Sufficient Ransom

by Sylvia Sarno

  Ann reached for her cell phone. “I can’t wait to tell Chet. He knows all the mega-churches in southern California. He can get the people up there looking. I’ll call him now.”

  Richard stayed her hand. “Wait a minute. Tom said to keep this quiet. Remember. We need to protect Travis and the investigation.”

  “You’re right,” Ann conceded. “Let’s let the police do their thing. They seem to know what to do.”

  “Thank you, Annie.”

  “For what?”

  “For giving the police the credit they deserve.” Richard’s smile was so sweet. “And for thinking before you jump.”

  They talked about what Travis’s phone call implied about his situation. That he was able to make the call proved he had some freedom. That he hung up abruptly suggested he was caught.

  The thought that her son might be punished sickened Ann. “He’s alive, he’s alive.” These words repeated over and over helped keep the scary thoughts at bay. When Ann opened her eyes, she realized she’d been crying.

  Richard’s hands were still joined with hers. His eyes were closed.

  “Honey, are you awake?”

  He opened his eyes. “Yeah.”

  “I saw Chet today,” she said. “He’s still upset about Nora’s will and those letters.”

  Richard leaned forward. “We never finished our conversation about those letters. What else was in them?”

  Ann pulled a small notepad from her purse. “It so happens I wrote down everything Tom told me.” She flipped through the pages. “There were four letters, all by the same man. Apparently Nora’s lover. They were written in the spring of 1978. The last one was dated May first.”

  “When did Nora leave Mexico?”

  “In one of the letters, this guy, Fallon, mentions her having left on November first,” Ann said. “The last letter’s from the beginning of December. So assuming Nora left Mexico on November 1, he wrote letters for a whole month before stopping.”

  “What did he write about?”

  “Every day things. His missionary work in another part of Mexico where he had moved. How much he wanted to work things out between them. That Nora had been hasty in leaving him. Stuff like that.”

  “So she wanted out of the relationship, but he didn’t,” Richard said.

  Ann’s voice was quiet. “Losing their child… She must have been devastated.”

  “Didn’t you say that Todd Pannikin used to live in Mexico? And that he was a missionary there.”

  “Nora knew Todd from her college days. He lived in Mexico when he was young. And so did she. Todd came back into Nora’s life after her husband died.”

  “Nora didn’t like Todd Pannikin much,” Richard said. “Did she?”

  Ann nodded. “Her dislike of Todd did seem out of proportion. I mean all he did was befriend Chet. Sure, he introduced Chet to evangelical Christianity, but it’s what Chet wanted. I wonder,” she said. “Could it be that the Chris Fallon in the letters is actually Todd Pannikin?”

  “I don’t know,” Richard replied. “But if Todd and Nora were an item, that would mean a prior undisclosed, very close connection between them. It opens up a lot of possibilities.”

  “But why wouldn’t Todd come forward when Nora died, to say what their relationship had been?” Ann said.

  “If they kept it a secret in life why would he reveal it in death?” Richard said. He was silent for a moment. “I bet Todd was furious when Nora stopped supporting his church. Didn’t she give them a lot of money, in the beginning?”

  “She did,” Ann said. After a long moment, she added, “I wonder what happened between them. They kept their relationship secret, and years later, they reconciled. Maybe because they weren’t married. And if they were an item, and their break up was contentious, that would explain why Nora hated Todd in the end. She blamed him for stealing Chet away. Nora had a baby that died, probably Todd’s baby.” Her heart ached. “She carried that burden all by herself.”

  “Why would Nora and Todd become friends again after all those years?” Richard asked.

  “I don’t know,” Ann said, thinking. “Maybe Todd wormed his way back into Nora’s good graces. He pretends he’s her friend by taking an interest in her son. What better way to punish her?”

  “Why would Pannikin want to punish Nora?”

  “Think about it,” Ann said. “Todd was a missionary in Mexico. Like you said, he’s always been a man of God. Nora had doubts about religion early on. Maybe it was her doubts about God that broke her and Todd up. She leaves him, returns to San Diego. Years later, Todd hears Nora’s a rich widow. He re-enters her life and befriends her son. Chet has problems—depression, divorce. Chet finds in Todd the father figure he never had. And he finds purpose in the church.”

