by Lym Cruz
“How did you get that?” Dr. Whitman asked. “How do you have access to—” She inhaled, containing herself. “You do know that what you did is a federal crime and—” She cut herself short realizing that was the least of her problems at the moment. “Let’s see what you got there.”
Ricky pressed play and the film showed a woman rolling Melissa out of the hospital in a wheelchair. Melissa was blacked out. The woman, in a nurse’s uniform, looked over her shoulder before exiting the building—she hesitated. That gave us a clear shot of her face.
“Who’s the nurse?”
“She’s … not a nurse,” Nurse Kelly murmured. Her brows furrowed. “This woman isn’t part of the staff.”
I inhaled, forcing myself to breathe and think. “Can you see which direction they went?”
“That’s where the problems start,” Ricky said, stroking the keys on his computer. “The cameras outside the building are down. I can try to snoop into cameras of nearby buildings and hopefully, we’ll get lucky.”
“Why are the cameras down?” Dr. Whitman asked the security.
“Maintenance ma’am,” he answered with an apologetic tone. “They’ve been down since yesterday morning.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, slamming my fists on the wall. Then I looked at Ricky pleading for him to miraculously make something happen. He had to find her.
“Already on it,” Ricky said, “I’ll do the best I can.”
I turned, rested my back against the wall.
Melissa’s mother was curled up in a corner of the room, hugging her legs, weeping desperately for her daughter. Anthony Alford couldn’t stand still. He was around the hospital searching for her. It was useless since we’d confirmed that she was taken.
A man in a black suit escorted by two uniforms came into the room. The chief’s office was growing crowded.
“Detective Miller,” the man introduced himself.
The chief of security briefed him, and shortly after, Melissa’s father came in. He broke down once he was told that Melissa was abducted. The detective then asked us a series of questions. I knew it was standard procedure but talking wasn’t going to bring her back.
“Do you know anyone who’d have any reason to take her?” The detective asked Anthony.
“What type of a question is that?” he quipped. “I’m a very rich man. I have many enemies.”
“I understand, but can you think of anyone in particular?”
“No,” He shook his head unable to remain still and paced back and forth. “I can’t. I don’t know. Who would take my child? My little girl?”
The detective turned to me. “What about you, Mr. Malcolm, you’ve recently become a very rich man yourself. Can you think of anyone who might want to hurt Melissa?”
I’d shuffled my brain and came up with nothing. “No.”
“We’ll put out alerts for her and the woman. We’ll have patrols searching the area and if any of you think of anything please let us know.”
“I got something,” Ricky announced. “No luck finding which way they went, but the abductor is Brittany Stello. She’s a receptionist at Horizon Dental Care.”
“Send me her home and work address,” I said, walking out of the room, but the policeman whose name tag read: Officer F. Duncan, blocked the exit.
“Wait, Andrew,” Anthony said, “I’m going with you,”
“Let the police handle this, Mr. Malcolm,” Miller said. “If we are considering this to be a kidnapping then her house or work is the last place she’ll go because it’s the first place we’ll search.”
“If I sit around here doing nothing, I will lose my fucking mind.”
“Let us help,” Anthony pleaded, “we’ll stay out of the way,”
“You can help by going down to the station and giving a proper statement about the accident and anything you can remember about this morning. You know that no detail is too small.”
“You can’t possibly expect me to sit around and do nothing,” I said.
“Mr. Malcolm, you know the law. Civilians are—”
Anthony cut him off before he could finish and yelled, “I’m not a civilian, I am her father. This is my daughter you’re talking about.”
Eventually, Detective Miller agreed with a heavy sigh. “I’m breaking so many rules by letting you come along so please do as you’re told and stay out of the way.”
Officer Duncan stepped aside and we ran down the corridor towards the elevator. Detective Miller was right behind us and we ended up sharing the lift to the ground floor.
We drove closely behind the detective to the address of a top floor vintage warehouse downtown. There wasn’t much to the place. Two policemen were searching through her things. Detective Miller told us not to touch anything.
Anthony and I glanced through the loft. There was a worn-out couch on a rug, television, a kitchen, a bathroom. What you’d expect but I overlooked it all. I was searching for anything that would connect her to Melissa or anything.
On the wall hung a portrait of Brittany and what seemed to be her family—parents, and siblings maybe. There was nothing about that picture or anything in the house that said she was a criminal. We’d learned that she had no priors. Not even an outstanding parking ticket.
“The neighbors say she hasn’t been here for about a week or probably longer,” One of the officers informed Detective Miller. “They say she’s kind, polite, keeps to herself. They’ve seen her sister here a few times but no one else.”
“Do we know who the sister is?” Detective Miller asked.
The Officer looked down at his notes. “We have a first name, Elaine or Ellis, according to the neighbors but our techs are looking into that as we speak, sir. About 5’5, slim, dark eyes, and dark hair.” Practically the same description as Brittany.
I pulled out my phone and typed a text to Ricky.
Andrew: She has a sister. Elaine or Ellis.
