A Toy for Christmas

by Mary Jane Forbes

  Hector’s arms went limp.

  Charley jumped up, helping Geoff to his feet. “Come on, Dad. Those bushes across the street. We can hide.” Grabbing his hand she pulled him along ignoring his hobbles in pain. Her only thought was to take cover…to get away.

  Chapter 47

  ────

  DISAPPEARING INTO THE DENSE undergrowth of the forest, branches scratching Charley’s arms and snagging Geoff’s trousers, they hunkered down. In minutes they heard the truck’s motor grinding, then moving off down the road.

  “I guess I didn’t kill him,” Charley said, trying to chuckle while gulping for air. “We have to go for help, Dad.”

  “You have to go, child. I’ll just slow you down.”

  “I’m not leaving you—”

  “Go, Charley. You have to go. I think my ankle is broken. These bushes make a good hiding place. I’ll be alright.”

  “Okay, but don’t move around so I can’t find you when I come back with help.”

  “I won’t. Now go! Go!”

  Charley kissed his cheek, squeezed his arm.

  Sucking in a deep breath she turned away retracing her steps to the road. Crouching behind a bush she looked around.

  The sun had set leaving menacing shadows. Not knowing where they were except that it was a rural road, she decided to walk in the opposite direction the truck was heading. She would see the headlights of approaching vehicles in either direction and could quickly hide in the bushes.

  She finally came to a sign—To I-95 one mile. With only a mile to go she was not going to hitch a ride that could turn out to be mustache man or one of his guys. She was sure the truck driver had called telling his boss that his passengers were obviously very bad people because they hit him and ran away.

  Charley was thirsty, hungry, and very worried about her father. One good thing, when she reached Interstate 95 surely there would be a sign as to what road she was on, and she will have walked a mile so she could find her father.

  There was no intersection, no access ramp. She came to an overpass with a sign below—1.3 miles North to I-10. There was no sign indicating the name of the road where she stood. The next decision—make her way down the hill to Interstate 95 or keep walking. The truck must be heading west. So she was going to stay in the brush, make her way down the hill to I-95 south. Scampering down through the brush to the grassy strip bordering the highway but keeping back in the bushes she picked up the tempo of her steps. A few yards away was another sign—Rest Stop Ahead.

  To quiet her nerves, she planned what she would do while walking. The first order of business was to borrow a cell and call Liz. Liz was the last person she talked to when she stopped by to see her and Manny.

  When she got to the rest area she stayed back in the shadows hoping someone would get in or out of their car so she could borrow their cell. It was dark now and she didn’t want to stand around in a well lit convenience store.

  A man sauntered out to his car. He was talking on his cell. He was talking fast, sounded Hispanic.

  No. Not him. He could be looking for her. One thing in her favor, her father wasn’t with her. Someone looking would be searching for two people. The man jumped in his car and sped off going through a stop sign at the exit from the rest area onto I-95.

  Easing back into the shadows she saw a couple, then a man, then two women together. Charley stepped into the light of a parking lot lamp.

  “Hi, I was wondering if you could help me. I seem to have left my phone at the last rest area. Could I borrow yours so I can tell my friend where I am and that I’m running late?”

  “Sure. I know how awful that is. I’m lost without my phone. Here, go ahead.”

  “Thanks, it’ll just take a minute…of course, my friend moved and I don’t remember her number. Maybe take me another minute while I look her up. Oh, here it is.”

  Charley tapped the number smiling at her new BFF.

  “Oh, Liz, hi. Sorry I’m late. I left my phone at the last rest stop.”

  “Late? We’re worried sick about you. Tavis and Janet are here. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you. Last place we could figure was that you were at ABC Trucking. But—”

  “Yes, bad place, ABC. Took Dad and I for a ride. Said all kinds of crazy things. Oh, I’m sorry. A woman was kind enough to let me borrow her phone. It’s a long story. Poor Dad sprained his ankle. I’m at a rest area on I-95 south, about a mile south of I-10. I’m low on gas. My Caddie doesn’t get very good mileage. Do you think you, or Tavis could pick me up? Oh, but don’t let on to anyone how silly I was to lose my phone.”

