Page 71 of Wicked Shadows
Silas watched Jason’s face as he relived the scene from that night, giving him time to remember any other details he’d tried to forget. Jason was visibly shaken by the entire incident and believed they’d kill him, and he was correct. They would, without a second thought. They had no use for him—they were after the women. When Jason appeared to have checked out of the conversation, Silas drew him back in.
“What did you do next?”
“I tucked my tail between my legs and ran back inside the sound stage. When I found Vince Rossi, the director, I told him to call the police. Then I explained everything, just like I told you. He told me to go home and he’d take care of it.”
“Did he take care of it?”
“At the time, I honestly thought he did. He grabbed his cell and began barking orders, yelling he needed the police right away. When he realized I was still there, he called my driver and basically pushed me into the car. On the way home, my agent called and said they were putting the publicity tour on hold, but they’d finish editing the movie so we’d be ready to go when it was time. I told him I didn’t care about that—what about Elle and Beth? He said the police were there, and the studio was handling it. They didn’t want me involved in the case because it would hurt more than it would help.”
“Hurt what?”
“My career—because I didn’t rush to stop them, like the hero I play in my movies. Elle’s career—because our onscreen relationship wouldn’t be believable after people realized I allowed her to be taken. The movie itself—since it would get bad reviews and no one would go see it. Everything from our reputations to being cast in future movies would be destroyed. That’s how he sold it to me anyway, and I went along with it.”
“When the van left the lot, you said it didn’t stop at the guard station. Does your driver always stop to check out with the guard?”
“Yes. Always. They’re supposed to check everyone in and out of the lot.”
“Did your driver stop that night?” Silas asked.
Jason’s brows drew down and he stared straight ahead, his eyes slightly downcast while he tried to remember. “You know, I was so shaken up by the time I got in the car, I didn’t even think about it. I just wanted to get home, as far away from there as I could get. But, no, we didn’t check out.” His eyes jerked up to meet Silas’s. “What does that mean? They’re all in on it?”
“I can’t comment on an open investigation,” Silas replied. “Which way did the van turn when they left the lot?”
“Right. Why are you not taking any notes?”
“I don’t need notes to remember. Were you aware that Vince Rossi left LA this morning for an undetermined length of time?”
Jason blanched and sat back against the couch. “No, I didn’t know. Why did he leave?”
“The official statement said there was a medical emergency, and he was returning home to be with his family.” Silas studied Jason, watching for clues to confirm he honestly didn’t know about the director’s abrupt departure from the studio.
“Returned home?Where—all the way to Orange? That’s where his family lives.”
“Yes, I’m aware. I found it interesting too.” Silas stood and walked to the large bank of patio doors. “Jason, there’s something I want you to do. They’re planning to do something terrible to the ladies they’ve kidnapped. We must force their hand so we can stop this before it’s too late.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Call Mary Ellen Gallie and tell her you’re not with Elle. You don’t have to give any details of that night, simply confirm you left LA for an extended vacation off the grid before the promotional tour started. Then you were hit with all this nonsense about you and Elle running away to get married. So you wanted to set the record straight, because if she’s in danger, law enforcement needs to do something about it.
“The video they sent of her talking about how happy you two are has already been proven a fake. The people need to hear it from you now, so your fans will demand action on your behalf, and hers.”
“Of course. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
Silas checked his watch and nodded to the phone. “Her show is about to come on now. Perfect time to set the public straight on the facts.” Jason grabbed his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed the line dedicated to celebrities. Silas listened while Jason donned his Jax personality. Without giving details of that night, he answered questions from the host and call-in viewers. By the end of the hour-long show, word had spread across the waves. Calls and emails flooded law enforcement offices across the state. From the governor to the mayor to the chief of police, concerned fans demanded immediate action and questioned the effectiveness of assigning only Detective Gough to such a complex case.
“Stay here with around-the-clock security until this is over. When Elle is home safely, you’ll know you can return to LA.” Silas stepped out the front door and turned back to Jason. “You should know, Jason, there’s no shame in what you did. If you’d tried to stop them, theywould’vekilled you and still left with Elle and Beth. These are not the kind of men the average person tangles with, and you have no reason to be ashamed. What you did today will do more to help save them than you know. Thanks for your help.”
“Thank you, Agent Steele. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you saying that.”
Once Silas was back in the truck, he called his brother. “Jax Hart handled that very well. Turned on the charm and rallied his troops. That should help with the message Elle’s and Beth’s parents are pushing daily.”
“His message was perfect. Did he say anything that could help?”
“Nothing we don’t already know.” Silas repeated the conversation for Reaper, who also wasn’t surprised to hear the director appeared to be involved.
“Sounds like we need to pay a visit to his sick family member in Orange. We know who to look at, but we haven’t figured out why they’re doing this yet. Have you heard anything from your analyst with the agency?”
“Coded messages sent to a buyer in Hong Kong were intercepted. Nick Tucker has been trying to identify the name on an offshore account. My analyst is helping unravel that a little faster. We should have the details soon. Nick is a little more by-the-book than I am,” Silas chuckled.
