by Mark Bentsen
“Okay. We’ll send him in as soon as we get there.”
“Don’t try to pull anything on me, okay? When I feel it’s safe, I’ll come get him. And if I feel it’s a trap, I’m going to the police. You hear me?”
“Don’t you get it? All we want is the ransom. We don’t give a shit about you or your husband. You did what we asked you to do and like we told you in the beginning, now you’re free to go.”
“Good,” Bonnie said, ending the call.
As Lauren pulled out of the parking lot she turned on the radio. “Let’s see if there’s any news.”
A deep voice was already into his report. “... by a woman posing as Dr. Tammy Owens. Police are looking for the woman who shot two hospital employees.”
“What?” Bonnie screamed. “They think I shot them?”
Lauren turned the volume up. “A female employee of the hospital, whose identity has not been released, was killed, and the security guard, Rocco Giovino, remains in critical condition at this time. The woman escaped with Olivia Townsend, the eighteen-month-old daughter of Kim Townsend, heir to the Townsend fortune. The woman is approximately five-foot-six and weighs about one hundred and twenty pounds. She has shoulder-length red hair and is considered armed and extremely dangerous. We have posted a photo on our website to help you identify her. If you see anyone matching this description, please notify the police immediately.”
Bonnie’s mouth hung open as she stared at the radio.
“I’m sure your picture’s already plastered all over TV, too,” Lauren said, “You need to stay completely out of sight.”
Lauren moved the car into the outside lane and turned down a side road at the next intersection.
Bonnie’s attention was focused on the radio. The reporter continued. “The child does need medication daily, without which, she will die. There are no leads at this time. We go now to Brook Robins, who is with Mrs. Townsend.”
A female voice spoke. “Olivia will die if she doesn’t receive her medication and dialysis. If you could speak to that woman right now, what would you say?”
An emotional Kim Townsend said, “How can you be so heartless to kidnap a child like this? You can’t let her die. I beg of you, she’s all the family I have left.”
Bonnie squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her head.
Lauren drove several blocks then pulled over on the side of the road.
“I think it will be best if you get in the backseat. Those windows are tinted and no one will be able to see you there,” she said, touching Bonnie on the shoulder.
As Bonnie crawled over into the back seat she felt as if every decision she’d made over the past twenty-four hours was wrong. The word “heartless” echoed in her mind.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Lauren said. “If Kim knew the entire story, she’d know you made the right decision.”
Lauren made a U-turn and went back to the highway. Bonnie couldn’t get the news report out of her head. She was sure Rocky would set the record straight when he was able, but what if he didn’t survive?
Bonnie shrank into the corner of the backseat and buried her head in her hands. The fact that she was wanted for murder and kidnapping was inconceivable, but there was nothing she could do about it until Luke was safe. When she opened her eyes they came to rest on Dr. Owens’s leather purse. The top of the BlackBerry was sticking out of the unzipped pocket.
Bonnie pulled it out and said, “I think you’re right. Kim needs to know the entire story.”
Lauren spoke but kept her eyes on the highway. “That’s fine, but how’s she going to find out?”
“I’m going to call her. I’m sure her number is in here.”
Lauren gave Bonnie a hard look in the mirror. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“I have to. What if things go wrong at the mall and Luke and I end up dead? I’ll be known forever as a kidnapper and a murderer. I can’t let that happen.”
“Okay,” Lauren said warily. “But, we have to assume they are going to try to triangulate the location of any calls made from Dr. Owens’s phone. I don’t know how long it takes to do that, so don’t stay on it for more than a minute, two at the most.”
Lauren turned into a busy shopping center with several fast food restaurants along the highway and a strip of stores in back. She pulled in between the Golden Dragon Chinese Buffet and Taco Hut, drove to the middle of the lot, and parked. Bonnie powered up the phone and found Kim’s number in the directory. A few seconds later it was ringing.
“Who is this?” Kim demanded.
“Mrs. Townsend. I need to talk to you.”
“You’re calling from Tammy’s phone. Are you the one who took Olivia? Ms. Rich?”
“Let me explain,” Bonnie pleaded.
Kim’s tone was on the verge of panic. “Explain what? Is Olivia okay?”
“She’s fine, but that’s not why I called.”
“I got your email telling me what to do. Please don’t hurt my baby.”
“Kim, I’m not one of the kidnappers.”
“But, you’re on Tammy’s phone. Didn’t you say you’re the one who took Olivia?”
“Let me explain. I was forced to do it. They said they’d kill me and Olivia if I didn’t do what they said.”
“What do you mean? Who are you?”
“I’m not from around here. I was in Montana with my husband on business. We were abducted and held prisoner. The men holding us said they would kill us unless I did what they told me to do. They had an elaborate plan where I had to impersonate Dr. Owens and pick up Olivia at the hospital after her treatment and then turn her over to them.”
“But, how—“
“Let me finish, please.” Bonnie begged. She knew Kim would have lots of questions, but had to keep the conversation short and on target. She switched the phone to her other ear and continued. “At first I told them I wouldn’t do it, but they said if I didn’t they’d kill me and my husband, and they’d kill Olivia, too. I felt like I didn’t have any choice.”
