Carefully, he rolled onto his knees. By leaning his forehead against the wall, he was able to push himself up slowly. He stood panting on the concrete floor. It shouldn’t be this hard. He stooped to be sure the key was still on the sleeping bag. So far so good. He squared his shoulders. The chain would let him get a couple of steps into the bathroom. If nothing else, he might be able to bump the faucet on and get some water.
Chapter 12
Abby’s landline rang, and she picked it up in Peter’s den.
“Hi, Mrs. Hobart. This is Anita Spelling, Gary’s teacher.”
“Oh, hello.” Abby’s mind raced. How much should she tell Ms. Spelling?
“I was hoping Gary would be in school today,” the teacher said.
“I’m sorry. Gary’s had an accident.”
“Oh, dear. Not serious, I hope.”
“Well, he broke his arm. He won’t be back until Monday at the earliest.”
“I see. Well, we’re going to announce the winners of our school-wide story contest on Monday, and we especially hoped Gary would be there.”
Abby swallowed hard. Would Peter be home by Monday? Or would they all be in mourning? Anything but this uncertainty. “I’ll try to make sure he’s there.”
“That would be great. I’m so sorry he was hurt. Is he doing okay?”
“Yes. He’s got a cast. It was a bicycle accident. But we’ll see how it goes. What time is this happening?”
“At two-fifteen. We’re having an assembly in the multi-purpose room.”
Abby tried not to think about the chaos that could erupt after Harvey revealed to the world this afternoon that Peter had been kidnapped. Reporters would probably flock to the house. Maybe she should keep the boys somewhere else until this was over. And if there was a second kidnapper, as Harvey seemed to think, was he ever going to call? Surely he’d have done it by now. She didn’t want to follow that thought to its logical conclusion. She would cling to hope.
The boys couldn’t isolate themselves forever, even if the worst happened. She came to a decision. Surely Peter would be home before then, and he would want to help celebrate. If not, this sounded like something Gary would want to tell his father about when he was able. Miss Spelling wouldn’t call if there wasn’t good news in store for Gary, would she? Abby didn’t want this to be something their son regretted missing years later.
“All right, I’ll make every effort to have him there. If he’s not up to a full day of school by then, is it okay if he doesn’t come in until time for the assembly?”
“Of course. I understand. And if he’s in too much pain—”
“He is on pain medication. But—actually, I guess it’s all right to tell you, since it will be on the evening news. We’re having a bit of a family crisis.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Gary’s father has been kidnapped.”
“No! I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. Gary took his bike out last night and went looking for his father, and that’s when he fell and broke his arm.”
“My goodness.” Ms. Spelling sounded truly flummoxed. Abby would bet she’d never heard this good an excuse for a child missing school before.
“I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. Our whole family has been hit pretty hard with this.”
“I’m so sorry. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“I don’t think so,” Abby said. “The police are working on finding him.”
“We can wait to present the award if this is too much for Gary right now.”
“No, don’t do that,” Abby said. “You’ve got everything planned, and I think it would be good for him to have something else to think about.”
“Under the circumstances, I think I should tell you, Gary will be receiving the highest award for his grade.”
“That’s wonderful. I won’t tell him, but I’ll bring him in Monday. Please don’t tell the other children about his father until the police make it public. I think that will happen this afternoon, but I wouldn’t want the class to be upset and distracted.”
“Of course,” Ms. Spelling said.
“Thank you.” Abby hung up. Had she done the right thing? She immediately punched the button for Jennifer’s home phone.
“Good morning.” Jennifer’s voice was normal and comforting in her ear.
“Hi,” Abby said. “What time are Mom and Dad getting there?”
“I’m not sure exactly. After noon. Why, what’s up?”
“Nothing with Peter. It’s Gary.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, but the school called. His teacher, actually. Ms. Spelling.”
“Did she want to know why Gary’s been out for two days?” Jennifer asked.
“Kind of. They’re awarding prizes for a story contest Monday, and Gary’s one of the winners. She said they especially hoped he’d be there.”
“He should be up to it by then,” Jennifer said.
“I hope so. He’s got a lot of pain today, but I’m trying to keep ahead of it with the medicine. The assembly is at 2:15 that day. I’m going to try to get him there, unless—well, unless the very worst happens.” She sniffed.
“I understand,” Jennifer said, “but you’ve got to keep on hoping, Abby.”
“Would you keep Andy that day?”
“Sure, but can’t he go back to school Monday? If you don’t want him to, I could keep track of Andy. In fact, I bet Mom and Dad would like to be there if they can stay that long.”
“Wow, I didn’t even think of that,” Abby said.
“Dad may have to go back, but I’ll ask Mom to stay if she wants to,” Jennifer went on. “I can drive her home the next day.”
“Let me call the school back and see if it’s okay if extended family comes.”
“Okay. Call me back. I was just going to turn on the vacuum, but I’ll wait until I hear back from you.”
Abby hung up and called the school. Yes, grandparents and aunts and other various relatives were welcome. And yes, Gary would receive a very special award, but the school would appreciate it if she kept that a surprise.
“Wow, that’s great,” Abby said. “We’ll be there.”