  “Why would Nora help Chet build his church if she doesn’t believe in God?” Richard asked.

  “Like I told Tom, maybe she was trying to make amends for screwing up Chet’s life. And frankly, Pastor Todd strikes me as a persuasive man. Though after the rude way he treated me in front of the Villarreals that day, I can’t help disliking him.”

  “Then you came along and befriended Nora,” Richard said. “You helped her sort through her ideas on religion. Nora then declares she’s an atheist. Todd and Chet must have hated you.”

  “I didn’t do anything,’ Ann said, shrugging. “I just supported Nora in the decision she’d already made.”

  “But none of this sheds any light on who could have killed Nora. And on who could have kidnapped Travis. Besides, if Pannikin and this Chris Fallon are the same person why would he, Chris-Todd, change his name?”

  “All I know is this whole thing with Nora has to have some bearing on Travis,” Ann said. “The messages she left the night she died—it’s almost like she knew what had happened to him.”

  “You know,” Richard said. “It’s possible Nora left those messages to reassure you after your fight. Especially, considering she said nothing about Travis at lunch that day. All we know for sure is that Travis called from Temecula. And that according to the FBI some unknown group might have kidnapped him and the other kids. This pattern I’m sensing seems to involve you, our son, and your best friend.” Her husband passed his hand over his chin, thinking. “I can’t help feeling Chet has a role in this somewhere. There’s something secretive and weird about the man.”

  “The whole business of Nora’s past is strange,” Ann agreed. “Do you think Pastor Todd could have killed her?”

  “Anyone who deals in unreality to the extent the pastor does is capable of anything,” Richard said. “Then again, we could say the same for Chet. In a way he had more reason. Nora declares she’s an atheist and basically cuts him off. Maybe he found out about her will, lost his temper, and killed her.”

  “We should confirm that Chris Fallon and Todd Pannikin is the same person before we mention any of this to the police,” Ann said.

  Smiling, Richard squeezed her hand affectionately. “Glad you’re not jumping to conclusions. Any more.”

  Ann beamed. “You taught me that. I’m so happy, Richard. Travis is alive!”

  CHAPTER 26

  Tuesday, October 30

  7:00 A.M.

  The next morning, Ann was surprised by a visit from Julian Fox. The agent’s casual reaction to the news that Travis had called the night before baffled her. But then again, Ann never could figure out what the man was thinking. Smiling, Julian placed a box of fresh-baked donuts he had brought with him on the kitchen table. He opened the box and lifted out a blueberry-filled donut.

  “Please, Julian,” Ann said, impatient for information about Travis. “Do you know where my son is?”

  The agent bit into his donut. “Tom’s working the Temecula angle. He asked me to come by and talk to you about some things.”

  “What about Travis?”

  “I wish I could tell you more, Ann. But Tom asked me to keep my mouth shut. Understand, we’re doing everything we can to protect your son.” Julian
licked the thick blueberry filling and took another bite. “I wanted to ask you about—” He wiped blueberry from his lips with a napkin.

  Ann was on the edge of her seat. “What?”

  Julian’s eyes twinkled. “Calm yourself. This thing’s delicious.” A blob of blueberry slipped from his mouth to the floor.

  Before her son had disappeared, Ann would have swooped down with a wad of paper towels and a bottle of bleach, and scrubbed the stain into oblivion. Watching Julian wipe the floor with his napkin, she smiled inwardly at what a compulsive freak she used to be.

  “The Villarreals,” the agent finally said.

  “What about them?”

  Julian swallowed the last of the donut and wiped the powdered sugar from his fingers with a clean paper napkin. “I understand you talked to them recently.”

  “I saw them at church with Todd Pannikin,” Ann said. “But they made it clear they weren’t interested in talking to me.”

  “I would have thought with your New Way involvement lately, and their being members, that they’d be friendlier,” Julian said.

