Lee took her son into the kitchen and fed him. He was hungry and seemed in good condition. She asked him if the men had hurt him and he said no, but he was very bored and there weren’t any of his favorite foods. Where was he? He had no idea. Just a boring room.
Cassie said that they had to call Detective Whiton and Lee agreed. The detective came to the house and asked Stevie a lot of questions. Whether he learned any more from them, Cassie and Lee could not find out.
He got up from the chair he was occupying and told Stevie he could go and play. Stevie ran to his room. Bill Whiton faced Lee.
“Now, tell me everything that happened from the time you got the phone call.”
Lee went over the event and then Bill asked the same questions of Cassie. All they could remember about the car was that it was black and probably American.
“Although,” Cassie said, “All cars pretty much look alike to me. I’m just guessing. A black sedan? It might have been different if it was a limousine or a car with a color like white or red.”
“We’ll take whatever we can get. Are you sure you didn’t see the license plate number?”
“No!” they chorused.
Finally, he left and Lee collapsed on the couch.
“I feel like a wet rag, Cass,” she said, laying her head back on the couch cushions.
,
“Well, Stevie’s back and safe, Lee. Let’s just be thankful for that.”
“Yeah, I don’t care about any old challenge. My son is worth more than that to me.”
Cassie looked at her. “Amen to that. I don’t have any nephews to spare. Now I’m wondering what will happen with our tuition. Will they still pay it – at least for what we’re enrolled in?”
Lee grimaced. “Yes, that’s the thing I’ll miss the most. But even if I only get a year out of it, it’s better than nothing. I think Grandfather would have wanted that, even if he’s a kind of Scrooge.”
“Yes, Scrooge, very good.” It made them give small, yet definite smiles.
Stevie came out of the bedroom. “Are you talking about Christmas, Mom?” This actually made them laugh.
Lee hugged him. “This Christmas will be the best ever!”
His eyes lit up. “Wow! Can I get an ATV, Mom?”
Lee looked at him. “ATV! What on earth made you think of that?”
Stevie looked at her as though she was retarded. “Well, they had one, didn’t they?”
“Who?”
“The men, Mom. I saw them when they took me from the car. There was a guy riding this really cool purple ATV across the fields. I really want one, Mom. Can I have it? Huh?”
Cassie and Lee looked at each other and then both reached for their phones simultaneously. Cassie put hers down.
“OK, you call.”
CHAPTER 25
Derek and Colleen were rehearsing a song with her group. Colleen put down her fiddle and stretched. “It sounds good to me. You sing great, Derek.”
“Thanks, and so do you. I like that song. So, what time do we go on again?”
“Around 8 PM we should be set up and ready to play and we’ll break in an hour or so for ten minutes. Then we’ll go another hour or so”
“OK, nothing I haven’t done before. In fact, sometimes I played most of the night. But I was drunk, then.”
“Hopefully, that won’t happen tonight. I gave you the music, right?”
“Yep, you did. And thanks for the crash course in reading it. I need a brush up.” Derek went over to the bar and asked for a beer. He carried it back to a table.
Colleen got a soda and sat down, too.
He saw her eyeing the beer.
“First one today.”
Colleen sipped her Coke. “OK, that’s good.”
“You know, I can stop any time I want to.”
Colleen put down her drink. “Not to be a wet blanket, but that’s the familiar excuse of the alcoholic. I should know. My uncle is one. He’s what we call a recovering alcoholic. He’s gone 10 years sober now. I’m really quite proud of him. He tried to educate us kids, too.”
Derek looked hurt. “I’m not an alkie, I swear. I know I’ve been drinking a lot, but I’ve quit before. I can do it.”
Colleen nodded. “You’re the only one who can say, Derek. I hope you’re right.”
Derek looked at her. Her hair was tousled where she had run her hands through it and her blue eyes were earnestly looking at him with concern. He got up and went to the bar. He handed the beer to the bartender. “Here, please dump it.”
