New Growth (Spook Hills Trilogy Book 2)

by Menard, Jayne

  He walked briskly along past the shops in the mall. Even in these chic surroundings frequented by movie stars, people regarded him with admiration as he passed. Julio smiled to himself, glad to still be a metrosexual head-turner in his early forties. He slipped into a shop to disappear. The fashionable mall functioned as one of his haunts. He tipped the sales staff in several shops to let him use their back doors. Wherever he went, he always plotted a safe departure path.

  Chapter 6

  On a warm Thursday morning of that same week, Mathew sat on the green knoll near the tree house where the contractor was winching up the walls. They had closed on the additional property late the previous afternoon. With all the paperwork in order, he was coordinating with an architect to obtain the required building permits. First on a nearby slope, he planned a manager’s cottage, expanding an existing small house into a duplex with one-half for Lenny and the other for Fred. On the far side of a third hillock, he foresaw a gravity-based wine facility, allowing the liquid to flow downward with the hillside to reduce the amount of mechanization. To minimize any damaging impact on the environment, he intended each aspect of the winery to operate organically.

  He glanced over at the current building site when one of the workers let out a yell as the materials they were yanking up swung too wide. The structure had two stories, each with ten-foot ceilings. The entire top floor of the hexagon flaunted expansive windows, including skylights in the rooftop. Steve expected to position a telescope on the deck for honing in on constellations and for general observation. Even though more of a gazebo on stilts than a tree house, the edifice gave the illusion of nestling in the branches of the low, spreading walnut canopy. The three concentric circles of grass, sweet woodruff and lavender should protect the adjacent fields from a toxin produced by the walnuts that could harm the grapes.

  When he gazed downhill, he spied his neighbor Rick driving fast up the grassy road between rows of grapevines. Rick’s expression of deep stress when he jumped out of his old Land Rover made Mathew scramble up and jog over to meet him.

  “Hey, Rick. What’s wrong?”

  “Got a call from Callie. She’s hysterical. Someone kidnapped Susannah!”

  “No, no, not that darling child. When?”

  “This morning. Callie had a doctor’s appointment that morning. She left Susannah with John Henry.”

  “And?” Mathew could feel himself sliding away from his new life as a winegrower back into his former role as an FBI agent.

  “He dropped Susannah off at her school for a morning summer program and headed off to Berkeley. Someone snatched Susannah. The school called a couple of hours later inquiring about her.”

  “Why was she taken? John Henry and Callie are not the type of wealthy parents kidnappers usually target.”

  “Maybe not, but I am,” Rick said grimly. “Someone must have found out that Callie has a rich uncle.”

  “Which means whoever is behind this who knows them pretty well. After all you’re not exactly next door since Callie lives down in California.”

  “The kidnappers phoned right after the school did, demanding five million for her return.”

  “Can you raise that much money quickly?”

  “I may need help, but I’m here for a different reason. Callie wants you to come down to California with me.”

  “She does?” Even under the circumstances, Mathew’s heart lurched. “Because of my FBI background?”

  “Yes and because she trusts you. While John Henry may object to having either of us around, I’ll deal with him. I scheduled a jet out of Hillsboro to leave in an hour. Will you fly out with me?”

  “Sure. Let’s zip down to the house and talk with Steve and Ivy. We shifted a fair bit out of investments for construction projects. Yours if needed.”

  “I want Steve involved, but he must be cautious. Thanks for the offer of your reserves. Pay you back, of course. My broker is due to call me about how soon he can liquidate some of my assets.”

  They sped down to the house. Steve and Ivy sat on the stairs by the back door, brushing the dirt off their boots after working in the garden. Steve jerked his head up when Rick and Mathew bounded out and ran over. “What’s wrong?”

  “Some scum abducted Susannah. We’re flying down to San Francisco,” Mathew said.

  “Holy Shit!” Steve said, jumping up. “What can we do?”

