by John Holt
“I need to set some kind of trap,” he told himself. “I need to be ready for when Tom and Jerry return in the morning.”
Slowly he walked around, investigating every nook, and cranny. The barn looked as though it had not been used for many years. Over to one side the paneling to what had been the animal pens lay twisted at crazy angles. Support rails lay on the floor broken and rotting. Above him he could see moonlight streaming through numerous holes in the roof. Quantities of damp hay and straw were scattered around, the smell overpowering. All around were discarded tools and equipment. Kendall examined the items closely. They were of no use to anyone. He had found nothing that would be of any help.
Despondent, he sat back down on to the ground, and laid his head back. Then he suddenly saw it. Just above the doorway, perhaps fifteen feet high. It was a wrought iron gantry. Attached to it was a rope and pulley. The rope extended down, and was wrapped around a hook at the side of the door. Kendall stood up, walked across to the hook, and untied the rope. As he did so he heard the pulley wheel rattle. He looked up at the pulley, then back down to the rope in his hand. He then turned to look at the corner of the barn once again. The germ of an idea was beginning to form in his mind.
He re-secured the rope, and walked over to the corner. There corroded and badly rusting were the remains of an old tractor engine, together with two of the wheels. He looked back at the rope tied to the hook. Then he looked up at the pulley. He stood thinking for a few moments longer, busily calculating something in his mind.
“That’s it,” he suddenly murmured. “That’s it.”
He now knew precisely what to do. He looked around the barn once more. There, at the side of the barn, were several lengths of rope hanging down from hooks fixed to the ceiling. He walked over and selected a number of lengths. He then returned to the hook adjacent to the doorway. He untied the rope, and pulled it down as far as it would go. He then attached another length of rope, and tied the other end securely around the remains of the tractor engine.
Pulling down on the pulley rope he raised the engine approximately five feet above the floor. He then took a second length of rope, and tied it around the engine. The other end he took up a ladder, onto the galleried area to the side of the barn. He passed the rope around one of the beams, and then back downstairs, tying it to one of the ladder rungs. He pulled on the rope swinging the engine slowly through the air. As it reached an angle of forty-five degrees, he secured the rope. Phase one was completed.
Now to the second part of the plan, he murmured, pleased with himself. He walked back over to the light switch. He was carrying a large piece of piping. He hesitated for a while, unsure. Then without further hesitation he switched the lights off. He then raised the pipe and brought it back down, hard, smashing the light switch, and exposing the bare wires. He was now ready.
* * *
There was a flash of lightning that lit up the whole area. Then there was a crash of thunder, and the building shook violently. There was a second crash of thunder. The rain started to fall, gradually getting heavier and heavier. Kendall woke up, startled by the noise. He had been sound asleep, laying in the semi-darkness close to the doorway. He was cold and damp. And he was hungry. His legs and arms felt stiff, through lying in an awkward position. He suddenly felt drops of rain falling from the roof. He looked up. He could see small slivers of light coming through holes in the roof. He turned away. He tried to sit up, and a sharp pain ran through his shoulder and into his neck. His head was throbbing. He put his hand up to the side of his head, to stem the pain.
He took a deep breath. Gradually the pain began to subside, and he managed to pull himself up against the wall of the barn. He sat there for a few moments. Then he looked towards the door. There were shafts of light streaming in through the gap between the door and the frame. He looked at his watch. It was just after nine o’clock. It was much later than he had intended. He looked towards the door once again. Suddenly, he started to shiver. Those two men would return quite soon now. He had to be ready for them.
He struggled to his feet, and made his way over to the side of the barn, over to the ladder where he had tied the rope the previous night. He pulled on the rope. It was secure. He looked above him. In the semi-darkness he could see the tractor engine gently swaying. He looked across to the doorway. He then looked back at the engine. It wasn’t too high was it? He loosened the rope slightly, allowing the engine to be lowered slightly. He looked back at the doorway. He was satisfied. “That should do it.” He re-secured the rope. All he had to do now was to wait.
* * *
Kendall did not have to wait too long before he heard the sound of a car coming over the gravel. A moment or two later he heard the car come to a halt, and then the sound of the car doors slamming. Kendall ran over to the doorway, and looked through the crack. It was still raining hard. He could see the two men running across the gravel, the younger man trailing by several yards. A moment later the elder man was outside, unlocking the door. Kendall quickly moved back over to the ladder, and untied the rope keeping a firm grip on it. In his other hand he held a short length of metal pipe.
Suddenly the door opened and the elder of the two men reached to the side of the door trying to find the light switch. He screamed as he found the bare wires, and fell to the ground. As he did so the younger man ran into the barn to investigate. Kendall let the rope go. The tractor engine swung down from the side of the barn, gathering speed as it flew through the air. It hit the young man in the chest sending him sprawling backwards on to the ground. It then started its return swing just as the elder man tried to stand up. It hit him hard on the back of the head. He fell to the ground unconscious. The younger man tried to stand. Kendall quickly moved in and hit him hard with the metal piping. He then dragged both men further into the barn, and tied them up. Once they were securely tied he ran to the doorway. He stopped and looked back at the two men who were now slowly coming round.