Colleen laughed. “You didn’t have to do that.”
Derek said, “Well, maybe there’s a little ham in me. I like to make a big deal out of things I do.”
Colleen smiled. “Can’t argue with that. Listen, what happened with that phone call you got from your cousins? You never told me the whole story.”
Derek got up and got a soda himself. He turned a chair around and straddled it. “It’s kind of weird. Cassie called and said they were getting out of the challenge. She didn’t want to talk about it very much. Said there was some family stuff going on.”
“That’s definitely odd. Are they finishing out the year in their schools, at least?”
“I don’t know and I’m not sure if they know.”
“It would be sad if they just dropped out.”
Derek thought. “I don’t think they would just do that if they didn’t have to.”
“Why would they have to drop out? Maybe there’s something I’m not getting, here.”
“That’s the question, isn’t it? I don’t know.”
Then Colleen said, “We’ve got to set up a time for us to get together to work on writing music. How about tomorrow afternoon? I’ll be in Boston in the morning, but I’m free later.”
“OK if I ride up with you? I wouldn’t mind spending some time in Boston. Also, I’ve got to make time to look at cars soon before I go through my money. ”
“Sure, I’ll pick you up at 8 AM.”
“Let’s hope I’m awake. Have to set an alarm or something.”
The performance that night went well, Derek thought. He could read music fairly well, but he knew most of the songs anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal. Colleen looked over at him and smiled as they sang and played. The red headed musician, Sean, looked pleased at Derek’s performance but not so pleased at the growing rapport between Derek and Colleen. Derek wondered at their history together. It wasn’t his business, though, was it? He usually made it a rule not to get into too much closeness with the girls he dated and worked with. However, he did find himself wanting to spend more time with her. She was different now, or was it that he was different?. For one thing, she had that Boston accent. Very cute. He’d never noticed it before. And she had a dignified bearing as though she was proud of herself, but not conceited, which had been a problem with some of his girlfriends. They thought he owed them everything. When the night was over, he put away his guitar and Colleen came over to him. They sat drinking Coke for a while. Neither felt like having any alcohol. They needed to come down from the high of performing. The band members packed their things and left. The bartender looked at the clock.
“All right,” Colleen called to him. “We’re going.”
They walked to Colleen’s car and she got in, turning to Derek. “I won’t be coming to your place tonight, right? You know that.”
“Sure, no problem.” He leaned towards her and kissed her. “See you bright and early.”
Colleen drove away and the street was silent, a few stray leaves drifting down from the trees. Derek walked along and turned into his street. He could see the lighted windows but there wasn’t any activity on the roads or sidewalks. Everyone was watching TV or heading for bed. He went into his cottage and put the guitar in a closet. Made a cup of instant hot chocolate that he found in a cabinet. Turned on the TV and watched reruns of a forgettable TV series dealing with a family who appeared to be extremely stupid since they got into all kinds of scrapes that it see
med even a two year old could avoid. Just the kind of thing to put him to sleep. So after watching half of the episode, he turned off the set, went upstairs and did just that.
Detective Bill Whiton was speaking to his team. “We’ve got a lead. The child who was kidnapped noticed a purple ATV when he was being taken into the building where he was held. That’s a fairly unusual color. I want you guys to contact custom shops to see if anyone had ordered a custom purple color on their ATV. I’m going to take Lee Girard and her son and see if the kid can remember any details. There’s a place where a lot of ATV riders go. It’s worth checking.
The detective picked up Lee and they went to get Stevie from Andrea’s house. He was sitting eating cookies and drinking a glass of milk.
“Feel like taking a ride with us, buddy?” Bill asked.
“OK. Is Mommy coming? Can we ride in the police car?”
“Yes, Mommy’s coming and we’re going in a police car but it’s not the kind you were in before. This is like a regular car.”
“Does it have lights and a siren?”
