Unnerved by the words, she folded the paper and replaced it in the envelope. She wanted her nightmare to end. She buried her face in her hands and silently wept, unable to comprehend what her life had suddenly become.
* * * *
Nick finished packing the rest of his things in his duffle and rushed out of the door, still amazed that he hadn’t been found. He’d planned on getting out of town as fast as possible, but when he’d passed near Kelsey’s apartment and seen the police activity, he’d had a change in plans.
He hurried into the alley where his bike was parked. After securing his duffle, he pulled out his phone and punched in the number.
“Yeah, it’s me. I don’t have much time, so listen. I’m leaving Brookfield. I’m gonna pitch this phone, but I’ll contact you when I can. I may need your help.”
“You got it, Nick. I’ll do whatever you need, you know that,” the woman responded.
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“You take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will,” he said and switched off his phone. He dropped it to the ground, and, with a powerful stomp with the heel of his boot, he smashed it to bits. After sweeping the pieces from the ground and tossing them into a nearby dumpster, he hopped on his bike and headed out of town.
He was a man on a mission.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Come in!”
Ronald entered the cluttered office. “Ms Langer, thank you for agreeing to see me on such short notice.”
“No problem, Captain. Have a seat, please. What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to speak to you about my brother.”
“I’d assumed as much.”
“Ms Langer, it’s been six days now. Why are you insisting he be held without bail?” Ronald tried to keep his temper in check. Since Bart’s arrest, Ronald’s family, Faith most significantly, had been hounding him to speak with the DA about having Bart released. He’d been confident she’d allow bail, but as time went on, he was beginning to believe that wasn’t going to happen. Ronald didn’t like to use his position for special favours, but the DA wasn’t giving him an option. He had to intervene.
“He’s a flight risk,” she answered very matter-of-factly.
“A flight risk? Are you serious? Bart’s lived here his entire life. His family lives here. He worked in our pop’s market from the time he could walk. He went to the academy right after graduating from the local college. He’s worked on the force for six years, becoming a decorated detective in that short time. His brother is a captain on the force and his wife is also an officer. He owns a home not five miles from here. Flight risk? You have got to be kidding me!” Realising his voice had gradually risen in volume and he was now standing directly in front of her desk, Ronald took a breath and backed away in an effort to compose himself.
“Exactly why he’s a risk, Captain,” Leslie responded. “I’m sure he has many friends on the force who would turn a blind eye. He’s probably got more connections than you know.”
“You’ve got to be joking. So you’re really going to keep him locked up? For how long? Until his trial?”
“If necessary, yes.”
Ronald could see the determination in her eyes. She wasn’t going to budge—at least not now. “Well, then, perhaps I need to speak with Judge Sampson.”
“Captain,” she said in an authoritative tone mixed with irritation, “I understand finding out your brother has been accused of such a terrible breach of trust must have come as a huge shock, but I’m afraid your personal feelings are clouding your judgement. I made my argument with Judge Sampson as to why Detective Kapman should be held without bail and he obviously agreed with me. You aren’t involved in the investigation, nor are you in a position to make any demands of me, so I’d appreciate it if you would stay out of my way.”
Ronald didn’t move a muscle when she stood, seemingly squaring up for battle. Her reputation had preceded her, but until that moment he hadn’t seen the barracuda everyone claimed her to be. “Bart doesn’t deserve to be in there. And I intend to prove it.”
“Good day, Captain.”
Ronald gave her one more intense glare before leaving her office, slamming the door behind him.
Not much more can go wrong.
His brother was in jail, his sister was missing—for the second time—and he was powerless to do anything about either. He had to get a break soon.
* * * *
Kelsey had lost track of how much time had passed while cooped up in that room. Had it been five days or six? “What difference does it make?” she whispered to herself as she made herself comfortable to begin reading yet another book. If she was honest with herself, the first couple of days hadn’t been nearly as horrible as she’d expected. As busy as her life had been, she’d had little or no time to relax, and reading had always been a favourite pastime. With the assortment of books provided on the neatly stacked bookshelves, she’d had no problem finding several that piqued her interest. She’d lost herself in tales of adventure and romance for hours, forgetting where she was and the danger that could present itself at any moment.
