“Me neither,” Melissa whispered. She kept her eyes on Andy as he circled around the far end of the dental chair and sat on it sideways, facing them.
“What’s the game this time?” asked the woman to Melissa’s left.
“First things first. Have you met each other?” Andy looked at each of them briefly. Receiving no answer, he performed quick introductions. “As I said, Mel’s my sister. Jenn is Sam’s sister, and Natasha’s the survivor from the three I came across in New York,” he concluded.
Natasha snorted.
“Kidnapped. The word you’re looking for is ‘kidnapped.’ And who’s Sam?”
“Andy, why are you doing this?” Melissa suffered no illusions he’d give her a straight answer, but she had to try anyway. “Let them go.”
“Sam’s an FBI agent,” Jenn explained. “He’s been investigating these cases. He’s also Melissa’s boyfriend.”
Melissa shook her head wearily.
“Ex-boyfriend,” she corrected. “He sent me a message yesterday with that news.”
Jenn shook her head emphatically.
“I don’t believe it. He’s crazy about you, and I would know if he planned on breaking up. He stinks at keeping stuff like that in.”
Melissa wanted to believe her, but she was having a hard time wrapping her mind around anything.
“I’ll bet he did it,” Natasha said, glaring at Andy.
It took several moments for Melissa’s brain to catch up to the implication.
“Andy?” Melissa emphasized the question with a pleading stare, not knowing which answer she wanted.
He nodded once.
“He had to go, Mel. If this goes our way, we’re leaving this place. We’ll start over somewhere else. I’ll find you somebody new.”
Her head reeled from the influx of information.
“You don’t simply find people like Sam,” Melissa said.
Andy tilted his head in a thoughtful manner.
“I suppose we could bring him too, if you want.”
“No!” The protest sprang out with force from both Melissa and Jenn.
“Forget about him,” Melissa urged her brother. She would never forget Sam, but the less Andy thought about him, the better. “Where are we going?”
Andy held up a hand in a stopping motion.
“We have to win first,” he announced.
“And if you lose, you die,” said Natasha. Her tone was as cold as deep space.
“Not necessarily,” Andy countered. He stood up to begin his explanation. “I’m going to release you one at a time. You’re going to each receive a Spectacular Sevens lottery ticket. The winner chooses who sits out the round. If nobody wins, everybody gets a turn.”
“Even you?” asked Natasha. “I think you should play. It’s only fair.”
Andy ignored her and carried out his plan of distributing lottery tickets. Melissa couldn’t fathom why the ticket ritual meant so much to Andy, but it kept everybody alive a few moments more. She used the time to compose arguments and sort options. She wanted to survive this, but part of her felt guilty for Andy’s actions. Fighting him would likely get all of them killed. Going along with his game would only doom one of them supposedly. If she could get him to leave with her, the other two might have a chance. The devotion in his eyes looked genuine.
“Your turn, Mel,” said Andy.
He unlocked the cuffs and lowered her arms down to her lap. His touch was light and gentle. A lottery ticket appeared in her hands along with a quarter. Melissa read the directions as slowly as possible. It had a slot machine theme. If one obtained three like symbols, they would win the prize for that row. Getting three sevens in a row would net the top prize of ten million dollars. Feeling Andy’s intense gaze linger, Melissa moved the quarter across the ticket, carefully scratching every corner until the entire thing was clear.
She lost. A glance at the other two said they’d lost too.
“Guess everybody gets a turn,” said Andy, as he returned Melissa’s hands to the cuffs attached to the wall. “Except me. I have to run the game.”
Melissa was absolutely certain she didn’t want to know the game he had in mind. That feeling intensified when he reached into one of the cargo pants pockets and pulled out a small revolver and a single bullet.
