by Alice Ward
Bill interrupted. “No time for that. Steve, do a drawing of Worth here, but give him Auggie’s eyes and put a full beard on him,” he ordered one of the detective he’d brought along. “Auggie, I have some things to say and you won’t want to hear them. Leave now. Sorry to be rough, but we can’t waste time.”
“I’m staying,” she said, although she was still shaking and wrapped in a blanket. I couldn’t argue with her. I had no right to do so.
Bill went on. “This guy is dangerous and I can’t emphasize it enough. I’ve met him and he’s clearly a psychopath. The police have no information on him because he was an orphan, switched at birth so there’s no records. Not even a print. The guy in the car was his stooge. Nothing there to go on. It was her car. He’s got Ford with him and I’m gambling that he’s not going far. He was supposed to meet with Worth at his office tomorrow to get his inheritance, whatever the fuck that means. My guess is he’ll stick close so he can make the meeting. He doesn’t want the kid, but won’t care if the kid gets hurt. His kind figures he’ll get the money and be out of town before anyone finds the kid. Worth has no choice but to cooperate. The only enemies this guy has is the mob. But letting them know he’s around endangers the kid. That’s a toss-up, but it may be our only reinforcement. He knows that everything he’s done will catch up to him and kidnapping charges don’t even make him blink. He has one and only one motivation. He wants money and revenge on a dead father he never met.”
I heard Mother suck in air but even though she was terrified, she hung in there. She was made of far stiffer stuff than I’d given her credit for.
“So,” Bill continued, “the only thing we can be fairly sure of at this point is that he’ll show up at the office tomorrow at three o’clock. He probably won’t have the kid with him so he’ll have to stuff him somewhere in the meantime. Worth, you’ll have to put conditions on this. You’re going to have to be cold; colder than he is. He’s nuts so he won’t get it, but he has to feel that you’re holding cards as strong as his. Can you do it?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Good. Now I want inquiries. All the motels and hotels, bed and breakfasts, bus stops, train station, airport. I want men out with copies of that ID drawing and I want reports every ten minutes. George, you type those tracks and that will tell us what he’s driving. My guess is that it’s stolen, so check that against the database. Brandon, I want you to put out the word to everyone you know. I want leads. This guy had to be holed up somewhere over the last few years and someone has to know about it. I want bank accounts, phony ID and be sure to check for any arrests — even petty crimes that turn up with someone who had no record of birth. If we figure out where he’s been, we can figure out where he’s liable to go. Here’s the hard part. If he takes out Ford, Auggie is his next target. I want a detail assigned to her and she’s to stay in this house with the security system on at all times. She is never to be left alone without at least two armed guards. I want one in the house and one outside the door. I want all the cameras running and recording.”
He pointed at me and I snapped back to attention.
“Worth, you’re the only one who can leave. Sam, get the dogs, the best team you can find and don’t answer any questions. I need a piece of the boy’s clothing. You know what to do. Mr. and Mrs. Langford, I want you to go home and stay there. He may try and contact you, Mrs. Langford. This,” he slid a small box across the table, “is a tracking and recording device. It’s simple to use. You just plug it into your WIFI Ethernet at the house and it will monitor any signals. Be sure to turn off your data stream and only use the phone on WiFi. Here’s another one for the house here, Worth.”
The front door burst open and there stood Bernie, tears on his face. “Where is he?” he pleaded. I knew then that Bernie had considered himself a sort of father to Ford. “What can I do?”
Bill looked to me and I nodded. He pointed to a chair and said, “Sit down.” Bernie never hesitated. “Who are you to the boy?” he asked.
Auggie spoke up. “Bernie is my personal assistant, but he’s become a member of the family. He and Ford were… are… close.”
Bill asked, “Does the kid have your cell phone number?” Bernie nodded. “Does he call you?”
Bernie nodded again. “All the time.”
I was surprised, but this was no time to feel hurt.
“Keep your phone charged and with you at all times. If the kid calls, try to spin out the call as long as you can so we can triangulate his position with the towers. Hand your phone to Pete, there, he’ll add the trace. Do the same for everyone’s phone, you all hear me. Is there anyone else Ford would call?”
We all looked at one another and shrugged. We all seemed to be in the room. “Maybe Betsy?” Auggie suggested.
“Get her here,” Bill ordered and Bernie leapt up from his seat and headed out the door. “Okay!” Bill barked, pounding the table. “This is command central. I want reports every thirty minutes from each one of you; sooner if you pick up something. I’m going to check out some sources I have. Carl, you’re to stay here and act as relay. Auggie, I suggest you try and get some rest. It could be a long haul. Now get going!” he snapped and everyone leapt to their feet to begin their duties.
