The Airnapped Child

by Sandra Ryan

  Holly walked back out into the sunshine. The cup of coffee had grown cold, and when she tasted it, she found out that it was lacking something. She could not place what it was exactly, perhaps it was the joy and energy Gilbert put into making his product. As she walked towards the office, she noticed a figure running towards her. She stopped and waited for whoever it was to catch up with her. It was Olga. When she got to where Holy stood, she was out of breath and was doubled over, struggling to breath.

  “Could you please tell me what the hell it is?” Holly asked.

  “Samuel’s been arrested. He is been held at the police station downtown.” Olga replied.

  ********

  The room where Samuel was being held was known as Cell 101. It was named after that popular room in George Orwell’s 1984 where the might of the big brother was most felt. Perhaps, that was the effect whoever named the police room intended to achieve. Cell 101 was in the center of the police station. It was a round structure made entirely of see-through glass, but was structured in such a way that only the party outside of the room could see the person inside, whoever was being held would have no idea that he was being observed. The purpose of this was to bring about a situation where evaluators could monitor the person being interrogated without the person being made aware of that.

  Samuel knew about Cell 101. Back in prison, he had had tales of people being hauled off by the FBI and then cordoned off in the room where they were then interrogated. The room was famous for not just its austerity – whoever designed it was particular about the choice of furniture, there was just a chair and a table, and an ominous beeping camera stationed on the table – but also because of its ability to break the resolve of even the toughest of men. It was said that a person need only spend 48 hours in Cell 101 before he began spilling whatever it was the FBI wanted him to say. He felt the familiar taste of fear in his guts. He sat on the stiff backed chair and looked right ahead. He was aware that somebody was definitely looking on from the other side and he did not want to give whoever it was the satisfaction of watching him squirm in his seat. However, sweat trickled down his back. The air conditioner was on full blast yet he was sweating profusely under his suit.

  Throughout the ride to the station, the woman and the two goons she had been with had not uttered a word. When he had tried finding out where they were taking him and why they had even grabbed him in the first place the woman had just smiled and told him that all would be revealed in due course. He checked his watch, he had spent approximately one hour in the cell yet it felt like ten hours already.

  Just then the door glided open and the woman entered. She was followed by a sandy haired man who walked with a slight limp. Samuel remembered him from the time at the airport; he had been one of the officers who had been interrogating them. The man came in and sat on the seat before him, the woman did not move away from the door. She was positioned directly in his line of sight and had a sly grin on her face. She made Samuel uncomfortable and she knew it.

  “My name is Kyle Burns.” He paused. Samuel wondered for a moment if he was expecting Samuel to tell him his own name too.

  “I assume you have met my colleague, Abigail Philips.” He looked towards the lady who gave a small nod, as though acknowledging his presence but still said nothing, the sly grin not leaving her face. “I’m sorry for the circumstances in which we are meeting. I hope you are being treated well?”

  “Your goons have been great so far. They have not offered me steak though. I love steak. In fact, now that I think of it, I don’t think they’ve offered me anything at all,” Samuel replied sarcastically. They both officers did not even give him the faintest hint of a smile or chuckle.

  “Well, I do not think your stay here would be too long for you to warrant lunch. That is, if you co-operate fully with us, of course. But in any case, I am positive arrangements could be made to satisfy whatever culinary cravings that you may have.”

  “Culinary cravings?” Samuel scoffed. “What the hell is this? Why am I being held here?”

  “We just have a few questions for you, that’s all.”

  “In that case, I need to speak to my lawyer. I have the right to one call. I know my rights. I am not saying anything to you if my lawyer is not here.”

  “That is quite unfortunate,” Abby said from her position. It was just her lips that moved. Her entire body was still stationed the way she had been since she entered the room. “We were hoping that this would be quick and that you would be leaving here at the earliest time possible.”

  “Well, I am sorry I am making things ‘difficult’ for you Ms. Philips,” he made an imaginary quotation mark over his head to emphasize his point. “But I know my rights. I am not going to let you walk all over me.”

  “Detective Philips.”

  “Huh?” Samuel asked.

  “You will address me as Detective Philips.” Samuel could see the anger in her eyes. A chill ran down his spine.

  “There are two ways this could go down,” Burns continued. “It could be the hard way or the relatively easy route which we are taking right now. You have been to prison before, so I am sure you have heard of Cell 102? The guys there are even less than friendly than Abigail and I. so, once again, I would want to remind you that it would be in your best interest to co-operate with us.”

  Samuel had heard of Cell 102. It was the interrogation room. Most of the individuals who went in there did not speak of the experience afterward.

  “Well, I assume that we have an understanding right now.” Burns flashed him a grin. “Let us begin then. First where are you keeping the baby?”

  “What baby?”

  “Don’t act dumb with me, Samuel. You can do better than that,” Burns said.

  “You may not believe it, but I have no idea about what you are talking about. I do not know the whereabouts of the Benson baby.”

