Trapped

by Duncan, Lillian;

  Her eyes focused on the wall behind him. When he moved, she saw the Diamond logo. She was somewhere in the Diamond plant. That meant there had to be people around. People who could help her. Maybe if she screamed…

  As if reading her mind, he whispered, “Don’t bother screaming. Nobody’ll hear you. Don’t you think I would have taped your mouth if that was the case? I’m not stupid. All you’ll accomplish by screaming is to make me angry.” He held up the knife. “And that’s not a good idea.”

  The air in her lungs deflated.

  “So you won’t mind signing this paper, right?”

  “Right. If I sign it, you’ll let me go? That’s what you said.”

  “That’s the deal.”

  She nodded. “Then I’ll sign it.” She prayed it would buy her some time.

  “Good girl.”

  He untied her one hand then handed her a pen. He put the paper on the clipboard and moved it closer. Her gaze scanned the paper and found the words, Last Will and Testament. This was his get-rich scheme. If she signed it, it would be like signing her death warrant. But what choice did she have? Her hand shook as the pen touched the paper.

  “And make sure it’s the right signature or you’ll be sorry,” he whispered, his voice still threatening.

  She signed her legal name.

  He pulled the paper away and stared down at it. “Good girl.”

  A moment later she was plunged into darkness once again. “You promised you’d let me go. You promised.”

  The only response was a door slamming.

  ~*~

  After hitting security buttons to get in the garage, they both ran up the steps to Angelina’s apartment. Again, Keren hit the buttons.

  He dreaded opening the door, not sure what he would find.

  It sounded as if she’d had a complete psychotic break last night. And if that was the case, who knew what she might have done.

  But the apartment was empty.

  He breathed a sigh of relief.

  “If she’s not here, where is she?” Keren looked at him. “I don’t understand.”

  Before he could answer, Nate’s phone rang. The station. “Chief Goodman.”

  “Nate, this is Rene. I just got a strange phone call. It’s probably a prank, but I thought I’d better tell you about it.”

  “What?”

  “The voice said, ‘She’s at the Diamond plant.’ Then he hung up. I tried calling back, but there was no answer. He didn’t say who she was. You think it was a prank?”

  His heart sank. “No prank. Send backup to meet me at the Diamond plant. Now.”

  “What’s going on?” Rene asked.

  “No time, just tell them to meet me there. And that it’s an emergency.” He ended the call and looked at Keren. “I think I know where she is. Gotta go.”

  “I’m coming, too.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re staying here just in case she returns. You call me the minute that happens.” He took the steps from the apartment two at a time. Keren was right behind him.

  “I think I—”

  He turned toward her. “Please, you stay here. I need to know if she comes back or if you hear from her.”

  “OK. Fine.”

  Peter walked across the lawn. “What’s going on?”

  Keren ran to him. “I’m not sure. Angelina’s gone. She might—you tell him Nate.”

  “Don’t have time. You fill him in.” With those words, he ran to his cruiser.

  Two other cruisers sat in the Diamond parking lot. The officers stood together. They both jogged up to his cruiser as he stepped out “What’s going on, Chief?

  Nate stepped out of his car. “I know it sounds crazy. But I think Angelina Matthews is being held against her will somewhere in the Diamond plant.”

  “You mean, like, kidnapped? Again? That does sound crazy. You think that’s what the phone call was about?”

  “Kidnapped twice? That’s really bad.” The other officer shook his head in disbelief.

  Nate nodded. “I think the phone call was about Angelina, I was at her house when Rene called me, and her cousin doesn’t know where she is. Her car is there, but no one’s seen her since last night. I’m betting she’s in there. Somewhere.” His gaze moved to the factory.

  “Let’s go find out.”

  The three of them walked inside.

  Nate walked up the receptionist. “Hey, Mary. How are you?”

  “Fine, Nate. What’s going on?”

  “I need to talk to the plant manager. Now. It’s an emergency.”

