sports game on TV.
“I need your help, Tommy. I have some harsh news.” My tone was serious and I heard Tommy immediately turn off the television.
“What is it, Josiah?” Tommy asked me.
“It’s about Hector.”
“What’s wrong with Hector?” I could hear the concern in Tommy’s voice, too.
“First, let me ask you.” I said, “When was the last time you saw him or talked with him?”
“I don’t know, a couple of weeks ago , maybe. Tell me what’s going on, Josiah; you’re making me a little nervous.”
“He’s been kidnapped,” I answered.
“What? How could someone kidnap Hector? Hector is practically indestructible.”
“Not against a group of vampires,” I said.
“Hector got kidnapped by vampires ?” Tommy was feeling like I did, that this could never happen. Or at least it shouldn’t have happened. Especially not to Hector. Hector was one of the most giving, most loyal friends Tommy and I had.
“Yeah, I’ve got to go to New York and get him out of there,” I said. “I could use a partner, if you’re willing.”
“Of course, I’m willing.” Tommy was getting angry already. “But how did this happen? Tell me what happened.”
“You know how we talked about me setting up a Facebook account, so people could ask for help if they needed it?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, someone messaged me privately. Sion was monitoring the Facebook page and he saw it. He’s convinced this is for real. I’ve talked to them on the phone and to Hector, too. They are holding him for ransom and they threatened to kill him.”
“Ransom?”
“Yeah, they want me to empty all of his bank accounts and give them the money or they said they would kill him.”
Tommy took in what I said for a moment and made a few noises. “Okay, whatever you need, bro. I’m on board.”
“I need for you to fly out to New York. Fly into LaGuardia airport. We need to meet up in the next 24 hours.”
“Next 24 hours?” Tommy asked. Wasn’t sure if he thought that was too long or too soon. I didn’t ask. I had things to do. “You want me to meet you in New York?”
“Yes. You’ll need to get the first flight, non-stop. I’ll be there before you, so call me when you get there and I’ll let you know where I’m staying.”
“You got it. I’m looking up flights as we speak.”
“Good. I gotta get going,” I said, realizing I was furious about this. I couldn’t sit still a moment longer. However, I did have one last thought. “Oh, and Tommy?”
“What?”
“Let’s keep this on the down-low,” I said.
“Sure, Josiah, whatever you say, but do you mind if I ask why? Lots of Mani know Hector and would be willing to help. We could go in there like an army. Like the old days.”
“I know, but that’s just it,” I replied. “We don’t know exactly who we’re dealing with here and I don’t want Hector to get caught in any crossfire. Are they fallen Mani? Part of some radical group? I’ve got to get some more information before I let the word out. So, it’s just you and me, going in there very quietly, and getting Hector the hell out of there.”
“Good idea. I know you’re itching to get out of there, so I’ll call you from New York.”
“Thanks, Tommy. I knew I could count on you.”
“No problem. We’ll get them all, whoever they are. And we’ll get Hector back safely.”
“Right.” I ended the call.
Lena had been listening. She wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose; she was just in the room and had heard the conversation. Now she came to me and hugged me tightly. “You promise you’ll be careful?” She understood perfectly that I had to do this—I had to save Hector. But she looked up at me with those beautiful eyes and I knew she would worry the whole time I was gone.
I pushed away my anger for a minute and kissed her softly. “I promise I’ll be careful. But I’m also going to do whatever it takes, Lena.”
“I know you will, Josiah. That’s who you are. I have always
“I need your help, Tommy. I have some harsh news.” My tone was serious and I heard Tommy immediately turn off the television.
“What is it, Josiah?” Tommy asked me.
“It’s about Hector.”
“What’s wrong with Hector?” I could hear the concern in Tommy’s voice, too.
“First, let me ask you.” I said, “When was the last time you saw him or talked with him?”
“I don’t know, a couple of weeks ago , maybe. Tell me what’s going on, Josiah; you’re making me a little nervous.”
“He’s been kidnapped,” I answered.
“What? How could someone kidnap Hector? Hector is practically indestructible.”
“Not against a group of vampires,” I said.
“Hector got kidnapped by vampires ?” Tommy was feeling like I did, that this could never happen. Or at least it shouldn’t have happened. Especially not to Hector. Hector was one of the most giving, most loyal friends Tommy and I had.
“Yeah, I’ve got to go to New York and get him out of there,” I said. “I could use a partner, if you’re willing.”
“Of course, I’m willing.” Tommy was getting angry already. “But how did this happen? Tell me what happened.”
“You know how we talked about me setting up a Facebook account, so people could ask for help if they needed it?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, someone messaged me privately. Sion was monitoring the Facebook page and he saw it. He’s convinced this is for real. I’ve talked to them on the phone and to Hector, too. They are holding him for ransom and they threatened to kill him.”
“Ransom?”
“Yeah, they want me to empty all of his bank accounts and give them the money or they said they would kill him.”
Tommy took in what I said for a moment and made a few noises. “Okay, whatever you need, bro. I’m on board.”
“I need for you to fly out to New York. Fly into LaGuardia airport. We need to meet up in the next 24 hours.”
“Next 24 hours?” Tommy asked. Wasn’t sure if he thought that was too long or too soon. I didn’t ask. I had things to do. “You want me to meet you in New York?”
“Yes. You’ll need to get the first flight, non-stop. I’ll be there before you, so call me when you get there and I’ll let you know where I’m staying.”
“You got it. I’m looking up flights as we speak.”
“Good. I gotta get going,” I said, realizing I was furious about this. I couldn’t sit still a moment longer. However, I did have one last thought. “Oh, and Tommy?”
“What?”
“Let’s keep this on the down-low,” I said.
“Sure, Josiah, whatever you say, but do you mind if I ask why? Lots of Mani know Hector and would be willing to help. We could go in there like an army. Like the old days.”
“I know, but that’s just it,” I replied. “We don’t know exactly who we’re dealing with here and I don’t want Hector to get caught in any crossfire. Are they fallen Mani? Part of some radical group? I’ve got to get some more information before I let the word out. So, it’s just you and me, going in there very quietly, and getting Hector the hell out of there.”
“Good idea. I know you’re itching to get out of there, so I’ll call you from New York.”
“Thanks, Tommy. I knew I could count on you.”
“No problem. We’ll get them all, whoever they are. And we’ll get Hector back safely.”
“Right.” I ended the call.
Lena had been listening. She wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose; she was just in the room and had heard the conversation. Now she came to me and hugged me tightly. “You promise you’ll be careful?” She understood perfectly that I had to do this—I had to save Hector. But she looked up at me with those beautiful eyes and I knew she would worry the whole time I was gone.
I pushed away my anger for a minute and kissed her softly. “I promise I’ll be careful. But I’m also going to do whatever it takes, Lena.”
“I know you will, Josiah. That’s who you are. I have always
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