“Nikki is calling me; she’s never called me before,” Antonio says before he picks up the call and puts it on speaker. “Is everything ok?” Antonio asks.
“Tony! I just called the cops. There are four guys passed out in the lobby, and Amelia’s door is wide open. There are black flowers scattered everywhere. I think something bad has happened to her. She won’t answer any of my calls!”
Antonio goes pale, and I’m sure I do too. He goes straight into cop mode.
“Did you already walk into her apartment?” he starts.
“Yes! Are you listening to me?! There are black flowers everywhere and a tote bag filled with her makeup and tampons, this doesn’t make any sense!” Nikki yells.
“Okay, so you’ve already contaminated the crime scene. Listen carefully. Do you see a note by the flowers, or anything that would indicate where she’s gone?”
“Give me a sec to look,” she says.
I text Rocco that his team has been compromised, and that Amelia is missing. I’m not sure why, but I forward the same message to my dad.
“I found a card! Oh God,” Nikki whimpers.
“What does it say Nikki?!” Antonio barks.
“You never forget your first.”
* * *
“Officer Nuñez to dispatch, please be advised that I am en route to a potential hostage situation at a laundromat on the corner of Ninety Sixth and Amsterdam Avenue. The suspected kidnapping victim is my sister, Amelia Nuñez. Suspect Julian Vazquez, AKA Julian Valentine, is considered armed and dangerous. All nearby vehicles please respond,” Antonio says into the patrol car’s radio as we speed down Amsterdam Avenue, sirens blaring.
I’ve updated Rocco and my father, and they’re on their way. Rocco’s team is gathering all surveillance near Amelia’s apartment building and my dad is pulling favors from everyone he knows to get information on Julian’s whereabouts.
“Are you sure they’re gonna be there?” I ask Antonio.
“Of course not! But this sick fuck is reminiscing about their first kiss, so this is the only place I can imagine him taking her. Fuck!” He slams the steering wheel as pedestrians try to run out of his path.
“This is all my fault, Tony. I’m so sorry.” My voice cracks.
“Stop that shit right now. We can throw around the blame later, but right now I need you to focus. You’re gonna have to be my partner when we get in there, okay?” he says as he looks over to me.
“Okay.” I nod.
“Dispatch to Officer Nuñez, please move over to station twenty three, your Captain is on the line.”
“10-4. This is Officer Nuñez.”
“What the hell is this I’m hearing about a hostage situation? And it’s your sister? What the fuck is happening?” his Captain demands.
“Just like you heard it, sir. I’m two minutes out and I have a civilian riding along with me,” Antonio states.
“Hardly a time for a joy ride, Nuñez. Who’s riding with you?”
“His name is Evan Cooper. He’s … He’s my best friend and my sister’s boyfriend.”
“For fuck’s sake, it’s already a family affair. Look, a lot of my officers are dealing with a protest gone sour by Central Park, so we don’t have many officers available, but I’ll funnel as many as I can. But don’t you dare go in there until we have confirmation that she’s there and you have backup. Even then, once you have eyes on her, wait for the hostage negotiator. You know the drill.”
Antonio bares his teeth. “With all due respect sir, that’s not happening. That’s my sister in there. I will follow protocol to the best of my ability, but if I get in there and I have confirmation that she’s alive and well, I’m going in.”
“Nuñez. Stand down and wait for backup. That’s an order. Need I remind you that your detective badge is on the line until you’re sworn in after the new year?” his Captain barks.
“Yes, sir,” Antonio responds, then turns off his radio.
“We’re not waiting for backup, are we?” I side eye him.