  “So you did know what baby we were asking about.” Burns had a triumphant grin on his face.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Samuel said. “My face has been all over the news regarding the disappearance of the Benson baby, so of course I knew you were referring to the Benson baby.” Samuel was beginning to sound angry.

  “Language, Mr. Clark. Please mind your language.” It was the woman again who spoke.

  Samuel ignored her. “Why would I kidnap the child? I barely know the parents; in fact, I have never even met them before this whole brouhaha started. So please tell me, why the hell would I kidnap their son?”

  “The old long reason, Clark: money. We have gone through your financial records, you have been having a bit of trouble since you got out of prison. You barely make rent on your apartment and your landlord has threatened to evict you.” As he spoke he slammed some folders on the desk, they were Samuel’s financial records. How had they even gotten their hands on them? If they got them from the bank was that even legal?

  “Wait, how are you even going to pay that fancy investigator you hired?”

  “That is none of your business.”

  “You are right, it is not. What is my business is you asking for ransom from the parents of the child whom you kidnapped.”

  “What?” Samuel could not stop the incredulity from his voice.

  “You visited the Benson residence. From my records, you spent quite some time in there with Mrs. Benson while her husband was at work.”

  “It is not a crime visiting another person. Or has the law changed and I was not made aware of it?” Samuel asked, spreading out his hands.

  “Perhaps then you should tell us what you discussed? What did you say to Mrs. Benson? Why did you visit while her husband was away? Was it because you thought you would find her more pliable without her husband being present?” Burns face was inches away from Samuel’s. Samuel could read the anger and frustration in his eyes.

  “I am not telling you anything.”

  “Do you get some sort of sick satisfaction from watching your victims suffer? Was that it? Did you go there to view
your victim close up and personal so you could jack off to the high later?”

  “You are crazy. I am not saying anything to you.”

  “Or is she your accomplice? You both planned to kidnap the baby and then split the profit from the ransom her husband would pay? What the hell did you discuss with Elizabeth Benson?”

  “I am not saying anything to you till I have my lawyer present, and you cannot make me talk to you.”

  The air in the room was thick. The woman on the other side of the room had not moved throughout the entire exchange. Samuel could tell that they had nothing on him.

  “This could get ugly really quick. You want to take a bet on that?”

  Samuel did not respond to him. He returned Burns’ stare. Not blinking or flinching. After a while, Burns sighed and packed his files.

  “We are not done with this conversation,” he said as he started for the door.

  When the door clicked shut Samuel let out a suppressed breath. His palm was sweaty and he felt hot all over. He had a feeling that this was hardly the end. They were only going to re-mobilize and be back.

  **********

  Holly could not believe the words Olga was saying. She waited for the young girl to regain her breath. She was doubled over, breathing hard from her open mouth.

  “What do you mean that Samuel’s been arrested, I was just with him less than thirty minutes ago,” Holly said when she got tired of waiting for Olga to regain enough composure to speak.

  ‘One of my buddies at the station informed me that he was hauled in about an hour ago. The guy knew that Samuel is our client so he called me as soon as he saw him being brought in.”

  Holly did not bother asking how the man knew Samuel was a client of theirs. Olga most probably told him herself while they were shagging up somewhere. She was going to have that conversation with Olga soon, but now was not the time.

  “Did your buddy mention whether he was being charged with anything or whether he was brought in on account of the matter concerning the kidnapped child?”

  “We weren’t really able to speak for that long. He just said that Samuel was brought in and while he was having lunch downtown or something.”

  “This is grandstanding if ever I saw one.” She was literally fuming. She contemplated what to do for a few minutes.

  “There is something else.” Holly lifted her eyes to focus on her. “He stated that he was being held in Room 101.”

  “Shit,’ Holly muttered. Everyone knew about how nerve racking Room 101 was. She had personally met individuals who left the place; they never were the same again.

  “You know what? You head back to the office and work your contacts, let me know whatever you find. I would quickly try to grab Danielle, or maybe she will just meet me at the police station. Danielle was the lawyer they used in any sort of emergency. She was discrete and efficient and usually got the job done with minimal hitches.

  “Yes boss,” Olga replied, then asked, “How about your car? You don’t intend to trek to the station do you?”

  “I will be going with a taxi, silly. I do not think with the state I am in right now I am fit to be behind a wheel.”

  “Olga,” Holly called as the girl began walking back the way she came. “Why did you not just call me?”

  “I did, but you were not picking up your cell. I just started heading out here on a hunch.”

  “Thank you,” Holly replied. “Now, off you go! We have some work to do.”

  *********

  It was the noise that first got Burns attention. When he lifted his face from the folder he had been reading, it was to meet the angry face of a woman looking down on him, two women actually. One was docile and sat on one side of the room, the other was looking enraged, her pupils were dilated and he feared that at any moment she was going to open her mouth and begin to spit fire.

  His secretary stood by wringing her hands. It was obvious she had been trying to restrain them from gaining access to his office, but they barged in anyway.

