Kidnapped!
part 3
Sleepyside General Hospital
Trixie paced the small room, wall to wall. Waiting. Her clothes were muddy and dripping from her close encounter with Jim during his bout with unconsciousness. She shook her mud-caked curls, trying to forget the helpless fear that had taken over when Jim had collapsed, pinning her to the ground with his dead weight. It was a blur after that. The paramedics had pulled Jim off and brought him around. Both B.J. and Jim had been loaded into a second ambulance, leaving Trixie to drive the station wagon to the hospital.
She had arrived right behind them, following Jim into the E.R, refusing to leave until Jim himself asked her to. She had called both the Manor House and Crabapple Farm and allowed one of the nurses to lead her into this tiny room with the promise of dry clothing.
“It’s only a precaution,” she muttered to herself. “Jim is fine. It was just exhaustion, relief and...”
“Hyperventilation,” a voice provided. Trixie turned to see a young nurse carrying a bundle of cotton. “I’m Corrine,” she said, handing her the pile of clothes. “I’ve brought you some scrubs and a towel. This is our decontamination room, so it has a shower. I’m sure you’ll feel better after you clean up and get dry. Dr. Hall asked me to tell you that both your friends are fine.
Trixie slumped in relief. “Thank you,” she said, tears in her eyes. “Thank you.” Taking a deep breath, she inquired, “What about the driver?”
“She’s alive,” Corrine answered, “but that’s all I really know.” She flashed a sympathetic smile and left, pulling the door closed behind her.
Trixie stepped into the tiny bathroom and stripped off her wet clothes, dropping them into a pile on the floor. She turned on the shower and stepped into the warm spray. As the water washed away the mud, her tears streamed along with it, carrying away much of her tension and fear.
She was much calmer when she exited the shower, not to mention cleaner. Quickly, she pulled on a soft pair of green scrub pants and a matching shirt over her slightly damp undergarments, and pulled a comb through her wet hair. Feeling better, she started to fold her dirty clothes. A wad of paper fell out of her skirt pocket, and Trixie picked it up, shaking it out and smoothing the paper. Her eyes were drawn to the words on the page and widened as she read them, whispering, “Oh, no. No way.”
Saturday, September 14
1:57 a.m.
Spider had threatened to throw him in jail if he didn’t leave the school. Dan seethed in the passenger seat of his truck, eyes staring unfocused into the early morning darkness. Beside him, his father said nothing, concentrating on driving toward the hospital. Dan’s heart and mind were back at the high school where the search continued. If Tessa was there, somewhere, he had to find her. He needed to be looking, searching, not sitting here, driving away from the last place he had seen her.
He growled, a deep, low sound from his throat. Dan hadn’t even realized he was making any noise until his father reached out and touched his shoulder. Startled, he turned to the older man.
“You’re growling, Daniel,” Maypenny said gently. “I know you’re upset, but you need to keep control. I don’t think Spider was joking when he threatened to put you in jail.”
Dan’s temper boiled over. “Damn it!” he shouted. “Tessa is missing. Someone took her, and Spider won’t let me help look for her. Why, Dad? She’s out there, somewhere! I have to find her! I have... I...” His voice broke, and he turned back to the window, his shoulders shaking.
Maypenny jerked the truck over to the edge of the road and put it into park. Reaching across the seat, he pulled Dan into a hug. “It’s okay, son. We’ll find her. That little girl of yours is tough and resourceful. Right now, you need to take care of yourself, so you can think clearly. I’m here. We’re all here. We’ll find Tessa.”
Dan struggled to regain control of his emotions but finally just gave in and allowed himself to be comforted.
By the time Dan and Maypenny arrived at the hospital, Trixie had already been informed of her cousin’s disappearance. She ran to Dan, fiercely hugging him and deliberately ignoring his red-rimmed eyes. His arms circled her automatically, drawing strength from her petite form. Pulling away, her blue eyes bright, Trixie told him, “I might have a clue.”
She led Dan to a chair and pushed him into it, handing him a letter. He looked at her in confusion, and she said, “B.J. had it. Read it.”
Dan did.
Dear Little Brother,
I talked with Derek. He told me all about your new life. Good job getting tight with Manny. I still have some business to settle with him. I have a hearing in a few weeks, and I expect to be heading your way. We can have some good times with our old friends.
Your bro,
Luke
“B.J?” Dan rose unsteadily to his feet, his face pale. “How...?”
“He was there. At the accident.” Trixie gripped Dan’s arm. “B.J. went into the water after the driver, but then he had an asthma attack.”
“B.J. had this?” Dan asked. “This note?”
Trixie nodded. “It was in his jacket pocket. It fell out when I was looking for his inhaler. I found it again when I was changing. Do you think Luke had something to do with Tess? I mean, I didn’t know about Tess when I read it, but it sort of freaked me out. I didn’t know he was out.”
“He’s not,” Dan stated that fact without hesitation. “They would have told us if he was, because Dad was one of his victims. He shouldn’t be out. He can’t be out.” He shook his head, trying to make sense out of the situation. “I need to talk to B.J.”
“They admitted him, because of the asthma. They’re keeping Jim, too, but they’re okay. Both of them.” Trixie squeezed Dan’s hand. “I’m sure you can see him in the morning. I mean, later in the morning.” She hesitated. “I already showed the letter to Daddy. He’s been on the phone with Uncle Andrew, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Hart. They’ve called in the FBI.”