I took Auggie up to our room and put her to bed, but I knew she wouldn’t sleep. “I’ll let you know of the slightest detail,” I promised and closed the door behind me. Betsy had just arrived and I asked her to sit in with Auggie and keep an eye on her. I had just gotten downstairs to the dining room when Betsy came up behind me, tugging at my arm.
“She needs to talk to you. It’s important. I told her she must tell you.”
I bounded up the stairs to our room and found Auggie lying down, blankets twisted, her eyes huge with fear. She motioned to me and I went to the side of the bed and bent over her. I thought she was going to hug me but pulled my head down close to hers.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered and I pulled back, not sure of what I’d just heard. She nodded and the fear told me she was afraid she would miscarry.
“Stay calm. Betsy, call the doctor. Don’t give him any details about what’s going on here, but I want him to spend the night and keep an eye on Auggie.” Betsy nodded and went to find the number. “It will be okay, darling,” I said. “We’ll spend Christmas all together, all four of us,” I reassured her and left to do my part.
***
It was, without comparison, the longest night of my life. Bill kept urging me to get some rest, but I felt as though a clock was ticking and as long as I stayed awake, my boy would stay alive. I knew that was unfounded, but I wanted to keep a mental link to him in any way I could.
The dining room table became communication central. Men came in with all sorts of equipment and phones were plugged in and wires run. Betsy kept sandwiches and coffee coming to keep people awake and there was a constant buzz in the room as the various men checked in with progress reports. I wracked my brain to process through the various scenarios that I thought Linc might use. Not only was I a trained doctor, I was his blood. He was a sick version of me. I tried to imagine the worst that Father would do, and then factor that by ten.
About midnight, Earl Kinsey showed up at the door. He came to the table, tracking snow and mud across the floor, and to me, it was the sight of progress in saving my son. I could have kissed him.
Earl sat down, exhausted and while he directed his conversation to me, it was intended for everyone in the room. “Okay, here’s where we are. I got in touch with a few of my dad’s old contacts; got them out of bed. They weren’t worth much, but they put me in contact with the guys who were. Worth, they were pissed, to say the least. They don’t like it when someone puts something over on them. They’re flying a couple of guys down in a private jet and they should be here any time. They’re offering a deal. They want a million bucks for their trouble.”
“Done!” I exclaimed.
“Oh, that’s not all. They want Linc. Alive. They gotta make an example
outta him or they look bad. You get that? That means you can’t call the cops,” he said, looking over at Bill.
“No problem,” Bill muttered, busily reading some feedback from one of his many meters.
Earl continued on. “They figure he’s holed up with some broad. That’s his MO. He hides behind them, their identity and then knocks ‘em off when he’s done with them. He can keep that up forever. He’s got that kind of charisma, I guess.”
“He does,” I verified.
“Well, the guys comin’ down have a few ideas of where he may be and I told ‘em they got to bring the kid in alive or the deal is off. They’re okay with that. So, you might say there’s a bounty on Linc’s head and a reward on Ford’s — but you can’t say nothin’ to no one. Got it?”
“Earl, I’ll take care of you, my friend.”
Earl held up his hand. “Say no more, Worth. I’ve always looked up to you. It’s my pleasure if I can help in any way. Now, I’m goin’ over there and lay down on that sofa. When they give me a call they’re in, I’ll go and pick them up. Just going to rest my eyes.” I nodded and shook Earl’s hand.
“Good friend to have,” was Bill’s only comment, but he relayed the new information to everyone in the loop.
Brandon called and relayed that he’d put out the word and had a handful of leads. They were all men who had committed petty crimes and were unidentifiable. Unfortunately, all but three of those were dead but Brandon had men deployed to interview those three. That was one more lead being investigated.
One of Bill’s men called in and he’d been through the hotels, motels, bus station, airport and turned up nothing. Bill told him to keep checking, to go into southern Indiana and as far as Lexington and Evansville. Linc was too smart to be tracked too close by — but he needed to be close enough for the three o’clock meeting.
Bill came up to me. “Worth, dammit, you go and get some shut eye. Your son’s life tomorrow might depend on how clear you’re thinking. We can’t have you pissed and tired at the same time. We might very well lose both of you.”
That brought a shocking thought to me. “Bill, what if he goes after Mother? Or Auggie’s dad? He’ll figure they’re complicit and if he hurts Ford, he knows none of the rest of us will rest until he’s dead.”
