One Adventure Too Many

by Marja McGraw

  Mom’s car was in the driveway, but I didn’t know where she’d put the keys. Aunt Martha had ridden from the Portland Airport to Battle Ground with my mother. No car for my aunt.

  Stanley’s car!

  Felicity waddled into the house.

  “Where are Stan’s keys?” I was desperate.

  “He’s got them with him. I left my keys at the house in L.A.” She started to cry. “Oh, Sandi. What are we going to do?”

  I heard Pete pull into the driveway and ran outside.

  “They got both my mother and my aunt,” I said, breathless by that point.

  He hadn’t even turned off the engine or gotten out of the car yet. “Which way did they go?”

  I pointed to the right, still not sure what direction that was.

  “Stay here,” he said. “They’ll call you.” He put the car in gear and pulled out onto the road before I could open the door and climb in.

  Boom! The thunder seemed to put emphasis on his words and the situation.

  It turned into a long night. Felicity stayed by my side and Pete kept in touch via his cell phone. Joe called, too.

  Detective Redding called and asked me exactly what had happened.

  I told him – exactly.

  “Is Ms. Pitts okay?” he asked.

  “Yes. She’s at the B&B, unlike my mother and aunt.” I sounded accusing and unsympathetic, but I couldn’t help it.

  “We’re on it,” he said. “We’ll get your mother and aunt back.”

  “You’d better.” I hung up.

  He’d wanted to place Zasu somewhere else, but it wouldn’t have mattered. My mother still would have been taken. And my aunt. I didn’t mean to think of my aunt as an afterthought.

  Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Mom would be delighted that when she retold her story, and she would, it had all taken place on a dark and stormy night.

  The kidnappers didn’t call. I waited and waited, but they didn’t try to contact me. Maybe they were going to get even for the Gloria fiasco and hurt my mother and my aunt – maybe murder them. They were no strangers to killing, and I hadn’t given them what they wanted – Zasu. My thoughts were all over the map and the worst possibilities kept coming to mind.

  It was, by far, one of the worst nights of my life. How dare they take my mother and my aunt? This was war!

  Crack! Boom! Again, the thunder emphasized my thoughts.

  I stood and began to pace.

  “They’ve got my mother, Fel.”

  “And your aunt,” she said.

  “And my aunt. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to them.” I stopped pacing for a moment. “Yes, I do. You’d see a side of me you’ve never seen before. So would those idiots.”

  “Which idiots?”

  “The goons.”

  I started pacing again, walking quickly.

  “Sit down, Sandi. We’ll hear something soon. I just know it.” Felicity wasn’t sure how to handle this situation, and neither was I.

  I kept pacing, moving faster.

  Bubba and Clem didn’t understand what was going on, obviously, and they were nervous. Bubba paced with me, or followed me, and Clem whined.

  “Where were you two when I needed you?” I asked, stopping to pat their heads.

  Shut up in the house, of course.

  When my relatives were around everything I knew about being a P.I. flew out the window, but I was back and fighting mad. These thugs had crossed the line. I would show no mercy.

  I only wished I was still in Los Angeles where I knew the territory and so many people. I was floundering here in Washington. I didn’t have any contacts, other than a very few people, two of whom were cops.

  Stanley called to check on Felicity and to let me know they hadn’t come up with anything yet. He said they’d stopped and talked to people out walking in the rain (health nuts, surely), and to people on bicycles to ask if they’d seen the van.

  Nothing.

  I couldn’t stand staying at home and doing nothing, but I didn’t have a car. I had a cell phone, so I didn’t need to be at home. They could reach me no matter where I was.

  I glanced at Felicity and she was pale. She looked so tired.

  “I’m sorry, Fel. You don’t need this right now.”

  “You don’t, either,” she said. “I think I’m making the baby nervous. He’s kicking a lot. Or maybe she is. If I wasn’t in this condition, we’d be out there combing the streets, too.”

  I bent over and hugged her. “I know we would.” I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

  “Look at it this way. Your mother and aunt are highly inventive. If there’s a way for them to get out of this, they’ll find it. You know they will.”

  My mood actually lifted a little. “You’re absolutely right. My mother has a great imagination, and Aunt Martha has been living off the grid. She’s probably learned a lot of self-defense things.”

  No one called to tell me they’d been found.

  Felicity suggested that I should probably call Frank and Griz and let the husbands know what was going on.

  My mood plummeted again.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “I’m going to wait to call their husbands,” I said. “It’s too soon. I have faith that Mom and Aunt Martha will be back and they can tell their own stories. While I was pacing, I thought a lot about those two women. If we don’t find them, then I think you’re right and they’ll figure a way out of this.”

  Felicity gave me a look of encouragement. “I just wish the police could figure out who’s behind everything. There’s got to be something they’re missing.”

  “I agree. I’ve got a gut feeling that there’s something we should be seeing that we’re missing; something so simple that we’ll kick ourselves later.”

  I started pacing again. Now that I’d thought about missing something, the thought wouldn’t let go of me. I started going over everything in my mind. Hmm. There was something about the kidnappers even knowing my mother was here that bothered me. And how did he, or they, know we were a connection to Zasu? Maybe they didn’t know until our trip to the hospital. No, that wasn’t right.

