by R E Swirsky
CHAPTER 42
Tuesday 12:35 Near Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Tawnie’s scream erupted from the car speakers, startling Michelle who was behind the wheel. The car veered right towards the ditch before a quick correction brought it back straight into the lane.
“Dad!” She screamed again. “Oh my God, Dad! Oh no…they’re gone. He’s gone! Oh my God!”
She was crying and screaming at the same time.
“Calm down, Tawnie. What happened?”
Michelle slowed the car and pulled over, letting the two right tires drop off the shoulder into the gravel.
“They took Michael. A big black truck. Oh my God…I’m scared, Dad!”
“Slow down, Tawnie. Who took Michael?”
She cried out hysterically again. “I don’t know! Some men!”
“What men?”
“I don’t know! I’m so scared!” She fluttered hysterically again. “I was in my room and heard a big crash downstairs! Michael started shouting at someone to ‘get out’ and then to let him go. He screamed my name over and over, calling me to come help him. I ran downstairs but he was already outside being pushed into the back seat of a truck.”
“Back of a truck? What are you talking about?”
“I mean an SUV thingy. A big truck, but with the high part that goes all the way back…Dad, what do I do? Are you coming back?”
“We’re on our way.” Richard nodded at Michelle and waved his arm urging her to get the car back on the road and head for home. “Tell us everything, Tawnie. Tell us everything you saw.”
“The kitchen table is tipped over, and I think they broke a chair, Dad. I’m so scared!” She wailed into the phone again.
“Take it easy, we’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“The men came in the house and dragged Michael out the back. Please hurry! Please!”
Michelle stepped hard on the gas. The right rear wheel spun out, kicking a tower of gravel into the air as she pulled back onto the highway. The gravel sounded like gunfire as the stones pinged and banged off the rocker panel and inside the wheel well. “Someone kidnapped, Michael? Is that what you’re saying, Tawnie?”
“Yes! Yes! That’s what I’m saying! Some guys came in and grabbed Michael! Oh my God. Dad, they grabbed him! Hurry, please! They had something over his head, a coat or bag, and his arms were pulled behind his back.”
“You’re sure it was Michael you saw being shoved in the truck?”
“Yes, yes! Of course it was Michael! He’s gone!”
“We’ll be there as quickly as we can.” He shot his eyes over to the speedometer. “C’mon, Michelle, let’s go!”
“Should I call 911, Dad? Should I?”
Richard didn’t know what to do. “No, not yet.”
“Please, Dad, what am I supposed to do?”
“Just stay calm, and don’t touch anything. Understand? Don’t touch a thing.”
“They were wearing gloves and things, you know, those things, black things with the holes.…”
“Black things with holes?”
“Balaclavas! They had them on their heads.”
“I still don’t want you to touch anything. We’ll be back home right away. Did you see which way they turned?”
“Nuh-uh. I ran back upstairs and hid. I hid in my closet until I was sure they’d gone away. I’m sorry, Dad. I should have looked to see. I’m so sorry!” She cried some more.
“It’s okay, Tawnie. You’re safe. How many of them were there?”
“I don’t remember. Two at least, plus the driver.”
“Did they have weapons? Guns or anything?”
Tawnie continued to wail.
“Tawnie? Did they have weapons?”
“I don’t know…I don’t know. Hurry, please.”
