All In The Family

by Roseanne Dowell

  “Put your hands where I can see them.”

  The man put his hands on the steering wheel. Callie pulled the door open, yanked him out of the car, and to the ground. Peters came around the car and put the cuffs on him. “Get him out of here,” Callie said.

  Back at her car, she called for a tow truck. Phew, she blew a strand of hair out of her face and called in the plate number on the car. By time she got back to the station, a report came over the wire that the guy from the pickup was wanted for larceny in Akron. Good, let them have him. One less problem for her to deal with. She sat down at her desk and wrote her report. Hopefully the rest of the day would be quiet.

  ***

  Callie smoothed her dress, ran a comb through her hair and pressed her lips to smooth her lipstick. Butterflies flitted in her stomach. She couldn’t remember when she’d been so nervous. Silly. But a teenager on her first date couldn’t be more jittery. Thank God, Berry was coming along. Nothing like a kid to ease the tension.

  The doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it. William stood there smiling, a bouquet of tulips in his hand. Tulips, her absolute favorite flower, how did he know? “Hi, come in.” Callie looked to both sides of him. “Where’s Berry?”

  He ran his finger along the collar of his shirt. “Uh, she decided to stay home with my dad.”

  Shoot, this changed things. She wasn’t prepared to be alone with William. That was downright ridiculous. Good grief, she was almost thirty, a grown woman. Why did she feel so self-conscious? She talked to men all day and not always about work. Heck, she discussed her personal life with Peters all the time. What was wrong with her?

  “Uh, are we going inside?”

  “Huh? Oh sorry, please, come in.” Callie moved aside to let him in. Heat burned her face. What an idiot. She’d never been so tongue-tied in her life. It wasn’t like she hadn’t talked to him before. In fact their phone conversations had been easy and relaxed. She hurried to put the tulips in a vase, then grabbed her purse and a light jacket. “So where are we going?”

  “I thought we’d try that new place that just opened up, Steppe’s. I heard they have excellent steak. You do like steak, don’t you?”

  “Love it.” Callie opened the door and waited until he walked out, then fixed the lock and closed it.

  “How’s your father doing?”

  “He’s good. He just needs to watch what he eats. Sometimes, he ignores it and gets a taste for something and overdoes it. And sometimes, like the other day, he forgets to eat or he’s just not hungry.”

  “Is he on medication?” Callie relaxed in the seat.

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t give him carte blanche to eat whatever he wants.”

  “I can’t imagine not being able to eat what I want.”

  “He can have small amounts of just about everything if he’s careful. The main thing is to eat three balanced meals and three snacks every day. And by snacks I don’t mean chips or pretzels. He has to steer clear of those. Although pretzels aren’t too bad.”

  “It must be difficult to monitor a diet like that. I mean, we’re a society of fast foods and junk food. I’d be in big trouble if I had to watch what I ate. I barely manage two meals a day. I couldn’t imagine remembering to snack, too.”

  “Yeah and that’s the problem. While my mom was alive, she made sure he ate right. But she passed away two years ago, and it’s been an uphill battle ever since.”

  “So what happened to Berry’s parents?” Callie had been curious about it since they first met, but never felt comfortable enough to ask until now.

  “Joe and Linda were killed in a car crash. Linda was an orphan and Mom and Dad took custody of Berry.”

  “I’m sorry. It must be very difficult for your dad. I mean a six year old can’t be easy to raise.” How tragic life was sometimes. “How old was Berry when that happened?”

  “She was only a year old. She doesn’t remember her parents. We keep pictures around, but that’s not the same.”

  William pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Callie tried to think of something to change the subject. Unfortunately, her phone rang.

  “Sorry, I have to take this.” Hopefully, this wasn’t going to end her date. Awkward as it felt right now, she didn’t want to end it. “Johnson,”

  Peters’ voice came over the line. “Kidnapping.”

  Damn it. Why now? “I’m on my way.”

  William backed out of the parking space before she even said anything. “Where to?”

  “I need my car. It could turn out to be a long night.”

  “Is there anything the department can handle without you?”