“I can’t believe that. Who are you?”
“I can’t tell you yet. They’re still holding my husband and said that if I tell the police anything before they get the ransom, they’ll kill him. And they said they’ll kill Olivia, too.”
“But you killed a woman and shot the guard.”
“It wasn’t me who shot them. After I took Olivia from the dialysis unit I went to the basement as I was instructed. The security guard stopped me and was taking Olivia from me. One of the men who abducted me was watching and he shot Rocky and that woman. Then he took Olivia from me and was going to shoot me too, but his gun jammed and I got away.”
Kim was silent for a few seconds then said, “Do you have Olivia?”
“No. They have her.”
“So, why did you call me?”
“The people who abducted me still have my husband. They said they’ll release him and I’m going to meet them. But I’m afraid it’s a trick and they’ll kill both of us before this is all over. And I want you to know the truth. I did what I did to save Olivia. You have to believe me,” Bonnie pleaded.
“I... I don’t know what to say,” Kim said. She paused briefly. “Where is Olivia?”
“I don’t know, but they said she’d be released as soon as the ransom is paid. Have they contacted you about the ransom?”
“Yes, and that’s going to be a problem,” Kim said.
Bonnie sat upright, unsure she heard Kim right. “A problem?”
“Yes.”
Bonnie felt Lauren’s hand grasp her shoulder, then point out the window. A black and white police car was turning into the parking lot at the west end of the parking lot. They looked the other way and saw two black and whites turning into the east end of the parking lot.
Lauren put her finger to her throat and ran it across it repeatedly.
“I’ve got to go, but I’ll call back as soon as I can.” Bonnie disconnected and sunk down in the seat.
�
�Get the battery out of that phone,” Lauren said, starting the car. “We got to get out of here. Stay down.”
Lauren noticed the cop cars were closing in fast. She backed out of her parking space and started down the row of parked cars, but a minivan was stopped, waiting for a car to pull out of a parking spot. Their only escape was to make it to the highway, half a parking lot ahead of them.
Lauren checked the rearview mirror and saw one of the cop cars turn down her row and start closing in behind her. The other black and white turned several rows over and was driving much faster toward the end of the parking lot.
“Oh shit,” Lauren said, her voice frantic. “One’s behind us and the other’s coming around to cut us off.”
“Have they turned on their flashing lights?” Bonnie asked as she tried to remove the battery from the Blackberry.
“Not yet, but I think our only chance is to cut between these parked cars and see if I can make a U-turn.”
“We can’t outrun them. Our only chance is that they didn’t see where we were parked. I’m covered up by the duffel bag and your jacket. The phone’s off and I’ve got the battery out. If they stop you, just try to act normal.”
Finally, the car ahead of them pulled into a parking space and Lauren accelerated around them toward the highway. The cop behind her was closing in and the other one had already gotten to the end of his row and turned in her direction. She calculated the distance and realized there was no way to get to the highway before he cut her off. She slowed down and checked her rearview mirror. The distance between her and the other cop was closing fast.
She waited and the cop in front of her pulled forward with his eye on her while speaking into a radio microphone. When he got to her row he slowed to a stop and put down the mic.
Her heart sank as he took off his sunglasses and locked eyes with her. Then with a slight nod and a smile, he motioned for her to go ahead.
She looked in her rearview mirror and saw the cop behind her was taking a drag on a cigarette while looking out his side window, not in the least concerned about her.
With a sigh of relief, Lauren turned back to the officer in front of her and mouthed the words Thank You, then smiled widely as she drove past him and stopped at the exit.
“We’re okay,” Lauren said as she pulled onto the highway. “They weren’t after us after all.”
As Bonnie sat up, she saw the cops pulling in front of Daylight Donuts.
Lauren pulled onto the highway and asked, “What did Kim say?”
“She said there’s a problem with the ransom. That’s when you told me to get off the phone.”
“Maybe you should call her back and find out what she was talking about.”
“First things first,” Bonnie said. She felt a tinge of uneasiness as she anticipated their next move. “Let’s go get Luke.”
Chapter 45
It took less than five minutes to get to the mall and Lauren found a parking space where they had a view of the entrance on the back side. She turned off the engine and glanced at Bonnie in the backseat.
“You sure you want to do it this way,” Bonnie said.
“It’s the best way. Since they’re expecting you our chances of getting Luke out safely are better if I go in. Plus, the chances of you being recognized are pretty good. Best you stay here, out of sight.”
“Okay, but if Sonny’s in there he might recognize you.
“You’re right,” Lauren said, grabbing the cap off the back seat.
As she began to stuff her long hair under the cap, Bonnie said, “Call me as soon as you see Luke.”
Lauren nodded, put on her sunglasses and got out. She fell in behind a couple of ladies pushing baby strollers and followed them inside the mall. As they walked down the tiled corridor she thought about how Bonnie described Coley, Rita and Rosemary. She expected several of them, and maybe Sonny, to be inside, out of sight but watching for Bonnie.
