by Karen Clow
“I wasn’t thinking of borrowing it, but there may be a way for me to make some quick cash. I’ll give it more thought before I tell you about it. I was thinking about Carl tonight at the game. When he was taken I would have paid anything to get him back. The way I see it there are thousands of people like me.”
Nathan said kidnapping was a serious business and not something to be taken lightly. He had a bad feeling that his boss was about to do something that he might regret, but he never said anything; he would wait and see what Davy had in mind.
CHAPTER 4
TWO YEARS LATER
The first two years of marriage had been wonderful. Enjoying spending more time at home, Mickey had taken on another solicitor, a female named Lucinda Morgan; she had settled in quickly. Getting on well with him and Maria, she was a good family type, in her early forties; married with two boys aged twenty and eighteen, both at university.
Mickey had arranged for the twins to have riding lessons, which they loved and for their third birthdays, he’d bought them each a pony. They’d had a stable built on the grounds and a young local girl called Sarah came in daily before school to muck out the stables and generally care for the ponies. Although Maria had every intention of the twins doing it once they were old enough.
Charlie and Scott had married a year after they both graduated. Mickey had put a good word in for Scott with a business associate which had secured him a position with a very prestigious firm.
It had become a tradition that Mickey’s parents, along with Monica, George and Father Benico were joining them for Christmas dinner.
It was almost three that afternoon when they sat down to eat the spectacular meal Maria had cooked.
The day had passed without a hitch, especially with the twins. That evening with all the kids asleep the adults talked as they drank mulled wine.
It was then Monica told everyone they were going ahead with adopting. Everyone congratulated them. As they talked they learned how difficult it was to adopt a baby with couple waiting years. Monica and George had decided they could take a toddler and the perfect child had come up, his name was Georgie, he was eighteen months old, blond with blue eyes, but there was a snag. Georgie had an older brother, Harry, who had a few problems. He could be withdrawn one minute and stroppy the next. However, George wanted to take a chance on him, but Monica needed reassuring it was the right thing to do. Maria agreed with George stating at five he was still a baby really. Monica smiled; it was what she’d hope her friends would say. Smiling at George she told him she would call their social worker and set up a meeting with Harry.
***
Over the next two months the visits with the boys went well for George and Monica. There had been a few ups and downs with Harry, usually shown in the form of a tantrum. Although George seemed to have his number, sensing that it was usually fuelled by jealousy if he wanted what his brother was playing with. It was obvious with every call Monica made to Maria that they were in fact bonding with the boys. Maria had just got off the phone to Monica that afternoon and realising the time she told the twins that they would have to play on their own, while she prepared the dinner. She had just started peeling the vegetables when the doorbell rang. She hurried to answer it before the twins rushed to the door.
As she opened the door, she noticed a white van parked in the drive, a young woman was stood at the door.
“Delivery for Mrs Mann,” said the woman holding a bouquet of flowers.
“That’s me,” replied Maria smiling “wait there for a moment while I go and get my purse.”
Leaving the door slightly ajar, she made her way back to the kitchen to get the woman some money for a tip. The twins were still playing happily on the floor.
It was only as Maria took some money from her purse, she realised that the woman was standing in the kitchen. Feeling slightly uneasy she looked suspiciously at her and said, “Oh, I thought you were waiting outside.”
The woman just smirked and then Maria heard the front door shut. She hoped it was Mickey returning from work earlier than planned. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
Two men appeared in the kitchen. Melanie must have sensed that something was wrong because she got up and walked over to her mum.
“What do you want” said Maria as she felt the panic run through her. “If it’s money I’ve got about two hundred pounds in cash. I’ll happily give you if you just leave us alone.”
One of the men moved towards her.
“Two hundred that’s a fucking insult;” he said arrogantly “your husband owes me more than that!”
“What do you want then? I can get more money; my husband will pay you whatever you want.”
Sensing the gang leader was not someone she could reason with, she begged them not to hurt the twins. Madeline was aware at that point something was wrong so she walked over to join her mum and Melanie. Maria put her arms round their shoulders as they began to cry.
“Oh I know your husband will pay what’s owed to me,” said the man “but for insurance we’re taking the kids.”
Maria was terrified, so were the twins as the man moved closer to them.
With the conviction of a lioness, Maria defiantly said “Don’t you touch my children!”
Her instinct was to protect them; pushing them behind her as she said, “You’re not taking my children anywhere!”
Slowly picking up the knife she’d been using for the vegetables, she rushed at the man. Being caught off guard, he put his hand up to protect his face as she lunged at him, stabbing him in the hand.
The other two intruders just stood and watched. The twins were screaming. The man looked at his hand.
“You fucking bitch,” he snarled as he slapped her hard across the face, sending her toppling backwards with the impact.
“Why did you do that bitch?” said the man aggressively.
“I told you, you’re not touching my children!”
“Wrong answer bitch!”
Knowing he wasn’t going to back down she ran at him again with the knife, but he grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard, pushing her towards the floor, forcing her to drop the knife. As she tried to regain her strength, he pushed something onto her chest, the pain was so excruciating she passed out.
