We did.
Cromwell called as we ate.
“I took a big risk, Danny.”
“Stop being dramatic. You made one call, gave away some tickets and dough, and that’s the end of it.”
“You want the information?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. Mr. Meadows had one bullet in him. Mrs. Meadows had one bullet in her. There were no reports of any other bullet being found in the house. Is that good?”
“That’s mysterious. It’s not what I expected.”
“Facts are always annoying, Danny.”
“Don’t I know it? All right, Cromwell. Until next time.”
“Yeah, lets plan on talking again in, oh, fifty years.”
Now I was officially confused.
What happened to the third bullet?
CHAPTER SEVEN
The scene of the crime had the advantage of being close. But because it was at the other end of my block, that also meant that nearly everyone knew me and would remember if they saw me walking toward the house.
“You could use a disguise,” Betsy said. “Maybe dress up as a good-looking guy.”
“That’s too difficult to do,” I said. And bits of a disguise could fall off. Some clever person might recognize me and ask why I was dressed as, say, a pirate. Maybe I should wait for Halloween to break into the house.
“You’re missing the obvious,” Ari said. He was eating some awful-smelling vegetables. Ari kept trying to get me to taste them, but I said I had been sufficiently ruined by my American tastes that I couldn’t do it.
“What’s the obvious?” I asked.
“Come on, Danny, you’re the detective. If there were a robbery there, you’d look for who is around a lot. Say a pizza delivery guy or someone who brings packages to different houses or delivers the mail. Something like that. People would see him but not see him.”
“Ari, I can’t dress up like Simon.” Simon was the mail guy for my house except on weekends.
“Okay, Danny. I’m going to keep it simple.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Who has been around the neighborhood in abundant numbers?”
“I’m sorry, Ari. It is obvious. No one would look twice at a cop. There have been what seems like a dozen of them around. But you’re too big, too easy to identify. And there aren’t many women on the force even if Betsy were willing.” I sighed. “I guess I’m on my own.”
“I can be outside and honk twice if a real cop is coming or people approach the house. Like an angry mob.”
“Don’t get dramatic, Ari. There are no angry mobs in Suffolk County.”
“Can you get a cop’s uniform?”
Betsy smiled. “Maybe you can ask your father. I bet he has a few that he’s saved. There was a legend in the Academy that he killed a few people dressed as a cop.”
“Or he was invisible,” I said. “He doesn’t have a uniform. I’ve seen his closets.”
“Cromwell?” Betsy asked.
I nodded and went to the phone.
“Okay, Danny this is it,” Cromwell said when he picked up. “Find some other person to blackmail.”
“Nobody has your connections, Cromwell. You’re the genius of connections.”
A second of silence. “I guess I have to admit you’re right. If this is difficult I can’t do it. I’m going out dancing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Cromwell. At least make up a good excuse.”
“It’s a new girlfriend. She still thinks I’m like a regular citizen.”
“Wait until she finds out the truth.”
“That’s not a moment I’m looking forward to. What is it you want, Danny?”
“A local police uniform. Now.”
“I don’t have it. I have a County uniform in your size available for rent. I might have a State uniform but it would be big on you. Maybe Ari.”
“No. A State guy would stand out. County is all right. I’ll pick it up in fifteen minutes.”
“Danny, a little favor.”
“What’s that?”
“I usually ask for time off what I owe you. But with me dancing and trying to impress the girl, I would much rather...”
“How much?”
“A hundred.”
“It’s a uniform. For one day.”
“Hey, you’re the one who called me.”
I figured I owed Cromwell a lot. We gave each other grief, but that was part of the fun.
“A hundred if it’s really the right size.”
“You want the weapon too?”
“No. It’s bad enough I’ll be wearing the outfit.”
“See you, Danny. Don’t be late or I’ll be off dancing.”
I drove over to Cromwell’s and got the uniform. I was surprised, but it fit perfectly except the pants were a bit long. Betsy had told me she could fix that.
I went home. Betsy did her magic telling me that I shouldn’t rely on a woman to do the sewing. She seemed proud of it to me, but I didn’t say a word. I just nodded.
I still had a few hours before it would be late and dark enough to break into the house, so Ari and I went out for some custard. Ari promised to bring some home to Jennifer who stayed with Betsy.
We got the custard, ate it, ordered some more, and drove back. We sat at the dining room table and talked. Jennifer wanted to know about Ari, but instead of the truth, that he tracked down terrorists and removed them from the face of the Earth, he made himself into a tour guide. Jennifer’s eyes widened when he spoke of crawling through tunnels on an archeological dig or praying at the Western Wall.
Jennifer went to sleep. I still had a couple of hours before I was comfortable going. I put on coverings for my shoes.
I knew a few short cuts through back yards, trying my best to avoid the street.
The scene of the crime still had tape, but there were no police there. Jennifer had told me about a window in back that couldn’t be locked, so I went there, lifted the window, and climbed in.