  “Ivy, will you check on Sassy while we’re gone?” Rick asked

  “I’ll bring her over here for the duration of this crisis,” Ivy said

  “That would be great. Sassy is so upset. Callie is dear to her. She adores Susannah too.”

  “Take Lenny with you in case you need backup,” Steve said to Mathew. “Ivy and I will take over surveillance here and at Rick’s. We’ll patrol and stay armed. You find out the facts on Susannah and go to the local FBI office. I’ll start making calls.”

  Rick intervened. “The kidnapper said no cops.”

  Steve regarded him steadily. “You’re talking to two former agents here. Let me do a little quiet exploration. No names, no specifics. I can nose around by phone and on the Internet. We solved a case of child trafficking out of Bulgaria in 2012. I’ll say I’m doing a follow-up.”

  Looking puzzled, Ivy said, “I thought the FBI only has jurisdiction if the case crosses state lines.”

  “The Lindbergh Law of 1932 granted the FBI authority in any kidnapping of a child under 12, which Susannah is. They have Child Abduction Rapid Deployment or CARD teams trained and expert in locating children.”

  Mathew could see that Steve wanted to do some poking around. Maybe he had an idea to explore.

  “Keep this contained to yourself for now,” Mathew cautioned Steve.

  “Don’t use your mobiles once you’re on the ground,” Steve said. “I’ll figure out a scrambled solution for voice. For the near term, use my secure email. Is the encryption software still on your laptop?”

  “Sure is.”

  “Ivy, you follow Rick home and bring Sassy back with you,” Steve said. “Be ready to go when Mathew drives over. Lock up the house. Turn the alarm system on when you leave. Hurry back here and come in through the garage. I’ll talk to Lenny and bring our gear out of the safe room. Rick, can you fire a handgun?”

  He nodded. “Got one at home.”

  “Good, take the piece with you. No one will ask on the private plane. Secure the weapon in a briefcase or something.”

  “I’ve got to run downstairs and pack. Rick arranged a flight in about 45 minutes, which means we will be at Callie’s house by 2:00 p.m.,” Mathew said and hurried downstairs.

  As he grabbed his suitcase, Mathew ached with sadness for his friends. That precious little girl with her carefree giggles was suffering a nightmare at best or was dead at worst. He remembered her playing backgammon with the gruff Lenny and how she teased him when she won. Now some thugs nabbed that little charmer to ransom her for a big wad of cash.

  He grabbed a couple of suits out of the closet, along with several shirts and began packing. Her poor mother! A woman like Callie with her tender heart should not be dealing with the seizure of her only child, much less her obnoxious husband and his alcoholism. She had the wisdom to ask for help from the best. If anyone could save her daughter and bring her back home, they could by working with the Bureau and with Lenny providing protection.

  That afternoon Callie hovered near the front door after receiving a text from Uncle Rick on the time they should arrive. Her home was about twenty miles away from the airport up in Kensington, north of Berkeley where John Henry worked. She stepped out when she saw a dark car stop in front of her small tiled-roof house.

  When the two men came up the walk, Callie ran into Rick’s arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you both for coming. I’m so scared for Susannah.” Her voice came out in a strained whisper.

  She reached a hand toward Mathew, her fingers trembling in his and she felt him squeeze them as he attempted to pass some of his strength to her.
Between having Susannah ripped away and putting up with John Henry, her nerves were stretched tinsel-thin.

  John Henry appeared. “What the hell is he doing here?”

  Rick grabbed John Henry by his arm and walked him back into the house. “You want my money? We do this my way. No arguments. Susannah’s life is in danger!”

  Mathew and Callie sat down at the kitchen table while Rick talked with John Henry in the living room. “Tell me what happened.”

  “It’s my fault. I should never have . . .” Callie said, her eyes watery with fear for her daughter.

  “Let’s stay focused,” Mathew said, his voice soft and even. “No blame. Only tell me what happened.”

  She inhaled deeply, fighting to calm herself. “John Henry left with Susannah around 8:15 this morning. She got out of his Beemer at the corner by the school.”

  “Not out front.”

