All In: Raising the Stakes

by Lane Hart

  We don't get any other updates until four long fucking hours later when one of Brannock's former girlfriends calls nine-one-one. He'd paid her a visit and beat the shit out of her and her new boyfriend.

  Lacy, Will, and myself, along with the cameraman, head to the hospital to talk to them after Victoria, Teresa and Chad agree to stay with Katie. I know the police have probably asked them all the questions there are, but I want to talk to them myself.

  The new boyfriend is the least injured and had apparently done some damage to Brannock, so we talk to him first.

  "Motherfucker started pounding on the door, so I pulled it open and the dirty bastard nailed me on the head with a beer bottle. Then he started for Amy. He got in a few licks before I pulled him off of her and beat the shit out of him. He finally ran his dumbass out, bleeding all over the place."

  "Is your girlfriend, Amy, okay?" Lacy asks. I could see she’s hoping for an interview and knows this roughneck guy won't work with the potty mouth.

  "Yeah, she had to have some stitches in her head. I think her jaw is sore, but she's okay."

  "Did you see anyone else with him?" I ask.

  He shakes his head. "No, the police asked me that, too. I didn't see anyone."

  Maybe the three guys had split up. That’s good, since if someone was going to hurt Drew, it'd be Brown or Brannock most likely…or so I convince myself.

  We talk to the girlfriend, but she doesn't offer anything new or helpful. Lacy did get her TV interview, though.

  I don't want to have to go back to Katie empty-handed, so I call Tyler for an update.

  "Little busy, Joe," he finally answers, sounding flustered.

  "Just tell me you guys have a lead."

  He exhales into the phone. "Sorry, but we're trying to field all the calls coming in reporting sightings, trying to figure out the legit ones from bullshit. We've had two incidents of a red-headed boy only to determine through yelling parents and identification that the boy is their own."

  "Damn."

  "We've got roadblocks set up on all the highways that lead out of town, stopping every single car and searching them. Officers have been riding through neighborhoods, but now that it's getting dark, we'll have to hold off until the morning."

  "Is there anything I can do or something that Lacy can broadcast to help?" I ask.

  "I can't think of anything. There's no reason to offer a reward, calls for Amber alerts are coming in like crazy. Everyone wants to help find kids. Maybe you could ask Katie if she wants to release a statement. She could ask Rakes to bring him back, or hell, I don’t know, offer him ransom money in exchange for his safe return."

  "Okay, I'll talk to her and let you know. Thanks, Tyler." As soon as I disconnect the call, I turn to Lacy.

  "Lacy, I've got an idea. Can you call the prison or Department of Corrections and ask how much they're willing to offer for Rakes to return Drew?" I ask.

  "Sure, that's a great idea and they might bite since they're in so much shit," she replies.

  "And if they won't, we do know someone with a ton of money always burning a hole in his pocket," Will offers.

  Dylan Daughtry, the heir to the Daughtry Brewing empire. Knowing him and Jules, the two would probably be glad to help.

  "I'm going to go talk to Katie about a statement, so call me when you find out about who can offer up the funds, okay?"

  "Sure," Lacy agrees, giving me a hug.

  Katie’s on me as soon as I walk through the front door, and I fucking hate disappointing her.

  "Any leads? Have they found the car?" she asks, red-eyed and so damn pitiful.

  I hug her and shake my head. "I'm sorry. Tyler said calls are flooding in, and the roadblocks are up."

  "Is there anything else we can do?" Chad asks, rubbing his palm over Katie's back to comfort her.

  "Tyler said I should see if you wanted to make a press statement, asking Rakes to return him. Lacy's calling the prison administrators to see if they'll offer a ransom of sorts in exchange for Drew. Will thinks Dylan Daughtry would probably offer up something if the prison people won't. I don't know what else to offer. What else would criminals want?"

  …

  Katie

  For the first time in hours I’m finally hopeful. I don't know what other criminals would want, but I knew what these men do.

  "Let me make a statement with however much we can offer."