Ricky: I know. It’s Elaine. Sent you and detective Miller the GPS coordinates of her phone.
The Detective pulled the phone out of his pocket and frowned at the screen than glared at me. “Let’s go.”
Elaine was picked up at her job and taken to the precinct for questioning. Detective Miller wouldn’t allow us to go into the interrogation room but we were allowed to watch the interview from the other side of the two-way mirror.
Nothing Elaine was saying was useful. I was getting restless with her answers. She said she knew nothing about Melissa and had no clue why her sister would do such a thing.
“What about this new boyfriend you mentioned?” Detective Miller asked. “Have you ever met him? Do you know his name?”
“No … no.” She shook her head. “She said we’d meet soon. She was secretive about him and I didn’t find it odd because Brittany was never open about her relationships. I—I was giving her space. Detective my sister is a good person she would never do something like this.”
“My arse!” Anthony roared. “Good people don’t go around kidnapping others.”
“Mr. Alford,” the officer accompanying us warned, “please contain yourself or I’ll have to ask you to leave.” Anthony settled, sealed his mouth but his body was still trembling.
The detective continued asking Elaine questions, repeating the ones he’d already asked to make sure her answers were consistent and they were.
My phone vibrated. It was a text from Dave.
David: I’m outside.
The Interview wasn’t going anywhere, either she was a fantastic liar or she really had no idea what was going on. I chose the latter and left.
David was amid the chaos of the police station with my father.
“Any luck?” David asked.
“None. The sister doesn’t know shit.”
“I’ll keep my ear on the ground,” my father said. “I’ve reached out to some old friends of mine and if I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
My father volunteered to assist in the search for Melissa. Although I wanted
to believe his offer was genuine and he cared for Melissa, I couldn’t. My father wasn’t the caring type. Everything he did had a motive. However, this wasn’t the time to question his intentions. We needed all the help available and my father was well-connected.
“Thank you,” I said.
He nodded and David patted my back, offering support. “Stay strong. We’ll find her.”
Chapter 30
Melissa
My mouth tasted of the material around it sealing my lips shut—it was bitter. I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn’t see past the dark blindfolds. I attempted moving, but ended up wriggling on the seat I was set on. It held the odor of worn leather and grease. My hands were bound behind my back as were my ankles. I was in a car or some sort of vehicle—I felt the movements. It swerved to the right and moments later to the left.
Fear gripped my throat, it was engulfing, twisting inside of me and causing my body to quiver in the rhythm of my panic. I wriggled again, with more vigor this time, trying to free the bonds while muffled cries left my mouth. My feet hit something hard and the impact was noisy. I continued doing it hoping to catch the attention of whoever was driving.
Then I heard the voice of a woman whispering but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. It wasn’t a random voice. It was Nurse Brittany. Last I remembered, I was in the hospital and she gave me a shot. We were heading out the corridor towards the lab when my vision hazed and I felt sleepy thereon I was unable to recall anything else.
“It’s okay, Melissa, we won’t hurt you,” she said calmly. “It will all be over soon.”
I couldn’t relax. I panicked even more and continued to wrestle, wanting to slacken the grip of the restraints.
Abruptly, the car came to a halt. I continued whimpering frantically when I heard the click of a door opening, then it was fiercely slammed shut. Then I heard the click again but this time the door was closed with less effort.
Brittany wasn’t alone. The third time I heard the click of a door opening, someone grabbed my knees and lugged. This person was rough. I was hauled over the shoulder of who I assumed to be a man. I felt the warm sunlight past the thin hospital gown and we were on the move. He held on tight and although I fought it was useless.
We climbed a flight of stairs. Dust wafted up to my nose and I sneezed heavily. And the odor flowing from his body was made my gust twist. It was so familiar, like the reek I felt months ago by Andrew’s office.
Next thing I knew I was being dropped on what felt like a bed and a door crashed, startling me. I sensed the presence of another person in the room. The mattress dipped next to me and the blindfold was removed.
Blinking, I watched Brittany untie my hands. The moment I was free I leaped off the bed and ran for the door. Twisting the knob, I realized it was locked. I banged my palm against the wood and shouted at the top of my lungs for help.
“Melissa, it won’t help. No one can hear you.”
I ignored Brittany and continued crying for help. No one came. My head throbbed and my throat dried out until it hurt to utter another sound. Brittany was silent, probably waiting until the last of my energy extinguished.
Tired, but still clung at the doorknob, I sank to the floor and scanned the room for another escape. There were only four brick walls enclosing the tiny room and a bed with yellow covers.
“Where am I?” I murmured. “What do you want?”
“You’re hurt Melissa, you need to rest.”
“If … if it’s money that you want… call, call my father he’ll give you anything.”
“Don’t worry about that. Come lie down and I’ll get you something to eat.”
“I don’t want anything. I want to go home.”
“You will. Be patient and it will all work out.”
