Ransom of the Heart

by Susan Page Davis

  “Not that he got caught with, which is almost remarkable. But I may have a line on Ulrich’s bookie. I’m going to reach out to him.”

  “Good.” Harvey sat down and ran every name he’d ever encountered in connection with shady financial deals. Tony and Jimmy came in with a scowling young woman between them. They took her to the interview room and started the video camera. Harvey kept an eye on the conversation by way of his monitor.

  “I told you,” she said, “I only went out with Web a couple of times. I haven’t seen him for a month or more.”

  “Just tell us whatever you know about him,” Jimmy said patiently. “Where did you go with him?”

  “A movie. Some science fiction thing.” She shook her head. “Not my style.”

  “Did you go to his place?” Tony asked.

  “Once. It’s a crummy apartment over Libbytown way.”

  “Yeah? Got an address?”

  She shook her head.

  Harvey pulled up the information from Holden’s driver’s license. The address on it was for an apartment house in that neighborhood.

  “How did you meet him?” Tony asked.

  “He came into the drugstore one day.”

  Harvey turned back to the financial list, keeping his ear tuned for anything unusual.

  A few minutes later, Jimmy came from the interview room. “Captain, we don’t think she’s going to tell us anything useful, and she’s crabbing about missing work. I really don’t think she was tight with this guy.”

  “Take her back to the store, but put her on notice.”

  “Right.” Jimmy turned back toward Interview.

  Over the next hour, Harvey talked to the truck driver, Debbie Higgins, and two of Ron Legere’s detectives, but with minimal results. When the last one left, he stretched and told Nate, “I’m going to run out to Abby’s again and see how she’s doing. If you want to go home, go ahead.”

  “If you’re going to keep working on this, I’ll stay.”

  Harvey nodded. “Thanks. Take a dinner break with Jackie, then call me. If we’ve got something to work on, I’d be happy to have you in on it.”

  What would he do when Nate left for his new job? He’d be hard pressed to find someone with computer skills as good. Harvey headed down the stairs, but his phone burbled before he got to the parking garage.

  “Whatcha got, Eddie?” he asked.

  “Mr. Braley reported his car stolen yesterday. He’s driving his wife’s car today.”

  “All right. Has he got extra keys?”

  “Yeah, and I just opened the trunk. Nothing but his spare and some junk.

  “Okay. Give it to forensics. Get something to eat and meet me at Abby’s.”

  Chapter 9

  At the Hobarts’ house, Harvey found Jennifer in the dining room with Abby, her two stepsons, and her mother-in-law. Jennifer jumped up and hurried to his side.

  “Well, hi! Any news?” She kissed him.

  “Afraid not.” Harvey looked at Abby. “How are you holding up?”

  Abby faltered, “I’m not sure how to answer that.”

  “We have a few leads on the—the man from the scene,” he said. “We’re following up on those as best we can. Sarah says you haven’t had any calls?”

  Abby made a sour face. “Just reporters, about the incident at the store last night. Jennifer’s been telling family to call her phone, so that mine stays open.”

  “Good,” Harvey said. “The reporters haven’t connected last night to this afternoon’s events?”

  “I don’t think so,” Abby replied.

  “What events?” Gary demanded. “Uncle Harvey, haven’t you found my dad yet?”

  “Not yet,” Harvey said.

  Abby stood. “We have plenty of food, Harvey. Let me get you a plate.”

  “Oh, that’s okay.”

  “No, really,” Abby said.

  “Let me do it.” Jennifer took his arm. “It will give us a chance to talk for a few minutes, and then I need to go get Connor.”

  “Well, all right,” Abby said uncertainly.

  Harvey winked at her and hoped she’d understand. Jennifer didn’t just want a moment alone with him. He could tell her things he couldn’t say in front of Vickie and the boys. She could clue Abby in later.

  They went into the kitchen, where Jennifer loaded a plate with chicken casserole, green beans, and cornbread. It smelled great, and he gave in and took a seat at the small table. She sat down across for him and reached for his hand. Harvey closed his eyes and let everything settle for a second.

