THE ABDUCTION OF CASSANDRA

by William Melden

  Sanchez put his hand on Burgess’ shoulder. “I think I know how you feel, Agent. I’ve seen cops go bad. I understand your situation.”

  “Thanks, Lieutenant. I appreciate that.” He turned his attention to Maclean. “Shannon.”

  She lifted her head until their eyes met. “Look at you, Shannon. Are you proud of yourself? Do you know what you’ve done to the Bureau?” He shook his head, and sighed. “You probably don’t even care. But the Bureau will survive. And the Hixsons will survive. Cassandra will survive.” He glanced at his watch and calculated the time difference. “And Dr. Hixson’s money will be back in his account in just a few hours, when the bank opens in Andorra.”

  She bit her lip, unable to reply. Everything had turned to ashes.

  “I tried to teach you a few things, Shannon. I guess I did a pretty poor job. But I know one thing for sure. Europe may have been a pleasant environment for a former FBI agent. Federal prison . . . not so much.”

  After a long moment of silence, he spoke slowly. “Eldon Dayle, Shannon Maclean, you’re both under arrest.”

  “How dare you?” Dayle hissed. Burgess’ words had hit home in a way that the local policeman’s had not. “I’m an innocent victim of this woman. You can’t arrest me. This is an outrage. She’s an FBI agent? This is entrapment. Do you have any idea who I am?”

  “Mister Dayle,” Burgess replied, struggling to contain his anger, “I know exactly who you are. You know perfectly well why you’re being arrested, but you’ll hear the formal charges at your initial court appearance, which is called an arraignment. I owe you no further explanation.” He paused. “And if there’s a God in Heaven, you should thank him that your wife and daughter can’t see you right now.”

  He turned to the two agents who had just entered the rooms, wearing the same windbreakers as the photographers. “Take them into custody, and get them out of my sight.”

  * * * * *

  12:50 AM EDT: Celeste eased her motorcycle onto the lawn of 509 Shawhan Terrace, pulled off her helmet, and shook out her hair. The lead police car had parked on the curb, engine still running, lights still flashing. As Celeste climbed off the bike, the front door opened wide, and Cassie’s parents came out on the porch, wearing their bathrobes. Dominic stood between them, wide-eyed, wearing only his pajama shorts. Despite Daisy’s protests, Dr. Hixson shut the door, to keep her inside.

  Royal pulled the van into the driveway until its grill was almost touching the garage door. As he climbed out, the police car that had been following pulled up behind the other, and both officers got out.

  Celeste ran to the Hixsons and embraced them all. “We’re here!” she announced. “Cassie’s in the van.” She looked at her friend’s parents. “You guys are gonna want to get over there, I know. Go ahead.” She squatted down, her arm around Nick’s bare shoulders, looking in his eyes. “I’ve had a hard night. Will you stay here and take care of me while everything calms down? You’ll see Cassie in just a minute, okay?” She knew that he’d only be in the way when the back of the van opened. As his mother and father moved toward the driveway, the boy stared at Celeste and smiled. “Uh-huh. Where’d you get the cool face paint? You look like a soldier!”

  The Hixsons met Roy at the back of the van. Not even noticing the camouflage paint, they stood aside, watching. “God bless you, Royal,” Dr. Hixson said. “Let us know if we can help.”

  “Yessir,” Roy replied, flashing an immense smile. As he was opening the rear doors, an EMT van, its strobe lights flashing, pulled in at the bottom of the driveway. Having been advised that a gunshot victim was involved, the young emergency techs, a man and woman, jumped out and immediately started pulling a rolling gurney from the back.

  The rear doors of the green van opened. “Cassie goes first,” Roy said.

  The EMT team rolled the gurney up to the van. “Just a minute, everybody,” the young man in the green uniform cautioned. “Is this the gunshot wound?” He glanced at Ethan. “We need to get him out first, please.”