But when she’d replaced the receiver, she walked slowly to the living room door. Detective Trudeau sat in Peter’s usual chair with earphones on, sipping coffee. He looked at her, smiled, and lowered the earphones so that they circled his neck.
“How’s it going?”
“Okay,” Abby said. What if they did get bad news on Peter, or no news at all? She walked up the stairs and looked into Gary’s room. He was sitting up in bed, with his cast on top of the covers. Andy crouched on the rug, running some toy trucks back and forth. He looked up.
“Mommy, did Daddy fix my toy car?”
Abby’s throat burned, and she pulled in a quick breath. “I don’t think so. Not yet.”
Andy went back to his play, but Gary met her gaze. His eyes held the sheen of tears.
“Are you going to feel like getting up later to go see Grandpa and Grammy?” she asked.
“I guess.”
She turned away. Jennifer would be waiting for her call. Abby felt like she might dissolve into tears at any moment, and she hated that feeling, especially when the boys would see her weakness. She went down to the master bedroom and closed the door before calling her sister.
*****
Harvey’s extension rang, and he picked up his desk phone, his eyes still on the monitor and the warrant application he’d filled out for Davey Talbot’s house.
“Larson.”
“This is Sergeant Yeaton. Two of my officers responded to a call at a gas station on Congress Street. The complaint involves a woman on your BOLO. Emma Skerritt.”
That got his attention. “Have them hold her until we get there. What’s the exact location?”
She gave it to him, and Harvey scribbled it in his notebook. “Thanks, Cheryl.”
He rose, reaching for his jacket. “A couple of uniforms have got E
mma Skerritt. Eddie, you’re with me.”
“Can I come, boss?” Tony asked.
“Not this time, but stand by in case I need you to do something else. And keep on with those connections.”
Tony didn’t try to hide his disappointment.
“We’ll be here if you need anything,” Jimmy said.
Harvey checked in on the 911 call while Eddie drove his truck toward the service station with his lights flashing and siren wailing. The station’s manager had called in saying he’d foiled a kidnapping at the gas pumps outside. The woman was shaken but wanted to leave.
“We’re lucky she stayed until the patrol car got there,” Eddie said.
Harvey shook his head. “No luck at all. God’s on our side, and we’re going to break this thing.”
They pulled in at the gas station, and Eddie parked in the empty spot in front of the air pump. Harvey scanned the license plates of the vehicles in the lot.
“That’s Emma’s car.” Harvey nodded toward a Honda sitting in front of the entrance to the convenience store. He shoved the door open, and they went inside.
A harried-looking woman stood behind the checkout counter. Three customers waited in line. Harvey looked around and spotted two uniforms in a cluster of people near the refrigerator cases. Officer Bill Theriault looked his way and broke away from the others.
“Hey, Captain. Glad you’re here. The woman wants to leave, but I told her she needed to speak to you first.”
“Is she all right?”
“Yeah, apparently the suspect tried to snatch her and drag her into his car, but the manager saw it out the window and got out his shotgun. The woman was fighting the man, but he was about to shove her into his vehicle. The manager told him to leave her alone, and he jumped in his car and took off.”
“Did he get a license plate?”
“The first three digits.”
“Okay,” Harvey said. “Let me talk to her, and Eddie will take the manager.”
Eddie leaned in close. “How picky do you want me to be about the shotgun?”
“Not very. We owe this guy.”
Eddie nodded and took the manager aside.
As Harvey approached the woman, he nodded to Officer Alicia Peterson and focused on the victim.
“Emma Skerritt?”
“Yes.” She was small-boned, about five-four, maybe thirty years old, short brown hair, and she eyed him warily.
“I’m Captain Larson.” He showed his badge. “Could you step outside with me, please? I’d like you to show me where you were when you were assaulted.”
“I told the officers,” Emma said. “Some man drove up while I was gassing up and grabbed me.”
“Right. I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Harvey guided her out of the store and stopped beside her car. “Which pump were you at?”
“That one.” She pointed to the nearest gas pump. “I had pulled in facing the store.”
“Did you know the man who grabbed you?”
“No. I’d never seen him before.”
“Could you describe him for me?” Harvey asked.
“I told the other officers. He was pretty big. At least as tall as you, maybe taller. And heavier. White.”
“How old?”
“I don’t know. Maybe forty or so?”
“Okay.” Harvey figured it was another one of Talbot’s errand boys. “Our people are working on the partial plate number the store manager reported. Were you aware that we’ve been looking for you since last night?”
“Me?” she squeaked. “No.”
“You and your boyfriend, Chad McCafferty.”
She swallowed hard but said nothing.
“We need to know where he is, Emma.”
“Is he in trouble? I figured something was up.” She twisted the strap of her woven purse.
“What made you think that?” Harvey asked.
“He came home last night and told me we had to leave pronto. And he’d been away a lot the last couple of days, but he wouldn’t tell me what he was up to.”
“Where is he now?”
She let out a sob. “You won’t hurt him, will you? He’s really scared. I know he owes money, but I didn’t think that was against the law.”
“We’re not talking about that,” Harvey said. “This is something else.”