  “Dear Lord, thank you for this. Thank you for Jenny and Abby, and the whole family. Please, give us something to work with, Lord. Wherever Peter is, shore him up.” He didn’t know what else to say.

  After a moment, Jennifer gave a soft amen. Harvey looked up and gazed into her mournful eyes, gray tonight.

  “Where’s Connor?” he asked.

  “At Beth’s. Jeff is supposed to be home tonight, and they offered to keep him. Beth and Leeanne took Connor and Anna to the store and the park earlier. They’re trying to wear him out and keep him from crying for us, but I feel guilty.”

  “I need to see him tonight. He’s going to forget what I look like.”

  She smiled. “Can you go home now?”

  “Not really. We’ve so many things hanging, and there’s no way of knowing how much time we have to find Peter.”

  “To find him alive, you mean?”

  Harvey picked up his fork and refused to answer that. “Did you make this?”

  “Some of it, yeah. The chicken.”

  He took a bite and chewed, feeling revived. “It’s good.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Didn’t know I was this hungry.”

  Jennifer studied his face. “Other than half starved, how are you?”

  “Going nuts.”

  “What if that guy was the only kidnapper?” she asked.

  “Then we’re in trouble. Unless Peter can get away or tell us where he is somehow, I don’t have a lot of hope. But I honestly don’t think it was a one-man job. That’s how we’ll find him. Either the second man will make contact, or he’ll make a mistake, give himself away.”

  “Didn’t anyone see them go into the dealership yesterday?”

  “No one we’ve found so far.” Harvey took another bite. Maybe he should put some manpower back over there, near the store, but it was a commercial district and all the employees except Ulrich claimed to have left for the day before the gunman arrived. “I think they went to confront Ulrich deliberately at closing, or just after. They may have told him to stay after. We just don’t know how it happened.” He reached for the slab of cornbread, hoping his frustration didn’t show. He was feeling a little ragged.

  “Want coffee?” Jennifer asked.

  “No, I’ve drunk about two gallons of it today.”

  “I think Abby has milk.” She rose and went to the refrigerator. When she came back with a glass of milk, she said, “I guess he didn’t say anything before he died?”

  “No. It happened very quickly. When I got to him, he was gone. There wasn’t much for the EMTs to do except get him off the street and patch up a woman he’d knocked down.”

  She frowned and sat down. “If that guy had a cohort, you’d think he’d have called by now. He must still want the money.”

  “I hope he does still want it. Because if he decides it’s not worth it. . .”

  “You think he’ll kill Peter.”

  “Or just cut and run.”

  “Do you have roadblocks up?” she asked.

  He huffed out a breath. “We wouldn’t know what to have them look for. We don’t even know if there’s a second person involved. And we just found out they stole a car yesterday. We think Holden drove it to the drop. He’d left his car at his apartment. What vehicle do we look for now?” He took a bite of cornbread and chewed it. When he’d swallowed, he said, “Do you know how many ways there are to leave Portland?”


  “A lot.”

  “Yeah. And not just roads. A boat could be a hundred miles down the coast by now. We alerted the airport, of course, but we don’t have any I.D. on Holden’s potential partners. But still, everyone on the force is watching for anyone who acts suspicious.”

  Jennifer was silent for a minute while he ate. When he looked up, she said, “Any boats stolen?”

  “That’s good thinking, gorgeous. I’ll put Nate Miller on it.” He pulled out his phone.

  When he’d made the call, Sarah looked in at the doorway. “Eddie just drove in.”

  “Thanks. Send him in here, and we’ll talk.”

  Jennifer rose. “I’d better go. I’ll get Connor and take him home with me.”

  Harvey stood up and reached for her. He was still holding her tight when Eddie came in. He paused in the doorway. “Need a minute?”

  “No, we’re good.” Harvey squeezed Jennifer and let her go. “I don’t know if I’ll get home tonight, but I’ll try.”

  Her chin came up half an inch. “Whatever it takes, for Peter.”