  “It is okay,” he nodded to her. She walked away and was replaced by Abigail Philips who stood staring at the two women, her signature smile on her face.

  “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. I am Kyle Burns.” He stretched out his hand for a handshake.

  “What the hell did you think you were doing?” the woman exploded, ignoring his outstretched arm completely.

  “Perhaps it would help if you began by telling me what it is you think I think I am doing because I am at a loss at this very moment.” His eyes strayed to the place where Abby was standing. She was mouthing the words, ‘Holly Hackett’ to him. It took him a while to make the connection. The lady visibly angry before him was Samuel Clark’s private investigator.

  “Do not mess around with me. Who the hell do you think you are, picking up people from the street and hauling them down here without even the slightest regard for the rule of law?”

  “Now, Ms. Hackett, we had probable cause…” he began. As he said this, he saw the other woman straighten in her seat. She was probably the lawyer. However, it was still Holly who spoke next.

  “Probable cause, my foot. Was it the same probable cause that made the lot of you follow him around the last few days, making the life of a private citizen hellish. This is America, Mr. Burns. You do not have the right to treat people the way you want to. What the hell is wrong with everyone these days.” She threw her hands up in the air in a sign of exasperation.

  People were beginning to stare. The entire office had stopped whatever they were doing and were focused on the show going on in his office. Burns felt a little embarrassed.

  “Where is he? He is leaving this station with me right now!” she was facing away from him, looking outside of his glass walls. It was as though she was scanning the rooms, trying to figure out which exactly housed her client.

  “I’m afraid that is not going to happen, Ms. Hackett,” he said. There was menace in his voice. The woman whirled around. She looked as though she was actually going to jump over the table and yank him by the collar of his shirt.

  “You have something coming if you think I am going to walk out of this building and Samuel would not be with me. You, my friend have something else coming,” she said.

  “Ms. Hackett, that is exactly what is going to happen. Mr. Clark is going to be here for as long as is necessary for us to finish our investigations, and would not leave here, not one minute before!”

  She leaned in on the desk, placing her perfectly manicured hands on the table and bringing her face so close to him he could smell her perfume. She looked directly into his eyes and there was no mistaking the venom in her words when she spoke,

  “This is what I want you to realize, Mr. Burns, when I said I would not leave here without Samuel, I meant that I would literally kick down every door, I would physically search from room to room, I would tear this whole building apart till I find the place where he is kept, then I would take him with me. And you are welcome to try and stop me.”

  “Okay, I am sure it would not get to that.” Her companion cut in. She gently tugged at Holly till she broke eye contact with Burns and sat down on the only other seat in the room. “Danielle Bean. I am with the firm of Bean and Bermouth. I am Mr. Clark’s attorney.” Her voice had a cadence to it. It was a voice that was used to the hollowness of the courtroom, a voice that had the confidence of many battles fought and won. Burns knew not to be deceived by her seeming gentle nature. The woman seated before him was anything but naive.

  “Is my client under arrest?”

  “No, he is not.”

  “So, why are you holding him here? This is borderline illegal. Isn’t the FBI supposed to be above shenanigans like this?” she had a look of disgust on her face.

  “Ms. Bean, we brought in Mr. Clark for a preliminary round of questioning, a right which we have under the law. He is a person of interest in an ongoing case. I do not like your insinuations that we are carrying out something
illegal here.”

  “I see. You mentioned probable cause. What exactly is that? What reason did you have to grab him and bring him here, denying him access to an attorney?”

  “I can’t tell you that. We do have the right to detain him here for forty eight hours without charging him. After that, if he has not been charged by then, I would release him to you.”

  “But there is no law that says that he has to be denied outside representation for the duration of the forty-eight hours while you interrogated him. I have it on good sources that he is at this moment in Room 101? I mean, you are keeping a private person who, as you say, is a person of interest in a kidnap case, in a room where you interrogate hardened criminals? Seriously, what exactly is going on here?”

  He did not respond. Holly swore from where she sat, he could see that she was pulled taut by the weight of the emotions she was trying to reel in.

  “I will tell you what, Mr. Burns, you are going to release Samuel Clark to us immediately. If you do not, I am going to make a huge stink about how you treated this man. It would cause such a big issue about this human right abuse that in a few days you would be having people carrying placards outside this very door asking for Samuel’s release, and in that moment the least thing you would be worried about would be your bosses up there giving you a hard time.”

  ***********

  Mark Black watched the show going on from his desk. Through the open doorway, he could see the police chief straining to catch the words flowing out of the office too, although he was more circumspect about it. It would have been beneath him to indicate any flicker of interest in what was going on in Burns’ office. The other officers at the station were paying attention too as they fiddled with whatever it was they were doing.

  Black observed as the other woman took over the conversation with Burns. Good move, he thought. With the way Holly was barreling on, it was obvious that whatever it was she wanted to achieve with Burns would end in futility because there was nothing which annoyed the man as being challenged.