  I stopped walking and looked at Felicity. “I almost feel like there’s a mole, someone who’s feeding information to the killer.”

  “But how could that be the case?” Fel asked. “There really aren’t that many people who know what’s going on. What would have made them start watching all of us?”

  “Of course, we all know about Zasu and Mateo. Both the Battle Ground and Vancouver police know about them, too. There’s the hospital staff. I’m sure they have some idea of what this is all about. I know it’s a stretch, but Mateo’s employer has to have some idea of what’s going on with him being injured so badly.” Who else? I couldn’t think of anyone.

  “You’re right, Sandi. You’re grasping at straws. I can’t imagine the hospital staff or Mateo’s employer being involved.”

  “You know most things are about money. Maybe someone’s being paid off for information.”

  Felicity looked frustrated. “I just can’t imagine any of the few people who know what’s going on accepting money. Oh! I just thought of someone else who knows what’s going on. Phil and Gloria. I mean, after all, Gloria was kidnapped.”

  “Yes, but they were victims, not suspects.”

  “True.” She began to fidget and change positions on the couch. She was just as nervous as I was.

  “Let’s face it. It could be anyone, from a nurse to a co-worker of Mateo’s. When my mother and aunt come home, and they will,” I said with hope, “I’m going to talk to Zasu. Maybe there’s someone she hasn’t thought to mention.”

  I sat down next to Felicity.

  My frustration was at a level I’d never felt before. “I guess trying to think all of this through is a way of dealing with what’s going on and distracting myself, but at the same time it makes me more anxious.”

  Felicity started to cry.

  “Oh, don�
��t cry or you’ll get me started.”

  “It’s everything that’s going on, but there’s something else, too. I’m having some cramping, and it’s too early for the baby to come. I’ve still got three weeks to go. After that last kick he, or she, quieted down. He’s usually kicking at this time of night.”

  My head felt like it would explode. My mother and aunt were missing and I couldn’t help in the search because of transportation. Felicity confessed to having pains and, again, we had no transportation.

  I picked up the cell phone to call Pete and Stanley.

  “Don’t call them yet,” Fel said, placing a staying hand on my arm. “This could have to do with the stress of what’s happening. Let me see if the pains keep up. If they do, I’ll call the doctor first.”

  “Can I get you anything?” I asked.

  “No, but thank you.”

  I waited for about five minutes. “Any more pains?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Do you want to move to a more comfortable chair?”

  “No.”

  Clem jumped up on the couch and started licking Felicity’s hand, almost maniacally.

  “She knows something’s going on,” I said.

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  I picked her up and set her on the floor. If dogs can give dirty looks, she gave me one.

  Bubba had settled down next to Felicity’s feet.

  I began to pace again. “I wish someone would call and let us know what’s going on,” I said. “I feel so helpless.”

  Another ten minutes went by.

  “Are you still having pains?” I asked. If the pains continued, I’d have to call 9-1-1.

  “No.” She was starting to sound annoyed instead of stressed.

  Pete finally called. “Nothing yet,” he said. “We’re still looking. We met up with Redding and he’s following every lead he can. They’re going to look at some traffic cam footage to see if they can tell which way the van went.”

  “Oh, lovely,” I said. “That’ll take forever.”

  “Are you holding up?” he asked.

  I glanced at Fel and she shook her head.

  “I’m fine. Just find my mother. And my aunt.”

  “You don’t sound like yourself,” he said.

  “How would you sound if your mother was missing?”

  “Okay, point taken. We’re doing everything we can, honey.”

  “I know you are, Pete. It’s just that I feel so helpless, being stuck here at the house. I need to be doing something.”

  I heard Stanley in the background. “What’s that?”

  “I’ll call you back.” Pete hung up.

  It felt like an hour had gone by. “Any more pain?” I asked.

  “No, and please stop asking. It must have just been all the stress.” She was beginning to sound angry instead of just annoyed.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, and tears began to run down my face. Understand, I’m not a crier. It takes a lot to make me cry. I can cry over a sad movie, but I almost never do this in real life.

  Felicity struggled to get up off the couch. “Ouch.”

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, wiping away the tears.

  “Just some back pain. I’ve been sitting for too long.”

  The cell phone rang again.

  “False alarm,” Pete said. “Stan saw a van similar to the one we’re looking for, but it was full of kids coming home from a retreat.”

  “Ohhh, Pete.” My voice broke.

  My husband doesn’t know how to deal with my tears because it happens so seldom. “I’m coming home,” he said. “I’ll drop Stan off to stay with Felicity and you can join in the hunt with me.”

  “Okay.”

  We hung up.

  “Are they coming home?” Felicity asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I lied to you. I’m still having pains, but I don’t think it’s labor and I don’t feel them that often.”

  “Now you think you’re a doctor? You’re going to diagnose yourself?”

  “Now, Sandi – “

  “When they get here I’m having Stan drive you straight to the hospital, if I don’t have to call 9-1-1 first.”