If the two shots she heard together was an accurate description, then the third bullet would be near where one of the couple was shot. I saw the chalk outlines, went to the spot on the stairs where Jennifer had seen the killer, and decided that he was closer to where the wife had been shot. I went to the chalk and began to scan the wall in back of the area. I kept my eyes at body level and headed right behind where the body had fallen. The wall was made of brown wood. There wasn’t much lighting, and I didn’t dare turn any on. I leaned down a bit to be Mrs. Meadows’ height and began a systematic grid search along the wall. I knew I wouldn’t be able to see the bullet, so I had to feel my way.
It took twenty minutes and my handy pen knife but I had the bullet in my hand.
The story of it still didn’t fully make sense. But its presence gave me a lot of confidence that Jennifer was a reliable witness. I felt better about continuing to look.
Ari was in a car outside, but I ignored him other than to wave as a signal that he should return home.
I got back, had some coffee, and sat there thinking.
It was by then deep into the middle of the night, but I had no choice.
“I swear to God I’m going to kill you, Danny Ryle.”
“Good evening, Cromwell. How did your dancing date go?”
“Someone told her. Let’s say I now know a lot about her ability to scream.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? You should have seen this woman, Danny.”
“Way out of your league, huh?”
“A man can dream. Now tell me, why exactly are you calling me?”
“I have a bullet.”
“Wait. I’ll call CBS News. This is major, Danny.”
“Don’t be a wise guy. I want to return the uniform. The sooner I can get rid of it the better I’ll feel.”
“And the bullet? Let me guess. You’re going to give that to me as well.”
“I am.”
“What am I supposed to do with it?”
/>
“You’re going to tell me if it was the same kind of bullet that killed Mr. or Mrs. Meadows. It was found near her body, so start with her, but check both.”
“You want a piece of Boston Cream pie with that?”
“Hey, I got you money for your date, didn’t I?”
“Don’t remind me. All right. Come over here. I’ll wait up, so make it fast. I’m not like you, Danny. I like to use my nights to sleep, not run around catching criminals.”
“I’ll be there.”
I dropped off the uniform and bullet with Cromwell, returned home, still couldn’t sleep, and sat on the couch.
I fell asleep there.
It was early the next morning that I heard the noise.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I was disoriented from a lack of good sleep. I knew it was light outside. I listened again for the sound. I know the morning sounds if Ari or Betsy is coming downstairs.
For a minute I thought I imagined it. I started to get up, and all of a sudden I felt an intense pain in the back of my head.
I collapsed. I forced my eyes to stay open. There were still no sounds of Ari and Betsy. They had begun to go to breakfast together early.
“Help!”
It was Jennifer.
I tried to push myself up off the floor, but I couldn’t. I tried one hand, then the other, then both. I just couldn’t move. I thought I was going to black out because the pain was so intense.
Then I heard rather than saw Jennifer. She was trying to scream but whoever had taken her must have covered her mouth.
I lifted my head and saw her held under the kidnapper’s arm.
Again, I struggled to get up. I couldn’t do it. They were headed toward the door.
I decided I was going to move or die trying. I couldn’t walk, but I could crawl very slowly. I could use an angle and get to the door. I pushed myself along and was almost there. I saw the door open and close.
I went to the left of the door, to the window. I pulled myself up and stared out. The kidnapper had a blue or black Cadillac. The car looked new, maybe an ’82 or ’83. I didn’t have a telescope or binoculars nearby so I inched up trying my best to see the license plate.
It was a New York plate. No surprises there. If only it had been one of those vanity plates or had been some special kind of plate as if a fan of some team would purchase it.
I couldn’t see all the numbers, just the beginning ones. YLT was all I could make out. I watched helplessly as the kidnapper drove away with Jennifer, probably tied up in the trunk.
I felt a surge of anger which gave me some strength. I crawled immediately to the phone.
“Yeah.”
“Listen, Cromwell...”
“Danny, I don’t have...”
“This is an emergency. You get me this information in under a half hour and we’re even.”
“Whoa! I’ll get it. What do you need?”
I didn’t tell Cromwell why I needed it, but I told him about the car. I needed to know who had registered the car and what was the address where it was registered. If he could get very fast information about the guy who registered it, all the better.
I suddenly felt weak again and collapsed on the floor.
Maybe it was ten minutes later. Maybe it was fifteen. But Ari and Betsy returned.
I yelled to them, and they ran over. I screamed at them about what happened. Ari ran to get some cream to put on my head. He also brought along a bandage even though he said there was nothing wrong. I just needed rest.
I wasn’t going to get that.
Cromwell called twenty-two minutes after I called him.
“Emmett J. Johnson.” Then he told me the address. “I checked it, Danny. It’s isolated. He’ll know you’re coming.”
“You don’t know Ari,” I said.
I hung up.
Ari and Betsy picked me up. There was no question now. Ari was going to drive. He was far crazier on the road than Betsy was and I couldn’t drive with my dizzy head. Even if I could, he’d be the one.
I knew where the address was so I sat in the front seat and yelled out directions.
We were there in twelve minutes, leaving behind a trail of drivers angry at us. I didn’t care.
“You two stay here,” Ari said.
