Fear

by Adrianne Lemke

  There was silence on the other end of the line before Matthews answered. “Fine. I’ll be there. Who are you bringing with you?”

  “Officer Levi Travers.” Levi looked up at hearing his name, and Traci motioned for him to wait a moment. Matthews agreed to Levi’s participation, and the conversation ended.

  “Who was that?” Levi asked as Traci set her phone back on the desk. “It sounded important.”

  “It was. Frederick Matthews just called saying that he had some information on Ryan’s whereabouts, but he didn’t want to give it on the phone. I told him that you and I would meet him at the north side of the park.” Traci gathered her gun and grabbed the keys. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Matthews grabbed the information he had for Officer Vetters and Officer Travers, and left his home office. His wife had gone to meet with some friends, so he didn’t have to explain where he was going as he opened the door.

  “Hello, Fred,” a familiar voice said as he pulled the door open. “You shouldn’t have told.”

  Matthews barely had time to react to the appearance of Carl Riever on his porch before he felt the pain ripping through him as his former friend and colleague shot him. “C-Carl?” he stuttered, reaching for the other man in an attempt to stop the man from shooting him again.

  Riever clucked his tongue at the man. “You really shouldn’t have told Officer Vetters and Officer Parker that you knew who was in that picture. You forced me to act. Everything that’s happened to Ryan is your fault. I want you to die knowing that.” Matthews fell to his knees weakly as the blood poured out of his stomach where he’d been shot.

  “Please, don’t,” he begged weakly, but to no avail as Riever steadily raised his weapon and fired. Frederick Matthews fell to the ground, dead.

  Riever almost felt regret that he’d had to shoot Fred, but when he looked at the papers that Fred had been carrying, his rage returned. “You were going to tell them where I have Ryan. Good thing I got to you when I did. Nice knowin’ ya, Freddie,” he said derisively as he left the house to get back to Ryan.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Traci and Levi walked around the north end of the park for nearly an hour before realizing that Fred Matthews wasn’t going to show up. “Let’s go,” Traci said.

  “Where?”

  “To his house; I’m not going to let him change his mind about telling us something that can help Ryan,” she answered, striding determinedly toward the unmarked car they had driven to the park When Traci called in to Captain Tonika that Matthews hadn’t shown up, he didn’t let her finish speaking before ordering them to check his house.

  It took about ten minutes to reach Matthews’ house from the park, and the two officers immediately noticed the blood on the porch as they walked up the sidewalk. Both pulled their weapons and Traci carefully pushed on the open door as Levi called it in to the station. Traci glanced at the floor and was dismayed to see Matthews’ inert form splayed out before them. She checked the man’s pulse, confirming what she already knew, and moved to secure the rest of the house.

  “It’s all clear,” she said when she and Levi met back at the front hall after splitting up to search the house. “Someone killed the only lead we had on Ryan. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Riever knew that Matthews was a loose end, and he just tied it up.”

  Both officers looked up as they heard a car pulling up the driveway, and they rushed to meet the woman they assumed was Mrs. Matthews.

  “Can I help you?” the petite blonde woman asked them, her brown eyes gazing innocently at them.

  “Mrs. Matthews?” the female officer asked. “I’m Officer Traci Vetters, this is Officer Levi Travers.” Traci looked at her with compassion and hesitated before continuing in a gentle voice. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that your husband has been murdered.”

  The petite woman shook her head violently from side to side as her face crumpled and tears began to fall. At that moment, several police cars to pull up to the curb in front of the Matthews house; the blue and red lights flashing and casting strange shadows on the houses of the neighborhood.

  The officers exited the cars and Levi motioned for them to follow him, leaving Traci to comfort the grieving widow as he explained what had happened.

  “We need the ME and a crime scene unit,” he said. “Officer Vetters and I cleared the scene, but we may still need Mrs. Matthews to check for any possible missing items.”