“Don’t you guys worry too much,” he said. He tried to keep from laughing, but failed. “I won’t leave you like that for too long.” He watched as the two men struggled to get free. He knew that it wouldn’t be too long before they managed to break free from the ropes. He walked back to where the two men were lying. He bent down and tightened the binding. “There that’s better isn’t it, much more comfortable.”
He walked back to the doorway. “I’ll arrange for the police to get here as soon as I can, they’ll look after you, I’m sure.” He stopped and imagined the scene. “I don’t know what you get for kidnapping in this state, no more than twenty years I’d say.”
He took one last look around. “I must be going now. I’m real sorry I can’t stay. Things to do, people to see, deals to make. You understand. Goodbye gentlemen, I have enjoyed our time together. It’s been great fun.”
With that he stepped out of the barn, and closed the doors, securely locking them behind him. He pushed on the doors two or three times just to be sure. They did not budge.
He ran to their car. The doors were unlocked. He got in. He reached down for the ignition key. It was not there. He reached up to the visor, and pulled it downwards. There was the driver’s license, but no key. He took the license down. It showed a photograph of the elder of the two men. “Joe Brady, 2217 Stanton Road, Crosby.”
He put the license into his pocket. He reached up to the visor on the passenger side. There was nothing. He flipped open the glove compartment. Inside was a 9 mm pistol. Could this be the gun that had killed Anthony Shaw, and Governor Reynolds? He knew that this type of weapon was extremely common. Nonetheless he had to admit that there was a definite possibility. He took out a handkerchief and wrapping it around the gun he carefully lifted it out from the compartment. He held it up and looked down the barrel. It was clear that the gun had been used. It was also clear that it was fully loaded. He placed it on the passenger seat, in clear view. As he did so he caught sight of a briefcase lying on the back seat. He turned around for a closer loo
k. He reached over the seat and flipped the catch. The case opened. Inside were a telescopic sight, a silencer, an ammunition clip, and a space for a gun.
Then he saw the second case lying behind his seat. He reached forward and pulled it over the seat and placed it onto the passenger seat next to him. He opened it. Inside was the two million dollars. He smiled. Then the smile turned into a frown. It suddenly occurred to him that the money was probably counterfeit. That would be typical, true to form. “Please, no,” he murmured, as he picked up a handful of notes. “Let it be the real thing.” Then he started to smile once again. The money was probably real. After all, he was never meant to get the money was he? Not really. Then he remembered what they had said. “It’s all perfectly legal and the genuine article.”
He examined the banknotes closely. He was gratified to see that the money was, indeed, the genuine article. He looked over towards the barn and remembered what else they had said to him. “It’s all yours Mr. Kendall,” they had said. “All you have to do is just tell us everything you know, and then forget about it.”
He looked at the case once again, and then looked back towards the barn door. He raised his hand in a salute. “Thank you, gentlemen, all contributions gratefully received.” He started to laugh. He looked up at the sky. It was dull and overcast. The rain was heavier than ever. Despite the weather, this was going to be a good day after all.
He looked back inside the glove compartment. There was no sign of the ignition key. “They must still have it,” he murmured. He looked back towards the barn. “Well I’m certainly not going back in there.”
He reached down behind the steering wheel. After a few moments he found what he was looking for. He grabbed hold of a number of wires, and tugged hard, pulling them down to below the steering column. He then placed two of the wires together, until they sparked and the engine fired. He put the car into drive, put his foot to the floor, and sped away as fast as the graveled surface would allow. As he drove past the barn he could hear the two men banging on the door, with their feet. “They won’t be that long getting out,” Kendall thought. In the meantime he had to get as far away as possible.
* * *
After leaving the clearing, Kendall followed a narrow dirt track, which ran through the forest. Eventually the track came out by the side of a small lake. He continued to follow the track past the lake for a little over a mile, until he came to a junction. To the left the track continued through the forest area. To the right it ran down to the river. Which way, Kendall wondered. He looked out at the track, trying hard to remember something that might have put him on the right route. The forest, or the river, which is it? He slowly drove forward towards the forest. “The bridge,” he suddenly said triumphantly, braking hard. They had driven over a timber bridge. He remembered that the boarding had rattled as they made their way across. He reversed to the junction, and stopped. He gave a final glance towards the forest. “It’s this way,” he announced, as he turned to the right towards the river.
No more than a half mile further on Kendall crossed the timber bridge, as expected. Another mile and he reached the road. He stopped at the junction. As far as he could tell on the incoming journey they had travelled generally north or west. The road in front of him ran north to south. He turned towards the south. A few miles further on, he found a service station. He decided to pull in and ask them where he was exactly. Just to be sure of his bearings.
He pulled off the road, and drove onto the forecourt. He pulled into the side and parked. He got out of the car and walked over to the shop area. There were quite a few people waiting to be served, and he joined on at the end of the line. After what seemed like an eternity, it was his turn.
“Hi,” he mumbled. “I hope you can help me. I’m lost. Can you tell me where we are, exactly?”
The service attendant looked at him, hard. “Do I look like the Lost and Found department?” he said ignoring Kendall’s question. “Is there a sign above my head saying Information Here?” He turned and looked at his colleague. “There’s always one.”