  “Sure thing.” She rushed over to the door. After knocking, she stuck her head in. “The Chief of Police is here, Stanley. Says it’s an emergency.”

  Stanley walked out, and so did Fred.

  “Fred, what are you doing here?”

  “I work here now, remember?”

  Nate had arrested Fred before. Fred swore his life of crime was over now that he’d found God, but it was so easy to slip back into old habits. Could he have something to do with Angelina being missing? Another one of his get-rich schemes?

  His gaze met Fred’s. The innocence could be an act. “Fred, if you know what’s going on, you need to tell me right now. Before this thing goes any further.”

  “What are you talking about, Nate? It sounds as if you’re accusing me of something.”

  “I want to know the truth, Fred. Is this another one of your get-rich schemes?”

  “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.” Fred sounded sincere enough. Was he being truthful?

  Nate didn’t have time to think it through right now. He looked at Stanley. “I received a phone tip that someone is being held here against their will. At the Diamond plant.”

  Stanley’s eyes bulged and his mouth moved without him actually speaking. “What are you talking about?”

  “This is confidential. Angelina Matthews appears to be missing. Possibly kidnapped. We received a phone tip saying she was here. We need to check out the place.”

  Fred looked at Nate. “I didn’t do anything, Nate. Really. Whatever’s going on, it’s not me.”

  Nate nodded, hoping that was true. “Stanley, do we have your permission to search the property?”

  Stanley wrung his hands together. “Of course. Of course.”

  “We don’t have a search warrant.”

  “I don’t care about that. Just go find her.”

  “Are you sure, Stanley? Maybe you should check with a lawyer first. To be on the safe side,” Fred said.

  Nate glared at Fred. “Really? That’s your advice. Not to give permission for us to look for Angelina.”

  “Just thinking of the company.”

  Stanley walked between the two men. “Nate, I’m sure. Just go find her.”

  The door opened, and Peter rushed in. “Keren told me what was going on. I’m here to help in any way I can.”

  Nate started to argue but changed his mind. The more people looking, the better. He nodded. “Fine, let’s split up into pairs. I’ll go with Stanley. Jack, you pair up with Peter. And Scott…I guess you’ll have to go alone.”

  “No, he won’t.” Mary walked up to the group “I can help. I know the place as well as anyone.”

  “What about me?” Fred asked.

  “I figured since you just started you probably don’t know your way around too well.”

  “That’s true, but I’ll tag along with you. I’m sure I can manage.”

  Stanley walked over to a cupboard. “I’ve got walkie-talkies. We don’t use them much anymore thanks to cell phones. But this way we can keep in touch with each other.”

  “Great idea.” Nate said. “Fred, you can stay with me.”

  After a quick lesson in how to use the walkie-talkies, the three groups separated

  From Nate’s own days of working here, the basement would be the best place to hide her. But it would also be the hardest to get her in without being seen since the plant ran three shifts. To accomplish that, it would
have to be someone with access to the building all the time.

  “Stanley, you got keys on you?”

  He held up a key ring. “Sure thing.”

  “We’ll start in the basement. Mary and Scott, you check this floor. Peter and Jack, start checking the outbuildings.”

  Once they were in the basement, they started a room by room search. Twenty minutes later, the three men looked at each other.

  “She’s not down here.” Nate’s heart sank. She had to be here, somewhere. Probably terrified, maybe deep in a psychotic break.

  When they got back up to the office area, Peter and Jack were still checking out the other part of the building.

  Nate looked at the others. “We need to think this through. If Angelina really is here, where would be the easiest place to hide her? It couldn’t be down in the basement or this part of the plant at all. It would be too easy for someone to see her when she was brought in. There is a night guard.”

  “Maybe the night guard’s involved,” Scott said.

  “Why would the night guard want to kidnap Angelina?” Fred sounded confused.

  “Because lots of employees hate their bosses. And fantasize about getting back at them.”