  Joe loosens his arms around me to lean back, giving me with a questioning look. "Are you sure?" he asks.

  "Yes."

  "Okay, then let's do it."

  One of the many officers that'd been out in the yard comes striding purposefully through the front door. "There's a Dylan and Julie Daughtry here asking to see you,” he says.

  "Sure, let them in. They're friends," Joe tells the officer, and he leaves to get them.

  A few short minutes later a young, brunette woman and a tall, blonde man walk through the door.

  "Hey, Dylan, Jules. This is Katie, Victoria, and Teresa," Joe makes introductions. I've read about the couple in the paper. Dylan, the heir to a billion dollar brewing industry, built his wife a local safe house for runaways since the city didn't have one, and that was her passion. Our juvenile delinquency cases have gone down forty percent since it opened about a year ago. Kids no longer have to steal, deal drugs, or prostitute themselves to get by on their own.

  "Will called and told us what's going on," Jules says softly.

  "Has anyone told you that your runaway shelter has helped lower juvenile crime in the city?" I ask.

  The girl shakes her head.

  "You've done a really great thing," I tell them, figuring it’s important for them to know even with my world crumbling around me.

  "We want to do more," she says.

  "Let us put up the ransom money," Dylan says. "A million, if you think that's enough. If not, then whatever number you need. We can wire it to an account within minutes."

  My jaw drops. I know Joe had said they might be willing to help, but a million? I’m stunned, and so touched by their offer, I can't speak.

  "That's incredible of you to offer," Joe says for me. "Katie, what do you think? Start with half a million, and then if it doesn't work, a million?"

  That would take too much time if it doesn't work, and time is not something we have.

  "I can't wait that long, Joe."

  "Start with a million," Dylan says. "If that doesn’t work, go to two." The man talks about millions like they’re pennies.

  "Don't worry, he's got plenty," Julie responds to my shocked expression. "Please accept it, then he can't spend it on me."

  "Okay," I agree. "Thank you so much," I say, hugging both of them.

  "We want to do whatever we can to help, and we don’t want you to mention us or Daughtry Brewing. That's not what this is about,” Dylan tells me.

  I nod in understanding, but if this works, I’m damn well going to sing their praises to the heavens.

  Joe's phone rings in the silence.

  "Lacy?" he answers. "Screw those bastards, actually, that's exactly what we're going to do. We're going to sue the fuck out of them! Once we get Drew back, they're going to pay for annual trips to Disney World, and for him to go to a ridiculously expensive Ivy League college."

  I love Joe's optimism. He'd said "once we get him back" not "if." I'd once criticized him for his positive confidence when he was a defense attorney, but now I’m not sure what I'd do without it. I wrap my arms around his waist while he finishes his call. He isn't going to like what I’m about to do, but I have to try.

  …

  "You ready?" Lacy asks two minutes before we’re scheduled to go live.

  I nod and replay what I’m going to say in my mind. After Lacy gets through her intro, it’s time.

  "We're live in Greensboro, North Carolina with Katie Albright, Drew Albright's surrogate mother after her sister, Kelly Albright was lost in childbirth following her thirteen months captivity with Richard Rakes. She'd like to
make a statement to the suspects, asking for her son's safe return," Lacy finishes and hands the microphone to me.

  "Please…please surrender my little boy to a medical professional in any medical facility. If you'll just…bring him back safe and call to tell us where he is at the posted number, we'll wire a million dollars into any bank account. And…if this is about revenge, and that's what you want…then I'll take Drew's place in exchange for his safe return."

  "This-this is Lacy Pierce, reporting live for CNN."

  "And we're off," the man with the camera says.

  "Katie, what the fuck?" Joe immediately confronts me.

  "I'll do whatever it takes," I tell him. "Vick, I have you listed as Drew's guardian if anything happens to me. Are you still okay with that?"

  "Of course," she says with a hug, her eyes tearing up.

  "Katie, if you insist on doing this, we've got to work with the police. They'll set up snipers or some shit, or at least put a tracker and a bulletproof vest on you."