  Everyone in the van moved back to allow the techs some space. In a cramped but efficient few moments, the techs had slipped a stretcher under Ethan, and pulled it out onto the gurney. As they began to roll it away, Ethan cried out, “Wait! I want to see this!”

  Olivia hopped out and grabbed the gurney. “Please, yes, just a few seconds,” she pleaded with the techs. “He deserves to see. This is why he was shot.”

  The assistant tech glanced at her partner. “Hold on just a minute, Jim, okay?” They rolled the gurney sideways so Ethan could watch.

  All eyes were on the back of the van as Cassie climbed out. Her parents rushed forward, and the three were immediately locked in a firm, happy embrace, hugging and crying. Their words were muffled by their sobs of joy, but all the onlookers could imagine what was being said.

  Hugging Nick, Celeste watched, as her own tears began to run down her cheeks. Nick simply grinned and wiggled.

  Brandon squatted in the back of the van, looking on. Roy stood next to him. Olivia and the EMT techs watched silently: this moment didn’t need any comment. Daisy howled and yapped from inside the house, sensing that something very good was happening outside.

  No one noticed when the unmarked car rolled up, or when the detective climbed out and walked up the drive. Now Jerry Peacock stood with the EMT techs, his eyes moving around the scene, taking in the familiar and unfamiliar faces alike. When he spotted the Hixsons, he smiled, and sighed with relief.

  “Okay, we really need to get this young man to the hospital now,” the senior tech announced. Olivia released her hold on the gurney. “Can I ride with you? He’s my boyfriend. We were together when it happened.”

  “Well then, the police will probably want to talk to you,” the tech replied. “I’m not sure. . . .”

  Peacock interrupted. “Hello, Livvie. Hello, Ethan.” He took one of the boy’s hands in his own. “I don’t know what you guys have done, but you did good.” He turned to the EMT techs. “I’m Lieutenant Peacock, and we can interview these two at the hospital. Please let Miss Mendel ride with her friend.”

  “Yes sir, no problem,” the male tech said. They started to roll the gurney down the driveway.

  “Wait!” Dr. Hixson’s voice crackled out with authority. The techs stood back as he and Mrs. Hixson and Cassie gathered around. Cassie looked down at Ethan, her hands gripping the edge of the gurney. “Ethan. . . . What can I say. . . . You and Livvie saved my life . . . and the others. . . . I can’t begin to thank you. . . .!”

  The boy squirmed on the gurney. “Um, Cassie? You’re dripping on my shirt. Tears and stuff. I mean, it’s okay. But I’m just saying.”

  Everyone laughed except for Mrs. Hixson, who bent over and kissed his cheek. Dr. Hixson looked at him, then at Olivia. “You and the others . . . you gave us back our daughter. Go to the hospital now. We’ll be talking to you soon, back here. God bless you!”

  The female EMT looked at Gordon. “Excuse me, sir. Is this the girl who was kidnapped? We really should take her in for an examination. It’s customary. . . .”

  “I’m fine. Honest,” Cassie said. “I want to stay here.”

  “Never mind,” Peacock said to the tech. “This man is a doctor, and she can be examined later.” Dr. Hixson nodded his head. “Leave her here, on my authority, and her father’s,” the lieutenant added. He reached into his pocket and handed the senior tech one of his business cards.

  “Yes sir, absolutely,” the man replied, pocketing the card. “Let’s go, Janet,” he said to his partner. They rolled Ethan to the ambulance, followed by Olivia.

  “Cassie!” Nick almost knocked his sister over, running to her and throwing his arms around her hips. As they hugged, Celeste joined Royal.

  Brandon hopped down, the last to leave the van. His relief and happiness were inhibited by the presence of so many police, but he had to see what was happening with Cassie. He looked at Roy and Celeste. “I think you’re Royal. Are you Celeste? I’ve heard so much about
you guys. . . . I’m Brandon. You . . . nobody’s ever done anything like this for me before. I know you were doing it for Cassie, but. . . .”