  “I don’t know why, but Mrs. Villarreal dislikes me,” Ann said. “I gave them my number, but they never called. It’s like they want to have nothing to do with me.”

  Julian threw his crumpled napkin on the table. “It can’t hurt to try again.”

  “Why should I bother?”

  “You might learn something.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like why they’re suddenly joined at the hip with Pannikin.”

  “Pastor Todd’s their spiritual guide and all.” Ann nodded, thinking. “I suppose I could try calling on them.”

  “If Ms. Garcia came along, Mrs. Villarreal might be more inclined to open up,” Julian said.

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Ms. Garcia’s from Mexico, as they are,” Julian said. “That chain around her neck speaks to her religious devotion. Like I said, the Villarreals are quite the churchgoers these days.”

  “It’s not a bad idea.” Ann thought for a moment. “About Pastor Pannikin, Richard and I have a theory we wanted to share with you and Tom.”

  Julian reached for another donut. “I’m listening.”

  CHAPTER 27

  Wednesday, October 31

  9:00 A.M.

  The next morning, Ann and Kika were ushered into the Villarreal’s sitting room by a middle-aged woman with dark hair and pleasant eyes, apparently a servant. After offering them refreshments, which they both declined, the woman said that Señora Villarreal would be with them shortly.

  Ann’s restless eyes travelled the space. Chairs in shades of mauve and tan, some plush and deep, others straight and made of dark wood, were clustered around a wide coffee table strewn with magazines. A silver tray on the long buffet under the lightly curtained window held a crystal decanter and glasses. The whole effect of the space was that of a dentist’s waiting room, proper and clean, but dull and impersonal.

  While they waited for Reyna Villarreal, Ann thought of Travis. The world before he called was a blur of pain and emptiness. Since her son’s call, color had been restored to her mood, to her perceptions, in brilliant strokes. Travis needed her to be strong. And Richard too. Guilt-ridden Ann would be no more. And the forgiveness she craved? Ann realized that she alone had the power to forgive herself. When Travis came home, she would allow herself that last gift.

  The door pushed open and Reyna Villarreal entered the room. After acknowledging Ann with a nod and a quiet hello, she turned to Kika with an inquiring look. Reyna Villarreal, Ann thought, with a touch of bitterness, hadn’t changed. She was still unfriendly.

  Reyna seated herself next to Kika. In the rapid Spanish that followed between Reyna and Kika, Reyna seemed to relax. A few minutes later, Kika turned to Ann. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you out. Reyna was just telling me…” She told Ann of the small talk she and Reyna had exchanged, most of it about Mexico.

  Ann waved them on. “Please go on. I like the sound of your language. It’s beautiful.” If Kika could draw information out of Reyna Villarreal, Ann would be satisfied.

  After a while, her hostess made an effort to include Ann in the conversation. Switching to English, she talked about the efforts being made to find her little girl. Reyna, Ann noted, spoke emotionally but guardedly. Ann was glad Reyna didn’t ask about Travis. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to keep the fact that he had phoned a secret.

  At a lull in the conversation Ann remembered Julian’s suggestion to talk about New Way. Bringing up a friendly subject they both had in common might get Reyna to open up. “I understand you attend New Way Evangelical Church,” she said.

  The sanctimonious tone in Reyna’s voice, as she launched into a soliloquy about what the church meant to her, took Ann by surprise. Pastors Todd and Chet, Reyna explained, were her best friends. They gave her hope, they called her every day. When she couldn’t bring herself to leave the house to attend church, the pastors prayed with her on the phone. The pair had convinced Reyna that it was just a matter of time before she would get her daughter back. They said that God loved Reyna’s family and would do everything in His power to reward their devotion with Sabela’s return.

  Ann’s initial reaction to Reyna Villarreal’s talk about New Way was bullshit. Her second reaction was one of guilt. Hadn’t Chet and Pastor Todd done their best to help her too? Searching for Travis, the church vigil, and the prayer meetings. Asking nothing for himself, Chet had done everything possible to guide her to comfort in Jesus. So what if Reyna Villarreal was carrying on like a brainwashed zealot? Who was Ann to judge another person’s ability to cope?