“Yes, it does, but I’m not going to use them this time.”
Stevie looked very disappointed, but allowed his coat to be put on and went to the car with them.
Bill explained that he had an idea about the ATV that Stevie had glimpsed. He looked back at Stevie and said, “If there’s anything that looks familiar from that day the man drove you, let me know, OK?”
Stevie looked puzzled, but said OK and looked out the window as they drove. He said nothing all the way and Lee and Bill Whiton talked about things that would not alarm a six year old. Lee said that she was dropping out of the challenge program. Bill looked at her sharply and asked why? She thought it might have been a mistake to mention that, and quickly said, “Oh, I think it’s going to take up too much time. I’ll probably keep up with my studies but I might drop out this year and think about it again soon.”
Bill said, “I know you think studying is hard, but it gets easier. One day, you’ll find yourself graduating and then it will all be worth it. I would encourage you to try to find a way to keep on with it.”
Lee thought, Oh, if you only knew how much I want to!
But all she said was, “I made a start and that’s what was important. Now I know I can do it. But maybe not now.”
He looked across at her, still feeling that something wasn’t right. His instincts went on alert.
They were getting close to the area he wanted to visit. It was an industrial area on the edge of town. Next to the industrial park was an abandoned farm with level grassy fields. This was a place where he frequently saw people on ATV’s. Probably trespassing, but the police had too much to do to worry about them unless one had an accident or somebody complained.
As they got near, he looked back. “Stevie, do you see anything you recognize here?”
Stevie shook his head. “No.”
He pulled into the parking lot and stopped. “I don’t think we’ll get out, just look around.”
Lee turned to Stevie. “Honey, try to remember if there’s anything here you’ve seen before. Look around.”
Stevie gazed around. “I don’t see anything, Mommy.”
They drove around the buildings. Stevie still didn’t recognize anything.
Bill asked him, “What about the buildings, Stevie. The doors. Does it look like where you were?”
Stevie shrugged. “I guess so. I don’t know.”
Bill said, “Well, that’s all right. It’s worth a try. He drove around to the exit.
Suddenly Stevie let out a yell. “Mommy!”
Lee started. “What?”
“Look, the ATV, the ATV!”
They looked where he was pointing. Sure enough, a bright purple vehicle was flying over the field. Bill said, “OK, let’s go!”
To Stevie’s delight, he put on the flashing light and the siren and pulled into the farm driveway. He jumped out and waved at the rider to come over.
The purple ATV bounced over and stopped near them. The rider lifted his helmet off and looked scared. He was about sixteen, Lee thought.
“This is my uncle’s farm. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
Bill said, “That’s not why I called you over. He reached into the car and turned off the lights.
“Were you here two days ago?”
The boy thought. “Yes, I guess so.”
“I need to know what you saw, with regard to this property over here.” He indicated the industrial estate.
“Saw? I saw the usual thing. Cars going in and coming out. Trucks, people. Is that it?”
“Well, let me narrow it down. Did you see this boy here?” he beckoned to Stevie to look out the window. The boy looked at him. I did see some guy carrying a kid but I didn’t see his face.”
Lee was disappointed. They weren’t getting anywhere. But Bill went on. “Where did this man come from?”
The boy said, “I guess he was coming from a car. I only got a quick look.”
“Can you remember anything about the car?”
“No, not really. It was dark in color, maybe black.”
“American make or foreign?”
“Oh, it was a Toyota, no doubt about that. My uncle has one just like it only his is red.”
“I guess you didn’t see the license plate?”
“No, I was too far away and anyway, as I said, I only got a quick look as I was riding by.”
“I saw you!”
The boy looked up in surprise. Stevie had opened the door of the police car and come out. He went close to the ATV.
“I saw the ATV! You were riding it but you didn’t have the helmet on. I saw your hair.”
The boy passed a hand over his curly red head. “I usually wear a helmet.” He darted a look at Bill.