  “Hush,” Celeste said. “We’re proud to meet you. You’re family now, if you want to be.” She hugged him, as Roy nodded.

  They were joined at the back of the van by Lieutenant Peacock. “Hello there, Celeste. Hello, Royal . . . and Brandon Fox. Imagine meeting you here.”

  Brandon held his breath. He’d met Peacock under less happy circumstances.

  “We need to talk. We’ll do that inside, but this part is off the record. I am so, so proud of you . . . all of you. God bless you all.” He shook their hands, wanting to hug them, but maintaining his professionalism.

  Inside the house, Daisy was trying to chew her way through the front door. Suddenly, she stopped. Her body relaxed and her tail began to wag as Gabriel Terrena touched her head. “Innocent creature of God, be at peace.” He opened the front door, and departed from Yorkville.

  Daisy slipped out the door, still wagging her tail, not troubled in the least by the presence of so many strangers, and trotted straight to Cassie. The dog let out a loud moan of happiness as she nudged her nose into the girl’s thigh.

  Cassie squatted down, the tears still flowing, one arm around Nick, the other around Daisy. She was home.

  * * * * *

  1:45 AM EDT: After Royal and Celeste had washed off their face paint, after Cassie had freshened up and changed into clean clothes, after Nick had finally gotten back to sleep, the group sat in the Hixsons’ den, where there was more space than the living room. Cassie had the place of honor, sitting in her father’s leather armchair, Brandon sitting by her side on the leather ottoman. Roy and Celeste sat on a nearby couch. Dr. and Mrs. Hixson and Lieutenant Peacock sat on the other chairs around the room. Daisy lay at Cassie and Brandon’s feet.

  Cassie was introducing Brandon to the others and explaining what a help he’d been, when there was a knock at the front door. Daisy lifted her head, but didn’t sit up. Dr. Hixson went to the door, and returned with Agent Burgess, who found a chair.

  “Thanks for letting me join you,” the FBI man said. “Under the circumstances, I feel very uncomfortable. Gordon, Barbara, and you, Cassie. . . . I don’t know how to apologize for Maclean’s behavior.”

  “So, it’s all true?” Cassie asked. “That woman was part of your investigation the whole time?”

  Burgess sighed. “Special Agent Maclean was part of the investigation, yes,” he replied. “It’s hard for me to believe, too, Cassie, but I saw her with my own eyes at the airfield. I don’t know why she did all this, but I can assure you she won’t do it again.”

  “It’s not your fault, Agent Burgess,” Mrs. Hixson said. “Please don’t blame yourself.”

  “Thank you, Barbara, but it was a failure of judgment on my part. It’ll haunt me.”

  “Hey, I’m safe,” Cassie said. “Brandon’s safe. Did you pick her for this investigation?” Burgess shook his head. “Well, then it’s not a failure of your judgment,” she declared. “Somebody else blew it!”

  There was silence in the room as Burgess rubbed his eyes with his fingertips, his head bowed, the very picture of self-reproach. No one spoke.

  After a few moments, Jerry Peacock broke the silence. “Well, Miss Maclean’s involvement clears up at least one mystery . . . probably more than one. Once we’d handed Cassie’s phone over to your people, Agent Burgess, she had easy access to it, didn’t she? She’s the one who took it back to the hangar, to make those other messages. She’s the one who had the know-how to disable the tracking functions in the phone, so it couldn’t be traced. This man Dayle chose his accomplice well.”

  Suddenly Brandon spoke up. “Wait a minute. I’ve been wondering about something, and now I’ve got it. I never understood how those people chose me for this, um, job. I’ve had my run-ins with the law . . . like Lieutenant Peacock knows . . . but the records were always sealed, because I was a minor. Since I turned eighteen, my father has pulled some strings to keep my name out of the spotlight, ‘cause he didn’t want to be embarrassed. But if that woman was an FBI agent, she could have gotten hold of all kinds of stuff that the public doesn’t see. Criminal records, school records. . . .” His voice trailed off as he considered this new realization.