  “Manny checked the location of your phone. Wherever it is, it’s moving.”

  “I have to go. This kind lady and her friend have to leave. I’ll wait for you. Don’t call here,” she whispered disconnecting the call.

  With a long sigh, Charley thanked the woman for the use of her cell. The woman got in the car with her friend and left. Charley stepped back into the shadows to wait for Liz and tamp down her nerves.

  Chapter 48

  ────

  THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT for Liz and Manny was sharing a pizza and a bottle of wine while binge watching NCIS Miami. With the calls from Janet and now Charley all that changed. Liz grabbed the remote off the coffee table shutting off SWAT about to take down the bad guys. Charley’s voice was weird but not as weird as what she was saying. Then she was gone.

  Liz turned to Manny, eyes wide.

  “Stitch, what did Charley say?”

  “She’s in trouble.”

  Liz relayed word for word her crazy conversation with Charley.

  “Charley doesn’t have a Caddie, her dad isn’t with her injured or not, and she’d never forget her phone. But we know her phone is moving. She said she’d wait for me. Manny, we have to find her.”

  Peaches and Maggie, the private investigator’s dogs plus two pairs of headlights signaled Janet and Tavis had arrived. Manny went outside to quiet the dogs, quiet the dogs until Bentley gracefully jumped out of the truck’s extended cab. Peaches and Maggie circled the newcomer. Bentley patiently stood his ground, Tavis beside him. Once the dogs were satisfied Bentley was a friend, they followed Manny and the occupants of the two vehicles into the house. Maggie and Peaches on command went to their doggie beds by the TV. Bentley sat at Tavis’s feet.

  With that settled, Liz began telling Janet and Tavis, again word for word, about Charley’s call. Janet added a tid-bit of information that turned into a boat load. The Fed’s Miami field office sent her a month ago to check out ABC Trucking. They suspected it was acting as a drug conduit from Miami to the southern states as well as up the East Coast.

  “I have an informant acting as a mechanic inside ABC Trucking,” Janet said. “My informant saw Charley and Geoff enter the building but never saw them leave. He finally confessed to me that he followed the wrong truck. It appears that the Miami head of the drug cartel had taken over ABC from Ramirez who had been reporting to him in Daytona Beach. The name of this man is Enrique Vasquez.”

  Manny and Liz exchanged glances. Manny spoke. “Putting Charley’s call to Liz with what you just told us, Janet, it sounds like she and Geoff escaped, and who are you working for…exactly?”

  “The Miami Feds. Excuse me a minute. I have to go to my van, get something that I think will help the situation.”

  Returning to the group Janet held a drone the same size as Mercury and a large remote with a screen attached. “Meet Hawk. I’m testing this baby for the department. This seems like an opportune time to put him to the test. Charley’s phone is moving so I can sync Hawk to her phone. Which I assume is the truck where she lost it or whatever is moving with that phone. I can pilot this baby, rendezvous with that truck or a car from above so to speak. I will put whatever is carrying her phone, more than likely the truck that left ABC, under surveillance. Tavis can help. Right now the most important thing is to find Charley and Geoff Kingman before Vasquez does. I’ll tell my contact I
’m going to rendezvous with Charley at that rest—”

  “I’m coming with you,” Tavis said.

  “Hold on,” Manny said. “Let’s think this through.”

  The two PIs, the FBI agent and Tavis huddled. It was decided that Liz and Manny should go to meet Charley at the rest stop.

  Janet turned to Tavis. “Tavis, you drive your truck. We’ll follow Liz and Manny when they pick up Charley and she shows them where to find her dad. I can operate the drone’s remote from the passenger seat. My contact placed a responder on all the trucks he worked on. If we’re lucky, I may be able to locate the truck as well. I’m sure by now Vasquez told the driver to return to the spot where he lost his passengers. Who knows, maybe we pick off the head of the cartel tonight. Manny, you and Liz get going. Let’s hope Charley is the only one you’ll be meeting. Are you both armed?”

  “We will be,” Liz said.

  “I would imagine that the truck will rendezvous with Vasquez where the driver let his captives escape. Vasquez will be looking for Charley and her father.”