Bill smiled. “That’s very good, Stevie. OK. Let’s go. I may need you to provide more information.” He said to the boy. “Give me your address and phone number.”
The boy nervously gave it to him, then drove away on his ATV, bouncing over the field.
They returned to Lee’s apartment. Detective Whiton got back in his car to return to the building they had just left. On the way back, he had called in reinforcements to search. Lee was planning to give Stevie a meal and he would stay over with her. She offered to feed the detective too, but he thanked her and said he had to get back. “Maybe I’ll take a rain check for when this is over?” he asked, his eyes twinkling. Lee nodded, smiling. How lucky were they that this policeman was on their side?
CHAPTER 26
Derek was lounging on the couch in Colleen’s living room, watching a football game. He was thinking how good a beer would have tasted, but he’d pretty much promised Colleen to cut back on drinking so much. If he boasted he could do it, then he felt shamed into proving it. Maybe that was Colleen’s plan all along. He listened to her singing in the kitchen as she worked. He took a long drink of his Coke.
They’d just picked up a used car. Derek was pleased with it. It was an eight year old Toyota but it was clean and the mileage wasn’t too bad. It would get him where he needed to go.
His cell phone rang and he answered, “Derek’s Dungeon, Ghoul at Your Service. Oh, hello, Klara, how are you? I wasn’t expecting any important calls. You figured that out, huh?”
He listened for a while and said, “Yes, all right.” As he hung up, Colleen came into the living room with another Coke for him and one for herself. She sat down on the floor at his feet.
He said, “That was Klara, the legal assistant I told you about, the one who works for my Grandfather’s lawyer.”
She looked at him curiously. “Yes, I remember.”
“Well, it’s a little strange, but she wants to take me out to dinner. I have to go up to Boston to meet her at some place called “Paul’s Porch,” at 6 PM tonight.” He looked at the clock. “I guess I have enough time. Now that I’ve got the car I can make it. I need you to give me directions, though. But what about you? Would you mind
if we don’t have dinner here tonight?”
Colleen got up and sat on his lap. She ran a hand through his hair. “ It must be important if she called. So you’ve got to go. But I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t I come with you?”
“I don’t know if she was inviting two people, though.”
“I wouldn’t be going to dinner with you. I’ve got friends there, you know. I can direct you and borrow your car to go visit them. Then give me a call and I’ll pick you up again.”
“OK, actually, that’s a good plan.”
“Stick with me, kid. I’ve got lots of plans.” She put her arms around his neck and leaned close.
He kissed her for a while and then Colleen broke away and said she’d put the food she was working on aside for another day. They’d better get ready to go. She turned back,
“What is this Klara like, by the way?”
Derek said, “She’s the typical legal assistant, all up tight. Wears her hair up, business suit and so forth. Not the sexy secretary type.” He laughed. “A little too old for me.”
Colleen eyed him but didn’t say anything more.
Derek said he’d run home and get into a better looking shirt and pants. Colleen said she’d see him in an hour or so and went off to get herself ready. When he returned, he was wearing a cream colored shirt and khakis that looked well with his brushed hair which he had tied back. He wore his warm jacket over it. Colleen twirled around in a blue wool dress with a wide skirt. The color matched her eyes. She grabbed her jacket and they were off. Derek started up his car and drove off down Main Street. Colleen guided him to the bridge over the Cape Cod Canal and onto R 25 which was a four lane highway. This became Route 495 and eventually they made the turn onto Route 95 heading towards Boston. The miles flew by and there wasn’t a lot of traffic. This changed when they got to downtown Boston where gridlock was the order of the day. However, Colleen guided him through the streets to the door of the tiny Restaurant in North Boston. She bade him good bye and drove off. He pushed open the green painted door and went into the dark interior. It was an intimate restaurant with white clothed tables which stood out in the gloom. Candles burned on each table. He told the Hostess that he was meeting a lady.
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