“Are they looking at the Cowhands?” Dan felt his stomach lurch. Please, God, don’t let Luke have Tessa.
Trixie shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I do know that we’ll find her. You believe that, right?”
“Yeah.” Dan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have to believe it.” He looked into Trixie’s blue eyes and whispered, “I have to.”
Sleepyside Junior-Senior High School
Saturday, 2:17 a.m.
Officer Lloyd Parker closed the door to the chemistry lab and joined his partner, Carl Dejardin across the hall. “Nothing in here,” he said. “What’s in there?”
“Old auditorium and lecture hall,” Carl replied. “It’s being used for storage. Nothing but dust and broken furniture. I have the key to the under-stage storage area too. Are we done with this wing?”
“Yeah. What all is downstairs?”
“Storage, woodshop, metal shop and the ag science labs.” He led the way to the stairs, sweeping the corners with his light as they descended. “I spent a lot of happy hours in the woodshop, back in the day.”
“Local boy,” Lloyd teased, as he followed Carl out into the lower hall.
“And proud of it,” Carl responded. “Here we go.” He looked at the chains looped around the double doors, the padlock dangling from the middle. He popped the lock and unwound the chain, the door squealing in protest as he pulled it open. Flashlights shining, they stepped inside. Boxes filled the space from wall to wall.
“Where does all this junk come from?” Lloyd inquired. “There must be a zillion boxes in here.”
“Probably,” Carl agreed, explaining, “School property is taxpayer owned. When stuff wears out or expires, like old textbooks, the school can replace them, but they can’t throw away the old stuff because it belongs to ‘the people’. So, they store it. There’re probably books down here that are older than you, partner.”
“That seems ridiculous.”
“It is,” Carl agreed. “But that’s how education works, I guess.”
“Do you see anything here?” Lloyd asked. He called out in a loud voice, “Is anyone in here?”
No answer.
“Guess not,” Carl replied. They stepped out of the storage room and began re-locking the doors. “Let’s try the woodshop next. There used to be lots of places to hide in there.”
“You would know,” Lloyd joked as they headed for the shop.
“Yes, indeed,” was the reply.
Sleepyside Hospital
5:30 a.m.
Jim gasped for air and sat up in the bed, his eyes tightly closed against the water trying to suck him under.
“Whoa, there,” a familiar voice broke through his fog. “You’re okay, Jim.”
“Dan?” Jim opened his eyes to see the shadow of his friend sitting next to his bed.
“Yeah.” Dan turned on the light.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, it was either sitting here, going home and not sleeping, or having Molinson lock me up. This was the best option.” Dan spoke the words bitterly.
“What?” Jim tried to clear his head. “Why would Molinson put you in jail?”
“It’s a long story. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Jim answered shortly. “I didn’t want to stay, but the doctor insisted. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
“Tessa. She’s gone.”
“Gone? Gone how?” Jim’s confusion was obvious.
“Kidnapped, they think,” Dan explained slowly, his voice quavering a little. “She was in the bathroom with Tad’s girl, Marnie. Marnie was hit in the head and drugged, but the guy who took Tess left Marnie.”
“A guy?” Jim asked. “Just one?”
“That’s what Marnie said,” Dan told him, “but a couple of people said they saw Marnie and Tess walking out of the school. They said that Tessa was crying. But Marnie was still in the bathroom, so I don’t know...” He broke off. “I just don’t know. I’m afraid that Luke has her.”
“I thought he was on Riker’s,” Jim said.
“So did I.” Dan grimaced. “Molinson’s checking.”
“Let me guess,” Jim mused. “You were all over Molinson. That’s why he threatened to lock you up.”
Dan shook his head. “Actually, it was Spider who threatened to arrest me first. Molinson made his feelings known after I showed him the note.”
“Note?”
Dan nodded. “Trixie found a note from Luke to B.J. Luke claimed he’d be out soon and that he and I have unfinished business.”
“Trixie found it?”
“Yeah. She gave it to me. I gave it to Molinson, and one thing led to another...”
“You lost your temper.”
“A little. So, now, I’m benched. They won’t let me search. I can’t sleep. So, I thought I’d wait here with you--fill you in and stuff.” Dan shrugged. “So, now, you’re filled in.”
“What can I do?” Jim asked, grasping Dan’s arm.
“You can get out of here and join the search team.”
“Of course.” Jim shook his head. “I meant, what can I do for you?”
Dan’s eyes were sad. “I don’t know, Jim. I don’t know.”
Author Notes
Thanks to my lovely and often overworked editors, MaryN, Susan and Wendy.
Luke was the leader of the Cowhands. He is not and never has been a nice person. He is highly vengeful. B.J. is Luke’s half brother. After Luke was arrested, their mother died and B.J --previously known as Benny-- went to live with his father and grandmother in Sleepyside. I wrote about him in Spring Dance.
Schools (at least on the West Coast) have to warehouse their outdated and broken materials. At certain times, items may be auctioned or sold, but there are hoops to jump through, so more often than not, they are stored. One year, the old auditorium was stacked almost eight feet high with discarded textbooks.