Sascha

A Rose Called Miracle: Book #2, Part 6

CHAPTER 17

Tuesday dawned bright, but much colder. Sascha stood in the bedroom deciding what to wear. Robert slid behind her and rubbed her shoulders. She purred and leaned back against him. When he finished, she poured a cup of coffee from the insulated carafe on the table. Either Birgit or Agatha had delivered it while she showered. Sometimes Sascha missed the simple chore of brewing her own morning coffee. She took her cup and a breakfast biscuit into her office and walked over to the south-facing picture window. Westbound traffic was a mess. At a glance, she estimated a backup of at least a mile. "Somebody's having a bad day," She mused when she noticed the flashing blue lights in the distance. She checked her e-mail--no class cancellations; one from Mom, just saying Hi. From the closet, Robert reminded her that they'd been invited that evening to a reception at the Israeli Consulate welcoming the newly arrived Consul-General. She double-checked her e-mail and found a second message from Prof J to see him about the paper. "Robert," she called out, "I remember the reception. I assume my blue gown will be okay, or can I get away with something less formal?"; 'Prof J:' (she typed) '14:30 for the paper?'

She packed up her texts for the day along with her laptop, lunch, and coffee thermos. She went back to their bedroom and opted for jeans and a warm flannel shirt. She stopped and stripped off the shirt and went back to her closet. She dug around for a few seconds and found a white blouse with vertical pink stripes Allison had insisted on buying for her. She nodded, "That's better." She put on her heavy, red wool hooded coat and a pink Boston Red Sox baseball cap that Robert had gotten her as a joke. He claimed she would look like a real New Englander. It was a nice hat, so she wore it; but, inside in big black letters she'd printed, GO PIRATES. 'Take That!' She thought as she closed and locked their apartment.

"Good morning gentlemen," She greeted the security team by the elevator.

"Good morning, Your Highness," They replied.

Sascha still struggled, and was uncomfortable with the formality, "Please, just Sascha."

"Good morning...Your Highness," Replied the older man. Sascha sighed...defeated for the moment.

Sascha stepped out of the building and turned right for the campus. She turned her face up to admire the cloudless sky. The hood dropped over her head without warning. She screamed and clawed and kicked trying to get loose of the hands holding her. She freed her hand and reached under the hood. She reached up and tried to activate her panic button, but her captors yanked both hands behind her back and secured them with flex ties. Strong hands picked her up and tossed her into a vehicle. She was thrown against the side as the driver accelerated into a screeching U-turn. As soon as the vehicle straightened, and she'd almost regained balance, hands grabbed her, she felt a sting in her arm, and everything went dark.

Sascha struggled to clear her head. Through a tiny flaw in the black hood Sascha could faintly see the pair of black sneakers. Their owner wondered aloud how long the drug would keep her unconscious. He kicked her knee, but she managed not to move. "How much of that shit did you give her? Didn't doctor say she'd be awake by now?"

"I give her just what I was told; she must be smaller than we thought." The black-sneakered man answered

"Well, we need her awake as soon as possible. If husband demands proof she's alive, she needs to be awake to talk or whatever." Sascha heard footsteps walking away.

"Come on girl, wake the hell up." The black-sneakered one muttered with a heavy accent. Sascha guessed Russian. He kicked her again. This time it hurt.

Sascha faked a groan. She was tired of being kicked.

"Kirill? Is girl awake yet?" Someone called from some distance away.

"Almost. She starting to groan a little bit."

'Okay.' Sascha thought, 'Black sneakers=Kirill.' He nudged her again with his foot.

"Please, stop. Don't hurt me." Sascha pleaded, trying to sound pathetic and weak. She tried moving, testing. Her shoulders ached because her hands were restrained behind her back. Her head ached too...'a hangover from whatever drug they hit me with,' she thought.

"Water, please?" She moaned. "I'm so thirsty."

"I'm going to take off the hood." Kirill said, "Close your eyes until I tell you. If you open your eyes before I tell you, I will hit you so hard you will be out for another two days. Understand girl?"

"I understand. My eyes are closed." Sascha whispered into the hood.

"Speak up girl!"

"I understand. My eyes are closed."

A hand lifted the hood off. A thick blindfold immediately replaced it. "You may open eyes...not that you will be able to see." The voice chuckled.

'We'll see who gets the last laugh you asshole.' Sascha thought as she tested her restraints again and took a deep breath. She immediately felt better with fresh air to breathe and not the stale crap under the hood.

"Here is water. Open mouth." Kirill held a straw until Sascha found it and drank greedily.

