For the record, this IS the final Chapter. I really hope everyone enjoyed reading it, as much as I did writing it. After 316 pages and 137,125 words, I think it's time to give my friend Kevin a break. Thanks to Dawn, Jaz, Tanja, and Misty for all your help with the novel. You are all truly gifted and it's an honor to call you my friends. Now let's find out if true love really exists.
Adam was looking over the touch ups on the team's evaluations. Looking down at his watch, he saw it was nearly noon. He put his paperwork down and picked up the phone. There was no answer at Kristine's office, so he tried the house.
'She probably fell back asleep. It's a good thing that Neal likes her.'
When there was no answer at her house, he put the phone down and walked out to the duty office. He knew that if anyone had seen her, it would be the watch stander. It only took a few moments to arrive at the only entrance to the compound's administrative building.
"How you doing there Petty Officer Rodriquez, have you seen Miss Duka today?" Adam asked the athletically trim SEAL.
"No Sir. I came on at 0800 so she might have come in before my watch, but I'll keep an eye out for her. Should I tell her you need to see her?"
"I'm gonna head out for lunch, but if she happens to show up while I'm gone, just give me a page."
"Aye, Aye Sir. I'm due to be relieved in thirty minutes, but I'll pass the message on for you L-tee."
"Thanks." Adam walked out and headed for his car. He figured he might as well head over there and drag her sorry ass in.
It didn't take long for Adam Dawson to reach her house. He figured he could get her up, and at the same time, grab something to eat while he was there. He took his house key and inserted it into the lock. When he turned the key, he found that the front door was unlocked.
'That's not like her to leave the house unlocked, and I know I locked it when I left this morning.'
Adam walked in and shut the door behind him. "Hey Kristine, come on it's time to get up," he yelled and walked towards the stairs.
"It's about time you came back to check on your girlfriend."
Adam heard the male voice coming from the living room and a gambit of emotions ran through his body. As he entered the room, he saw a brown haired man sitting on the couch. Fearing the worst, he moved quickly towards him. Suddenly Rudolf raised his silenced weapon and pointed it at Adam's chest.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Why don't you take a seat Mr. Dawson, before you do something stupid, like grow a brain," Rudolf said as he pointed the 9mm towards the chair.
Adam stood there and glared at the intruder. "You can sit down like I told you, or you can fall down on the floor, it's your choice," he said as he cocked the hammer back.
Adam reluctantly sat down and tried to figure out his options. He had no weapon on him, and the .45 was in the desk drawer next to the intruder.
"Where's Kristine?"
"Safe -- for now at least, and she will stay that way as long as you cooperate."
Adam sat back in the chair. "I'm assuming that you're working for Martina Kordic. How's the bitch doing?"
Rudolf smiled at Adam as he lowered his pistol. "She's doing very well actually, but I don't work for her."
"Oh I see, you work for her daughter. What's her name again?"
"I didn't give you a name Mr. Dawson. You SEALs really do your homework."
"We have our moments. Enough with the chit chat. Where's Kristine?"
"She is someplace safe, but that will only remain if you follow our directions," he told him as he tossed a piece of paper over to him.
"Those are the coordinates of the house she is located at. Now you're a smart fellow, so I don't need to tell you that this is a private affair. Just you and Mr. Dvorska are to show up. If there is any indication, and I do mean any, that others are involved she dies."
"Yeah, I get the whole don't tell the cops routine. What assurances do I have that she's alive or that she'll even be there?"
"You don't Mr. Dawson. I guess you and Mr. Dvorska will have to go on faith. You have until this time tomorrow to reach the house. After that, well let's just say, it won't be pleasant."
"If you hurt one..."
"Let's make something perfectly clear here. We are in control now, not you. You're a military man so you are accustomed to following orders. You fuck this up and I will personally send her back to you in small boxes."
"It's going to be hard for Dvorska and me to be gone. People are going to wonder," Adam lied.
"That's your problem. Deal with it as you must, but make no mistake Mr. Dawson, she dies if you're careless."
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"
"Not at all."
"Do you think after you kill all of us, that you'll be safe from every SEAL in the Navy?"
Rudolf Berks stood up and walked towards Adam. He had him covered so Adam made no aggressive move.
"My dear Mr. Dawson, I have read all the stories about your so called elite force. Frankly I am not impressed, and if you make it through all this, maybe you and I will have some one on one time."
"Oh I will definitely look forward to that," Adam said with a smile.
Rudolf walked out of the house as Adam looked at the paper. It had an address and a set of coordinates on it. He got up and went to the table by the couch. When he opened the drawer, he pulled the .45 out and moved to the front door.
Adam Dawson scanned the area. There was no sign of his girlfriend's abductor. He slipped the weapon behind his back and got in the car. He ran over the options he had facing him. What risk was he willing to take with Kristine's life? Navy SEALs knew the dangers of the job, but it never involved a part of the family.
'If I get the chance, I'm going to end this once and for all.'
**********
Neal Hawkins sat at his desk with his hands behind his head. He was thinking of the current Intel that Dawson and Kristine had discovered. He had seen so many things as a Navy SEAL, but nothing compared to this.
'At what fucking point does justice take a back seat?'
Adam Dawson interrupted his skipper's thoughts when he opened the door. As he sat down, Adam pulled the .45 out from behind his back and placed it on Neal's desk. Neal stared at the weapon and then leaned forward.
"We have a problem Neal," Adam said bluntly.
"I can see that Adam. Is that loaded?"
"Good news and bad news Neal, I found out where Martina is."
"Thank God, finally. What's the bad news?"
"She has Kristine."
Neal Hawkins placed his head in his hands and shook his head. "This bitch is on my last nerve."
"Alright Adam fill me in," Neal said as he leaned back in his chair.