  She smiled. Could they handle things without her? “They do, but we’re shorthanded right now, and I’m on call.”

  Chapter 6

  Callie no more than arrived on the scene and walked in the door when a woman screamed.

  “This is your fault, David!” She raised her fist at the man standing next to her. “You’re the one who wanted to leave her with a sitter. She’ll be fine, you promised.” She gulped back tears. “But she’s not fine. She’s gone.” She swiped at tears rolling down her cheeks. Anger turned her face ugly.

  “Excuse me,” Callie said. “I’m Chief Johnson. I need to ask you some questions.”

  The woman looked at Callie as if she was from outer space.

  “Please, sit down.” She led the woman to the couch, hoping her soft voice would calm her, and motioned for Peters to take the husband in the other room. The woman sat down, sobbing softly. Callie’s heart went out to her.

  “Please, Mrs. Hammond, sit down.”

  She shook her head and sat down. “It’s Sylvia.”

  “Okay, Sylvia. I need to ask you some questions.”

  “Deep down, I know it’s not David’s fault,” Sylvia said. “We both interviewed Sophia. She came from a reputable agency, and I agreed, even looked forward to an evening out.” Sylvia let out a loud sob. “If anything happens to Emma, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  “When did you learn of the kidnapping?”

  Sylvia picked up the note and handed it to Callie. Give us One Hundred Thousand Dollars If you want your Dautter If You Call The Cops She Mite Be Hurt. Letters cut from newspapers and magazines blared at Callie from the page. Who ever took Emma wasn’t educated. Unless they wanted to make it look that way.

  “I didn’t want to call the police. David insisted. He said it’s Emma’s only chance. You can’t imagine how I felt when he picked up the phone and called you. He’s going to get our baby killed. The note says no police.”

  The poor thing swayed and turned gray. Callie worried she’d pass out, but she recovered quickly.

  “Please, David, I begged. No police.” Sylvia’s eyes swelled with tears - tears she could no longer hold back. “But he didn’t listen. He didn’t care. My baby, my poor baby.”

  She sank down on the couch and buried her head in her hands. “Poor helpless Emma. I should have stayed home. I have a bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling, especially since David called the police.” Sobs shook her thin shoulders.

  Callie never felt so helpless. Questioning her was going to be useless. She searched out Mr. Hammond. Might have better luck with him.

  “Everything looked normal when we returned, until we discovered the note and the empty crib. Nothing else is missing. Nothing’s out of place,” Mr. Hammond was telling Officer Peters as they came back into the living room.

  “I need a list of everyone you employ, fired or might have a reason to hold a grudge.” Callie said.

  Sylvia didn’t seem to care. She didn’t even look at them. She walked from room to room, apparently seeing nothing. Tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked. Her mascara smeared and streaked her face. She kept mumbling that she just wanted her baby back.

  For a minute, she stopped and stared at them. It looked like she wanted to lash out at someone, scream, or something. Callie tried to defuse the situation. All she needed was for Sylvia to lose it. Go
hysterical. She’d never experienced such a feeling of helplessness. Nothing she said helped Sylvia. Her husband went to her, put his arms around her, but she pushed him away.

  “I just want my baby. I want Emma. Here in my arms. What a fool I’d been to go out. To leave my baby with a stranger. It doesn’t matter how highly recommended Sophia came. I knew nothing about the woman personally. I should have trusted my instincts. Emma was too young to be left. What kind of mother am I?” Sylvia rambled, not talking to anyone in particular. “It didn’t matter that this dinner was important. David should have gone alone. Never again. If I get Emma back, I’ll never leave her again. Not for any reason. Nothing is as important as my child.”

  Callie’s heart went out to the woman, but she had a crime to solve and turned her attention back to David. Never had she seen a man look more dejected.

  He sat at the computer and pulled up a list of their personal employees, printed them out and gave it to Callie.

  “That’s ridiculous.” Sylvia came over and looked at the list over Callie’s shoulder. “Those people couldn’t be involved. Most of them have been with us long before Emma. They’re loyal. I’d trust them with my life.”