  “What’s that got to do with Angelina?”

  “Angelina owns this place. Didn’t you know that?” Peter sounded as confused as Fred. “I’d think you’d know who your boss is.”

  Fred looked at Nate. “Angelina’s the owner? Of the Diamond plant?”

  Nate nodded, wondering if Fred’s confusion was real or an act. “It wouldn’t be easy to get her down here and keep her quiet. But why would we get a tip that she was here?”

  “I have no idea. None of this makes any sense. Why would anyone even want to hurt Angelina?” Mary asked.

  The only answer Nate could come up with was money. People got kidnapped for money all the time. And Fred was great at coming up with get-rich schemes. And great at getting arrested for them, as well. If that man had done something to hurt Angelina, Nate would make sure he paid for it.

  Peter and Jack walked in. The look on their faces said they hadn’t found Angelina either. Mary tapped her finger on the desk. “This is bad. The poor thing’s been through enough with that Luther Marks man. Why would someone do this to her again?”

  Somebody had wanted to keep her scared, confused. But why? To make it easier to get what they wanted from her, of course. And that had to be about the money. Nate felt it in his bones.

  “We’ve checked everywhere. I don’t know where else to look for her.” Stanley looked at Nate. “Do you have any other ideas?”

  “What about that old building at the other end of the parking lot?” Fred asked. “I noticed it when I came in the back way this morning.”

  “We didn’t check that when we were outside,” Jack said. “I didn’t even think about the old guard shack.”

  “It’s been closed for years. Since we built the new building,” Mary said.

  That would be an easy place to get to without being seen. Interesting that Fred was the one who’d suggested it. It wasn’t looking good for him. But that would have to wait until later. Right now, he had to find Angelina. Alive.

  “Good idea, Fred. Let’s go.” He was already heading out the door. He jogged through the parking lot with Fred beside him.

  Everyone else followed at a slower pace.

  As they neared the building, Nate became convinced Angelina was in it.

  Someone had placed a huge tarp over it. It was probably as dark as Luther’s basement.

  Nate knelt down, slipped under the tarp and turned the door knob. It wouldn’t open. He pounded on the door. “Angelina? Are you in there?” He put his ear to the door but couldn’t hear anything. “Anybody got a key for it?”

  Fred slid under the tarp. “I don’t think I do. I can look.”

  “Forget about the key. Let’s see if we can open it. Are you ready?”

  Fred nodded and leaned his shoulder against the door. Nate did the same. When Nate nodded, they both pushed with all their strength. The old wood door gave way.

  The others pulled the tarp off of the building.

  Angelina was tied on a bed, just the way she’d been with Luther. Except she had her clothes on. Rage flowed through him. What kind of monster would make her relive that nightmare? He rushed to her side. “Angelina. Angelina.”

  Her eyes flickered then opened. “Nate. Are you really here? Or just in my dreams?”

  He caressed her cheek. “I’m really here, sweet Angelina. And you’re fine. It’s not a dream.”

  Fred untied her legs as Nate untied her arms.

  By the time they were finishing, Angelina was sobbing. Her arms went around his neck. She whispered in his ear. “Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me. He’ll kill me if you do.”

  “I’m not leaving you.” He turned to the group.

  Peter came forward. “Angelina, are you OK?”

  She trembled as her arms tightened around Nate’s neck. “Fine. I’m fine.”

  “Who did this to you?” Fred asked.

  “Don’t know. They had a mask on.”

  “We better call an ambulance,” Fred said.

  “I don’t need an ambu—”

  “Forget an ambulance. I’ll drive her,” Peter said. “But first I need to call Keren. She’s beside herself with worry.”

  “No.” Her voice was loud enough that everyone stared at her. “I don’t…need an ambulance. I want to…” She stopped talking as if she had no idea what to do. She still clung to Nate. Again, she whispered. “Don’t leave me. I need to talk to you alone.”