Incensed, a wave of irk rushed through me as Brittany sat on the bed looking down at me as if kidnapping a person was a relaxing walk on the beach. I pulled to my feet and launched at her. Brittany stood and easily secured my hands in hers when I tried to hit her. She was slightly shorter and slimmer but, at that moment, she was stronger. Her hands found my left side and she squeezed. I winced as an agonizing pain stabbed at my side. It hurt. I collapsed to the floor and she released me.
My heart was spiking. Curled on the ground, I took in as much oxygen as possible.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you but you need to calm down,” Brittany said and I glared at her. She stretched her hand out to me. “Let me help you lie down.”
I didn’t move.
She sighed. “Suit yourself. I’ll be back with something for you to eat and for the pain.” She walked to the door, took out a key from her pocket to unlock it and left.
Crawling, I recoiled from the pain on my ribs and moved towards the door. I reached for the handle and hauled myself up. I knew it would be locked but I had to make sure. And to my disappointment it was. Slogging, I went back and lay on the bed inert with tears running down my cheeks.
Hours ago, I was celebrating, happy that everything was going well and now here I was crying in pain from the accident; pain from losing my baby and dreading what was going to happen next.
Chapter 31
Andrew
The computer forensics set up their devices in the main living room of the Malcolm mansion, waiting for the perpetrator to establish contact or demand a ransom. My father convinced Anthony it would be better to have them here rather than at our apartment. I didn’t care where we were.
She’d been gone for over eight hours and we’d heard nothing.
All our phones were set up to track any calls received and every time a phone rang, we all jumped. But it was never whoever had Melissa. If money was what they wanted, I was willing to give everything I had. Every last cent in order to have Melissa back.
My father hadn’t heard anything relating to Melissa’s abduction either and no one knew who this Brittany Stello was or what her intentions were. Police questioned her parents, friends, and work colleagues but they all said she was wonderful and they hadn’t seen or spoken to her in about a week or so.
Ricky was unable to find out where they went. To his credit, he didn’t have much to go on. We didn’t know what type of car they were driving or how they’d left the hospital vicinity. He went through camera footages of surrounding establishments but there was no sign of Melissa or her abductor. Ricky went through Brittany’s social media accounts and found places she frequently posted pictures from but they were all dead ends. There was nothing about her new boyfriend. No one had ever seen him. It was as if he were a ghost.
Yasmin sat with my grandmother as she unsuccessfully tried to calm her down. My mother was somewhere around the house, doing God knows what. Comfort wasn’t her forte.
Two more hours went by… Melissa had been gone for ten hours. The torture was unbearable.
Then Anthony’s cellphone rang. We were all alert and eyeing him expectantly.
“The caller ID is blocked,” Anthony said, staring at the ringing phone in his trembling hands.
“Take it,” said the computer tech.
“Hello,” Anthony answered the call.
“How does it feel to lose someone you love?” said the voice coming from the other side of the line. The voice was distorted.
My pulse slowed down as I took deep breaths to calm it. This was it.
“Who is this? Where’s my daughter? What do you want?”
The computer technician signaled for Anthony to keep whoever was on the other line talking.
The voice laughed. It was a dry, cruel laugh. “I want to see you suffer. I want to watch your pain; see you cry for the rest of your life for someone you love because you will never see Melissa again. And Anthony, send my love to Yasmin.”
When he said the words, the ground was pulled from beneath my feet. I was sinking into a dark hole. There was no way I could live without seeing Melissa.
Anthony cursed all insults possible, but the voice continued laughing and eventually hung up
. With a roar, Anthony threw the phone across the room. It hit the wall and smashed the screen. Yasmin was in transit somewhere between reality and a terrible nightmare. She gazed blankly at Alice not deeming what she’d heard.
“We have an address,” said the computer forensics.
“Send a unit immediately,” ordered Detective Miller who was silent till then. “And none of you are going anywhere.” He pointed to me and Anthony. “It was very clear that this is personal and someone is out to get you, Mr. Alford. I need you and your wife to focus and think of anyone who has a vendetta against you. Recent or not. Someone who you’ve hurt, intentionally or not.”
“I—I don’t know,” Anthony murmured with tears wetting his face. “I can’t think of anyone who’d want to hurt me to the extent of taking my child.”
“Anthony,” Yasmin spoke softly. “The boys. Call the boys.”
“What boys?” Detective Miller asked.
“My sons.”
Anthony took his wife’s cell phone and made a quick call to their sons, updating them on the current situation. Detective Miller questioned Yasmin but she wasn’t of much help and I felt powerless not being able to help.
“Guys,” Ricky called for our attention. “Maybe this might help.”
He hit a button on his computer and replayed the phone call, this time the voice was clear. It was a man.
Yasmin screamed, collapsing to her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. “Dominic! Dominic!” she repeated the name. “It’s Dominic!”
Chapter 32
Melissa
Curled into a ball, I prayed that I would be found. My head wouldn’t stop pounding, but the distress of not knowing what these people wanted from me or where I was, was agonizing cruelty. How long I was there was unknown to me yet it felt like an eternity. There wasn’t a second, I didn’t revisit the time I’d spent with my loved ones. My family, my friends, and Andrew. God, Andrew.
