Quiet Explosion - Chapter 1/5

Chapter 1 - Desperate Measures

“I'm going to kill whoever did this.”

Steve said this with a matter of fact attitude, as though this was an everyday occurrence for him. "Don’t worry Dan, I will find where your daughter is and have her back in no time at all."

Dan was not convinced and voiced his concern.

"I blame you for my daughter being kidnapped, the only reason I came here is because the police seem to be making no ground at all with this case," he said with conviction, but Steve was not taking it on board.

"You must understand, Dan, that I am as upset as you are, but I have to keep the police out of it. It was I who lead them on a false goose chase, and you know why that is, don’t you? And it also means we can apply a more effective approach in dealing with this matter."

Dan stood gobsmacked. Steve had been very close to Dan's daughter, Jill, although he hadn’t realised that Steve might jeopardise the rescue by keeping the police out of the picture. Dan turned around and left the basement of the Momentum nightclub. He wanted to gather his thoughts, form another plan to save Jill.

He drove back to his flat, just off the York Road bypass, poured a drink and sat down staring at the wall. There had to be a way out of this. Dan had spent most of his life looking after himself and not caring about anybody else. The divorce hadn’t gone well between his ex-wife Sally and himself, and lately Jill seemed so distant, as they led their own lives. He had to show her that he does care and he was going to get her out of this predicament. A plan began to slowly form in his head. It was going to take a great amount of effort, and time was not going to be his friend, but it just might work. Just then a text came through on his phone: it was Steve. Dan picked up his phone to read the message'

"Got the address - Flat 21B, Old Bank Crescent, going round there now to find Jill."

Dan’s plan needed to be kickstarted into action, so without hesitation, he dialed his old friend's number, Gordon Fotheringham.

“Hello, Detective Inspector Fotheringham speaking.”

“High Gordon, this is Darren Stathom, do you remember me?”

“Of course Dan, it's not been that long, how are you doing?”

“I have a problem that I need a little help with, and I was wondering if you could lend a hand in any way?”

“I will try, what seems to be the problem?”

“My daughter has been kidnapped.”

There was a moment of silence before the conversation carried on. DI Fotheringham knew Dan's daughter well.

“Have you reported this to the Police already?”

“Yes but they are getting nowhere and I am really worried that if she is not found soon… well I fear the worst.”

“Don’t worry Dan, I will do everything I can to help, I was fond of your daughter and I owe you for all the help you gave me in the past.”

"I have an address, could you send someone round?" Dan said with hope straining in his voice.

Dan couldn’t bear the thought of Steve using brute force to get Jill back. Someone was going to get hurt, and Jill could get caught in the crossfire. Involving the police was the safest way to ensure the quietest conclusion to the abduction of his daughter. Gordon had agreed to send a squad of people round straight away. This was the most Dan could expect and gave him a modicum of hope. If this didn’t work, Dan still had a few tricks up his sleeve. He got his coat on, grabbed his car keys and sprang into action, he didn’t have a lot of time. While everyone was busy, Dan could secure the next step of his plan.