But now several days had passed and the enjoyment was long since over. To a woman who was eternally busy, the stillness and quiet were beginning to drive her crazy. She craved something to keep her busy besides the sea of books standing in the corner.
After reading the same sentence for the third time, she shut the book and tossed it aside. She was just about to scream in frustration when she heard the familiar beeping of the door lock, alerting her to her captor’s presence.
As was the norm, the ominous man entered the room without a sound, carrying her tray of food. She thought of the mismatched eyes of the man who had visited during her first abduction, and suddenly this man’s dark sunglasses intimidated her all the more. She had no idea if or how he was looking at her. She’d always believed eyes are the windows to the soul, but with his hidden, she was left to wonder what his intentions were, and that frightened her more than anything.
He said nothing as he walked his normal path to the table and set down her food. When he had finished, he looked around the room, she assumed so he could make sure everything was as it should be, then began to walk back out.
“Um…excuse me…” she said timidly when he reached the door.
He didn’t speak, but turned his head towards her.
“I…I was wondering,” she began, trying to summon the courage to speak to him, “if I could have some paper and a pen? Just… Just to pass the time?”
He made no indication of anything and again turned to leave.
“Oh, and…”
He stopped, keeping his back to her but turning his head to indicate that he was listening.
“Could I have the key to the treadmill? I…could use a little exercise.”
He waited, perhaps to see if she was finished, before silently walking out of the door, locking it tightly behind him.
Kelsey exhaled a nervous breath once she was sure he was gone. It terrified her to speak with him, but she had to do something about her boredom or she would surely go insane. She was left, however, with no idea if she would find relief.
The wonderful smells wafting from the table caught her attention and her stomach rumbled at the thought of a good meal. She had to admit, the food was far superior to what she was used to. She could only assume there was a chef working in the kitchen.
She sat alone, once again, to eat her lunch. Though the food she’d been served during her imprisonment was delicious, it did little to offset the feeling of isolation that was beginning to wear on her. Her appetite quelled with the thought that her life was in someone else’s hands.
* * * *
Nick angrily walked out of the convenience store, mumbling under his breath. Another dead end. He’d been searching for days and had come up with absolutely nothing. He wasn’t sure where to go next, but he wasn’t going to give up. Kelsey’s life depended on it.
He pulled his new phone from his pocket and dialled as he lifted his leg over his bike.
“Yeah, it’s me. You get my new number?”
“I got it,” the woman answered.
“Any word?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry.”
Nick dropped his head into his hand. “Come on, there has to be something. A person doesn’t just disappear into thin air!”
“Did you check the usual spots?”
“I’ve asked every gas station clerk, drug store cashier and fry cook in a ten-mile radius. No one has seen anything.”
“Are you coming back?”
“I can’t. I have to stay out of town. I show my face in Brookfield and Ronald will make sure I’ll be sitting in the cell beside Bart.”
“He’s in solitary, you know.”
“Is he doing okay?”
“Fine, from what I hear.”
“Good. Look, I gotta keep moving. Let me know as soon as you hear, okay?” he asked confidently, trusting word would come sooner rather than later.
“You be careful, Nick.”
“I will. I’ll be in touch.”
* * * *
Gianelli tightened the belt on his robe as he walked away from the two used women lying naked on his bed. “That was great, ladies, thank you. Clean yourselves up and leave.”
As he closed the door, he was approached by his henchman, TJ. “Mr Gianelli,” he said, “I’m afraid we’ve found no sign of Miss Braden.”
“She’s got to be somewhere. Keep looking,” Vincent replied, now in a much better mood since taking the edge off.
“Yes, sir. Oh, and sir, we found out Mr Romano was released today.”
“Perfect. Thank you. Any word on the case against Kapman?”
“Nothing has been said. We know they’re keeping him in isolation.”
