Abducted

by Janice Cantore

  The yellow fog lights illuminated a good deal of the area in spite of the haze. Joe cruised slowly. Both he and Carly had their windows down and heavy, foggy salt air swirled in. Joe brought the unit to a stop at the drop-off area as Carly advised dispatch they would be out of the car.

  After sliding her nightstick into its ring, Carly waited for Joe to meet her on the passenger side of the car. They both carried flashlights but didn’t need to turn them on as they walked up the steps to the ticket offices. Then Carly saw the foot.

  Hand out, she stopped Joe. “Here.” Sliding the flashlight into her sap pocket, she drew her weapon. The foot stuck out from behind a stone bench.

  “Hello?” Carly called as she and Joe separated slightly to come at the person from different angles.

  There was no response to her hails.

  And as she made her way around the bench, she saw that there wouldn’t be.

  Three bodies lay partially hidden behind the bench, facedown, hands secured behind their backs. They’d been shot execution style.