one, she took a deep breath then entered.

Mailk was alone, but he had a pipe in one hand and a gun in the other.

The kids were crying hysterically, while Leona was trying to be brave for them, telling them that it would all be ok and that they would go home soon.

“Malik!” Elena shouted when she saw him holding the gun to the youngest head.

Even though her voice echoed around the empty building, he looked right at her.

‘’Let them go Mailk, you don’t want to do this.’’

He smiled and walked slowly towards Elena, she pulled out the gun and pointed it at him.

“Stay there!” She yelled.

Malik laughed. “Really Ellie, you are going to kill me?’’

‘’If I have to.’’

Malik gave a sad look. ‘’But it’s me, your husband.’’

Elena shook her head. ‘’No, you are not, my husband is dead.’’

Malik shook his head. ‘’Either way, I know you won’t pull the trigger. You love me too much.’’

Malik drifted to the left then right, taunting Elena. “Do you want to shoot me here or here?”

Elena lowered the gun then held it high again, telling herself that she couldn’t be weak.

Malik began to walk towards Elena, and she took the safety off.

“Don’t come any further,” Elena warned.

Malik smiled and nodded at someone behind Elena, before she knew, arms were wrapping around her.

“Let go!” Elena elbowed the person then twisted around and pushed them in the throat.

When the woman dropped down to her knees, Elena brought her knee up into her face causing the woman to drop with a groan.