Chapter 15: Valhalla

Liams perspective:

Liam: It's just a receipt for a coffee shop dated Saturday morning.

Kevin: Yeah, but it's Willows receipt. She ordered a Carmel macchiato for her and a coffee for me at the hotel coffee shop yesterday morning.

Liam: What good is this. We already know she was here.

Anger rises in me as I crumple the paper in my hand. Kevin shoves me back against the SUV ripping the receipt from my hand. He lets me go long enough to un crumple the paper and turn it over before slamming it into my chest.

Kevin: You need to pull it together and start thinking like a soldier on a god damn recon mission. Even Willow is thinking more clearly than you. It's obvious she left this for us to find, confirming it was Mark that took her and possibly a clue for where to search.

He storms off around the other side of the SUV, and slams the door shut. I look down at the paper to see Willows writing. M.V D.B

Liam: It's just some initials and scribble?

I mumble to my self staring at the paper baffled.

Tom: Liam!

I look up at Tom as he waves me to get into the vehicle. I climb in the back seat trying to figure out what it all means. Kevin was right. I needed to stop thinking and acting like a scared husband and more like a soldier. Or as the god damn firemen that I am.

Tom: Can I see it.

I hand the paper to Tom who reads it out loud.

Tom: So MV is obvious.

Kevin: Mark Volkov and D.B. Dr. Benson but the scribble at the bottom I couldn't make out.

Kevin announces from the front.

Tom: Looks like Vikings?

Hearing the names out loud triggers something.

Liam: Tom didn't you say Dr. Benson had a place in Valhalla New York?

Kevin looks back at me over his shoulder with a cocky smirk and a nod of approval. Yeah he knocked some sense into me I guess. Tom smacks my arm.

Tom: You're woman is a god damn genius.

He pulls up his phone calling Benny to get the address of Dr. Bensons home in Valhalla and calls for the twins to meet us at a nearby location A sliver of hope was piercing through the darkness of my despair as Moa pulled out of the garage heading north. 30 minutes later that little sliver of hope began to fade as the road conditions grew more hazardous. Moa pulled off the highway to a gas station to put chains on. With the weather and traffic being a disaster, Tom decides to call the twins and have them meet us here at the Fairview dinner attached to the gas station. Sensing my disapproval he offers a half smile. Guiding me into the dinner.

Tom: I know you're anxious. Believe me so am I but we need food, heat and a plan.

Liam: He's already had her for 24 fucking hours Tom.

Tom: I know Liam. I know.

He sighs trying to keep a solemn look.

An older waitress with her white hair pulled up into a lose bun and a name tag that read Dee brings a couple of mugs. Just as she begins pouring our coffee, Moa and Kevin walk in.

Dee smiles and grabs a couple more cups

Dee: What brings a group of fine looking gentlemen to Fairview dinner in the middle of a blizzard.

Kevin: Just headed up north for some

Ice fishing.

She raised a brow and shook her head.

Dee: Sure you are hun. Can I get you boys some grub.

I couldn't possibly eat. I was being haunted by the photos that son of a bitch took of Willow in college. My mind at that moment decided to plague it's self with unwanted thoughts. My stomach turned at the thought of the sick perverted un thinkable things he's done to her or has planned for her. I fly out of my seat charging for the bathroom. It's been a while since I ate, so the coffee that just hit my empty stomach decided to come right back up. I splash some water on my face when I'm done dry heaving looking at myself in the mirror.

Liam: What would Willow think seeing you like this.

I say to my tired reflection as Kevin walks in.

Kevin: When's the last time you ate.

Liam: Yesterday morning.

Kevin: No matter how long or horrific a mission is, a soldier must always keep up his strength. What good are you to her if you're passing out before battle.

Liam: I can't get the images out of my head. He's this close from where he took her which means he's had that much more time alone with her.

Kevin: I'm not going to lye to you and say I can't imagine what she might be going through right now, or what's going on your head because I fucking do. It nearly shattered my relationship with my daughter.

He sucks in a shaky breath tightening every facial muscle trying to hold him self together.

