Ransom of the Heart

by Susan Page Davis

  “Sounds good. I’m going over to see Peter again when they’re done putting his cast on. Call me when you’re twenty minutes out, and I’ll meet you at the office.”

  Harvey settled in for some time working his databases, hoping he could find out how Holden and McCafferty knew Tom.

  He was back at the hospital with Peter, Abby, and Vickie Hobart when Eddie called him, around two o’clock.

  “Where you been?” Harvey asked, stepping out of the room into the long hallway.

  “We stopped for gas and lunch, but we’ll be at the station in twenty minutes.”

  Harvey made his excuses to the family and wished Peter well. No one had mentioned Janelle or her absence from the group of relatives eager to see Peter.

  Tony was in the office at his computer, and he jumped up when Harvey entered.

  “Hey, Cap’n. Eddie’s got Merrick in the interview room.”

  “Thanks.” Harvey kept walking, into the small room where Eddie and Tom sat on opposite sides of the table.

  “Harvey! I hope someone will tell me what this is all about.” Tom’s face was taut with strain.

  “Hello, Tom. What did Eddie tell you?”

  “Just that you needed to ask me some questions.”

  “Sit down, Tom. Janelle must have called you last night.” Harvey settled in a chair beside Eddie.

  “Well, yeah.” Slowly, Tom resumed his seat, keeping his eyes on Harvey. “She called me. She told me you’d been to the house. Kind of shook her up.”

  “And?”

  “She wanted to know why you were there looking for me. I’d like to know, too.”

  “I think you know,” Harvey said.

  Tom shook his head. “I have no idea.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ve had a couple of conversations with your boss.”

  “Mr. Redmond?” Tom’s voice cracked.

  “Yes, Mr. Redmond. On inspecting the company’s records, he found that you’d signed out keys to one of the listed houses three times, but you only showed it twice.”

  Tom hesitated. “What house?”

  “The brick ranch on Baldwin Place.”

  Tom swallowed hard but said nothing.

  “Why did you check out the keys to that house Wednesday evening, Tom? You weren’t scheduled to show it. In fact, you were leaving in the morning for Boston.”

  “I, uh, I figured I’d left something there, and needed to go look for it, see if I’d dropped it in the house. I put the keys back as soon as I was done.”

  “Oh, yeah, you left something there all right,” Harvey said.

  “I . . .” Tom shook his head as though at a loss.

  “You left your friend Web Holden there, along with his pal Chad MacCafferty. Those two and your brother-in-law. We found Peter in that house last night, Tom.”

  “What?” Tom’s face twisted. “What does Peter have to do with all this?”

  “You tell me.”

  “I don’t know.” Tom shook his head vigorously. “I’ll tell you what happened.”

  “Please do,” Harvey said.

  Tom fidgeted and looked around. “Can I smoke?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” He took a deep breath. “This guy, Web Holden, called me Wednesday. I was on my way home from work. He asked me if I could give him a place to hold something. Storage, you know? Just overnight, he said. He promised not to make a mess.” Tom eyed Harvey anxiously. “I thought he maybe had something hot.”

  “Stolen goods,” Harvey said.

  “Yeah. He didn’t tell me what it was about, and I didn’t ask.”

  “Why not?”

  Tom let out a big sigh. “I owed him, okay?”

  “You owed him a favor?”

  “No. I owed him five hundred bucks. He said if I could give him a place in a quiet neighborhood, he’d cancel the debt.”

  “And you agreed and went back to the agency to get the keys,” Harvey said.

  “Yeah.”

  “Why? Five hundred dollars isn’t that much. Why would you do something illegal for this guy for a measly five hundred?”

  “I don’t know.” Tom shifted in his chair, took out a pack of cigarettes, looked at it, and put it away. “I was tired of him bothering me about it.”

  “Oh, so Holden had been after you to pay up?”

  Tom shrugged.

  Harvey sat forward, holding Tom’s gaze. “Did you owe the money to Web Holden or to his boss?”

  “His boss?”

  “Davey Talbot.”

  Tom opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He shook his head.