  "We'll see," I tell him.

  "No, we're not going to see, we're going to do those things, or you're not doing this at all!" Joe exclaims.

  "Joe, this is not your call to make."

  "The police aren't going to let you do this," he responds, his jaw clenched.

  "I don't need their permission, either."

  Our argument is interrupted when an officer comes in with the phone linked to the nationally broadcasted number.

  "Ms. Albright, there's a woman on the line that says she's Donna Albright, your mother. Do you want to take it?"

  "Holy shit," I mutter. I hadn't talked to that woman since the night Drew was born. We'd all gone to the hospital to say goodbye to Kelly before they took her body down to the morgue.

  After Tyler pulled me aside and told me what she'd said to him, that'd she'd told him her name choices for the baby, and had a message for me. She said to tell me specifically that she forgave the man who'd held her for thirteen months doing God only knows what to her, and her last words were telling me she forgave him and what to name her son or daughter. She didn't live long enough to find out she had a boy.

  I went up to the nursery, just to see the devil's spawn that had killed Kelly. I knew which one he was right away, none of the other babies had our red hair. He was so small and looked so innocent as he slept, wrapped up tightly in a blue blanket in his little bassinet. I just stood there, for how long I don't know, but eventually he woke up and blinked his dark green eyes around the room. He tried to get his tiny fist in his mouth and kept missing which made him fuss. He started crying, probably getting hungry, and that's when it hit me. He didn't have anyone to feed him or take care of him. He hadn't asked to be born to a monster, and my sister must’ve cared for him if she'd picked out a name - Drew is what Tyler had told me she'd picked. I later found out that was also a shortened version of Rakes's middle name, Andrew.

  I always thought the name Kelly picked was her way of showing me that if she could forgive the man who'd held her captive, then the least I could do was take care of her innocent baby for her. Maybe, just maybe, I thought, if I raise him with unconditional love, then he would grow up to be like his mother and not his father. If he grew up in foster homes or orphanages, then there wouldn't be any hope for him. Joe Montgomery is one of the few exceptions.

  "Do you want the call?" the officer asks. I nod and accept the phone in his hand.

  "Hello?" I refuse to call the woman Mom.

  "Katie! What are you doing?"

  "Whatever it takes."

  "This has gone on for too long as it is. He's not worth it."

  "Yes he is! He's Kelly's son. Your grandson! If you weren't such a bitch you'd know that he's sweet and kind. He's good like her, and he doesn't deserve this. He's probably crying and scared to death and doesn't understand what's going on."

  "You're going to give yourself up for nothing. He's probably already dead."

  I press the button to end the call, shaking with rage from just a few words from that woman. The room’s silent, probably everyone having heard both sides of the whole loud conversation.

  I go into Joe's arms, needing him to tell me she's wrong.

  "Of course he’s worth it, Katie Kat, but you need to think this through and outsmart them."

  I close my eyes and nod in agreement because I’m too exhausted to argue anymore.

  Now that Drew’s gone I realize that I'd held back with him. I didn't let him call me mommy, and it wasn't just because he was really Kelly's. I'd kept him at an arm's length for three years, waiting for him to prove my parents right. I’m a horrible person for thinking a sweet little boy is evil just because his father is.

  Together we sit and wait for a call in Joe's living room, the clock seeming like it’s standing still. Julie and Dylan eventually decide to leave, giving us their phone numbers for when we need them. We check in with Tyler, who’s working on the case from the police department, but he doesn't have any updates.

  Finally, a little after midnight, the officer brings back the phone.

  "It's Brannock," he says grimly.

  "Let me talk to him first," Joe says, jumping up. "I was his attorney."

  After considering it, I finally nod so he takes the phone.

  "James? This is Joe Montgomery. I represented you in your last charge. I know you think you got a shitty deal, but it wasn’t Katie's fault. Your prior record left the judge no choice in your sentencing." Joe listens, looking pissed before he hands me the phone without another word.