"Where am I?" Sascha asked after she finished the water.

"Shut up! No questions!" Kirill snapped.

"Please? My shoulders hurt so much..."

Strong hands grabbed her from behind and hoisted her to her feet. "Stand still. If you try to run or fight...I will beat you." Sascha felt, rather than saw, whatever was binding her wrists being undone. She pulled her hands in front of her and rubbed her wrists and hands while flexing her shoulders. Without thinking she reached up for the blindfold...

Kirill grabbed her wrist, "Don't!" He demanded.

"Let go of my wrist! You're hurting me!"

"If you try that again I break your arm." He growled.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I won't do it again. Please stop hurting me."

He eased his grip...slightly. "Come with me. Take small steps, feet restrained." Sascha almost fell, but quickly got her balance and followed Kirill for a short distance. "Sit!" He ordered. He shoved her backwards until her knees banged into the edge of a mattress...a poorly padded, very thin, uncomfortable mattress.

"Lay back." He held both her hands until Sascha lay flat. He roughly slapped handcuffs onto both her wrists and secured them to the sides of the bed frame. Sascha struggled for a few seconds. Finished with her hands, Kirill secured Sascha's ankles to the end of the bed.

"Do not try to get loose. You will only hurt yourself...and annoy me. You do not want to do either of those things. I will be back." Sascha understood the threat and tried to relax as his footsteps receded across the room.

When the door slammed shut, the sudden silence nearly suffocated Sascha. For the first time since regaining consciousness, she felt fear. Where was she? Had her pendant's panic button worked? She forgot about the handcuffs and tried to check her pendant. She succeeded only in bruising her wrist. 'What can I do to get out of this mess?' She flopped her body up and down a couple times...just to do something. She twisted her hands to grasp the bed and tried shaking it. It was solid and didn't move. She braced her feet against the end of the bed and tried again, with no better luck. Frustrated, Sascha kicked the bed's end rail, and managed only to bruise her heel.

"Fuck!" She screamed in frustration as she sagged back onto the mattress. Tears started to well up in her eyes, "Goddamit, No! I won't cry. I won't let these...ass...people...get to me." She took several deep breaths and forced herself to try and relax. She sniffed the air, the smell seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Good. That's better." She paused, and almost smiled, "Nice. Now you're talking to yourself." Sascha had no real idea how long she laid there. At some point she realized she was thirsty again--and hungry. 'I wonder if they forgot about me?' She had a flash of panic, 'Does anyone realize I'm missing?' She felt another tear trying to force its way out, "Stop it!" She coughed. 'Robert will move heaven and earth to find me. I know it!'

She heard a door open-- 'this must be a fairly large room'--she thought as footsteps crossed the room.

"You... hungry?" This was a different voice--higher and harsher than black sneaker's--Kirill she reminded herself. With a much thicker accent.

"Yes. And thirsty. Where am I? Why are you doing this?"

"I back in few moments." He ignored her questions. Sascha didn't hear the door close this time. He was back shortly. "I have food and water. You sit up to eat and drink. I right here, if you try to move off bed...you will regret."

"May I take off the blindfold?"

"No. Stay still while I release hands." Sascha felt the metal cuffs on her wrists loosen, then the ankle restraints. She stayed still.

"You sit up...turn to right." Sascha did as she was told. Sitting up was a welcome relief.

"Stay still, I place table in front of you." Sascha felt and heard the thump, "There is bowl with spoon in front of you. Water bottle is behind bowl."

'Heavy accent. Eastern European? Slavic? Russian?' Sascha thought as she tentatively touched the table and felt around to find the bowl and bottle. She moved the bottle off to the far-left corner so that it was out of the way. She lifted the bowl, found the spoon, and began eating. After a few mouthfuls, she paused, "Thank you. What is this?"

"Is Solyanka. A traditional Rus...a traditional soup made with pork, mushrooms, tomatoes, and other things...is flavored with lemon juice."

"It is very good. Thank you again."

"Thank you...I make."

"You're an excellent cook." Sascha returned to eating. When she couldn't scrape up any more with the spoon, she swallowed her pride and tipped the bowl up to get the last bits. She sighed, "May I have some more, please?"

"Da! Yes...not trying starve you. But do not move. I back immediately." He took the bowl and spoon and walked toward the door. Sascha reached up and scratched her shoulder. When no one yelled at her she reached up and pretended to scratch again. With her thumb, she felt around and found she still wore the chain for her pendant. She felt herself flush. She faked a loss of balance and tipped to her right. As she fell, she grabbed the pendant and pressed the button on the left. She tucked away the pendant, and then struggled back to a sitting position.