  “Yeah.”

  “’Bye, Eddie.” Jennifer brushed past him.

  “Did you get home?” Harvey asked.

  “Yeah, for about two seconds.” Eddie pulled out a chair and folded into it. “No, seriously, I ate at home. Leanne’s book launch is Monday.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” Harvey ran his hand through his short hair.

  Eddie shrugged. “She’s feeling guilty because she’s excited about that, but she thinks she should be all morbid about Peter.”

  “I can understand that. Everybody remotely concerned feels guilty because life has to go on while Peter may be dying.” Harvey shook his head. “So, talk to me. The stolen car. Are we sure Holden stole it?”

  “Looks like it. His fingerprints are on the steering wheel.” Eddie peeled up the corner of a plastic box Jennifer had left on the table and liberated two brownies. He got himself a glass of milk and settled in to talk.

  *****

  Peter woke to the sound of pounding footsteps overhead. Someone ran across the floor above. The door at the top of the stairs opened, and the light came on. Peter blinked, trying to assess the situation.

  Mack hurried down the stairs.

  “Something’s happened to Web. I’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Let me go,” Peter said.

  “I can’t. You’d go right to the police.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Sure. Just like no police were watching when Web went to get the money. It’s all over the six o’clock news that someone the cops were chasing got hit by a car.”

  So that explained why the other guy was hours late getting back with the money.

  Mack hesitated. “If I thought it would do me any good, I’d take you with me.”

  “Do that,” Peter said. “I can still get you the money.”

  “Somehow I doubt that. Good luck. Someone will find you.” He turned away.

  “Wait! At least call my wife. Tell her where I am.”

  “No can do, buddy.”

  “You can’t just leave me here chained up.”

  Mack came back two steps and threw something into his lap. Peter looked down and saw a small brass key. It slid off his thigh, onto the sleeping bag. He looked back, but Mack was at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Wait,” Peter cried. “Don’t leave me. The key won’t do me any good. At least undo my hands.”

  The light went off, and the door slammed shut.

  Peter’s heart pounded, and he breathed in quick, shallow gulps.

  What just happened? He supposed he should be thankful Mack didn’t kill him before he left.

  He squinted and leaned a little to his left, concentrating on that key. It must go to the padlock at his ankle. It had to. He mustn’t lose sight of it, or let it get lost in the sleeping bag. He had to get hold of it.

  How on earth was he going to get out of this mess? He’d counted on the Priority Unit to follow the kidnappers back when they picked up the ransom, but that solid rock of hope had crumbled.

  The Lord is my rock.

  He tried not to discount that thought, but it seemed ironic. Would he die of thirst here in this basement? He looked around. The light outside the small window had faded. Dusk was coming. In an hour or so, it would be pitch black in here.

  The bathroom. He could barely get to the closet-like bathroom with the chain on his ankle. He’d examined that closely when they’d let him use it earlier. Very small. Very empty. A toilet and a pedestal sink. He could reach the sink, but not the toilet while chained—he’d tried before. The small mirror over the sink was the only thing Peter saw that might possibly be useful. He’d wished earlier that he’d been able to break it while his hands were free and keep a shard to use against them. But they were too watchful, and too careful to bind his hands when they left him alone.

  So now what?

  *****

  Abby tucked Andy in at eight o’clock. He yawned while saying a short prayer for his dad and drifted off to sleep while Abby prayed. She turned off the lamp and tiptoed out, leaving his door ajar, and made her way to Gary’s room.

  His light was off, but Gary sat on the window seat, peering out into the night.

  “Hey,” Abby said. “Time for bed.”

  Slowly, he climbed down and walked to his bed. He burrowed in under the quilt and looked up at her. In the light spilling in from the hall, she could see his eyes shine with moisture.

  “What happened today, anyway?” Gary asked. “Something happened, but no one will tell me.”

  Abby took a deep, slow breath. “Honey, this is a lot to take in.”

  “Is Daddy dead?”

  “No, no.” Lord, make me wise.