  "James, this is Katie."

  "If you want the boy safe, first you're going to wire the fucking money to the account number we text you, and then you're going to meet us alone. No police. No wires. No trackers. If you trick us, we'll kill him. Once you're ours, we'll let him go."

  "How do I know?" I ask. "How do I know you'll actually let him go? Let me talk to him."

  "No. You've got until eight a.m. to get us the money and get into a cab waiting at the courthouse. The driver's going to search you and then give you a phone to call us on. After we know you're not being followed and confirm the money's in the account, we'll turn him over to a hospital."

  "Okay," I agree, and he hangs up. The house is frantic with officers and movement, discussions and planning, trying to trace the call.

  Tyler and Simmons show up a little later, and I know what they’re going to say.

  "They might be bluffing, Katie. It's too risky," Simmons tells me like I’m an idiot.

  "We know they have him, and if this is the only way then I'm going to do it."

  "Katie..." Joe starts, then makes a sound of irritation. "What can we put on her that they won't find?" he asks.

  "Actually, the safest is a tiny tracking device Katie can swallow. It'll stay in her system for about seventy-two hours. They'll never know it's there. We can get the boy, and then we'll get her," Simmons explains.

  "Okay," I say as Joe explodes.

  "Fuck no! She might be with them for hours and they still might not turn Drew over! They could kill her, or worse..."

  "Exactly, that's why this is not smart, Katie," Tyler says.

  "If it was one of your daughters, would you say the same thing?" I ask him, knowing he and his wife have twins.

  "Ah, damn it!” Tyler groans. “Fine, I'll go get the tracker.”

  "Katie…" Joe starts.

  "As soon as the account information comes in will you call Julie and Dylan?" I ask him. "And promise me, Joe, that you won't do anything to jeopardize his life. You can’t."

  "Jesus, Katie. At least let me go with you," he says.

  "No. I have to go alone. You can help them find Drew."

  Joe grabs my shoulders, his blue cerulean eyes burning into mine. "You think this is it, don't you? That we won't get to you in time."

  I have to look away when I answer. "I don't know, I'm just being realistic."

  "Don't do this, Katie. I know you want to do whatever it takes to get him back, I get that. But
I love you, and I don't want to lose you," he says, crushing me to his chest.

  "I love you, too," I tell him, in case I didn't have another chance. "But I won't be able to live with myself if I don't try and something happens to him…"

  Chapter Fourteen

  Joe

  The woman is on a suicide mission and she fucking knows it! There’s nothing I can do or say to talk her out of it, which is the most frustrating thing in the whole goddamn world.

  Lacy does a brief television update around sunrise, telling the country that the suspects have contacted us and arrangements are being made to provide the ransom and other demands. The police hostage negotiator thought it was important to let the assholes see that we’re serious and going to go through with this.

  At seven-thirty, Katie swallows the tracker, and after the police confirm it’s active and working, it’s time for goodbyes.

  Victoria and Chad tried to talk Katie out of it, too, with no luck. Jules and Dylan are back, and had already made the wire transfer. I hope to hell those bastards never get a chance to touch that money.

  I walk Katie out to her car and know the time for begging is over. She’s determined to do this and I don’t want possibly the last words I say to her to be arguing. So I wrap her in my arms and kiss her long and hard before she pulls away.

  “I’ve got to go.”

  "I love you," I tell her, finally forcing myself to let her go.

  "I love you, too," she says, tears rolling down her cheeks. Then she gets into her car and heads for a trap.

  Katie hadn't been gone ten minutes before the call comes in. Tyler and most of the other officers are at the house with us, which has been set up as the temporary headquarters this morning while we wait. Sergeant Simmons's phone rings, interrupting the solemn silence.

  "Hello?" he answers. "What? You're sure? Put him on the phone." The Sergeant looks concerned as he presses the button to put the phone on speaker.

  "Hewo?" the sweet voice comes through loud and clear.

  "Hi there. Can you tell me your name?" Simmons asks.

  "Drew."