  Ann remembered other things she had heard about New Way, but had never focused on before. Like the tithing program. She glanced around at the costly furniture in Reyna’s home, the plush flooring. New Way’s cut must be at least in the high five figures each year. At a break in Reyna’s soliloquy, Ann asked her hostess if she would be attending New Way’s annual retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains this coming weekend.

  Reyna nodded shyly. “These days I’m only really comfortable around other church members.” The next thing she said seemed to come from nowhere. “The first thing I’ll do when we get Sabela back is to baptize her.”

  “You mean you never did?” Ann asked, unsure why Reyna was telling them this seemingly insignificant fact.

  Reyna looked ashamed. “We intended to, but we were so busy with the move to San Diego and a million other things. When my sister in-law found out we had pushed the ceremony off again she was so angry.”

  “Why would your sister-in-law be angry your daughter wasn’t baptized?” Kika asked.

  “My husband’s brother and his wife—Gabrielle’s her name—assumed we were going to baptize Sabela right away. We had talked about it with them. But it was such a crazy time, moving from New York. We figured we would get to it. Gabrielle kept asking me when we were going to do it. She was always butting in and telling us what to do with our Sabela. They can’t have children of their own—Gabrielle’s as barren as the Chihuahua Desert. Out of spite, I told her that maybe we wouldn’t baptize Sabela after all.”

  Reyna gathered a fold in her skirt and twisted it with both hands. “Gabrielle didn’t think we respected God enough because we hadn’t been to church for a while. In the end, she accused us of endangering Sabela’s salvation.” Reyna pressed her hand to her mouth until she was ready to speak again. Then she said, “So you see. The closer we are to God, the greater benefit to Sabela.”

  Chet’s baptism videos had clued Ann in to the importance of the rite to evangelicals. Still, there was something about Gabrielle’s reaction to the question of her niece’s baptism that bothered Ann. Maybe it was like Reyna said—her in laws couldn’t have children of their own so they had nothing better to do than meddle with the children of others. Ann cast a furtive glance at Kika. Sort of like what Kika had done with Travis.

  Reyna’s voice took on a peevish tone.
“It was just a misunderstanding. My sister-in-law meant well. It was my husband and I who had lost sight of Jesus.” She reached for the tissue box on the coffee table. “If I had been a more attentive mother, none of this would have happened.”

  Ann leaned in, her voice compassionate but firm. “We have to remember that we didn’t bring this on ourselves. We didn’t ask for our children to be taken.” Her own words gave her pause. Hadn’t she convinced herself that Travis’s disappearance was her fault?

  “The first thing I’ll do when I get Sabela back is baptize her,” Reyna said with a firm nod. “I won’t take any more chances with my daughter’s life.”

  Ann knew that she too would never leave Travis’s safety to chance again. But baptizing him? The idea had never occurred to her.

  Kika asked if Reyna had reconciled with her in-laws since Sabela disappeared. No surprise there. Gabrielle and her husband were very supportive, their fight over Sabela long forgotten.

  10:30 A.M.

  After they left Reyna Villarreal, Kika asked Ann to lunch at La Jolla Shores. On the drive to the beach, Ann thought of the Villarreals and their in-laws. Their family problems reminded her of Nora and Chet; how Chet had bullied his mother about Jesus. It must have been strange for Nora to have to put up with that from her own son, considering it was likely she’d had a similar problem with a man she had once loved, and with whom she’d had a baby.

  Ann’s thoughts turned to Pastor Todd. The pastor seemed to want to shelter the Villarreals from everyone, including her. Señor Villarreal had even sought Todd’s approval before speaking to her. Pannikin’s recent behavior reminded her that Nora once said Chet and Todd were religious fanatics. At the time, Ann thought Nora was just bitter that her son preferred the church to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. The truth was that Chet and Todd’s lives did seem to revolve around one idea, namely saving others through Jesus. Chet had said so himself.