  Traci and Levi sent Mrs. Matthews to the station to be questioned about recent activities concerning herself and her husband to determine a possible motive for the murder. They then remained on the scene while the initial investigation proceeded.

  “Officer Vetters?” one of the crime scene officers said. “We found a note on his desk that was addressed to his wife. Put gloves on and you can read what it says before we log it as evidence. I heard that this guy could have had a connection to the kidnapped officer and thought this might help.”

  “Thank you,” Traci said as she put on some gloves and opened the unsealed envelope to read the note inside. She read it out loud. “‘My dearest Anna- If you’re reading this, than what I feared has happened. I made some mistakes, and in the course of trying to rectify them, possibly made them worse. When you read this, call Officer Traci Vetters. There is some information that she needs to have that is kept in my safe. You have the combination. Please, darling, get the information to her quickly. There is a young man’s life at stake. Everything I have done will come out as they investigate, but know that I am sorry for everything, and would do anything to be able to take it all back and start over. I love you, Anna. And, I’m sorry. Your loving husband, Fred’.”

  Levi turned to the investigator and asked if they had found the safe. The other man nodded. “Good,”—turning his attention back to Traci, Levi continued—“I’m going to call Captain Tonika and see if he can get Mrs. Matthews to give us the combination. I’m thinking he has information in that safe on where Riever is keeping Ryan, and we need to get to it.”

  As he called the new captain, Levi ran his hand through his short blonde hair in frustration as Tonika told him that Mrs. Matthews couldn’t recall the safe’s combination. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered angrily as his green eyes flashed over to where Traci was standing. “Traci?”

  When Levi called her, Traci was struck by the hesitant tone in his voice. “She doesn’t have the combination, does she?” Traci stated.

  “Captain,” he said into the phone. “We need someone who can crack a safe. You know anyone?”

  The other end of the line was silent for a moment, save for some clicking as the captain searched on his computer to find a name. “There is someone, but it might take a while for him to get there. I’ll check with Mrs. Matthews again to see if we can jar her memory a bit or see if her husband had the combination written down anywhere. I will give Jack a call, and let him know to come ASAP.”

  Levi noticed the frustration in the captain’s voice as he spoke. “Thank you, sir. We’ll be waiting for him here. You’ll let us know his ETA?”

  “I’ll let you know as soon as I’m done talking to him. In the meantime, continue searching the house for anything that could lead us to where Riever is keeping Ryan.”

  “Yes, sir,” Levi replied as he hit the end button on his cell and went to find Traci. She had made her way to where the ME was loading Fred Matthew’s body into an ambulance to be taken to the morgue for an autopsy.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Matthews knew where Ryan was. I know he was going to do the right thing, but it’s too late. Ryan’s been in Riever’s hands for nearly three days already…” Traci’s breath hitched. “I’m sorry. What did Captain Tonika say?” she asked, bringing the conversation back to the investigation.

  “He’s sending someone over. He’ll let us know when his guy will be here, but in the meantime we’re to continue searching the house.”

  Traci nodded; all traces of her earlier distress
gone as her expression hardened and she walked toward the house. Levi followed. “What does he expect us to find?” he questioned, sounding bitter even to himself. “The note clearly says that any information that is useful to us is locked in the safe.”

  Traci shrugged and shook her head. “Yes, but he could have left something out that he forgot to put into the safe. We can’t afford to assume anything at this point. We don’t have time to stand around and wait, and if there’s some information outside the safe that will help us find Ryan sooner, then we have to find it.”

  Without waiting for a response, Traci turned back toward the house and lifted the crime scene tape.

  Levi stood for a moment, his face flushed with embarrassment at having to be told why they were continuing the search. I know what’s at stake, he thought as he moved to follow Traci. Why am I losing focus?

  He entered the house and saw the bloodstains on the carpet in the entryway. “Traci?” he called.

  “Up here,” her voice came from the second floor of the house, and Levi walked up the stairs to join her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said when he found her standing in the Matthews’ bedroom. “I’m losing focus and I know we can’t afford that right now.”

