Jack sat in the restaurant attached to the hotel lobby. He was nursing an eight dollar beer and in a generally sour mood.
It had been a week since he had last seen his wife, Han, on that... video. He had tried to fill out a missing person's report. Even after his encounter with the muscle at the bastard's former work place. The man had been serious about Jack dropping his search. And in looking into the killer's eyes for a brief instance, Jack saw... what, his death? Not that he was feeling particularly worthy of living. So he went to the police station and told his story. But when the police officer behind the desk asked for evidence, the only thing Jack had was the photo of his wife kneeling, nude, covered in that bastard's cum and a blank USB drive.
The police officer attending him had a grave look on his face and told Jack he needed to confer with his colleagues, took the evidence, went down a hall and out of sight. So Jack sat in the waiting area.
Fifteen minutes later, a female police officer was walking down the hall holding the photo and USB stick. Jack could hear the other police officers in the back, jeering her for being a killjoy. The female officer introduced herself as Sergeant Sharon, handed back the photo to Jack, and asked to walk with her outside.
As they walked along the sidewalk next to the station, the sergeant explained to Jack, "Those assholes were trying to get copies of your ex's photo on their phones. I think I got it back from them in time", the sergeant explained as gently as possible.
Jack felt angry again. This was not a joke! The sergeant saw Jack's face and tried to calm him down.
"Listen, I understand getting dumped can be painful. But-"
"I didn't get dumped!" Jack retorted harshly, "My wife is under the control of a crazy bastard! Look at her!"
Jack gestured to the photo, but the sergeant avoided looking at it. Jack continued, "She is being held hostage! And I need the authorities to help me get her back!"
The sergeant opened her coat and pulled out an envelope. She handed it to Jack. Inside the envelope, Jack found a piece of paper. As Jack read it, he realized it was a legal notice. Han had filed for divorce against him.
"Where did you get this?" Jack asked the sergeant.
"Your wife came by the station and said you might show up claiming that she was kidnapped but she was in fact leaving you", Sergeant Sharon said sympathetically.
That bastard had really covered his bases. He barely heard Sergeant Sharon's condolences and offers on information for counseling and group sessions for divorcees. He staggered home realizing he was truly on his own in this.
After desperately trying to find any information on Han around their town, Jack had driven all the way to the city and hotel to where he last knew his wife had been. He had known that she had been at the conference here a week ago but none of the hotel staff could provide any further information on it aside from the time and place of the conference. Though the hotel was happy to share some information regarding his wife, the woman behind the counter refused to divulge any information on the bastard that took her.
And now here they all were. Through Jack's own selfish actions, he had now embroiled his pretty little wife in the machinations of a sociopathic monster.
Perhaps Dave wasn't the monster Jack though him to be. Perhaps once he had his 'fun' with Han, he would tire of her and let her go. And then Jack could go crawling back to her and hope she would want to put together their shattered lives.
But there was that damn video. The video of Dave violating Han for his amusement and Jack's pain. And knocking her up? No, Dave was in this for the long haul. And he was going to bring Jack and Han along for the ride.
Life had not prepared him for this. He was no special ops military man nor a rich billionaire with massive resources at his disposal. Nor was he specialized hacker or detective. Just a poor sap who had wanted his wife to do something she did not want to do. The guilt set in again. So Jack just tried to blank out his thoughts and listen to the conversations around him.
The restaurant's bar was pretty empty now. Jack had arrived at the lunch rush and it was now mid-afternoon. The only people in the bar were hotel staff getting off their shifts and shooting the breeze. He tried to ignore their conversation but they kept going on and on. Four of them, all looking in their early twenties. Just a bunch of college aged kids enjoying life before reality set in and shat on their faces. They appeared to be bragging about their exaggerated sexual conquests. At least they were teasing one guy about his current girlfriend who apparently got around.
"Dude, she so did her Prof!"
"Angie said she didn't, guys, it was an ugly rumor."
"Come on, she failed the midterm and didn't finish half her labs."
"Yeah, she passed through an oral exam!"
The boys hooted with laughter except for the poor sod who was defending his girlfriend's honor. He now appeared to be trying to change the subject.
"Come on guys, you know who was the really slut? That hot Asian chick who blew Tommy last week!"
Jack perked up. He glanced over and saw the group was focusing on some pretty boy. With messy blond hair and a clean cut face, he looked barely out of high school instead of college. But he was handsome and athletic looking, even Jack could see that. He held himself with a swagger that indicated he was not going to kiss and tell. At least not before he got enough ego stroking.
"No shit! I love Asian chicks! Was she Korean?"
Tommy smiled and responded, "I think she was Chinese or something. I didn't care. She was gorgeous. Long black hair, beautiful face, like a model or a porn star. Short but with a great skinny body."
He paused for effect, taking a long sip from his cup. The guys were eager to hear him continue.
"I think she was married too. She had a ring on her finger. Hard to tell her age though."
A friend of his interrupted, "Yeah, man it was so awesome, it was in the dead time after dinner and the restaurant clears out and-"
"Danny, chill. It's Tommy's story." another friend intervened.