  “OK, everyone out. Let’s give her a minute to get herself together.”

  “I should stay. I’m family,” Peter said. “She shouldn’t be alone right now.”

  “She’s not alone. She’s with me,” Nate told him as the others moved out of the building.

  “Fine.” Peter looked at Angelina. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

  Peter walked out.

  Angelina clung to Nate and whispered into his ear. She was still talking when someone yelled, “Bomb!”

  27

  “Bomb. Boss, get out of that building now?” Jack yelled from outside the building. “Get out. Now. Everyone else move away from the building.”

  Without another word, Nate scooped Angelina up from the bed and jogged out.

  In his arms, she felt safe. She blinked against the brightness of the sun.

  Everyone ran across the field. Jack ran up to them. “It looks like some kind of homemade bomb that didn’t work. Apparently, they didn’t want her getting out of that building aliv—” He stopped talking and looked at Angelina. “Sorry.”

  “That’s OK. I sort of figured that out already.”

  Nate sat Angelina down but held on to her. “I have an idea.”

  She listened. When he was finished talking, he looked at her. “Are you OK? Can you do this?”

  She nodded. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

  Nate grinned. “Sounds about right.”

  Peter pulled up in his car and jumped out. “Angelina, you really need to get to the hospital.”

  She moved away from Nate. He squeezed her fingers one last time as they slipped away.

  “It was you. You did this to me.” She ran directly to Fred and slapped him.

  Fred stepped backward. “What are—?”

  “Don’t even try to deny it. I know it was you.” She pushed at him. “Did you think I wouldn’t recognize your voice? Even if you were whispering.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Liar.” She lunged at him, screaming. “I can’t believe you did this to me. And after I got you this job. I tried to help you.”

  One of the policemen grabbed her arm and moved her away.

  Nate stepped up. “Are you sure about this, Angelina?”

  She nodded as tears streamed down her face.

  Nate turned to Fred. “You have the rig
ht to remain silent…” When he finished, he walked behind Fred and clicked on the handcuffs.

  “Nate. I didn’t do this. She’s just confused. You’ve got to believe me.”

  “Sorry, buddy. You just couldn’t resist one more get-rich scheme, could you? You’re under arrest.”

  “No. No. You don’t know what you’re doing. I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.”

  “Yeah, just like the other times I arrested you. You’re the one who suggested she was in that building. How’d you know that? Because you’re the one who put her in here.” Nate glared. “I’d love to show you what I really think of you but I can’t.”

  Grabbing his arm, Nate pulled Fred toward the two officers and away from the group. Nate had a whispered conference with them out of ear range.

  Fred stared at her.

  She felt sick to her stomach, but she glared back at him.

  Finally, the officer led Fred away.

  The other one walked back with Nate, a confused look on his face.

  Nate was by her side in the next moment, his arm touched her. Everything would be all right. Nate wouldn’t let anything happen to her. This would all be over soon. Nate looked at her. “How are you feeling? OK?”

  She nodded. “A little shaky.”

  Peter stepped up and hugged her. “I’ll take you home.”

  “No…I don’t think so. I want to…I need to see Dr. Markley. Right now. Nate, will you drive me there?”

  “Of course. If that’s what you want. I’ll be glad to do that.”

  “I can do that,” Peter offered.

  “No, you need to go tell Keren I’m fine. I’ll…I hope I’ll be home later. But maybe Dr. Markley will have other plans. I…just don’t know. I’m so…” Her words trailed off, and she leaned against Nate as if overcome.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind taking you.”

  “No. Nate can take me.”

  Peter looked as if he wanted to say more, but then he nodded. “If you say so.”

  “Jack, you stay here until the sheriff’s department comes to process the scene.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Nate’s arm went around Angelina. They walked to the cruiser together.

  The rest of them still stood in the parking lot, looking shell-shocked.

  As they drove away, she looked over at Nate with a smile. “Did I do good?”