  “I’ve had conversations with Mr. Talbot, too,” Harvey said. “I’ve also looked at some of his financial records. Your name is in one of his spreadsheets, Tom. It says you owe him two thousand dollars, not five hundred. Don’t tell me Web offered to write off that debt to his boss if you’d get him into an empty house.”

  Tom sat still for a long moment. “I guess I need a lawyer.”

  Harvey sat back. “Okay, if you’re sure. But you might help yourself more if you just tell me the truth, Tom.”

  They sat still for a moment. Eddie looked at Harvey and raised his eyebrows. Harvey gave him a minimal shrug.

  Finally Tom met his gaze. “Okay, I owed Talbot. Holden said he was supposed to put the heat on me, but he would hold off for a couple of weeks if I helped him out that night. They were going to tell Janelle, and I couldn’t let that happen. Holden said he wouldn’t tell her, but if I didn’t pay in two weeks, they would make me regret it.”

  “Meaning they would do you physical harm?”

  “I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to find out.”

  “You know Janelle’s brother was abducted,” Harvey said.

  “I know now. She told me late Thursday. But I didn’t know anything about it when Web called me Wednesday night.”

  “Did you see Peter that night?”

  “No. I had no idea he was involved.”

  “Did you know Holden and his friend had someone they wanted to hide?”

  “No, no, no!” Tom hit the table with his hand. “They asked me for a quiet place that nobody would likely go into for a day or two. I checked the schedule, and nobody was down to show that house.”

  “So you gave him the keys.”

  “No, I signed out the front door key. I had to sign it out because one of the other agents was in the office, and she would have seen me open the lock box. I told her I had left something behind after I showed a place. I took the key to a store and made a copy in a machine, and I gave Holden the copy.”

  “What else did you give him?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Padlocks? A chain, maybe?”

  Tom shook his head.

  “A sleeping bag?”

  “No. I’m telling you, I gave him the key I’d made and took the original back to the office.”

  “Are you sure?” Harvey asked. “Because Peter heard you and Holden talking upstairs in the house while he was in the basement.”

  Tom’s face blanched. “Okay, I want a lawyer.”

  Chapter 20

  Abby stood back and let Randy and Jennifer take the chairs close to Peter. Her fatigue was catching up with her, but she enjoyed watching him engage with her siblings. Even though he was exhausted and in pain, Peter was gracious and agreeable. Realizing how close she had come to rejecting him and marrying another man gave her shivers.

  Peter was the only man for her. She knew that now, and she sent up a fervent prayer of thanks. God in his mercy had kept her from making the wrong decision.

  At first, she had feared he might not regain his usual laid-back, pleasant nature. But he hadn’t changed. He still loved her fiercely, accepting all her foibles. Since the rescue, they hadn’t had a lot of time together alone while he was conscious. When they did, she wanted to tell him how deeply she loved him. Unexpectedly, her love for him had grown during this ordeal, and she would make
sure he knew that.

  Randy was telling Peter about his summer job. He leaned forward, eager and at the same time a bit apprehensive.

  “So, I’m going by there this afternoon, and he’ll show me the setup at the store. I’ll move down here next week and start right away.”

  “Sounds good,” Peter said.

  A light rap on the doorjamb drew everyone’s attention, and Harvey walked in, smiling.

  “Hi, Peter. How’s it going?” He sidled up to Jennifer and slipped his arm around her.

  “Okay,” Peter said wearily.

  “You look beat. Want me to toss out the rabble?”

  “He does need rest,” Abby said. Everybody in the family wanted to see Peter with their own eyes. She expected his mother planned to bring Gary and Andy for their return visit in a couple of hours, and she hoped Peter would get a nap before that. Right now he looked almost as bad as when they’d brought him out of the cellar.

  “I won’t stay long.” Harvey glanced at Jennifer. “Maybe you and Randy could take a little walk down the hall?”

  “Sure,” Jennifer said. “I’m sure we’ve overstayed our ten minutes, anyway.”

