hadn’t lessened the sting. I wanted to get out there and help. Do a press conference and offer money in exchange for her. I just needed to know what they wanted. We hadn’t heard yet. We had no clue who they were. Everything had been quiet for the past two days until the phone call came in.
“We’ve just heard from them. They want three million in exchange for her. It seems the same woman you had a problem with back in Atlanta is at it again.”
“That crazy bitch.”
Three million. These people weren’t going to hand her over. I had a lot of money but the police had said that negotiating wasn’t something that usually worked out. I had said I would do whatever it took. If they wanted three million, I would get it. But I would be the one to deliver it.
Agent David Wakefield of the FBI had been put in charge. When the call came in again to say when and where the drop off would be, we were told some place in Mississippi. Was that where she was? I had asked to speak to Meghan but they refused. I had told them they wouldn’t see a penny unless I heard her voice. How could I know she was alive?
That’s when they agreed and said they would phone back.
The waiting was the hardest. A day passed and no call came. Another day. In that time I was meant to put on a brave face and play to audiences. What Mia hadn’t counted on was the backlash from the media.
* * *
C hase Bryan continued to play in light of the kidnap.
It didn’t go down well, the news was abuzz and people had taken to social media to say that it wasn’t right.
“I told you this would backfire. But no, you wanted me out there playing. Keep the fans happy, you said. Well, it’s not making them happy. They think I don’t care.” I paused. “The tour is canceled. If they want to kick me off the label, so be it. I don’t give a shit. Right now I can’t think straight let alone play music.”
When I stormed out of the tour bus, Ernie was following close behind.
“You are relieved of your duties. Go home.”
“But sir, I’ve been instructed to keep an eye on you. If they took her, they are liable to try and take you.”
“Maybe they should.”
I left him behind while I walked into the hotel. I returned to my room. Once inside I grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and filled a glass. I needed to get my mind off this. I was no detective. This was out of my control. The only thing I could do was come up with the money and hope they would be true to their word.
I scoffed. “True.” They were likely going to grab the money and kill her. This was all my fault. I shouldn’t have forced her to come out on tour. I was the only one to blame. I lay back against the headboard on my bed and downed the glass in one go. I quickly filled it up again.
There was a knock at the door.
“Go away.”
“It’s me. Luke.”
“In that case, go away.”
Luke came inside.
“You don’t listen.”
“It’s Meghan. They have her on the line.”
I jumped up as though I had springs under my ass. Luke led the way until we reached the tour bus. The FBI agents were there with recording devices to try and trace the call.
The phone rang again. The officer gave the nod and I picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Listen up. You play any tricks and she dies. You don’t show up with the money, she dies. I have already killed one person. I won’t hesitate again to kill her.”
I then heard her voice.
“Chase?”
“Meghan. Are you OK?”
“I’m alright. But…”
Before she could finish the kidnapper was back on the line.
“Now you have heard her. Here’s what I want you to do. Tomorrow at eight, you are to be in a small town in Mississippi called Cruger. There is a gas station called Walden’s Gas Station. Drop the money in the ice vending machine outside. Raise your hands as you go back to the car. Drive away and return in fifteen minutes. You will then find her there. Don’t try anything funny. I will be watching. If you show up with police, she
“We’ve just heard from them. They want three million in exchange for her. It seems the same woman you had a problem with back in Atlanta is at it again.”
“That crazy bitch.”
Three million. These people weren’t going to hand her over. I had a lot of money but the police had said that negotiating wasn’t something that usually worked out. I had said I would do whatever it took. If they wanted three million, I would get it. But I would be the one to deliver it.
Agent David Wakefield of the FBI had been put in charge. When the call came in again to say when and where the drop off would be, we were told some place in Mississippi. Was that where she was? I had asked to speak to Meghan but they refused. I had told them they wouldn’t see a penny unless I heard her voice. How could I know she was alive?
That’s when they agreed and said they would phone back.
The waiting was the hardest. A day passed and no call came. Another day. In that time I was meant to put on a brave face and play to audiences. What Mia hadn’t counted on was the backlash from the media.
* * *
C hase Bryan continued to play in light of the kidnap.
It didn’t go down well, the news was abuzz and people had taken to social media to say that it wasn’t right.
“I told you this would backfire. But no, you wanted me out there playing. Keep the fans happy, you said. Well, it’s not making them happy. They think I don’t care.” I paused. “The tour is canceled. If they want to kick me off the label, so be it. I don’t give a shit. Right now I can’t think straight let alone play music.”
When I stormed out of the tour bus, Ernie was following close behind.
“You are relieved of your duties. Go home.”
“But sir, I’ve been instructed to keep an eye on you. If they took her, they are liable to try and take you.”
“Maybe they should.”
I left him behind while I walked into the hotel. I returned to my room. Once inside I grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and filled a glass. I needed to get my mind off this. I was no detective. This was out of my control. The only thing I could do was come up with the money and hope they would be true to their word.
I scoffed. “True.” They were likely going to grab the money and kill her. This was all my fault. I shouldn’t have forced her to come out on tour. I was the only one to blame. I lay back against the headboard on my bed and downed the glass in one go. I quickly filled it up again.
There was a knock at the door.
“Go away.”
“It’s me. Luke.”
“In that case, go away.”
Luke came inside.
“You don’t listen.”
“It’s Meghan. They have her on the line.”
I jumped up as though I had springs under my ass. Luke led the way until we reached the tour bus. The FBI agents were there with recording devices to try and trace the call.
The phone rang again. The officer gave the nod and I picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Listen up. You play any tricks and she dies. You don’t show up with the money, she dies. I have already killed one person. I won’t hesitate again to kill her.”
I then heard her voice.
“Chase?”
“Meghan. Are you OK?”
“I’m alright. But…”
Before she could finish the kidnapper was back on the line.
“Now you have heard her. Here’s what I want you to do. Tomorrow at eight, you are to be in a small town in Mississippi called Cruger. There is a gas station called Walden’s Gas Station. Drop the money in the ice vending machine outside. Raise your hands as you go back to the car. Drive away and return in fifteen minutes. You will then find her there. Don’t try anything funny. I will be watching. If you show up with police, she
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