Chapter 43:
Trespassing Triumph
Farm
Florence, New Jersey
Sam Kerman’s heart leapt when he saw Mel’s car parked at the end of the massive driveway. Several other vehicles occupied the lot as well. He’d spent most of the drive rehearsing things to say. The two messages from Mel made it clear she was upset, and he felt bad about that even if none of the trouble was his doing. Before getting out, Sam took a moment to get into his Matchmaker Miracles account and find the message sent from there. It made him want to punch something, but first, he needed to speak with Mel.
He also remembered to call Gill. As he pulled up the kid’s number, another call came in. The caller ID said Easttown Police Department. Sam couldn’t think of an immediate reason for that particular department to call him, but he decided it must be important for them to bother on a Sunday. Accepting the call, Sam identified himself and inquired about the caller’s purpose.
“Agent Kerman, this is Lieutenant Owen Marsh of the Easttown Police Department. I received a request from the county offices to look into an abandoned parking lot in my jurisdiction.”
“Yes, I made that request,” said Sam. “That was fast.” For some reason, that told him the news wouldn’t be good.
“My officers found an abandoned Elantra in the lot that traces back to a Jennifer Kerman. Any relation?”
“My sister.”
“They also found a young woman pumped full of drugs and left for dead, but she doesn’t match your sister’s picture. That was confirmed when they broke into the car to retrieve the purse on the front passenger seat. They thought it might have a clue as to what the unconscious woman took.”
Sam’s heart lurched as the news washed through him. Guilt, relief, and anxiety flooded him with adrenaline.
“One of my officers thought the woman looked familiar. I don’t have a positive ID yet, but she looks an awful lot like one of those women kidnapped from New York a few weeks back. I’m only telling you this because I’m aware you’re working on that case.”
“Thank you. Would you like me to call the Tenafly PD, and can you get an all-points bulletin prepped for my sister?”
“Already done on both accounts, sir,” said Lieutenant Marsh. “The parents and husband are on the way to Paoli Hospital now, but before you go, there’s one more thing. A witness thinks he saw someone get into a white van. He was on a bike too far away to see much, but he reported it because he thought kids might be drinking in the abandoned lot again.”
After thanking the officer a second time, Sam double checked that the man had posted a competent guard on the survivor and ended the call. He debated who to contact next. His mother would want to have the update about Jenn, but he also needed to alert his people of the latest development. SAC Hatcher wouldn’t be pleased that he was so far out of pocket, but he’d get things done.
“What now, Kerman?”
It wasn’t the warmest welcome, but Sam spilled his news anyway starting with Jenn being missing, tracking her phone to the lot, and the police finding a half-dead woman there.
“If you’re asking me to watch over things here, that means you’re not available to do it,” said Hatcher. “This begs the question: why aren’t you here?”
“I’m following another lead, sir,” Sam said, wincing at how pathetic that sounded. His eyes fell on the white van parked on the other side of Mel’s car. Inspiration slammed into him. “It’s a long shot, but I have some license plates for you to check.”
His boss growled at that announcement but barked out an order to read him the numbers.
Exiting his car as fast as physically possible, Sam jogged to the van. The slamming car
door prompted a chorus of furious dog barks. Sam filed the information in the back of his mind. The back license plate was caked with a thick layer of mud, so he checked the front plate. That too wore a coat of mud.
“Kerman?”
“One moment, sir,” said Sam. Wishing he’d worn something besides dress shoes, Sam kicked at the front license plate until clumps of mud thudded to the ground. When the prize revealed itself, Sam rattled it off to his boss. On a hunch, he checked the Dodge Ram and the Ford Explorer. After giving them the same kicking treatment, he conveyed these license plate numbers to his boss as well.
“Who do you think they’re going to come back to?” Hatcher inquired.
“Don’t know, sir,” Sam admitted. His eyes swept over the paved lot. Although many cracks spoke of neglect, he saw no immediate explanation for the mud.
“Where are you anyway?”