“Damn. Have someone watch him. As soon as you can get to him, take him out. I have no further use for him.”
“Yes, sir,” TJ said before walking away to follow his boss’s instructions.
Vincent headed for the shower. “One more loose end tied up.”
* * * *
Ronald had barely made it back to his office when his intercom chimed. “Yeah, Kapman here.”
“Captain, there is a gentleman here to see you. Says he’s FBI.”
“FBI? Okay. Send him in.”
Ronald watched as a serious-looking gentleman walked through his door and closed it behind him. He was non-descript, early thirties, average height, average weight, though seemingly in good shape. Perhaps his common appearance worked to his advantage in his profession, but Ronald certainly expected more from a special agent.
“Captain Ronald Kapman?”
Ronald rounded his desk to greet the man. “Yes,” he said, extending his hand, “Can I help you?”
“Special Agent Timothy Fota, FBI,” he said as he held up his badge for Ronald to inspect. “I’d like to speak with you regarding Vincent Gianelli.”
“Gianelli? What about him?”
Tim made a motion for them to sit. “I’ve been involved with the investigation of Vincent Gianelli for several years. I understand the officer who is being held for tampering with evidence against Ernesto Romano is your brother.”
“Yes, he is,” Ronald said dryly, unsure what to make of this man sitting across from him.
“I’d like to see the case file against Detective Kapman, if you don’t mind.”
“I’m sorry, Agent Fota, but I’m not one of the officers assigned to the case. Perhaps you should talk to one of them, or even the DA, Leslie Langer.”
Tim paused, shifted forward in his chair, and gave a quick glance to the closed door behind him. “Are we alone here?”
“Yes. This office is secure.”
“Captain, I’ve heard good things about you from very reliable people. I’m not here just to enquire about your brother. We have some common goals and I believe we can help each other out.”
“Help each other? How?”
“What if I told you I know where your sister is?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
After missing Ronald at the station Tuesday morning, Faith parked her car in the driveway of his house. She was still trying to get past the shock of her overly devoted brother-in-law leaving work in the middle of the day when she walked up the sidewalk towards the bright red front door.
“Faith. What are you doing here?” Ronald’s wife asked when she answered the doorbell.
“I’m sorry to barge in, Marissa, but I need to speak with Ronald right away. Is he around?”
“He’s in the yard. Go on back. I was just on my way to the store.”
“Oh, my car isn’t blocking you, is it?”
“Nope, you’re fine. I’ll see you later, okay?”
Faith nodded with an attempt at a smile as she headed through the house and out of the back door. As Marissa had said, Ronald was busy in the backyard, aggressively working a pair of hedge clippers against the overgrown bushes on the side of the house.
If it was anyone but Ronald, she wouldn’t have given this picture a second thought. Anyone who worked as hard he did was perfectly entitled to take some time off, to leave work early to do something he enjoyed every once in a while. But this was Captain Ronald Kapman, super cop, and he didn’t take time off—especially when his sister was missing and his brother was jailed.
“You want to explain this to me?” Faith barked when she finally stood behind him.
Ronald spun around, apparently startled by the sudden interruption. “Ah, Faith. Don’t do that. You scared the hell out of me.” He walked to the patio and set down the shears before taking a nice long drink of the beer he had sitting on the table. “You want one?”
“What? No, I don’t want a beer. I want some answers. What the hell are you doing here and why aren’t you at the station?”
“That seems to be the same question, doesn’t it?”
His flippant attitude was doing nothing more than angering her further. She stomped up the steps to the patio. “Well? Answer me.”
“I took an afternoon off. I’m sorry if you needed something.”
“If I needed something? Excuse me, can I talk to Captain Ronald Kapman, please? He’s the man who is married to his job and would never dream of leaving anything unfinished.”
“I just needed a couple of hours, okay?”
“What about Kelsey? She’s out there somewhere, Ronald! No one’s seen her for a week and you needed a couple of hours? What about Bart? Don’t you think he’d rather be home trimming his hedges instead of locked in a six by nine cell?”