The attendant turned back to face Kendall. “Are you buying anything, buddy?” he asked. “Or are you just admiring the scenery?” Kendall hesitated. “Come on now I don’t have all day,” the attendant said impatiently.
Kendall stuttered. “Yes, yes sure,” he finally spoke. “A chocolate bar,” he said hesitantly. “I’ll have one of those over there.” He pointed to the shelving behind the attendant.
The attendant looked towards the shelf. He was far from impressed. Last of the big spenders, he thought. “A dollar-forty,” he called back, as he placed the bar on to the counter in front of Kendall. “Will there be anything else?”
Kendall handed over the money, and started to ask for directions once again. The attendant cut him off abruptly. “Next,” he called out loudly. The person next in line quickly moved forward, pushing Kendall to one side.
Kendall shook his head, and opened his mouth to speak once more, to no avail. He suddenly felt someone tugging on his sleeve. He turned around and moved away from the counter. A young girl was standing in front of him. She was holding a route map in her hand. “Here we are,” she said, as she pointed to a spot on the map. “We are right there.” She turned the map around so that Kendall could see it. “Where are you heading, back to town?” Kendall nodded. “Take a left out of here,” she continued. “A mile or so and you’ll come to a junction. Take the turn towards Bear Lake National Park. Four miles on you’ll see the turn for the lake.” She paused, and looked at the map. “There it is,” she said, pointing it out. “Don’t take it. You go straight on, until you get to the County Road. Just there.” She pointed once again. “Turn to the east. That’s to the left. You’ll soon start to see the signs for town.” She let the map go. Kendall folded the map, and then looked up to thank her, but she had already gone.
* * *
Three hours later Kendall arrived back in town. Six blocks from his office he pulled over, adjacent to a fire hydrant. He stopped, and switched off the engine. He leaned across the back seat, and picked up the briefcase containing the money. He opened the case and took out a bundle of one hundred dollar bills. He estimated that the bundle contained five thousand dollars. He put the money in to his jacket pocket, and closed the case. He then picked up the small attaché case. He opened the case and put the gun inside, and closed it. Then taking hold of both cases he got out of the car, and walked away.
Four blocks further on Kendall saw his own car where he had left it almost thirty-six hours earlier. He walked up to the car. As he drew closer he noticed something on the windscreen. It was a parking ticket. He stuffed the paper into his pocket. He then took out his keys, and opened up the rear door. He placed the briefcase inside, and locked it. He then opened the trunk. Lying there was a buff colored folder. He picked it up, and closed the trunk and locked it. With the file in his hand, and still holding the attaché case he made his way to his office.
* * *
Ten minutes later Kendall reached his office. He had obviously been paid a visit while he had been away. Somebody had been searching for something. It had to be Duncan’s men. They had almost certainly been there the night before, while he was planning his escape. The contents of his shelving lay scattered on the floor. Desk drawers had been emptied, the contents thrown on to the floor. Even the back of his chair had been slashed. What were they looking for he wondered?
Then he suddenly recalled what the elder man, Brady, had said to him the previous evening. “Your secretary is a good-looking girl ain’t she? Be a great pity if anything bad was to happen to her wouldn’t it?” Kendall felt a cold shiver along his spine. He suddenly had a bad feeling. Had they got Mollie?
“Mollie, Mollie,” he started to call out. There was no answer. Where was she? He looked inside the kitchen area, and the storeroom. Mollie was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
Kendall rang her home telephone number. There was no answer. He had called her mother, an
d her best friend Jane. They were both very sorry, but they had no idea where she was. He called her hairdresser. No, she wasn’t there. She wasn’t due in for another week or so. He walked over to her desk. Lying on the floor was her diary. He picked it up and flicked through the pages. There was nothing listed for today. He checked the time. It was just after two. She should be here, he whispered. Where is she?
“Mollie,” he called out loudly. “Mollie, where are you?”
* * *
It was getting late into the afternoon. Kendall continued to sit, just staring across the room. Every few moments he would just say her name. Suddenly he heard a noise on the landing outside. The noise moved closer to his door. He could see the handle slowly turning. As the door started to open he hurried into the storeroom.
The door opened, and in came Mollie. When she saw the room she let out a gasp, dropping the bag that she had been carrying. Kendall ran over to her. He put his arms tightly around her, and held her close. “Thank goodness you’re safe,” he said. “Where have you been?”
Mollie looked into his face. “I went to see Mrs. Shaw,” she replied, as she started to cry. “Then I went shopping. We needed coffee, and those chocolate cookies.”
“Coffee,” he repeated disbelievingly. “And chocolate cookies.” What was she talking about? “Mollie, you have to clear out. Go somewhere safe and stay there till I call you. Your cousin in Florida, go there.”
She didn’t want to go.
“You have to go,” he insisted. “I want you out of harm’s way.” He paused for a moment. What was he saying? What harm? Those two men were locked in the barn. What harm could they do? Suppose they escape. Suppose they have friends. Suppose they are on their way here, right now. He looked at Mollie. “You have to go. No arguing.”