  Liz retrieved two handguns in a metal case and returned to the living room.

  Janet took note of the case. “Good. I don’t know what we’ll find. Vasquez is no dummy.”

  Tavis scrubbed his scalp. “We can’t let anything happen to Charley. She’s going to be my wife.”

  “I thought you two just met. Does she know this?” Liz said.

  “Yes, I told her.”

  “And she said OK?” Liz looked at him wide eyed.

  “No. But she will.”

  Liz locked the back door and gave the dogs a chewy. She returned to her husband.

  “Ready when you are, Manny.”

  Janet stood. “Let’s go everyone. Keep in touch by cell.”

  Chapter 49

  ────

  THE CAR RACED ALONG Forrest Road. Trees caught in the headlights looked like grotesque giants, their branches reaching to snare the speeding vehicle.

  “You don’t understand, Rachel. We must find them. They could ruin everything.”

  “You’re wrong, Enrique, I do understand. But we’ve been up and down this road many times, many miles in both directions, even I-10 and back. I’m hungry and there’s nothing on this road.”

  “I hear you. Get on I-95. We’ll find something to eat.”

  It wasn’t long until she saw a sign—Rest Area Ahead. She pulled in and parked. Leaning back against the headrest she shut her eyes, thankful she could stop driving.

  “Are you coming in with me?” she said.

  “No, I’m going to try Hector again. You go ahead but bring me something…hot dog or a sandwich and coffee,” he said.

  “I won’t be long.”

  “Take your time,” he said.

  Chapter 50

  ────

  CARS, VANS, SMALL PICKUP trucks entered the rest area. Patrons visited the restroom, bought snacks, and left. It was a beautiful evening to be out if you didn’t fear for your life. The katydids played their song but all Charley could hear was the growl from her empty stomach. She had a five-dollar bill in her pocket and she was hungry. It would be around an hour before Liz and Manny found her. Inhaling a deep breath, she left the safety of the shadows and walked into the convenience store.

  Glancing around for something to eat, she quickly decided to buy a candy bar. Joking with the cashier that it was nice to lose weight with chocolate, she paid for the bar. She then headed to the restroom before stepping outside to wait for her rescuers. Pausing at the coffee service she picked up a foam cup. At least she could get a drink of water. If only she could call her dad. Let him know help is on the way.

  In the restroom she freshened up and drank a full cup of water. A woman pushed open the door to the restroom.

  Rachel walked in.

  “Charley, fancy meeting you here,” Rachel said.

  “Rachel, oh my god, I’m so glad to see you. Rachel, a truck driver kidnapped me and my father. I lost my phone, my wallet, and—”

  Rachel opened her arms, gathered Charley into a warm hug.

  “How terrible. I don’t know why anyone would do such a thing. Where’s your father?”

  Charley stepped back stifling a flood of tears. “He’s back on the road, hiding in the bushes. We escaped, but he hurt his ankle. He told me to run for help.”

  “What road, dear? We’ll go find him.”

  “Oh, no. I can’t leave. I have to wait for Liz and Manny. They—”

  “I thought you lost your phone. Who are Liz and Manny?”

  “I borrowed a phone from a woman in the parking lot. Liz and Manny are family friends. They’ll be here soon.”

  “I see. Let’s go outside and wait. We’ll see them when they drive up. Come on, dear. We can sit in my car.”

  “Uh, alright.” Charley took a deep breath, splashed cold water on her face from the sink, dabbing away the water with a paper towel.

  Rachel motioned to the restroom door as a mother with a baby entered. Charley stepped out of the restroom followed by Rachel close on her heels.

  “Stop a minute dear. I’ll pick up a sandwich and coffee for us.”

  “Okay, sure,” Charley said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Rachel selected two sandwiches, picked up two coffees in short order, putting them in a cardboard holder. “Here’s a twenty. Please pay while I pick up a newspaper.” Rachel stepped away to the newsstand, cell to her ear, whispering. “Enrique, Charley was in the restroom. We’re coming out. Be ready.”

  The night air was warm but Charley felt a sudden chill. “I’m so glad you stopped here, Rachel. Where’s your car?”