“Are you sure? Because I thought the guy that attacked me was probably who he owes the money to.”
“Well, that could be,” Harvey said, “but I don’t think that’s the reason Chad insisted on leaving home yesterday. Now, when you left the house with him, you took your car. He left his car there. Where did you go?”
“We went to a friend of mine’s house and slept there, but Chad said we couldn’t stay there very long. I think those guys are looking for him.”
“What guys?”
“I don’t know. Loan sharks or something.” Emma pulled in a shaky breath. “He told me to go gas up the car and we’d try to get out of the city.” She squinted up at him, and Harvey waited. After a few seconds, she shrugged in defeat. “He said something about getting different license plates for my car.”
“I see. Well, that is against the law, you know.”
Tears escaped Emma’s eyes, and she batted at her cheek with the back of her hand. “Please, he’s going to think they got me.”
“Who?” Harvey asked.
“That guy he owes money to. Talbot. Chad’s scared of him.”
“I thought you didn’t know who he’d borrowed the money from.”
“I didn’t. I don’t.”
“Is there a chance Chad is working for this Talbot, rather than being in debt to him?”
“Working. . .? I don’t know. But last night he said something about a job he was supposed to do, but he couldn’t, and Talbot would be mad. That’s all I know.”
Harvey supposed both possibilities could be true. McCafferty could be working for Talbot to pay off a debt. “Okay, I’ll ask you again. Where is Chad now?”
Emma’s shoulders quaked.
“Listen to me, Emma.” Harvey stooped and looked into her watery eyes. “I am the best chance Chad has of living through this day. Tell me right now where he is, and my men and I will go and get him.”
“Are you going to arrest him?”
“We’ll put him in custody, and he’ll be safe from Talbot.” Eddie came out of the store as Harvey spoke. “Trust me, Emma, this is the best thing you can do to help him. You can save his life right now. Give me the address.”
*****
Tony stepped out into the police station’s lobby and paused. Laney Cross was headed toward the stairway, and he couldn’t keep a big grin from sprouting on his face.
“Hey, Laney.”
She smiled back. “Hi, Tony.”
He shot a glance at the wall clock. Way too early to ask her to lunch. Or was it? “Uh, will you be going out for lunch today?”
She hesitated. “Probably. That diner down the street is handy.”
“Yeah, I’ll probably be down there, too. Around noon, if I don’t get called out before that.”
She gave a little shrug, and her smile lingered. “Maybe I’ll see you there.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
She took a step toward the door, and Tony made a split-second decision. “Hey, listen.”
As he’d hoped, she turned back toward him, her delicate eyebrows arched expectantly.
“Uh, I know this is kind of off the wall, or off the cuff, or whatever.” Confusion started to replace the anticipation in her eyes, and he rushed on, “My cousin’s getting married in a couple of weeks, and I need a plus-one. I wondered if by any chance you’d be interested in going with me.”
She hesitated, and his hopes plummeted.
“I know it’s not much of a date.”
“So, what day is it exactly?”
Her simple question bolstered his confidence. “Two weeks from Saturday. Oh, and it’s in Augusta.”
She blinked. “Augusta?”
“Yeah, an hour each way. If you don’t want to—” His phone rang, and he pulled it out and glanced at it. “Oops. It’s my boss. Sorry.”
“No, that’s okay. Can I think about it?”
“Sure.”
“We can talk at lunch.” She hurried into the stairwell, and Tony pushed the talk button.
“Yeah, Cap’n?”
“Eddie and I have a lead on McCafferty. Meet us at this address, and bring Jimmy.”
“Copy.” Tony signed off and hit speed dial for Jimmy Cook.
“Yeah?” Jimmy sounded a little groggy. Probably staring at reports had mesmerized him.
“Get downstairs, Jimbo. The boss wants us to meet him. We’re bringing in McCafferty.”
*****
Eddie concentrated on his driving while Harvey called Nate with instructions on getting more warrant applications expedited. They’d left the patrolmen to take Emma to the station and have her held until they returned.
Eddie parked his truck a block below Emma’s friend’s house. She’d told them the woman who rented Unit A of the duplex had gone to work.
“Think McCafferty’s in there?” Eddie asked as they waited for backup.
“I don’t know. He may be off looking to pinch a license plate to put on Emma’s car.” Harvey checked the side-view mirror. “There’s Jimmy’s truck.”
Eddie was glad they hadn’t come in Tony’s red Mustang. It drew too much attention. Jimmy’s silver Ford pickup was almost fifteen years old and looked it. Nobody would pay any attention to it in this neighborhood.
When Tony and Jimmy joined them on the sidewalk, Harvey pointed out the house. “It’s the one with green shutters, Unit A on this side. You two take the back.”
Two minutes later, Harvey hammered on the door while Eddie stood to one side. “Police. Open up.”
No one answered. Harvey huffed out an exasperated breath and grabbed the doorknob. To Eddie’s surprise, the door swung open. Most people didn’t leave their front doors unlocked in the city. He held up a hand to Harvey and stepped forward, leading with his pistol.
Ransom of the Heart Page 15