The man ordered the twins to come with them. Madeline screamed and ran over to her mum, who was slumped on the floor.
“Mummy wake up!”
Her sister was hysterical.
“Shut up” shouted the man “or I’ll hurt you!”
Neither of them took any notice of him, they continued to scream. He ordered his two accomplices to put them in the van. The twins were kicking and screaming as they picked them up and carried them outside. The two men held them down in the back of the van, while the woman drove away.
After about twenty minutes, they let the twins sit up. The ring leader sounded threatening as he looked at them and said if they didn’t shut the fuck up, he would tie them up and gag them. They were terrified. Melanie just sat staring at them as she cried. Madeline held her sisters hand to comfort her.
“That’s better, now keep fucking quiet!” snapped the man.
Madeline stared at him.
“Stop staring at me you little bitch, I’m fucking warning you!”
“My Dad will find us,” she replied defiantly.
“I don’t think so, if he wants to see you two again, he won’t even look.”
They both started to cry, Melanie was shaking.
Obviously enjoying tormenting them he said if they gave him any trouble they’d never see their mum and dad again! The twins huddled together sobbing; it seemed to them that they had been driving a long time when the van stopped. The man opened the van and jumped out. Madeline watched as he opened a pair of huge wooden doors and then the woman backed the van in. Once she had parked, he closed the doors. The two men dragged the twins out and ordered them to keep quiet.
Madeline looked round the room, it was cold and damp. It reminded her
of the cellar at home where daddy kept the wine. Neither of the girls liked the cellar because there were spiders.
The ring leader opened a door which led into another room. There were no windows, only a table, chairs and an old mattress on the floor in the corner, which was damp from water dripping down the wall onto the edge of it. There was a rusty old fridge against one of the walls; next to it was a tin bucket. The twins were shivering, not just from the cold damp atmosphere, but from fear when the same man ordered them to sit on the mattress. Madeline led her sister over to it and they sat down, huddled together. The second man asked if they were cold. Madeline nodded. Looking over at the woman, he told her to fetch a blanket from the van. Arrogantly she told him to fuck off and get it himself. They argued then she said he wasn’t the boss, Spider was.
“You fucking stupid bitch,” said Spider as he slapped her face “I told you no names!”
She started crying as she said she was sorry and he ordered her to get the twins the blanket.
A few minutes later she returned with a dirty grey blanket which she threw at the twins. Madeline pulled it over her and her sister. The leader told the others to sit down as he leaned back on his chair and opened the fridge. Taking out a packet of biscuits, he began eating them. The others helped themselves as the twins just watched. The second and clearly nicer man looked at the twins and asked if they were hungry. They shook their heads.
Looking at him, the leader told him to ignore them; with luck they wouldn’t be there very long.
“Fuck me it was only a fucking biscuit! Look at them, they’re petrified, they’re only fucking kids!”
“I’m just saying don’t start feeling fucking sorry for them. If their dad pays up, they’ll be gone in a couple of days.”
Through sheer fear the twins fell asleep, only to be woken by a loud noise which seemed to make the room shake. The friendlier man told them it was only a train and nothing for them to worry about. Then he passed them a bottle of coke. Madeline thanked him as she took it from him. She offered it to her sister first.
It was just after six when Mickey returned from work. As he opened the front door he noticed that the house was unusually quiet, normally the twins would run to greet him. His first thought was they were probably with the ponies as Maria’s car was on the drive. Dropping his briefcase in the hall, he hung his jacket up. Making his way into the kitchen, he didn’t see Maria lying on the floor behind the table. It was only when he went to put the kettle on he spotted her. Rushing over to her, he knelt on the floor and scooped her up in his arms.
Although dazed and confused as she began to come round. Mickey asked if she was ok and what happened. Slowly realising it was his voice, struggling to get up she screamed, “Mickey they’ve taken the girls!”
“Who’s taken them, what are you talking about?”
She was hysterical as she tried to stand up; he helped her to her feet and sat her down on a chair.
“Who’s got the kids Maria?” he said repeatedly.
Barely coherent, she screamed back at him hysterically, it was his fault because he owed them money! Then he saw the knife on the floor, it had blood on it.
“Are you hurt babe, did someone hurt the kids?”
Not answering his question, she screamed at him to phone the police!
In all the confusion, they hadn’t noticed the envelope on the table with the name Mickey made up from newspaper letters that had been cut out. Picking up the envelope, he opened it. Crying and screaming she was still ranting about calling the police.
For the first time since they’d been together he lost his temper. Grabbing her by the shoulders he shook her.
“For fucks sake Maria calm down, I’m not calling anyone until I’ve read this!”
Suddenly she just stopped and sat there with her head in her hands. Sobbing she said she would die without her babies and she wanted them back now. Trying to comfort her, he put his arm around her as he opened the envelope. There was an A4 size sheet of paper inside, again it was written from newspaper cut out letters.
It read ‘if you want to see your kids again don’t call the Old Bill, if you do they’re dead, we will call you with instructions’.