"What happen?" Called the high, raspy voice from across the room.

"Sorry. Got dizzy and lost my balance. I'm okay now."

"Yefim!" An unfamiliar voice sounded from outside the room, "What is girl doing?"

"Nothing, Alexei. She dizzy and fall--nothing more. She laying down too long."

'Yefim=high and raspy; Alexei=rumbling bass.' Sascha added to her list. 'Three men--Kirill, Yefim, and Alexei. Are they Russian? They sound Russian'. She suddenly remembered Robert's hatred and distrust of Russians. Did he suspect this might happen...

Transcript of Initial Police Interview with Subject Devereaux, Sascha L.

Lt. Parsons: My name is Lieutenant Parsons of the State Police. This interview is being recorded. The time is 0127. For the record, please State your name.

Subject: My name is Sascha Lynne Devereaux.

Lt. Parsons: Have you been read your rights? Do you understand them?

Subject: I have. I do.

Lt. Parsons: Do you wish to have an attorney present?

Subject: I do not. Does my husband know that I'm here...that I'm being held?

Lt. Parsons: Mr. Devereaux has been notified. You and I must talk first. Can you describe what happened?

(Subject began crying)

Lt. Parsons: Pause recording please.

Sascha cried for a good while before she wiped away her tears on the sleeve of the garment the police had provided. "Please, if Robert is here may I see him for just a minute? I need him to tell me I'm safe now."

"Miss Devereaux, I assure you, you are safe. But your reunion must wait until we finish."

Sascha gave him an icy stare as she composed herself. "It's Mrs. Devereaux. I'm ready."

"Okay. Resume recording."

Lt. Parsons: Resuming interview at 0136. Mrs. Devereaux, can you describe what happened?

Subject: Wait! Do my parents know I'm safe?

Lt. Parsons: Yes. Your parents have been notified. Please, will you describe what happened?

Subject: I was kidnapped. I don't know how long I was held. Because of the blindfold I had no sense of day or night; I'm pretty sure I was drugged unconscious a majority of the time, so my sense of time was not very good. Can you tell me how long it's been?

Lt. Parsons: From the time you were reported missing until today, it has been 23 days.

Subject: Oh my God! Over three weeks gone? And where the hell am I now?

Lt. Parsons: You're in Maryland. Please, can you describe events as you remember them?

Subject: I was leaving our apartment and walking to school. Someone dropped a hood over my head and they tossed me into...pretty sure it was a van...but I'm not positive. I screamed and tried to activate my panic button...don't know if it worked. Felt a needle jab and I was out. When I came to, they chained me to a bed...both wrists and both ankles were cuffed to the bedframe. I tried breaking free, but all I did was damage my wrists. Jesus! Look at these bruises.

(Subject began weeping but quickly regained control)

Subject: Sorry. Once I woke up, they periodically brought me food and water. They kept me blindfolded all the time so I had to eat by touch. I'm pretty sure the food or water was drugged because I kept passing out after eating or drinking. I tried to refuse, but they threatened to beat me if I didn't eat and drink. My sense of time, like I said, was skewed, but I think they took me to the bathroom a couple times a day.

Lt. Parsons: Can you identify your kidnappers?

Subject: The names they used were: Kirill, Alexei, and Yefim. I also heard them mention a 'boss' named Semyon. I can probably identify each of them by voice, but not sight--it was a very effective blindfold. I forgot and tried to lift it--once--while I was eating, Kirill slapped me so hard I fell and hit my head on the bedframe.

Lt. Parsons: Was Kirill the leader?

Subject: I don't think so. I always got the impression that of the three I encountered Alexei was in charge, but they all were subordinate to Semyon. Christ! Detective, has it really been three weeks? So, it's what, late January?

Lt. Parsons: It is February 10th.

Subject: What? Already?

Lt. Parsons: Seriously. Please continue when you're able.

Subject: It was pretty routine for a while...eat and drink...pass out...wake up...go to the bathroom...get chained back to the bed. I guess this went on for quite a while. Kirill told me that their boss had sent the ransom demands. He didn't say to who. Finally, one day, Alexei came into the room with Kirill and Yefim and told me I needed to be cleaned up. It seems someone wanted proof that I was alive. I thought I might get a shower. Instead, they took me to the bathroom, stripped me naked and dumped a bucket of cold water over my head. One of them, Yefim if I remember right, forced a bar of horrible smelling soap into my hand and told me I had one minute to clean myself. I soaped my hair, privates, and as much of my body as I could reach. Someone dumped another bucket of cold water over my head. I dried myself with the towel they gave me and got dressed again. I asked for a comb or brush, but they told me I had 30 seconds to use my fingers before they put me back in my restraints. May I have a drink of water, please?