  “Well, something bad happened,” he said.

  “Gary, do you know what kidnapping is?”

  “Yeah, sure, but. . .Dad isn’t a kid.”

  “It doesn’t have to be.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Like I told you last night, somebody took your dad out of his office. And they want money. They said that if we took them a bag of money today, they would let him go.”

  “Where would we get it?” Gary asked.

  “I got it from the bank this morning.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah. Uncle Harvey went with me to the bank to borrow it.”

  “Did you give it to the bad guy?”

  “A police officer dropped off the money this afternoon.”

  “So, where’s Dad?”

  Abby’s lips trembled, and she put a hand to her mouth. “We don’t know. Something happened to the bad man before he could get back to your dad and let him go.”

  “What? Did he get arrested?”

  Abby shook her head. “He had an accident. A truck hit him.”

  Gary stared at her. “Was it bad?”

  She hesitated, but her years of working at hospitals had taught her to tell it straight out. “Yeah. He couldn’t tell the police anything, and—and he died.”

  Gary was still for a long moment. “So. . .where’s Dad? Does Uncle Harvey know?”

  “No. He thinks the man has him locked up somewhere. Uncle Harvey and Uncle Eddie and all the other policemen are looking for him.”

  “Why don’t we go out and look for him?” Gary threw back the quilt and started to get up.

  “No, Gary. We can’t. We don’t have any idea where he is. We don’t even know if he’s in Portland. They could have taken him someplace else to hide him until they got the money.”

  “We could check the park,” Gary said eagerly. “Dad takes me and Andy there a lot. Or the gym.” He grabbed her wrist. “He really likes the gym.”

  “No, no, honey.” Abby sighed and patted his shoulder. “It’s not like that. Dad can’t go wherever he wants right now. See, he has to stay with those men until they get the money. Then they’ll let him go, and he’ll come home.”

  Gary took shallow gulps of air. “You said the guy died.�
��

  “Yes, but we think he has friends. I mean, one guy couldn’t keep your dad a prisoner all by himself, could he?”

  Gary shook his head. “Dad’s real strong.”

  “Yes. I didn’t think I should tell Andy all of that, because it’s hard to understand why anyone would do that to someone as nice as your dad. But I guess you’re old enough to know.” Abby swallowed hard. “Would you like to pray again? I think that’s the best thing we can do right now. Because wherever your dad is, he’ll be praying too. God is there with him. And if we all pray together, maybe those men will let him go.”

  “Or maybe he’ll get away from them.”

  Abby considered that. Would Peter take a chance of escaping? Probably, if he thought he could do it without getting himself killed. He’d put up with a lot to stay alive, though, for the boys. And for her.

  “Let’s pray now,” she said.

  Gary lay back on his pillow, and she held his hand. “Dear Lord, we don’t know what Peter needs right now, but we ask that you will help him. Help the police to find him. Keep him strong and healthy, and please bring him home to us soon.”

  She waited, and after a few seconds, Gary said, “Don’t let my father die, Jesus.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Amen. I love you, Gary. Now, try to sleep. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

  She bent and kissed his cheek. Gary didn’t respond. Abby rose and went out. She sent up another prayer as she went downstairs, for Gary and Andy. And Peter, Lord. Wherever he is, let him know you’re there with him, that you haven’t forgotten him.

  Harvey was pacing the kitchen. He stopped when she entered.

  “How are the boys?” he asked.

  She hesitated. “They’re taking this hard. Gary is confused. He wants to shoulder the burden, but he doesn’t know how. He knew something bad had happened, and I told him about the drop, and that the kidnapper was accidentally killed. He wanted to go right out and look for Peter.”

  Harvey smiled sadly. “He’s a boy. I’d probably have felt the same way at his age.”

  “Yeah. If I thought it would do any good, I’d be out there beating the bushes.” Abby sat down, feeling useless and spent. “If there’s another kidnapper, why hasn’t he called?”

  “I don’t know.” With most people, he’d have said something more soothing, like “These things take time.” But with Abby, he had to be honest.