  “Not directly. Same block. Jams up around the school entrance sometimes.”

  “Did he wait to ensure she walked into the school?” Mathew asked.

  Callie shook her head in the negative and said in a voice so soft Mathew leaned over to hear her. “You don’t think he might be involved, do you? He would never hurt Susannah. Not like this.”

  “I need the details as you understand them,” Mathew said. “Did he drive right back home?”

  He lowered his voice, becoming gentler. She shored herself up with his supportive presence, which was so welcome after having no one to lean on since returning from Oregon. Susannah had only been missing a few hours, but losing her was more than she could bear. She started shaking in fear.

  Mathew reached across to her, taking each of her hands in his. She could feel his strength and calm flow into her, if not reducing her fears for her daughter, at least giving her hope.

  “About John Henry this morning?” Mathew asked again.

  “He went to the library at the college. He started research on a new book.”

  “What happened next?”

  “I returned home about 9:30. The school called around 10:00 to ask about Susannah. Right when I went to dial John Henry, the phone rang. Oh . . . gracious.”

  Callie shuddered as she related what had transpired. She gripped one hand with the other in an attempt to steady her emotions. “A man said, ‘If you want your daughter back alive, pull together five million bucks in cash by tomorrow night.’ ”

  “Anything else?” Mathew asked, putting a hand lightly on her arm

  “The line went dead.”

  “This on your landline or mobile?”

  She pointed at the wall phone.

  “Anyone suspicious hanging around, walking a dog, sitting in a vehicle, here or at the school?” Mathew paused then said. “Think back over the last few days. Anyone ring the bell? Any strange calls?”

  “Two women passing out religious pamphlets.” Callie dug in a little stack of mail and selected a small trifold with the title, ‘Good News from God!’

  “How long did they stay?”

  “Couple of minutes.”

  “Did they come inside? Did they see Susannah?” Mathew asked.

  “No, I spoke to them at the door. Susannah was visiting a friend down the street.”

  “Write down what you can recall – hair, eyes, height, etc. Even any impressions of each one. Anything else?”

  She shook her head even as she searched her memory. “Wait. When I went out this morning, I remember a van parked down near the corner.”

  “Color, make, name?”

  “Off white. Enclosed except the front cab part. No business name painted on the side. Boxy American type. Not a VW or another foreign make.”

  “Anyone inside?”

  “Man on a cell phone.”

  “Plates?”

  She shook her head. “Didn’t notice.”

  “Lenny is covertly patrolling outside. He’s pretending to be our driver.”

  She nodded. Even though she trembled with worry over Susannah, a little relief seeped into her at having Mathew and Uncle Rick with her, as well as Lenny’s protection. Answering Mathew’s questions gave her hope of getting her daughter back. Instead of waiting and worrying as she did or scowling and criticizing as John Henry did, they regained a little control and could move forward. She concentrated on Mathew, readying herself for the next steps.

  “Did you call the school back?”

  “No, should I?”

  “Let’s leave that for now. If we decide to go for FBI assistance, they will handle it. I need to speak to John Henry, even though this is awkward as hell after what I did up at Rick’s.”

  “I want you here,” she said, forcing herself to keep her voice from quavering. “If anyone can help us, you can.”

  He reached over to press her hand. “Callie, I will do my best.”

  She nodded, wishing she could bury herself against him and draw on his strength and composure. Mathew hustled out to where Rick sat with John Henry.

  Callie’s eyes followed him, remembering the first time she had seen Mathew the year before. Early in the fall when she had passed Spook Hills on her bicycle, he was standing out in his new vineyard down near the road. With the sun sliding towards the horizon, the long slanted rays had outlined him in a golden nimbus. The light had made him a mythical vision standing among the vines. She had almost fallen off her bike, gawking. He had radiated warmth and goodness. Knowing him a little better now, the impression of benevolence remained with her. She needed his comfort as well as his skills as an FBI agent.

  Rick walked in. Callie hoped they could leave John Henry and Mathew alone together without a fight breaking out.