  Harvey gave her a quick kiss. “I should be home for dinner.” Harvey waited until Abby had hugged Jennifer and Randy, and Peter had thanked them for coming in. Once they were out the door, he sat down next to the bed. Abby took the chair on the other side, wanting to hear whatever Harvey could tell them, but fearing it would not be happy news.

  “Peter, there’s no sense sugar-coating this,” Harvey said. “We brought Tom home from Boston today, and he’s in custody now.”

  “So he was in on it.” Peter frowned. “I know he’s been in some trouble in the past, but we all hoped he’d gotten past that.”

  “He admits he gave your abductors access to the house. His lawyer got him to clam up about anything else.”

  “I’m sorry, for Janelle’s sake,” Peter said.

  Abby gently patted his arm as she gazed across at Harvey. “What happens now?”

  “He’ll be arraigned Monday or Tuesday. He’ll probably be able to bail out until this mess comes to trial. The district attorney’s office will handle it from here.” Harvey pressed his lips together and shook his head. “If it’s any consolation, we don’t think he has any connection to the murder.”

  “Good,” Peter said. “I’m sorry Tom’s in it at all.”

  “I take it you two weren’t very close,” Harvey said.

  Peter’s sighed, his eyes drifting to Abby. “No, we never were. And Janelle is very defensive of him. I think she knows Mom and I never really felt he was the best match for her. But she won’t talk about it, and she gets very upset if we imply that Tom’s not perfect.”

  “Poor Janelle,” Abby said softly. “Tom was kind of miffed last year, when Uncle Austin left you that land, and I’m not sure if he was just upset on principle, or if it was for Janelle’s sake. But anyway, she’s going to need a lot of support to get through this.”

  “Yeah.” Peter looked down at his hands. “Let’s push the doctor to let me out of here tomorrow. I’ve got a lot to do.”

  “But your P.T.,” Abby protested.

  “I can come in for the physical therapy, but I need to be home with you and the boys, and I need to be available for Janelle and Mom.”

  Abby inhaled slowly. “Okay. But if the doctor says you’re not ready, please listen to him.” Peter wasn’t an irritable person, and he would usually listen to sound advice, but he was hurting inside, as well as out. He needed to be home in the familiar setting, where he could interact with his sons. She leaned forward and laid her hand against his cheek. “I’ll take your side on that.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Tom claims he didn’t know they had you when he gave them the house key. In fact, he says he didn’t know you were missing until Janelle called him in Boston Thursday night.”

  “Why did they go to Tom, of all people?” Peter asked.

  “Yeah, especially if they didn’t know Tom and Peter were related.” Abby frowned up at him.

  Harvey sighed. “Tom had apparently taken some loans from Talbot and didn’t want Janelle to find out. I also learned this morning that Tom helped sell Web Holden’s mother’s house last fall. That may be when they first met and why he thought of Tom. He knew he was in the real estate business.”

  “Well, that’s crummy,” Abby said.

  Harvey stood. “Well, that’s the most of it for now. I thought you’d want to know.”

  Peter nodded. “We appreciate it.”

  “Get some rest. Both of you.”

  When Harvey was gone, Peter’s forehead furrowed as he gazed down at his right hand. “Can you unwrap this, please?”

  “But your cuts,” Abby said.

  “This hand isn’t as bad as the other. I don’t need all the gauze, just the little bandages underneath.” His anxious eyes met hers. “I want to hold on to you, Abigail.”

  That she could understand. She carefully undid the outer wrap of gauze and laid it aside. Tenderly, she touched the back of his hand. He turned it and lightly grasped her fingers. She could feel the warmth of his palm between the annoying bandages. No stitches in his right hand. Another thing to be thankful for.

  “Peter, I love you so much.”

  He smiled and settled back on his pillow. “This may sound odd, but I’m very happy. Just let me gather my strength, and then I want to kiss you.”

  He closed his eyes, and Abby sat very still, watching him, savoring the moment.

  *****

  Harvey walked into his house expecting chaos. Instead, the scent of cinnamon hit him, and he found Jennifer in the kitchen baking. He walked over and hugged her. “Where is everyone?”