Kevin: It happened to my daughter Ellie, in college. But it wasn't because of the rape itself. It was because of the way I reacted to it. There is no greater guilt than a father feeling like he failed his daughter. I served this country to protect it. I served these very streets even before L.A to protect its people. And yet the one thing I couldn't do was protect my own. I didn't love her any less. It was my own guilt. The visions from the pictures and the report. I let it go to my head and drove everyone that I cared about away.

He puts his hands on my shoulders and faces me eye to eye.

Kevin: We might never know or understand the kind of shit Willow may or may not be going through, you'll cross that bridge when it's time. But right now the one thing you need to remember is how much that woman loves you and how much she's going to need you no matter what happens.

Liam: How did you get past it.

Kevin: Watching my daughter move on with her life. She proved to have more strength than either of us combined. Got married to a good guy that never treated her any differently. It wasn't easy but if she could do it so could I.

He squeezes my shoulders and walks out of the bathroom. I close my eyes sucking in a deep breath. Knowing what Kevin went though with his daughter doesn't make the situation any better but I know Willow, and I know how strong she is. I just hope she'll be able to forgive me when I kill this son of a bitch. I make my way back to the table as food arrives and force my self to wolf down the bowl of chili Tom ordered for me. A few minutes later the twins arrive making our already cramped booth more so.

Mick: Troopers are forcing everyone off the Hwy till the storm passes.

Mick announces as he smiles at Dee wrapping his hands around the warm cup of coffee she pours for him.

Mike: There telling everyone to find a place to stay till tomorrow.

Why does it seem the gods are against me getting to Willow. I growl beneath my breath giving the two of them a scowl.

Moa: There's another way.

The man of few words speaks up for the first time since I've been here. He even sounds like fucking Jason Mamoa. Thank god Willows a Marvel fan.

Moa: The locals keep a back road cleared from here to Valhalla. There's a plow that goes through every few hours in times like this.

He looks at his watch. Should be another one headed north in an hour.

Dee brings the twins their food.

Dee: You from around here? Only the locals know about that.

He gives her a mega watt smile.

Moa: No mam. Just over heard the gas attendant telling someone.

Dee: Well If you need to get to Valhalla tonight then your best bet would be to trail the 2pm plow.

Moa: Thank you mam.

As soon as The twins finish their food Tom orders one of them to go get a map.

Mike: Isn't that what we have phones for?

Mick smacks his brother upside the back of the head.

Mick: What happens if we lose cell service you fucking twat.

Mike holds up his hands but as he stands up he takes a cheap shot punching Mick in the arm and makes a run for it.

Tom: This is why I will never higher anyone under 30!

Tom sighs.

Mick: Hey with the acceptation of my kid brother most 12 year old New Yorkers have more wits than any 30 year old Chi tea drinking California mammas boy.

Tom, Kevin and I burst out with laughter. But the sad thing was. He was right!

Moa: You're only 2 minutes and 3seconds older than Mike and the biggest mammas boy I've ever known.

Mick punches Moa in the arm but he doesn't even flinch. When Mick looks away Moa flicks his ear. The banter is actually welcoming.

Mick: Fucker.

Dee cleared her throat causing both of them straighten up faster than a grunt in boot camp. She laughs and clears our plates as Mike returns with a map. Using both Bennys satellite feed of the surrounding area and our map, we draw up the best route and discus our plan of attack.

Liam: We need proper snow gear.

Mike: Already got all that covered. Suitable for day and night.

Kevin: We need to take in the fact this guys had a considerable amount of time to set a wide range of surveillance not to mention he's Russian tech savvy.

Tom: Bennys already on that. He's already traced some hot spots with in a one mile perimeter.

Moa: Then our best bet is to stop and suit up here.

He points at a small cluster of trees surrounding a small hotel 3 miles out from the cabin.

Tom: Moa call ahead see if they have any vacancies.

Dee: You boys be needing anything else.

Tom: No mam. Thank you.

Tom throws some bills down as we all head out into the unforgiving storm.