  “You’re right, we can’t,” she stated, her eyes hard. “Get your head in the game, or you’ll be of no use.” Traci continued looking around the room as if Levi weren’t there.

  Levi stood for a moment, feeling first a flash of anger at what Traci had said before realizing that she had said it out of concern for her partner, not out of anger at him.

  Levi left Traci to search the bedroom, and continued into the next room along upstairs hallway. It appeared to be another office, most likely belonging to Mrs. Matthews. He searched through the drawers of her desk and was surprised to find a secret compartment in one of the drawers. He looked through the items in the compartment and found a slip of paper with a combination on it.

  “Traci!” he called as he rushed back to the bedroom. “I think I found the combination to the safe!”

  Her eyes brightened. “Let’s check it out,” she said excitedly. Finally, something went right.

  Levi’s phone rang as they reached the downstairs office. “Hello?” he said as he handed the slip to Traci so she wouldn’t have to wait to see if it would open the safe.

  “Officer Travers, Mrs. Matthews just remembered that she had the safe combination in her desk…”

  “In her drawer, I know. We found it and are opening the safe now,” Levi broke in as he watched Traci spin the dial on the wall safe in Fred Matthews’ office. “What’ve you got, Traci?”

  She pulled the safe door open and grabbed the sheets of paper out. “There are maps and plans for some kind of building.”

  Levi relayed the information to the captain. “What should we do now, sir?” he asked when the captain didn’t respond.

  “I’ll send some units out to the scene. Wait there until they arrive, then go to the property and find Ryan. Be careful. Riever appears to know what he’s doing, and could have some kind of trap set just in case anyone manages to find him.”

  “We’ll be careful. I’ll let you know when we find him,” he said as he hung up the phone. He relayed the captain’s orders to Traci who nodded her agreement.

  “They better get here soon,” she said. “This place seems to be about an hour from here, and we need to get there ASAP. Who knows what this psycho is doing to Ryan right now.”

  ***

  Captain Tonika looked at the DVD that had arrived by courier just before he had called Officer Travers. He put it into his computer and winced when the first sound that came out was a horrified scream. Ryan was on the screen, his arms cuffed above his head to a cage, and his legs chained together and given only a few inches of space away from the cage wall. Tonika winced again as the boy screamed and tried to back away from something that wasn’t there.

  “He drugged him,” he said aloud in his empty office. “We need to find him before he has the chance to become dependent. He wanted to cry as he saw his friend’s son whimpering in fear.

  Tonika’s sadness turned to rage when he saw Riever enter the screen holding a knife. “Time to play, Ryan,” the man said sinisterly. Ryan could only shake his head back and forth quickly, trying to deny what was happening to him. Tonika stopped the tape at the first pain filled scream as Riever sliced Ryan’s stomach with the knife.

  Tears fell down his cheeks as he realized that he wasn’t strong enough to even watch what Ryan was going through. What kind of friend am I? I have a responsibility to this boy, and I can’t even bear to see what he’s going through

  As he put the DVD into his desk drawer, he heard whimpering from the hallway. He opened the door and saw Kerry slumped against the wall crying. The soft whimpering turned into sobs, and Tonika ushered Kerry into his office to give her some privacy. “Miss Hendrix?” he said softly.

  He tried again when there was no reply. “Kerry?”

  “What’s happening?” she asked softly, her voice catching as she spoke. “What is Riever doing to Ryan? How long can Ryan last?”

  “Ryan is strong. Riever has only had him for three days. I know that seems like a long time, but we think we know where he is. Whatever Riever is doing to him right now will heal. We won’t let him stay in his hands much longer,” Captain Tonika kept his voice calm and steady.

  “You have to find him!” she begged.

  “We’re going to, Kerry. He’ll be home soon.”

  Kerry took a deep breath, her sobs easing away as the captain spoke. “You promise?” she asked, a slight hitch in her voice the only sign of her previous near hysteria.