  My cell phone rang again.

  “Hello?”

  Pete’s voice sounded almost jubilant. “We’re on our way, Sandi, and we’ve got your mother and your aunt with us.”

  “Are they okay? Where were they?” My relief was indescribable.

  “They’re okay. We’ll let them tell you what happened.”

  I glanced at Felicity and decided it was time to rat on her. “Hurry, Pete. I think Felicity needs to go to the hospital.”

  “Is she having the baby?” he asked.

  I could hear Stanley and my relatives start yammering in the background.

  Pete turned away from the phone. “Be quiet! I can’t hear Sandi.”

  The sudden silence was golden.

  “I don’t believe so, but she’s having pain and I think she should be checked.”

  “We’re on our way.” He hung up.

  “What’d they say?” Fel asked.

  “Remember Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride?” I asked. “I have a feeling they’re probably experiencing the same kind of ride right now.”

  She grinned. “It seems like the pains are going away.

  Maybe it really was all the stress.”

  “Well, I hope Junior takes his or her time,” I said.

  I heard the car pull up about fifteen minutes later, and doors started slamming. Running footsteps came up the front steps.

  Stanley was first in, running to Felicity’s side. Pete let Mom and Aunt Martha precede him into the house, and within moments they were circled around her.

  It took some fast talking to convince everyone that my friend was okay.

  “We’re going to see the doctor in the morning, though,” Stanley said. “We’re not taking any chances.”

  I pulled my mother aside and gave her a hug that just might last her the rest of her life. When she said she couldn’t breathe, I let go and did the same to my aunt.

  “Now tell us what happened,” I said.

  “Well,” Aunt Martha spoke first, “we were kidnapped.”

  “No. You could have fooled me,” I said.

  She gave me The Look and continued. “They drove around for a long time, and I had the feeling they were trying to confuse us.”

  “They didn’t want us to know where they were going,” my mother clarified.

  “How did you get away?” Felicity asked.

  “How else? We practically talked them to death,” Mom said.

  “But they hit Gloria for talking too much,” Stanley said.

  “Yes, but we were in the van.” Aunt Martha looked like she thought that should explain it. When we didn’t respond, she continued. “They were in the front seat and we were in the very back. They couldn’t reach us.”

  “Okay, start from the beginning. After I call Redding and let him know you’re here.” I knew he’d join us soon.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  “Wait a minute,” I said, glancing at Pete. “How did you find them?”

  “Well, now, that’s a funny story,” Stanley said. “We found them hitchhiking downtown.”

  “Hitchhiking at this hour in the morning?” I was incredulous. “What? Did you want to get kidnapped a second time? Are you two nuts?” Apparently my stress had morphed into anger.

  “Simmer down, Sandi.” Apparently, Aunt Martha couldn’t tell how upset I was.

  “You simmer down and tell us what happened.” I don’t believe she realized what we’d all gone through while they were gone, and she didn’t understand my anger.

  Bubba sat up and stared at me. It wasn’t often he heard me use this tone of voice.

  Clementine started shaking, and I told myself to get a grip. She jumped up, onto my lap, and I tried to calm her down by stroking her back. I calmed down a little in the process.

  I finally took a good
look at my mother and aunt. They were a mess, hair sticking out in all directions like they’d been in a strong wind, and Aunt Martha had a tear in her slacks. They both had mud on their shoes, and Mom had a streak of mud on her face.

  My anger disappeared and was replaced by a special love for my relatives. If they weren’t so difficult to deal with, they’d be adorable.

  “Well, you saw them take us,” my mother said, answering my question. “Like we said, they drove around for a long time. We never did find out where they planned on taking us.”

  “Can we wait until the Detective arrives before telling the rest of the story? We’re both tired and…,” Aunt Martha started.

  “…we don’t want to have to tell the story twice,” Mother finished.

  I took a deep breath. “You’re right. First let me fix you both a cup of hot tea and then you can relax while we wait for Detective Redding.”

  Excusing myself, I walked to the kitchen where I heated water in the microwave.

  I could see that the two women were tired, but there was an underlying excitement, too. They’d had, as it turned out, another adventure. If the kidnappers hadn’t let them go, well, I didn’t want to think about what might have happened. It most certainly wouldn’t have been an adventure.

  They were on their second cup of tea when Redding showed up, and Joe was right behind him.

  “Tell me exactly what happened,” the Detective said. “I want every detail.”

  They told him about being snatched from our driveway and about the men driving around and confusing them.

  “And they simply let you go?” he asked.

  “Not exactly,” my mother said, somewhat hesitantly.

  “Let us finish our story before we tell you how we got away,” Aunt Martha said.

  Redding nodded. Joe stood in the background, leaning on the wall, and he wore a poker face.

  “One of the clowns took off his mask but the other one made him put it back on,” Aunt Martha said. “I saw him in the rearview mirror for just a couple of seconds, but I’ll never forget that face.”

  “Me, either,” my mother said. “We can identify at least one of them.”

  “You didn’t see him.”

  “Yes, I did. You just didn’t see me see him.”