Lt. Parsons: Please bring Mrs. Devereaux some water.

Subject: Thank you.

(Officer Simpson entered interview room to deliver water, then left)

Lt. Parsons: So, Mrs. Devereaux, they cleaned you up. Then what?

Subject: They led me back to the large room where I was held. This time though, they chained my arms and legs to a chair. One of them stood behind me; I heard rustling and assumed it was a newspaper. Alexei told me I was on live camera and to tell everyone I was alright and being well-treated. At some point of my captivity, I recognized the odor of horses. Very similar to the Chateau Devereaux stables I visited in Douravia. I assumed, at some point, Robert would see this, so I started crying and asked him to forgive me, and I hoped someday he'd let me ride Winnie again.

Lt. Parsons: You're being held captive, and you ask about a horse ride? That doesn't make any sense.

Subject: (Subject shrugged) I never rode Winnie in the first place. My horse's name is Nio. I hoped Robert would pick up the clue that I thought I was in a horse barn somewhere. I hoped it would help.

Lt. Parsons: I see. What next?

Subject: That's when the...um...situation, I guess...went all to hell. They unchained me from the chair and put me back on the bed. I guess I fell asleep for a bit. When I woke, I could hear all three of them talking. Alexei said something like, 'Do you think the girl really believes we're going to release her after the ransom is paid?' And Yefim said, 'Of course she does. She's a girl...American...an idiot.' Alexei finished, 'She'll certainly be surprised when we deliver her to Sheik Muamar al-Muamar--after we break her in, of course. I heard, through the grapevine, that the last blonde, American girl we sold him lasted almost two months before she killed herself.' One of them--I don't know which--grabbed my breast and squeezed really hard. I'll tell you, Detective Parsons that was when I almost lost it. I kept pretending to be asleep, but I had to swallow my puke at least three times.

Lt. Parsons: I see. Is that when you decided to take action?

(Subject nodded and dropped her head.)

Lt. Parsons: Mrs. Devereaux? Is that when you decided to take action?

Subject: Yes! Dammit I had to do something!

(Subject jumped up and slammed both fists on the table.)

Lt. Parsons: Mrs. Devereaux? Please sit down. Thank you. When you're able, please tell me what happened after that.

Subject: I laid there...maybe an hour...maybe more. I was completely fucking panicked by then. I heard Alexei say it was Yefim's turn to watch me during the night while he and Kirill got some sleep. I waited as long as I could and then pretended to be waking up. I begged and pleaded to go to the bathroom. Yefim finally got annoyed and told me to shut up and came over to the bed. He undid my ankle cuffs and then my wrist cuffs. He held on to my hands and connected the two sets of wrist cuffs in front of me. I asked him to help me up off the bed. He held my hands, so I knew right where he was. I jumped up as hard as I could and rammed the top of my head into his face. He went down hard. I ripped off my blindfold and saw him lying on the floor but starting to move. I jumped on top of him and wrapped my cuffs around his neck. I pulled as hard as I could--until he collapsed and stopped struggling. I dug through his pockets, found the keys, and unlocked all my cuffs. I put the cuffs on him, so he couldn't move. I also found a pistol in a holster--I took that with me...

Lt. Parsons: Is this the pistol?

(Lt. Parsons showed the subject a Beretta 92F, 9mm pistol, serial #********)

Subject: It sure looks like it. I don't know anything about guns. This was the first time I ever held one.

Lt. Parsons: Then what?

Subject: I looked around and found the door--it wasn't locked. A corridor led off to the left. I followed that. I heard snoring coming from a room on the right. Alexei and Kirill were in there. I wanted to shoot them...stupid gun wouldn't fire. As I went back out, I saw a large sledgehammer. I took it and hit those two bastards, in the legs, as hard as I could. I seriously wanted to cripple them. When I got outside, I had second thoughts--considered going back and crushing their fucking skulls--but I didn't. I grabbed my pendant and pressed the red panic button--that was when I realized I'd been pushing the wrong button; I'd been shutting it off instead of activating the alarm. I found their van and got in. Yefim's key ring had the starter key and I drove away. I just wanted to get the hell away from that place. Twenty minutes later, out on some back road, I was surrounded by about a hundred cop cars with flashing lights, being ordered out of the vehicle and onto the ground. They put me back in handcuffs and brought me here and locked me in a cell until they cuffed me and brought me to this room...and you.