“I’m at a farm in Florence, New Jersey,” said Sam. Knowing Hatcher, he was standing over a computer screen displaying his phone’s GPS. “My girlfriend’s around here somewhere. When you told me to lay low for the rest of the weekend, I figured I’d come here and smooth out a misunderstanding.”
Hatcher’s grunt managed to be neutral.
“Where are Fuller and Hill?”
“This was a spur of the moment trip. I didn’t tell them.” Sam felt slightly guilty over that now.
“Well, get back as soon as you can. I want you at Paoli Hospital interviewing that survivor the second the doctors can get her lucid.”
“Will do, sir. This shouldn’t take long. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”
Having covered everything he needed to, Sam closed out the conversation and pulled up his mother’s number. Before he could touch the button to place the call, a male voice spoke from behind.
“Put the phone down and get your hands up.”
Sam started to turn.
“Eyes straight ahead,” snapped the man.
Without knowing if the man had anything to back up the order, Sam followed the instruction. He placed the phone on the ground and raised his hands.
“I’m an FBI agent,” Sam said evenly. “I can explain my presence.”
“I know who you are.” The bitterness in the tone sounded like it had deep roots.
Sam knew he was being given too much credit, but he kept his mouth shut figuring he ought to try to learn something before getting shot.
“I’m here looking for someone.”
“Mel’s inside,” said the man. “We can go meet her as soon as you give me your gun.”
“Everything to this point can be explained as a misunderstanding,” Sam said, “but if I hand over my gun based on a threat, you’ll have broken half a dozen federal laws. Do you really want to do that?”
The question earned a derisive snort.
“If we don’t hurry, he’s likely to kill Mel, so if you want to speak with her again, give me your gun right now.”
Sam reluctantly followed the directive.
“Good. Now, walk into the house, nice and slow.”
Turning, Sam stepped on his phone as he moved toward the front door.
“Get away from the phone,” ordered the man.
When Sam was a few paces from the phone, he heard a crunching noise. He winced. The bean counters were going to love the explanation for this expense. He hoped he lived long enough to tell them the tale.
Sam and his escort made their way inside with the man calling out directions from a safe distance away. As they turned a corner, his peripheral vision showed him the man’s gun, which was different from the one Sam surrendered. Strangely, knowing the threat was real made Sam feel better. It cleared up a lot of the indecision about how to treat this guy.
“Go down the stairs to the basement.”
“I’m going to give you one last chance to change your mind, then all bets are off,” Sam said with a false sense of calm.
A shove in the back answered his offer.
Sam nearly took the stairs headfirst, but he caught his balance at the last moment and eased his way down. The sound of Mel’s voice made him rush down the final three steps.
“Let them go, Andy. This isn’t right.”
A hand caught his shoulder and hauled him to a stop.
“Wait,” ordered the man. “I want to hear this.”
Sam listened hard.
“It has to be this way. I need to know if I’m called to continue this work. Psycho67 said this would be a definitive test. If you live, I’ll have my answer and can continue the work.”
Sam couldn’t place the male voice Mel had called Andy.
“And if I die?” asked Mel.
“I’ll move on,” said the man.
“What does that mean?” The question sounded like it came from Jenn.
The realization moved through Sam like ice water. Forgetting the man behind him, he rushed forward into the next room. The strange sight brought him up short next to a large dental chair. Mel sat against the far wall with her hands caught in metal cuffs above her head. Jenn and a new woman flanked her in stiff wooden chairs. Sam recognized the new woman as one of the three victims he’d just been discussing with Lieutenant Marsh, but he couldn’t remember which one. A man whose features sort of matched that of the guy behind him whirled and leveled a revolver at Sam’s gut.
“Look what I found lurking outside,” said the original captor.
Mel’s expression could have been the dictionary definition of unpleasant surprise.
“Get on with it.” The man kept close to the wall, stepping around Sam. His gun moved from Sam to the man holding a gun on Mel. “Or better yet, step aside. I know you don’t have the guts to kill her.”