  “Mom and Dad had lunch with Leeanne, and they’re at Beth and Jeff’s now. Vickie Hobart came and got Gary and Andy, and she’s taking them in later to see Peter again.” As she spoke, Jennifer plopped scoops of cookie dough on a baking sheet. “Randy’s in the study, and Connor’s having his nap. Did I miss anyone?”

  Harvey smiled. “I don’t think so. Sounds good to me. But shouldn’t you be sacked out for a nap yourself?”

  “No, I should be working on my Navy software, if you want the truth, but I had the feeling we’ll need lots of extra food tonight and tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to cook everything. Randy and I can make a run to the store.”

  “No, just relax. Dad made the same offer, and I think he’ll be here soon for my shopping list. Let me get these in the oven, and we can actually sit down for a few minutes.”

  Harvey went into the bedroom and peeled off his jacket and shoulder holster. He opted for jeans and a Fire Department T-shirt.

  When he went back to the kitchen, Randy and Jennifer were seated at the table with milk and a plate of fresh oatmeal cookies.

  “My favorite,” Harvey said, reaching for a cookie as he sat down.

  “I got to see Mr. Donnell this morning,” Randy said.

  “Oh, yeah? That’s good.”

  “He showed me around the store. I’ll start a week from Monday. Is that all right?”

  “Perfect, so far as I’m concerned.”

  “Peter’s looking pretty ragged out,” Jennifer said.

  “That’s to be expected. Abby wants him to rest there a few days, but Peter wants to go home tomorrow.”

  “So soon?” She set down her glass and frowned.

  “He feels the weight of responsibility.”

  “Why?” Randy asked. “It’s not his fault someone kidnapped him.”

  “No, but right now he feels like he’s caused his family a lot of stress, and he wants to do whatever he can to ease that.” Harvey took another cookie. Jennifer’s oatmeal-raisin, when warm, basically melted in the eater’s mouth. When cold, they were chewy. He liked them both ways.

  “Are you talking about Gary being stressed?” Randy blinked behind his glasses. “I mean, yeah, Gary was looking for him, but he knew he shouldn�
�t go out alone at night, right? I don’t see how that’s Peter’s fault.”

  “It’s not really,” Jennifer said, “but if Peter was home, Gary wouldn’t have done it. Therefore, Peter feels guilty. It’s not logical, but it’s very common.”

  “Oh.” Randy took a big bite of his cookie.

  “Actually, I was thinking more of Janelle,” Harvey said. “She does blame Peter. Anyone but her husband.”

  “Oh, no.” Jennifer shook her head. “She may blame Peter a little, but mostly she’s blaming you.”

  “Me?” That really surprised Harvey.

  “I got that straight from Abby’s mouth.”

  Harvey scowled. “Like I forced Tom to make a copy of that key and give it to those moron kidnappers.”

  Jennifer shrugged. “Like you said, anyone but her husband.”

  The timer rang, and Jennifer rose to take out the next tray of cookies.

  “Harvey? You got a minute?” Randy asked.

  Harvey looked at him. “Sure. What’s up?”

  “I hope it’s okay and I didn’t mess anything up, but, uh, Jenn said you were looking for these people.”

  He held out a slip of paper, and Harvey took it. His stomach did a flip as he eyed the names he’d written. He must have left his notes on his desk.

  “Yeah, I was, but it’s nothing to worry about, Randy.”

  “I sort of. . .well, I asked Eddie about it. Probably I shouldn’t have.”

  Harvey made himself inhale and exhale slowly. Randy was a kid. That didn’t excuse Eddie.

  “It’s okay—but Eddie probably shouldn’t have told you anything.”

  Randy winced. “Sorry. But he did. And, well, I thought maybe I’d do some detective work for you. Not that I could find out something you couldn’t,” he said quickly.

  Harvey managed a tight smile. “Randy, I’ve been so stressed this week, I’m not sure I could find my own hand in front of my face.”

  From the counter, Jennifer said, “I didn’t tell him anything, honey, but Randy knows not to blab about private stuff.”

  “Well, one would think Eddie did, too.” Harvey took a swallow of milk, trying to tamp down his irritation. He had nothing to be embarrassed about, so why was he feeling so upset about this?