The Boy Who Appeared from the Rain
Page 103
Zach could see more of the water this time. They were on the ferry again, waiting in the car, heading for a town called Edmonds, north of Seattle. Grandfather had said they must go this way in case anyone had seen them on the first ferry, but Zach disapproved; it made the trip back to Seattle longer. Who could have known they were on the ferry to Bainbridge Island this morning?
He didn't dare question Grandfather about it, though, not now. They were on their way to get lunch at last, and then Grandfather would take him home. In the meantime, they waited as the ferry cruised smoothly atop the small waves.
Rain fell against the sides and windows of the boat. It was raining more steadily now. Even so, since Grandfather had been directed to park his car along the outer edge of the ferry, Zach had a clear view of Puget Sound. He could see land nearing ahead of them under the gray sky; they were close enough now for him to make out Edmonds, the colors and shapes of its buildings growing distinct as they approached. Being able to see out made remaining in the car more bearable than it had been that morning.
Observing him through the rearview mirror, Grandfather broke their silence. "You have behaved acceptably, Zechariah. As a reward, we will stop for food when we arrive in Edmonds. And then we will return to Seattle and visit with your parents—though I must impress upon you again that your desire for reconciliation with them is ill-founded."
Zach nodded without speaking. Grandfather could think what he wanted, but he was wrong, though something in Zach's gut warned him not to be optimistic. He had not grown inside Mom's tummy.
Stifling his doubts, he started to turn his eyes back to the water, but something moving in the side mirror caught his attention. Passengers who had brought their cars onboard and then had gone to sit on the upper decks were now returning to their vehicles. Zach twisted to watch them through the back window. Most found their cars quickly, but two of them walked between the cars toward Grandfather's. With a start, Zach recognized the pair—the Asian men!
"Grandfather!" Zach cried out. "Grandfather, lock the doors! It's them, the kidnappers!"
"What, Zechariah?" Grandfather spun to look, but it was too late. The two men were already at the car.
One of them jerked the driver's-side door open.
"No, you can't have him!" Grandfather exclaimed. He reached to pull the door shut, but the first Asian man was too quick. He slapped Grandfather's hand away, then punched him in the jaw.
"Move over!" he demanded.
Grandfather stared incredulously for a moment, a trickle of blood dripping from his lip. The first man grabbed him by the collar and bared his teeth; when Grandfather slid quickly into the passenger seat, he pulled the seat forward and settled himself into the back, beside Zach and behind the driver. The second man took the driver's place and closed the door. Both men drew guns from inside their jackets.
"Do not try to leave the car," the first Asian man warned Grandfather in his strong accent, "or we will kill you. No one needs to get hurt—except, oh, too late for that." He grinned at Grandfather's lip and kept his weapon ready in his hand. Zach cowered against the far wall of the vehicle.
"Do what they say, Zechariah," Grandfather told him in a low tone, wiping the blood from his lip. "I do not want you to be injured."
The man in the front pulled a length of cord from his pocket and swiftly bound Grandfather's hands. Zach's own hands began to shake uncontrollably. Grandfather wouldn't be able to rescue him this time, not tied up like that. Zach's heart raced. Please, God, don't let them tie me up again! His stomach rumbled, but he hardly noticed it; hunger faded next to his fear of being bound and left alone again.
Grandfather did not test the cord around his wrists. "How did you find us?" he asked, staring blankly ahead through the windshield.
"Tracking device on your vehicle," the man beside Zach replied.
"Ah," Grandfather said simply. "McWrait's idea?"
The man beside Zach smiled openly. "He said very bad things about you when he saw the boy was gone. He does not like you. We searched the property, then came to find you. He will be happier now."
As the ferry approached the Edmonds dock, other drivers around them started up their vehicles. The Asian man in the front started up Grandfather's car, too.
"What will he do with us?" Grandfather asked. He seemed calmer than Zach felt, but he had a wary expression Zach had not seen on him before.
Neither of the men answered him.
"I know McWrait, and I know he doesn't pay a penny more than he has to. I dare say you men are worth more than whatever he offered you. If it interests you, I can match his offer, plus fifty percent. You seem like reasonable men…"
"Enough!" the Asian in the back yelled. "No more talking." He seemed to be the leader. He spoke to the driver in a strange, brisk language, and the driver answered him succinctly.
A minute later, Zach felt the ferry bump gently against the dock. When the cars ahead of them began to disembark, the Asian driver put Grandfather's car in gear and drove them off the ferry and onto land, guiding them straight ahead into the city.
They followed a busy road for several minutes. Suddenly the man in the back leaned forward and pointed past the driver. Zach saw it—a police cruiser parked at the side of the road directly ahead. The driver grunted. Without warning, the leader grabbed Zach's neck and forced him down onto the seat.
Zach yelped from the pain, but the Asian man pressed him down all the more. Zach felt the car shift lanes, then turn to the left.
"What are you doing?" Grandfather demanded. "Where are you taking us?"
"Downtown," the Asian in the back answered.
"You're not taking us back to McWrait?"
"Depends on the price you offer. For now, we go where we can talk."
He released Zach, who sat up, gaping at him with wide eyes, afraid even to move. The man was so strong, and he didn't care if he hurt Zach. In fact, judging by his sneer, he seemed to like it. Zach trembled.
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