  “I promise.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Ryan hung wearily in the cage. The effects of the drugs had nearly worn off, leaving him exhausted and unable to keep his feet under him. The pain radiating from his shoulders seemed distant, as did the heat on his chest and stomach where Riever’s knife had slashed him as he suffered the effects of the drugs. Once the drug wore off completely, he knew the pain would become central. For the moment he closed his eyes and attempted to gain a reprieve of sorts from his ordeal. Riever had not shown himself since Ryan had become coherent enough to notice him, and for that he was thankful. His muscles twitched continuously, another effect of the drug that was wearing on him. Please stop, he thought wearily, too tired to even mutter the words.

  Despite his exhaustion, Ryan felt a surge of adrenaline as he heard the door to his room opening. Riever entered, his face flushed with excitement. “Ryan, I have just ensured that we will be left alone. You remember Fred Matthews?”

  Ryan wearily nodded, knowing that Riever would be angry if he didn’t respond. “He was going to tell your partner where we are. Naturally, I couldn’t let that happen, so I was forced to take care of him.”

  Ryan’s face paled.

  “Yes,” Riever said, taking note of Ryan’s reaction. “Matthews was involved. He helped me to keep tabs on you. He decided he couldn’t take anymore, which is why he helped you with that picture.”

  “Why…” Ryan weakly tried to tie a sentence together. “Why din… he… give usss your name?” he slurred.

  Riever shrugged, amused by Ryan’s weakness. “I don’t really know. I suppose it was his way of still showing some loyalty.”

  Riever looked at Ryan who didn’t have the strength to even look up at him. “I’m going to do you a favor, Ryan,” he said generously. “I’m going to take the cuffs off your hands. Would you like that?”

  Ryan looked at him hopefully. “Yes,” he said as his head fell to his chest again.

  “What do you say?” Riever teased as he swung the handcuff key in front of Ryan’s eyes.

  Ryan seemed confused for a moment before softly answering. “Please.”

  “That’s right. Very good!” Riever said as he reached for Ryan’s wrists to unlock the cuffs.

  Ryan slumped to the ground as his arms were released and he sat against the cag
e wall relishing the relief of pressure from his injured shoulders.

  “What do you say, Ryan?” Riever coaxed as if talking to a young child.

  Ryan closed his eyes as he said two words that pained him almost more than anything that Riever had done so far. “Thank you.”

  Riever looked at him gleefully, “You’re welcome,” he said brightly. “I’m going to let you rest for a little while, Ryan. Then you need a bit of food and water before your next dose.”

  Ryan felt his muscles tense at the mention of being dosed again, but forced himself to nod his agreement. He heard Riever chuckle again before the door to his cage opened and clanged shut, followed soon after by the sound of the room door opening and closing. Ryan forced his eyes open to make sure he was alone before allowing himself to lie on the floor to attempt to sleep. The floor was filthy and hard, but after being forced to stand or be held by his injured shoulder for the past few days, it felt like heaven to be able to lie down.

  The pain in his chest grew as the final effects of the drugs wore off, and he knew the cuts would become infected quickly, but he had no clean clothes to cover them with, and no energy to spare even if he did. There were several cuts on his chest and stomach, but only a few were deep and would need stitches if he was able to get to a hospital. He clutched his torn shirt close to him as he shivered on the floor. Finally, unable to stay awake any longer, Ryan fell into a troubled sleep.

  ***

  My plan is working perfectly, Riever told himself. He could tell how much saying thank you had pained Ryan, but he had still said it. It won’t be much longer before he gives in to everything I say. I need to play it carefully. If he disobeys me or fights me on something I’ll have to re-chain his arms. Riever sat in a chair in the main room of his underground home and used a lantern to read as he gave Ryan a slight break from the training. An hour of sleep wouldn’t give him too much energy, and the plain cheese sandwich he would give him probably wouldn’t even stay down, so Riever didn’t feel too bad about giving Ryan a small break.