  At least she’d stopped the hysterics. Callie continued to look at the list. “Tell me who they are.”

  “Luis is the gardener, Hilda the cook, Greta’s our maid. Harold’s my chauffeur. He’s been with me long before I was married. Good lord, David, you even added Jill, my hair stylist, and Luis’s cousin, Carlos, who hauled wood for us a few times.” Sylvia turned to me. “Why aren’t you checking out Sophia? She’s the last person to see Emma, and she’s gone too. She must be the one who took my baby.”

  “Can you think of anyone else to add?” Callie handed the list to Sylvia. The woman stared at it.

  “David even listed the mailman and deliverymen. No, there’s no one else.” She handed it back and shook her head. “Why are you wasting time with this? Why aren’t you out looking for Emma? Searching for Sophia?” She continued to pace the living room, running fingers through her thick brown hair. She finally stopped and stared out the window.

  Callie followed her gaze. The park lay beyond their large estate, the trees lush with leaves. The park looked desolate now. Wind blew the branches.

  Sylvia shivered. “Emma’s out there, alone, and maybe cold. Who knows what kind of monster took my daughter. Are they kind, abusive?” She buried her face in her hands.

  “We tried so hard to have a child. We adopted Emma six months ago.” Sylvia spoke aloud while she turned and walked to the fireplace. She stared at the photo of the curly, black-haired baby with her almond shaped, dark eyes, and handed it to Callie.

  Callie looked at it and gave a half smile. Sylvia didn’t expect a response, what could she say anyway? No words would comfort her. Nothing mattered. Sylvia only cared about her baby.

  Other people arrived and Callie directed them. Sylvia watched as one set up a phone tap and still another dusted for prints in Emma’s room. As if it was too much to bear, Sylvia left the room and slammed her bedroom door.

  “David, that call last month...” Sylvia ran into the room and to the desk. “Remember, someone thought Emma was a cousin but we never heard from them again.”

  David snapped his fingers and picked up a file, found the name, and gave it to Callie. “I’d forgotten about that. We were worried he was going to try and get custody of Emma.”

  “I’ll put someone on it right away.” Callie pulled her cell phone out of its holder and walked away while she spoke.

  The hours passed. Sylvia couldn’t seem to sit still. She paced the room, went into other rooms and came back. Callie had never seen anyone so restless. She finally left the house. Callie decided to follow and motioned for Peters.

  Sylvia stopped in front of an old church.

  “Stay here, keep watch. But try to look natural,” Callie told Peters and followed Sylvia inside. She hesitated at the back and Callie looked up the long aisle. Something about the silence comforted her. It had been a long time since she’d attended church. Maybe it was time to go back.

  Sylvia hurried up the aisle and knelt at the altar. She put her head down on her hands. “Please, God,” she said aloud, “let whoever has Emma treat her well. Please bring my baby back to me.” The words echoed in the empty church. She knelt for another minute or two, then stood up and wiped her tears.

  Callie stayed back to give her privacy. When Sylvia turned to leave, Callie noticed a young man in the back of the church. When had he come in? She hadn’t noticed him before. Sylvia nodded at him.

  When Sylvia got close, he pushed an envelope toward her, then turned and ran out, letting the door slam behind him. Callie called Peters and told him to follow. Her stomach lurched as Sylvia open the envelope with trembling hands.

  After Sylvia read it quickly, she crumpled the note. Her legs collapsed and she slid to the floor. “They know the police are involved. That’s why they haven’t contacted us,” she whispered. “Dear God, where is Emma? What can I do to get my daughter back?”

  Callie rushed to her side and held out her hand to help the woman to her feet. Callie spoke in a soft voice, but Sylvia didn’t seem to hear the words. The church echoed the sound of the gut-wrenching sobs as they racked Sylvia’s body.

  Leading her into a pew, Callie took the note, and spoke to Peters on her cell phone. “The guy gave her a note. It says Come ‘ALONE’ Holy Cross Cemetary. 2:00. I said no cops! The letters are cut out from the same newsprint as the first ransom note. Get Billings on it with you now and keep following that guy.”