  “Callie, I authorized the transfer of money to your bank under my name, and we’ll pick it up as soon as it arrives. Mathew offered up some money he had available too,” Rick said. “Right now, I need some air. Let’s step into the backyard.”

  They went out to stand just off the patio where flowering climbers covered the perimeter fencing. Rick ambled away from the house.

  “Mathew is going to put a device on your phone to trace any incoming or outgoing traffic. He will be coming and going from here. I will stay,” Rick said. “When we go to the bank, Lenny will be on guard here. Do not open the door for anyone apart from me, Mathew or Lenny.”

  “Who will go to rescue Susannah?” Callie’s voice started to fail her. She hated the way it came out all shaky.

  “Mathew. Lenny will be hiding out in the backseat.”

  “Good. I don’t want to risk losing you too.” Callie began sobbing. “What if we don’t get her back?”

  Rick gripped her tightly. “We will. Susannah will be back with us. We may need to bring in the FBI.”

  She pushed back and forced a small smile as she wiped away the remnants of weeping. “By asking Mathew to come down, we did that. He told Steve, right?”

  “He’s working on an idea and should send an update soon. By the way, from now on don’t use your phones or any telecommunications. Mathew said they might be bugged.”

  Callie nodded. “If anyone can bring Susannah back, Steve and Mathew can. What I don’t understand is why they took her.”

  Rick shook his head, "No idea, excluding the money. Before this is over, Steve and Mathew will know."

  Chapter 7

  Late that afternoon, Mathew slouched at the desk in his hotel room reading an encrypted communication from Steve. While what Steve wrote made his heart sink, he also saw hope for Susannah’s recovery.

  Secure Email from Steve Nielsen, 21st August 2014

  Mathew,

  I remembered hearing about certain underworld gangsters who run a string of illicit ops around the nation, most notably in California, Florida, Nevada and Texas. They offer the usual illegal gambling, drugs, prostitutes and so on. The FBI suspects they perform various acts to collect debts, including theft of personal information, embezzlement and kidnapping. They go after sources of big money such as relatives, influential friends and privately held businesses. Two iden
tified instances of child abductions occurred in the last two years in California. Thus far the crimes are not solidly linked to any alleged crime bosses. The kidnappers returned each victim unharmed once they had the ransom but be assured these gangsters will be damn nasty if they suspect a trap.

  Could Callie or John Henry or even Rick be close to someone with a gambling or drug problem? John Henry is the obvious choice, although someone else could be aware of Rick’s relationship to Callie and Susannah. Rick is the perfect rich uncle for this type of swindle. With the size of the ransom, I guess an overdue debt escalated with interest and so-called collection fees. If this is true, the person who ran up the debt may or may not be in on snatching Susannah.

  I make two suggestions. First, tell no one about this, not even Rick or Lenny. Second, give me the okay to make contact through the Chief with the head of the San Francisco office. I will coordinate a neutral meeting spot for you, maybe at the bank. We must not let them see you with the FBI, but I think we need this one meeting. They will put you on the Bureau’s scrambled mobile network and work with you on resolving the case. If you want me to join you, I will.

  Use this encrypted service until you are on the Bureau’s mobile phone network. Standing by until I hear from you. You might let Rick know Sassy is holding up well.

  All is quiet on the Northern Front,

  Steve

  Mathew moved away from his laptop, his palms sweaty after reading the message. Steve possessed an unerring sense about crime. If he thought of this as a plausible explanation for the kidnapping, it likely was. While you could never be 100% sure about people, Mathew ruled out Callie and Sassy as well as Rick, since he would put up a good part of the funds. Mathew wanted to place priority on investigating John Henry, Rick’s two grown children and their spouses, Rick’s first wife and other persons not yet known to him. John Henry claimed to be dealing with his drinking concern after being threatened with the departure of his family and possibly the loss of his position at Berkeley. An addictive personality could get compulsive about making wagers or doing drugs or both. John Henry also might be sexually deviant, given what he said about Callie not being venturesome.