As he read it out, she became hysterical again. Desperate for her to calm down he slapped her face and said he’d do whatever they wanted and he’d get the girls back, but he needed her to help him.
“I will never forgive you if anything happens to them Mickey!”
“I won’t let anything happen to them, I’ll give these people whatever they want!”
Still she screamed it was his was his fault! Looking angry he shouted that he didn’t owe anyone any fucking money! They would wait for the call and she should make a cup of tea.
“I don’t want fucking tea, I want my babies back! How could you let this happen Mickey? Why aren’t you doing something you would if it was Charlie!”
Devastated with what she’d said, his eyes filled with tears.
“How can you say that you know I love our girls, I’ll die for them if need be! I promise I’ll get them back or I’ll fucking die trying!”
Totally out of character, he burst into tears as he stood up and walked across the kitchen where he began to make tea. Watching him, she knew that he was deeply hurt and that he did love the twins as much as Charlie, but she had said it in the heat of the moment and now she deeply regretted it. She walked over to him. He hugged her tight, her beautiful eyes all blood shot and swollen.
“I’m so sorry Mickey, I know you love them, but I can’t live without them.”
Still tearful it was the same for him. He loved them too and he would get them back.
The phone rang, he rushed to answer it, he was gutted when he realised it was Father Benico, not wanting to draw attention to their situation; he tried to act as normal as possible. Father Benico asked him to tell Maria he would call round the following afternoon. Mickey made the excuse they wouldn’t be home; they were staying in London for a few days. He would get Maria to call him, but he was waiting for a very important call from America, so it may have to wait until tomorrow.
Father Benico accepted what he’d said and swiftly ended the call.
Looking over at Maria, she was clutching her stomach and rocking back and forth.
“We’ll get them back babe” he said kissing her head, “it’s got to be a mistake.”
Pitifully, she looked up at him, there was no mistake those people had taken her babies. Asking him not to lie, she said he must know what he’d done.
“Straight up babe, I don’t owe anyone.”
Unconvinced she snapped almost hysterically and said, “Well they obviously think you do!”
“Listen to me Maria, I need you to remember and tell me what they said and what they looked like.”
A few moments later, she gathered her composure and told him one of them was a woman, she delivered that bouquet. She pointed to the flowers on the work top. Immediately he walked over to them to see if there was a florists name on the wrapping, when there wasn’t, he asked her to continue.
“I told her to wait while I came in to get her a tip, I looked up and she was in here, then two men appeared.”
Squeezing her hand he reassured her she was doing great, he wanted to know what they looked like and what car they were driving.
“It was a white transit type van, but smaller, there was nothing written on it. The woman had dark brown shoulder length hair, she was about twenty five, very ordinary not pretty not ugly, just ordinary, quite tall and slim. The man who did the talking was horrible, but he was good looking, with short dark hair, like a skinhead. I suppose he was about thirty five; his eyes were cold. I remember him staring at me they were a bluey grey; he was about your height and build, very arrogant. I stabbed him in the hand, I tried to stop them, but I couldn’t. I offered him money; I told him I had two hundred in cash. That’s when he said you owed him more than that and he was taking the girls as insurance to make sure you paid.”
By that point in the conversation, she was crying hysterically as she told him the twins were terrified, they were crying!”
Squeezing her hand, he asked her to go on.
“I begged him not to hurt us, but he wanted to take the girl’s that’s why I stabbed him. He had a tattoo on his neck, but I couldn’t see what it was.”
He asked about the other man.
“I don’t remember him saying anything, but I do remember thinking that he looked nervous, unlike the other two. He was younger about thirty, taller than the other man and quite thin. His hair was short and spiky, fair I think. It all happened so fast and the girls were so afraid. I tried to stop them but he was so strong, then he held something against my chest and I passed out.”
When he asked what it was, she shook her head, she didn’t know. Mickey asked her to let him look to see if there was a mark. As she lifted her jumper, he noticed two red marks just above her bra, they were like tiny burns. He knew immediately that she had been zapped with a stun gun type weapon.
Standing up, he opened a cupboard draw and took out a writing pad. Sitting back down, he wanted to go over everything again while it was fresh in her mind. He had just begun to write when the phone rang.
He didn’t recognise the male voice that said, “Mickey Mann?”
After saying yes, but before he could say anything else, the man told him to shut the fuck up and listen.
“We have your kids, if you want to see them again listen carefully. We want one million in cash; we’ll have it in two lots of five hundred grand you’ll get one kid back when we get the first lot. I’ll call tomorrow with the details and if you call the Old Bill the kids are dead!” He hung up.
As Mickey repeated to her what had been said, she held her stomach. She felt physical pain. Again he tried to reassure her that everything would be alright. Her thoughts were to call Monica; she would know what to do. She could take finger prints and things.
“We can’t take the chance babe; they may be watching the house, just because she’s our friend that doesn’t alter the fact that she’s a detective. Her duty would be to report it. I know how it works Maria, if it’s someone who knows me we’ll just do what they ask.”