These must be Mel’s brothers, the twins.
“What are you doing here?” The man with the revolver looked bewildered.
Dark laughter burst out of the one Sam decided to dub “Evil Twin.”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m here for the millions you’ve hidden away.”
Chapter 44:
Brother vs. Brother
Andrew Novak’s Private Residence
Florence, New Jersey
Melissa Novak’s heart crumbled to dust within her as she watched her two brothers point guns at each other. Having Sam near gave her some hope, but she could see he was as much a prisoner as the rest of them. Reasoning with Andy had gone nowhere, but she had to try again.
“Josh!”
“Stay out of this, Mel,” said Josh.
“Don’t do this,” Melissa pleaded. “Think of Josie.”
“What about her?” asked Josh. “I’ll send her enough money to get by.”
“What now, brother?” asked Andy in a mocking tone. “Are we going to die together?”
“If I know you—and for the record, I do—you’ve only got one bullet, and if you use it on me, you’ll never get the answers you seek,” Josh pointed out. “How lucky are you feeling?”
“Very.” Andy’s back was to her, but he sounded far calmer than a rational person ought to feel. “You need me alive to get the money. As you’ve mentioned, it’s hidden away.”
“Well, let’s go get it,” said Josh impatiently.
“I need to finish this.”
“Fine. Do it quickly.” Josh’s tone conveyed boredom.
The revolver’s barrel brushed Melissa’s forehead. She closed her eyes and waited for the end. Gasps rang out from either side of her.
“No!” Sam’s shout was accompanied by scuffling noises.
Melissa’s eyes flew open and locked on Sam. He looked dazed but determined. Josh had forced him to his knees and pressed the gun to the base of his neck.
“Keep still. It’ll be four quick shots,” said Josh. “If none of them strike, you’ll all live to see another day.”
Andy rolled the revolver’s barrel and once again focused on Melissa.
“I hope it works,” Melissa whispered, “because I won’t have to face what you’ve become.” For a second time, she sq
ueezed her eyes shut.
“I hope you’re wrong,” said Andy. “You’re the only thing I love.”
A loud, empty click greeted her ears.
Her eyes flew open. Despite her earlier words, Melissa wanted to live. The triumph in Andy’s eyes sickened her. He swung the gun to his right and pulled the trigger. Another empty click cracked through the air. Natasha sagged with relief, tears streaming down her face. The gun swung back the other way, headed for Jenn.
“Wait!”
“Sorry, Mel, everybody has to play,” said Andy.
“Spin the barrel again. You’re not giving them a fair chance if you don’t.”
Natasha looked like she wanted to murder Melissa until Andy nodded, did as asked, and pointed the gun at Jenn again. Melissa fervently hoped she didn’t just get Sam’s sister killed.
The empty click was a welcomed sound.
As Melissa started to breathe again, Andy turned to Sam.
“Don’t do it. Don’t do it.” The words tumbled from Melissa.
Andy lined up the shot then stopped.
“Would you take his turn?” he asked.
“Yes!” Melissa and Jenn gave the answer simultaneously.
Josh chuckled.
“This is an interesting moral question. Who has more right to spare Sam his chance to die, the sister or the girlfriend?”
“Everybody faces Fate today,” said Andy. Without hesitation, he fired at Sam.
Another click sounded.
Tears of relief blurred Melissa’s vision.
“What are you doing?” Josh roared the question.
“I told you. Everybody faces Fate today, including me,” Andy explained. “If I live, the money’s yours. If I die, you were never meant to have it.”
“Put that gun down,” Josh ordered.
“Or what?” Andy challenged. “You’ll kill me? That’ll end your chances of getting my money.”
Josh’s eyes bulged. Sweat made his face shiny. His nostrils flared, but when he spoke, the words held deadly promise.
“No. I’ll kill her.”
The gun in Josh’s hands boomed, sounding like a cannon in the small room.
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