A Hopeless Pursuit (Forbidden Love Series Book 10)

A muffled chuckle could be distinctly heard in the background. Liam's blood was boiling as he turned on to speaker mode. Laurence gestured to him not to lose his patience. He forwarded the number to officer Ridley. Then he left the room to call officer Ridley to track the number.

"Who I am isn't important here," said the muffled voice of Harry Lennard. Liam rolled his eyes. Covering one's mouth while speaking and a little voice modulation isn't enough to cover one's tracks. Laurence came to sit with Liam after his work was done.

"What's important is that I have who you want. You give me what I want and take what's yours. I want to strike a deal with you, " said the muffled voice of Harry Lennard.

"What deal?" Asked Liam with irritation.

"You give me 5 million dollars Mr. Parker and take your fiancée away. I won't bother you ever again," said Harry Lennard.

"Okay. Where do I send the money?" Asked Liam fishing for information.

"You arrange for the money in cash within four days and come to Mexico City. I will send you rest of the details after you arrival. If you involve the police, your fiancée will be killed unnecessarily," said the voice. Before Liam could utter a single word, the phone was disconnected.

Liam sighed and looked at Laurence anxiously. Five million dollars in cash was too much to be arranged that too within four days. Liam called up his dad when Laurence sat holding onto his head, lost for words. Laurence had no idea what to do anymore. Even if they paid the money there was no guarantee that Harry Lennard wouldn't repeat this stunt again when he was short on funds. He had to risk everything and take help from the police. Liam disconnected the call after speaking to his dad. Laurence looked at him expectantly.

"Dad said that we should prepare a bag of fake money for Harry Lennard. He wouldn't have time to sit and count. Till then we will have Lisa safe with us. We have to involve the police but they should be in hiding. Once the bag is arranged for, we have to take a flight to Mexico city," said Liam in a grave tone.

Laurence's phone vibrated with an incoming call from officer Ridley. "Hello, Laurence Lennard here, tell me officer. Could you track the call?" Asked an anxious Laurence.

"Yes Mr. Lennard. The call has been traced to Caridad Boxing club, Caridad Tepito 1, Tepito, Mexico city," informed the officer. "The Sim card was registered in the name of Creighton and went dead after that call Mr. Lennard. "

"Don't take any action now officer. He has threatened to finish off Lisa. He doesn't want police involvement so we have to discreet about it. He has demanded 5 million dollars to be arranged in cash in four days. Then we would have to fly to Mexico city after which he would give us more details," informed Laurence.

"Are you really going to pay?" Asked the officer.

"No we are arranging for fake money to get Lisa. Once it's all ready we would be going to Mexico city, " informed Laurence.

"You reach there, I'll inform the Mexico city police to help you find Ms. Lennard," said the officer. So the next two days Eric Parker helped them get a bag of fake money ready. Liam's mom went to LA to spend a few days with Lucas and Violet as well as Serenity and Alexander who lived nearby. Laurence, Liam and Eric Parker booked a flight to Mexico city while Troy and Sandra looked after Arianna and the children.

They reached Mexico city and went up to the penthouse of the Parker Suites, Mexico city. "I came here three years ago when this hotel was launched," said Liam's dad. They settled into their rooms and had a light lunch when Liam's phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

Welcome to Mexico city. Glad that you brought your dad along. Will message you the details shortly.

"He's keeping a tab on us Laurence. We have to be very careful about involving the police," said Liam. 

Eric Parker involved the HR manager of his hotel to communicate with the Mexico city police to avoid suspicions. They found out that the phone that was used was traced to the Tepito area. Lisa might be locked up somewhere in the Tepito area. For two days they waited for Dan Creighton's message. The police couldn't track him anywhere in Mexico city. Did he leave with Lisa?

 

 

Change Of Scene

Lisa emptied the contents of her stomach for the eighteenth time in the day. Tired and exhausted, she climbed onto the small bed of the tiny room. The last four days she had been reduced to a skeleton with constant bouts of nausea. She was incapable of eating a single morsel of food. She badly needed a doctor but given the condition Harry Lennard was at his wits end as to what to do. She was his trump card and he didn't want her to die. Then he would surely be arrested and would have to spend the rest of his life in jail.

They had been giving her medicine for a stomach bug but it wasn't working at all. "Where did you get all that spicy Mexican food from, Frankie?" He scolded his man.

"Boss from Royale Mexicana at the crossing. It's good actually," said Frankie, his mouth watering at the thought of the delicious food of the restaurant.

Harry Lennard shook his head. "Go check if she's alive or not," he said pulling at his hair with frustration.

Lisa closed her eyes feeling weak. The last few days they had shifted from one place to another constantly and it was taking a toll on her health. She had pleaded with her dad to let her go but he hadn't heard a single plea of hers. She at last gave up even talking to them. They weren't worth the effort. She left her fate in the hands of God. 

 

Flashback
Ten days ago

The door of the room opened and in walked her dad, Harry Lennard. Lisa looked up at him without any expression on her face. She knew he had abducted her.

"You forced me to take this step, Lisa, " he said in defense. Lisa didn't utter a single word. She just stared wordlessly at her hands.

"If you had cooperated before instead of running away, then this situation could have been saved," said her dad.

"Why do you need so much money that you needed to abduct me dad?" She asked with a heartbroken sigh.

"You can't understand. Some people are after my life for money. Laurence wouldn't pay me. He froze my accounts. What choice do I have, huh?" Asked her dad, fiercely defending himself.

"If you hadn't involved the hitmen to finish off Arianna, then you wouldn't have been in a debt. You would be living a luxurious life with Laurence and his children," said Lisa in a soft voice as if talking to herself. Harry Lennard let out a curse of irritation.

"I don't need your advice and lecture. Okay? Just be a good girl and co-operate. Once Liam gives me my five million dollars, I'll set you free and no one will ever hurt. I promise, " said her dad, getting up to leave.

"If you try to escape Lisa, I'll not hesitate to finish you off," he threatened as he reached the door. 

"You're the worst dad ever," said Lisa as helpless tears fell from her eyes. Harry Lennard punched the wall furiously.

"I'm not your dad. I adopted you as an investment. Now the time has come for you to pay it off," he said though gritted teeth.

"I'm just a money minting machine for you dad?" She asked with a sob.

"Yes. Every time I need money, you'll help me as long as you're alive, " chuckled her dad.

"Why can't you kill me? I never wanted this life," said Lisa in between sobs but Harry Lennard left the room, locking her from the outside. 

Lisa crumpled to the bed and sobbed at the pathetic life that she was blessed with. What have I ever done to you God? She mumbled weeping her heart out. Her heart wrenching sobs echoed in the small room as well as outside.

End of flashback

Lisa felt a temperature coming on. Was she dying? She thought about Liam and the happily married life that she had dreamt of spending with him. She thought about her brother Laurence who although wasn't related to her by blood, was her only family.  He had always cared for her since she was born. The man who brought her food came to check her. He locked her door and went to inform his boss about her critical condition.

"Boss, I don't think she'll live much longer," he informed Harry Lennard.

Harry Lennard was worried. With Liam  Laurence and Eric Parker here with the money, what should he do? If Lisa died now, he would never be able to get his payment.