  Finally Sylvia stopped crying. “Are you okay?” Callie asked.

  Sylvia took several deep breaths, looked at Callie, and pulled away. “They have my baby. It’s because of you people that we haven’t heard from them.” She spoke through gritted teeth, her voice unrecognizable.

  “Come on, I’ll take you home.” Callie helped her stand.

  Sylvia pulled away. “I don’t want anything to do with the police. They know you’re involved. I have to deliver the ransom money.”

  “Let’s go home.” Callie couldn’t think of anything else to say. If she was in that position, she’d sure feel the same way.

  Chapter 7

  “They have a lead!” David came to the door and took Sylvia in his arms “They think they know where Emma is.”

  Sylvia collapsed against him. “You have to pay them. You read the note.” She screamed and pounded his chest. “They’re watching us! They know the police are involved. I want my baby back. We have the money. Give it to them. Why didn’t you listen to me? Don’t you want Emma back?”

  David held her. “I want Emma back, too, but we can’t give in to them.” He stroked her head. “We’ll get Emma back. I promise.”

  “How can you promise something like that? Why don’t you just give them the money? It doesn’t mean anything without Emma.” Sylvia pulled away and ran across the room and curled up in a chair. For the next two hours she was oblivious. The phone rang, but she didn’t appear to hear it. People came and went and she didn’t react. Hilda came in with a tray.

  “You must eat, Miss,” she said.

  Sylvia ignored the maid.

  Callie understood. Even she didn’t have an appetite. Hilda meant well, but Sylvia sent the tray back without touching it. Some people ate under stress. Not Sylvia.

  Callie’s phone rang. “Johnson. Where? I’m on my way.” Finally a break in the case.

  ***

  Nothing made Callie happier than returning with Emma after arrests were made.

  Sylvia looked up when they came in. She looked even more bedraggled. The hours had taken their toll.

  She froze, as if her legs refused to move. Tears filled her eyes, and she held out her arms for the baby. Sophia took Emma to her. Laughter mingled with the tears as she cuddled the smiling child.

  Sylvia hardly paid attention when Callie spoke. All that mattered to her was the baby. “Carlos, Luis’s cous
in, heard Luis brag how rich you were and that you adopted Emma,” Callie explained. “When Luis told them how afraid you were to leave Emma with a sitter, Carlos got the idea.” Callie looked from Sylvia to David as she spoke. “They tried to leave Sophia behind, but Emma wouldn’t stop crying, and they didn’t know how to handle her. Sophia convinced them to take her along.”

  Apparently, Sylvia had been listening because she smiled at Sophia. “Thank you. I owe you an apology but all I can say is thank you. I’ve been wrong about you.” Sylvia hugged Sophia. “Thank you for taking care of my baby.”

  Sophia hugged her back and smiled through her crooked teeth. “She was in my care. What else could I do? I tried to stop them, but they had a gun. I was afraid they’d shoot us both. I knew if I went with them we stood a chance. At least I could protect Emma.”

  “Carlos’s friend passed you the note in church.” Callie waited until Sophia finished and continued. “He wasn’t hard to follow, he never suspected.”

  Sylvia held Emma close. “Never again,” she said. “No matter how your Daddy begs. Never again will I leave my precious baby.”

  Callie couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad it all turned out well.” If only all her cases were solved so easily. Now all she wanted was to go home, get a shower, and crawl into bed. This case exhausted her. Tomorrow was dinner at her grandmother’s.

  Chapter 8

  Usually Callie enjoyed dinner with her grandmother. The judge never ceased to amaze her. She kept a busy schedule, yet still managed to keep house and entertain regularly. Where or how she found the time to clean, cook, and bake was beyond Callie. Lately, though, Gram had been getting on Callie’s case almost as bad as her mother and sister about getting married.

  She pulled into Gram’s drive and groaned. Not only would she have to deal with her grandmother, mother, and sister, Aunt Beatrice Lulu was here. Not her favorite person. She eased out of the car. May as well face the music.