At the main concourse of the mall, Lauren went left. She walked at a casual pace looking in stores for anyone who looked out of place. At the end of the mall she turned and came down the other side, again seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Ahead, several stores down on the right, she could see the red Radio Shack sign. She looked at her watch; Luke should be there by now. He’d be looking for Bonnie, but he might recognize her if he saw her, and she didn’t want that to happen until just the right time.
Down the center of the mall, a series of rectangular brick planters overflowed with greenery. Lauren moved down the mall on the opposite side, peering in windows like every other shopper. When she was a couple of stores away, several tall Ficus trees in the planter blocked her view of Radio Shack, so she wandered toward the middle for a better look.
As she peeked around a branch she saw a guy with brown hair and a white cap sitting on the brick edge of the planter. She made her way closer, trying to see if it was Luke.
When he was just around the corner from her, he stood up and started to turn her way. But, before she saw his face, she spun around and walked into the gift shop across from Radio Shack. She couldn’t let him see her yet.
“Can I help you find something special today?” a heavyset gray-haired lady asked from the checkout counter.
“No, just looking,” Lauren said as she turned down an aisle with greeting cards.
With her face hidden behind a display of balloons, she took off her sunglasses and peeked out the front door. The man in the cap was still near the planter, but was now talking to a woman holding a baby in her arms.
It wasn’t Luke.
Lauren exhaled and let her shoulders sag. Scanning the faces in front of Radio Shack, she didn’t see Luke, so she put her sunglasses back on and walked deeper into the store. On the back wall of the store, Lauren saw a partially opened door with a sign above it that said, Employees Only. She glanced back and when the sales clerk started checking out a customer, she walked through the door into a storeroom.
Shelves piled high with merchandise lined one wall and stacks of boxes cluttered the floor. On the back wall, a red Exit sign glowed above a gray metal door.
A tall guy with long dark hair stepped around a corner holding a box cutter.
Lauren froze. The guy took a step toward her, and said, “You looking for the bathroom?”
Lauren caught her breath and said, “Uh, yes, I am.”
“It’s right there,” he said. He pointed the box cutter to a door behind him in the corner.
She walked past him and went inside. A minute later when she came out, the guy was pulling a tall lamp out of a box.
“Thanks for letting me use the bathroom,” she said, smiling at him.
“Anytime.”
Lauren glanced around and pointed at a door. “Does that door go to the parking lot?”
“Uh-huh,” he replied.
“I hate to be a pain, but I have a favor to ask. I bought one of those big lava lamps. It’s just like that one.” She pointed to the one he had just unpacked. “It doesn’t work and I need to return it. It’s really heavy. I really don’t want to carry it all the way down the mall. Do you think I could bring it in this door?”
“We’re not supposed to do that, but I guess we could do it this time.” He walked over to a keypad and entered a few numbers, then turned the deadbolt and said, “It’s unlocked and I also turned off the alarm. Now you can just open the door outside and come in.”
“How do I know which door to come to?”
“Our door is number A61. But don’t forget your receipt. The manager’s pretty anal about that kind of stuff.”
“I will. You are so sweet to do this for me,” Lauren said. “I’m parked on the other side of the mall. In a few minutes I’ll go get my stuff and come back.”
“Not a problem,” he said.
She went back into the store and worked her way up to the greeting cards aisle. She looked out towards the mall, let her eyes sweep across the passing shoppers, and noticed someone who had not been there earlier. He had
dark hair and was wearing brown cargo shorts, a white polo shirt and a white cap. The same clothes he had on the last time she saw him in Cardston. He fidgeted nervously as he checked the crowd, obviously looking for Bonnie.
Lauren dropped her eyes to the rack of cards and swallowed hard. She pulled a sympathy card from the rack and pretended to read while catching her breath.
Though Coley said they’d send him in, she wasn’t really convinced it would happen. Her pulse increased as she thought about what she was going to do next.
First, she pulled the cell phone out of her pocket and dialed.
“Hello?”
“I see him.” Her voice was shaky.
“Oh my God,” Bonnie said anxiously. “Is he okay?”
“He looks fine, just nervous. He’s looking everywhere for you.”
“Okay. Now what?”
“I know they’re probably watching him so once I make contact with him, we need to move as fast as we can. We’ll come out the back door of a store across from Radio Shack. It’s a gift shop and I’ve talked to a guy who has unlocked the back door. He said you can identify the door because it has a number on it—A61. Meet us there in five minutes.”
“I’ll be there,” Bonnie said.
Lauren put the phone back in her pocket and started looking for an accomplice.
Just then, two girls turned down the aisle and stopped at the other end of the card rack. They looked like sisters except one was heavier than the other. They looked like they were fifteen, sixteen at the most. Perfect.
Lauren opened her purse and pulled out a pen and piece of paper. Quickly, she wrote a short note and folded it in half, then folded it again.
She watched the girls as they handed each other cards and chuckled.
Lauren gave Bonnie a few more minutes then eased over to them. “Excuse me, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”
They looked at her, then each other, not sure what to say.
“See that guy over there?” Lauren said, pointing at Luke who stood out in front of the store. “I was wondering if you would go over and give him this note.”