  “Over by that black pickup truck. We’ll be able to see your friends. Here, let me open the door.”

  Charley slid in the passenger seat, drawing her legs in. “Thanks, Rachel.”

  Suddenly a man in the back seat leaned over pressing a damp cloth over Charley’s nose. Rachel slammed the door shut as Charley struggled then lost consciousness. Rachel ran to the driver’s side, scrambled in behind the wheel stashing the snacks on the floor between her legs. The key was in the ignition.

  “Hurry up. Let’s get out of here.” The order came from the man in the back. “Did she tell you where her father is?”

  “Yes, up on the road where they jumped Hector.”

  “I’ll call Hector. Tell him to meet us where the man and woman escaped. But this time I’ll order him not to leave until we get there and to stay in the truck. I don’t want him tramping around so Kingman takes off.”

  “Charley said her dad hurt his ankle so I don’t think he’ll be doing much taking off. I hope this service road you suggested takes us up to the road where he lost them.” Rachel said stomping on the gas pedal.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve used these back roads many times,” Enrique said.

  “What are we going to do with Charley?” Rachel said.

  “Only thing we can do. When she wakes up, sees me, she’ll know—

  “Enrique, I don’t want to hurt her,” Rachel said.

  “I’m not going to hurt her.”

  “She didn’t say anything about my husband, so I don’t think she knows he’s dead.”

  “Rachel, my love. It’s unfortunate this woman and her father stumbled into our operation, but I’m not risking everything because of them. It’s taken me years to build this business, set up contacts—Venezuela, to Miami, to the southern states. Plans are in place to infiltrate the entire eastern seaboard. No, Rachel, I’m not going to hurt this woman, I’m going to eliminate her.”

  Chapter 51

  ────

  MANNY TORE UP I-95. At the exit north of the rest area Charley described, he made a U-turn over the bridge and a left on the I-95 ramp south to the rest stop where Charley was waiting. Seeing the sign—Rest Area Ahead, he slowed driving into the parking lot. “Liz, let’s go in.”

  “Janet, can you hear me?” Liz said turning the volume up on her cell as she looked at Ma
nny.

  “Loud and clear. I also see you. Hawk is overhead,” Janet said. “While you pick up Charley I’m sending Hawk with the GPS over the area where Charley left her dad. Let me know when you have Charley in the car.”

  “Will do,” Liz said.

  Manny was out of the car, Liz quickly joining him as they strode to the entrance of the convenience store.

  “Charley said she’d wait out front. I don’t see her,” Liz said checking lamppost to lamppost.

  “She’s probably inside,” Manny said holding the door for Liz.

  Standing inside the door, the pair of investigators paused, glanced around.

  “I’ll check the restroom. You talk to the cashier. Maybe he’ll know something,” Liz said.

  Returning to Manny’s side, she shook her head. “No luck. Cashier?”

  “Nothing. Do you have her picture on your phone?”

  “Yes, I do. We took selfies at the beach with the drone. Here, show the cashier.”

  Manny picked up a candy bar, and then talked to the cashier, flashing Charley’s picture as he paid. The young man thought he recognized her, thought maybe she left with a woman not long ago.

  “Janet, Charley’s not here,” Liz said. “But the cashier thinks she left with a woman.”

  “Go back outside. Maybe she’s walking around. Whoa! Wait. Wait. Hawk just picked up a car. I don’t believe my lying eyes. It’s Mrs. Ramirez, Rachel’s SUV. I slapped a bug on it a few days ago at the agency. You always have to keep an eye on the wife of the druggies,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Where, Janet? Where? Come on, Manny. That woman the cashier was talking about was probably Rachel Ramirez. The widow is on the move.”

  “Maybe she’s trying to help Charley find her father,” Manny said, sticking the key in the ignition.

  “Or not.” Janet’s voice crackled. “She’s not on I-95…just surfaced from a side road. Hold on she’s stopping. A truck is parking, almost nose-to-nose to Rachel’s SUV. I’m calling my contact at DBPD to send a SWAT team, both directions, block them from running. The truck driver just got out…we’ve got trouble…Vasquez just got out of the back of Rachel’s SUV. I’d say you’re about ten or so minutes away.”