“I was a police officer,” Betsy said. She was angry.
“Then please stay here. This is my training.”
Betsy knew, despite her wounded ego, that no one had this kind of training on Long Island. We were beyond lucky Ari was there.
He got out of the car, opened the trunk, and removed several weapons and gadgets I couldn’t see.
Then I got out of the car.
“Don’t tell me to go back, Ari. I’m going with you.”
He must have seen the look in my eyes. We both knew this was not a bright idea, but I had to do it. Betsy would guard the perimeter of the front of the house in case the kidnapper got out.
Ari crawled, and I was right beside him. I thought he would take some time to assess the layout, but he moved quickly.
We got to the front door. Ari opened the lock in six seconds.
We were inside the house.
I heard a scream upstairs. Ari nodded, indicating that he had heard it. We ran to the stairs. Ari made no noise. I was not as good.
There was no pausing. Ari charged up the stairs. I pulled myself up step by step but I was behind him.
He kicked a door open. I heard gunfire.
I reached the door. There were two sights. A man was running toward a window at the back of the house.
And Jennifer was hanging from a rope.
Ari grabbed a chair and took out a knife that had been tucked in his belt. He stood up and cut the rope above Jennifer’s head.
She fell into his arms.
I could barely move. I couldn’t see the man who had run. He was already outside. I ran up to Jennifer, unable to believe the worst, calling on every bit of strength I had and compressing that strength into a hope.
Very slowly, Ari put her down on a couch. Then he ran into the kitchen and came back with a wet cloth. He stayed bent over her for five minutes. All I understood was the cold cloth. She was breathing. That much was good. But the breathing was heavy.
Finally, he turned to me and said, “Baruch HaShem. She’s all right.”
I didn’t know what he meant. I thought it might be Hebrew. All I knew was that Ari was the best. He was the man Jennifer needed at that moment. If he said she had survived, that was good enough for me.
I went over to the window through which the kidnapper had made his escape. Then I surveyed the room, opening drawers, looking for hiding spaces.
I found it right on top of the table next to the bed.
It was a business card for the bank in Waterbend. That didn’t make any sense to me, but I put the card in my pocket, kept looking, and couldn’t find anything else.
Ari carried Jennifer to the car and put her on the back seat. Then he looked up and said, “We made a mistake. Danny should have stayed with the car and you should have come with me, Betsy. There was the fatal instant. I could save Jennifer or go after the kidnapper. I couldn’t do both. If you had been there, Betsy, you could have gotten him.”
“Maybe. I never saw him go out.”
“He went out the back way. I thought I heard a motorcycle.”
Betsy looked over at Jennifer. “We did what was important.”
Jennifer went back and forth between sleep and being awake. She said she was hungry, so we stopped and got her the chicken with lots of mashed potatoes that she wanted. She was sitting up in the back eating the food and sipping the cola drink that seemed to calm her down.
“Emmett J. Johnson’s health is going to take a severely downward turn,” Ari said.
“Hey, we don’t even know if that’s his real name. Or maybe it’s just a car dealer. But we’ve seen him, Ari. I promise you. He will pay.”
We drove for a few more minutes.
“Wa
s that Hebrew you said when you saved Jennifer?”
“I was just blessing God.”
“But you saved her,” Betsy said.
“I’ll take and need all the help I can get.”
We arrived home.
There had been a call. It was from Cromwell.
“I hope you got your man. I wouldn’t want to be him if Ari got his hands around the guy’s throat. That bullet you brought over. It was an exact match for the bullet that killed Mrs. Meadows, but not the one that killed Mr. Meadows. I hope that helps. I’m going out to buy a very big steak with more potatoes than have ever been eaten before by a man in Suffolk County. I’m free. Thanks, Danny. I thought I’d never get here.”
“Too bad,” Betsy said when I hung up. “Cromwell was a part of the team.”
I nodded.
Jennifer finished her chicken and went over. She sat in Ari’s lap.
“Ari, thank you for saving me. I was never so scared in all my life. That rope hurt so much.”
Ari smiled at her. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you, Jennifer.”
“Is that a promise?”
“You bet. You know how we make a promise in Israel?”
Jennifer shook her head.
“Why, we eat chocolate ice cream.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
“I’ll get it,” Betsy said. “That’s the kind of promise I want to make too.”
CHAPTER NINE
Jennifer’s safety was our first concern. We thought about turning her over to the police, but even Betsy wondered how secure she would be once the police put her in a home or orphanage or some group home to live.
The answer was obvious, but I was reluctant to say it, so I waited for Ari to do so.
“They will be afraid to go after your father, Danny. He’s still got friends and, let’s face it, he’s the kind of guy people are afraid to cross. They may think you’ll bring Jennifer there, but they’ll figure she’ll have to leave sometime. As long as she’s not talking to the cops, they’re safe. And no one believes your father is going to invite the cops into his house.”
I turned to look at Betsy, and she nodded.
I thought Ari was right, except for the desperation factor. If these people were desperate enough, they’d storm the gates of Hell.
The Hunted Girl Page 4