Nigel was mostly silent on the drive to visit Jet. It had been at least an hour since they’d left the Bromwick in Newport. Nigel tried turning on the radio, but all he heard was news about the hack he’d helped bring into reality. He sat in the back seat with Blanka and Vedrana. Both were resting their heads on Nigel's shoulders. Rick’s phone chirped in Nigel’s pocket.
Leave it to Dad to screw up a pleasant moment! Has he found Nozomi? Nigel wondered.
Nigel fished out the phone and unlocked the screen. It was a video message. Nigel played it. Rick, his father, was tied up in a chair. He was bound and gagged; a female hand removed the gag.
“Son,” Rick gasped, “I hope you receive this soon. I’m being held against my will by some crazy surgeon. He has ripped Nozomi apart looking for who knows what. He’s going to experiment on me soon. Send help, but don’t endanger yourself. I love you, son,” Rick said as tears rolled down his face.
Nigel was speechless. Dahlia pulled the car over and faced Nigel.
“What just happened?” Dahlia demanded.
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“My father is being held captive by some crazy doctor,” he answered. “That’s all I know.”
Nigel’s mouth went dry. He thought he hated his father, but all the feelings he’d ever had for the man—good and bad—bubbled up to the surface.
“Do you know where he is being held?”
“He’s in New York, near Sakura Park. Before he left, I used webcams to triangulate a potential entry point. He found a manhole in the area I directed him to. I think he’s somewhere in the underground.”
“Let me see the video,” Dahlia said.
Nigel handed the phone to her. She was silent as she watched the video.
“We will help you, but you have a decision to make. From our position we are about an hour’s drive from Jet, and about a four-hour drive to New York in the opposite direction. We can’t fly because of the hacks, and traveling to the city will be utter chaos. We will support your decision no matter what.”
Nigel considered this for a long moment. He wanted to see the woman he loved more than anything, but Rick was blood, and as much as he hated the man, he didn’t want to leave Ralphie without a father. But he didn’t think he could live without Jet. Nigel couldn’t believe Dahlia had helped him escape, let alone prepare to go into battle on his behalf.
“Let’s head to the city,” Nigel said.
Blanka gave him a pained look.
“All of you have helped me so much,” he continued. “I don’t know how I can repay you.”
“One day I will ask for your help, but today we are at your side,” Dahlia said. She put a comforting hand over his. Vedrana and Eva did the same. He looked into their eyes, smiled, and took comfort in their steely resolve to help him.