Relentless Pursuit

The Jonathan Steele Adventures, #2

George Wilson was shocked with the message left by Chief Carleton Olds of Bar Harbor, Maine. The last time he had seen him, Olds had threatened his best friend, Jonathan Steele, to "Bury him under the jail". The message was short. He had a problem and would they give him a call?

In disbelief, they return the call to find out that the Chief's granddaughter is missing and local law enforcement seemed to be doing little about it. They offer to return to Maine for a face to face meeting. The Chief discloses everything he knows. One bit of information he can provide is that her passion is riding sport-styled motorcycles. They agree to look for the girl, a decision partly based on Jonathan losing his niece just eight months prior.

Studying the two bars where she worked and two sport bike bars where she liked to hang out they discover that she is thought of as a very responsible individual. This leads credence that her disappearance is not of her own choosing.

The first break comes when a bartender remembers seeing her with a blond man who he knows is one of three brothers who live up on Moosehead Lake. Deciding to use him as a starting point, observation reveals that the three brothers are Russian which raises the suspicion level. An internet search reveals their father, Viktor Stronoff, is an obscenely rich Russian industrialist who immigrated to America eight years previously. At a local restaurant Jon sees the middle brother, the hot tempered Leonti; attempt to place a drug in his date's drink. George, following the youngest blond haired brother, is lucky enough to be able to warn his date saving her from a similar fate.

Further investigation reveals that Stronoff has a custom built estate on the shores of Moosehead Lake in northern Maine and run across a story revealing the masonry crew who built the foundations for the buildings were all killed in a vehicle crash. Jonathan hates coincidences.

They begin to believe that the Stronoff's may be hiding a kidnapping ring and finally come up with a plausible explanation; they are participating in human trafficking/sex slave trade. Close scrutiny and sound hunches fuel a plan.

Jon and George launch an attack. A hidden door in the rear wall of the guard house reveals a set of stairs leading to a long tunnel. A secret sound proofed chamber has been built under the basement of the main house. They find eight women are currently being held including Lyn Watson, the Chief's granddaughter. He catches Leonti Stronoff, out on bail from the attempted date rape charge in Portland, just as he is about to brutally rape Lyn. They also learn of a sadistic game employed by the Stronoff's. He gathers the girls and George drives them out while Jonathan stays behind to cover their escape.

Later that evening two of Stronoff's guards pays the rental cabin of Jon and George a visit. One of the guards meets Jon's two Dobermans who play distinctive roles in this story. That meeting does not go well.

Jon theorizes that an attack is imminent on him or his family at their homestead in Blue Hill. Jonathan calls his sister and orders everyone away. The trap is set.

Margot, Jon's sister, demands to know everything. Jonathan manages to duck most of her questions but George slips up. On the ride home he does the one thing George fears most. With Jon driving his Suburban with child-proof locking windows, he feeds his big male Doberman a meatball sandwich which always has dire consequences. While Jon can lower his window for fresh air, George can't. Begging Jon, "No, don't", is trapped.