  “And all of it right under my nose,” Burgess replied bitterly. “I can’t discuss this in detail, at least until we get to court, but we had reason to believe that someone in our office was involved. We even put Shannon on administrative leave. And I . . . I still didn’t put it all together!” He shook his head.

  “Listen to me, Donald!” Peacock snapped. The agent looked up in surprise; he wasn’t on a first-name basis with the policeman. “No disrespect. But we’re both officers of the law. Yes, it was right under your nose. And right under the nose of your boss, and everyone else in your office. But she was your partner, Donald. Of course you wouldn’t think she was one of the actual perpetrators! It’s not a mistake to trust your partner. It’s a necessity. I can imagine how you must feel. But you’ve got to get a grip, my friend. It’s not your fault, period! I may just be a local cop, but I’d say you’ve done a terrific job here, and I know the Hixsons feel the same way.”

  What a change, Celeste thought, listening to the men. When this thing started, it was all fussing over jurisdiction, like two stags locking horns. Now Lieutenant Peacock is comforting this poor man. You never can tell. . . .

  “That’s exactly right,” Mrs. Hixson said. “Never mind what that woman did. You’ve been like a rock for us. Or a bulldog. Oh, I don’t know what to call it, but we appreciate you. We appreciate you and Jerry both!” Her husband nodded his agreement.

  Cassie spoke up. “What I want to know is, who was the guy? Maclean’s boss? Why was he so interested in turning me against God? That seemed to be all he really cared about. Right, Brandon?”

  The boy nodded. “He had all kinds of money. It was clear that he was just screw — just messing around with Cassie’s head. I don’t know why, but that was the whole idea.”

  “Brandon,” Peacock replied, “People commit crimes against Christians all the time, all over the world. We don’t see it so clearly in this country. But some people hate black folk, some people hate Jews, and some people hate Christians. Some of them are crazy. Others. . . . Well, it’s a spiritual thing.”

  “But why Cassie?” Celeste wondered. “Why not go after some preacher, or something?”

  “That’s my question, too,” Dr. Hixson said. He looked at his daughter. “Honey, you’ve already told me this, but I’d like to hear it again. Maybe from you and Brandon both. You say this man never did anything of a sexual nature to you? Anything?”

  “No, never,” she replied. “I was never even in the same room with him, until tonight, right before these guys rescued us. He even gave me some privacy. He had cameras everywhere watching me, but not in the place where I slept, or the bathroom. Right, Brandon?”

  “Right. I mean, as far as I know. I’ve seen pervs, and he didn’t seem like one.”

  “The only thing he did. . . .” Cassie began. “Well, really, the woman did it. . . .” She hesitated. They’ll have to hear the truth sooner or later. “The woman beat me once. It was weird. She knocked me out with an injection of some kind of drug, and then she beat me, um, pretty much black and blue . . . with this leather thing, they called it a billy club. Just my body, not my face. And, um, hung me up with some chains. The bruises are mostly gone now. I think she gave me the shot so I wouldn’t fight her. She just jabbed the needle in without any warning, in my arm.”

  Her parents looked horrified, but didn’t speak. Burgess moaned. “Oh, Shannon. . . .”

  “And she also broke Brandon’s nose with some brass knuckles. And pushed him into a kind of elevator shaft, onto a big ball of razor wire. He got a lot of cuts. But that’s the only time they touched us.”

  “Razor wire!” exclaimed Peacock.

  “The only time!�
� Dr. Hixson cried, his face flushed with anger. “As if that wasn’t bad enough? Oh, Cassie . . . Brandon. . .” He shook his head. Everyone in the room sat in silence, stunned by what she had said.

  So that’s what that stuff was, Celeste thought. Razor wire. Lord.

  “Cassie fixed my nose,” Brandon added. “She said she’d seen a trainer do it at one of your fights, Royal.” He smiled at the young boxer. “And she tended to my cuts, too. Like a real nurse. Dr. Hixson, you’d have been so proud.”