AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At first, she’d been frantic. She’d called everyone she could think of, trying desperately to get her son back.
Jin was claiming he had custody and that Nicole had given him permission to take the boy to China. No matter what Nicole did she couldn’t get anyone to help her. She’d been refused a visa and couldn’t travel to China–not through legal methods. With enough money and the right connections, things might have been different. While she and Jin had been together, traveling had not been a problem since he’d retained his citizenship, but one of the last things Jin had done before leaving with Cliff was to file for divorce and sole custody,
At first, she’d been frantic. She’d called everyone she could think of, trying desperately to get her son back.
Jin was claiming he had custody and that Nicole had given him permission to take the boy to China. No matter what Nicole did she couldn’t get anyone to help her. She’d been refused a visa and couldn’t travel to China–not through legal methods. With enough money and the right connections, things might have been different. While she and Jin had been together, traveling had not been a problem since he’d retained his citizenship, but one of the last things Jin had done before leaving with Cliff was to file for divorce and sole custody, stripping Nicole of her right to travel as the wife of a Chinese citizen.
By the time Nicole had returned home, they’d been gone and there wasn’t anything she could do. She’d been to every agency, legal and not-so-legal she could find, spending thousands of dollars trying to locate someone to help her. Nothing had worked. Now, she was desperate. Her last hope was her high-school friend Nick Donovan and his brothers, Ian and Devon Sawyer. They were the owners of Trident Security. A name she continued to hear from many sources.
Her appointment with Ian was this morning, and she was nervous and anxious. She didn’t know what she was going to do if he wasn’t able to help her or didn’t know of someone who could. She’d arrived several minutes early for her appointment, and it was all she could do not to pace the waiting room. She almost jumped out of her chair when she heard the receptionist say, “Mr. Sawyer apologizes, but he’s going to be a few moments longer. Would you like a drink? We have coffee, tea, water and a variety of sodas.”
“No, thank you.” Nicole smiled at the woman. The wooden plaque on her desk said, “Colleen Helm – Office Manager,” and she seemed very nice.
Nicole sat a few minutes, then wished she’d asked for a bottle of water at least. It would have given her something to do with her hands if nothing else. She glanced at her watch for the third time in as many minutes. Only a little after her meeting time. Her appointment with Ian had been at eight, and she wondered how long he was going to keep her waiting.
Nicole had been sitting a while longer when a large, blond man came in carrying a huge box. “What did Fancy send us this morning, Brody?” the manager asked cheerfully.
Before he could answer, a man—who could only be Ian Sawyer—came out of one of the offices. He looked at Colleen who nodded her head towards Nicole.
Ian strode to Nicole and held out his hand. “Ms. Swafford? I’m Ian Sawyer. I’m sorry I was delayed. If you would follow me.”
Nicole stood and wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt before taking Ian’s outstretched hand. It was obvious he had no idea who she was. He turned to the man still talking with the receptionist. “Egghead, bring me one of whatever that is and get to work.
“This way Ms. Swafford.”
Nicole followed him, wondering if she should tell him who she was or just explain her problem. Before she could, Devon Sawyer stepped out of an office right in front of her. She’d recognized him in a heartbeat. He stood still a minute, just staring at her. “Are you? No… it can’t be. Little Nikki…? What are you doing here?”
Ian eyed his brother as if he’d lost his mind. “What am I missing, Dev?” he asked, now staring at Nicole.
That question was answered by Devon. “You can’t tell me you don’t remember little Nikki Swafford. The kids teased her and Nick so much back in high school.”
Ian stared at her a minute before she saw the spark of recognition in his face. “Nicole Swafford. I’m surprised someone hasn’t snatched you up.” He opened the door to an office and ushered her in. “Come sit and you can explain what you’re doing here.”
Devon followed them into the office and closed the door. “Can I get you anything, coffee, water, soda?” Dev asked, leaning against the door.
“A bottle of water would be great.” Nicole wasn’t going to refuse the offer this time.
He glanced at his brother. “Boss-man?”
Ian nodded, and Dev left them alone. “Now, tell me what’s brought you to Trident Security?”
Nicole slowly started telling her story, beginning with, “My son’s been kidnapped.” Her voice broke, and the tears she’d promised herself she wouldn’t shed started to fall.
Ian guided her to a couch that was against one wall and sat her down, handing her a box of tissues. “Tell me the whole story. I know there’s more to it or you wouldn’t be contacting Trident.”
Nicole took a tissue and blotted her eyes, then inhaled deeply to compose herself.
A knock sounded at the door and Dev let himself in with several bottles of water and the box that had been at the receptionist’s desk.
“You should try one of these. Fancy, Brody’s wife, is the best baker we have in town,” he said, setting the box and bottles of water on the low table in front of the couch.
The contents of the box did smell good. Maybe if I nibble on it, I’ll be distracted enough to tell my story without turning into a blubbering fool, Nicole thought, picking up one of the small treats. “Thank you. This is delicious,” she said after taking a small bite.
“Dev, have a seat. Nicole was just explaining why she’s here. Her son has been kidnapped. Nicole, tell us more of what’s going on,” Ian said after grabbing a pastry for himself and sitting in one of the comfortable looking chairs on either side of the couch.
Nicole started at the beginning, telling them how she’d met Jin and how they’d gotten married, then she told them about Cliff. She finished with, “There’s no one else that will help me. I’ve talked to numerous agencies and private investigators and the name I keep hearing is Trident. I did some research and found out that you, Devon and Nick were owners and I knew you’d be able to help me or find someone who could. I’ll pay whatever it takes. I can write the check today. I just want my son back.” Her voice broke with the last words.
Ian reached out and took both of Nicole’s hands with his. “I’ll do everything I can. I’m going to call our computer specialist in here. I want him to start running some searches on Jin Peng’s family.”
Ian stepped out of the office and returned with the man the secretary had called Brody. “Nicole Swafford, this is Brody Evans, also known as Egghead, our computer geek. If the information is out there, he’ll find it. I want you to tell him everything you know about Jin Peng’s family. Don’t leave out anything. The smallest detail sometimes can be the most important. While you’re doing that, I’m going to call some of my contacts and find out what I can about traveling to China. We’ll see if there’s anyone out there who can help us. You came to the right place, Nicole. If it’s possible to get Clifton home, we’ll do it. I promise you.”
Ian left her to talk with Brody while he made his calls.