“That’s why you get the big bucks,” Bill said and signaled one of his men standing by to go over and stand watch. “Tell me if you see anything at all and check the parking lot for that set of matching tracks.” The man left and again we were left to the flashing of lights on meters and phone recorders.
I laid down on the lounge chair and tried to sleep. The next thing I knew, I looked at my watch and it was eight a.m. The light was slow in waking me; it was the shortest day of the year. I was startled that I’d slept and deathly afraid of having lost mental contact with Ford. “Bill?”
“Nothing more yet. Guys from Chicago arrived and went off with Earl. For once I’m glad I’m dealing with hit men who are professionals. Believe me, Worth, if they find him before we do, he won’t be around for Christmas.”
For some reason, although I knew he meant well, this talk was not particularly encouraging.
I found Betsy asleep on a kitchen stool at the island, her head cradled on her arms. I stirred her and told her to go find a room in which to sleep, but please check on Auggie first. The doctor was in with her, but I just wanted that reassurance. She returned shortly, reported Auggie had been sedated and yes, the doctor did know about the pregnancy. She fired up the coffee pot, the stove and soon there were platters of cinnamon rolls and muffins handy. She put these on the dining table, now known as Contact Central.
Bill look whipped himself and I suggested he get some rest. “Nope,” he said. “I’ve done 96-hour shifts without shut-eye before and that was for a petty crime. No way I’m letting anybody but me see this one through.”
I was so grateful to have these men on my side. I wondered what Linc was thinking. Surely he didn’t think I was peacefully slumbering and having a lazy breakfast before I went to the office. That reminded me and I asked Bill what to do about the staff at the clinic. He motioned to one of his men who promptly left. “Call down there and tell them my man will relieve the receptionist. Get him a white coat or something to wear. Then send everybody home and lock all the doors but the front one. Put a closed sign in the window and they’re not to let anyone inside. Evacuate the place.”
I nodded and followed through with his instructions. Bill truly was a professional. Jesus Christ! I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before this.
“Bill! I think I have something. After Linc disappeared, we turned my old family farm over to a non-profit for kids with disabilities. They gave them horse rides, etcetera for therapy. Linc wouldn’t know this and he probably figures it’s still in the family and might even have keys. There’s a skeleton staff on duty in the barns, looking after the livestock, but the staff for the non-profit is off over the holidays. What if he’s there? Would he be so stupid?”
Bill looked at me. “He’s exactly that smart. He knows the last place people look is the obvious and he’s got everything he needs there to hide the kid, stay warm and fed and escape in every direction. I’ll bet that’s exactly where he is!”
He sprang into action, alerting his team, including the guys from Chicago. “I’m going there,” he said to me and I grabbed my coat. I begged Betsy to stay upstairs with Auggie but not to let on that we had any clue.
“Make sure the doctor stays with her… just in case,” I managed to get out.
“Worth!” a voice behind me shouted. “I’m going too.” It was Bernie and I nodded.
On the way to the farm, Bill asked for a lay of the land. I told him our best bet was to come in from the rear of the property, around the barns so we could get a good look at the house without him seeing us. If there were tracks of any kind in the snow, we’d know he was inside. No one else would be going near the house. Bill’s men all met us at the appointed spot. Even Brandon showed up, but I asked him to go and be with Auggie. He nodded and disappeared.
The men from Chicago were huge hulks, each wearing bulky woolen coats that indicated they were heavily armed. They stayed to the back. They were content to let us try to get to Ford before they would do what they’d come to do.
Bill’s men, staying out of sight of the house, sneaked up to the barns and then motioned us forward. They had dour looks on their faces and we soon discovered why. Bill opened the access door and then lowered his weapon. The floor was littered with dead. Some of them I recognized; they’d been with my father for years. Others were new hires. I had to fight not to vomit. Bill’s men covered them with horse blankets but we had to leave them be. We couldn’t move them; the police would eventually have to be called. We could no longer keep this quiet.
Using binoculars, we could see there were fresh tire tracks in the drive and footprints leading up toward the front of the house. We didn’t have the vantage to see whether they’d gone in through the front door, or broken a window, but there were definitely tracks.
Ford was too young the last time he’d been in that house. He wouldn’t have any idea where he was and there would be no trace of family portraits or anything familiar to clue him in. For all he knew, it was where Linc lived or just a public building. I hadn’t been inside since the non-profit took over, but assumed it’d been made fairly generic.
The sun was fairly high now so there would be no sneaking up to the building. It was cold and we had to be careful because our breath caused steam to rise above us. It would be seen from a distance.
Bill came up to me. “I want you to call Linc’s phone — you got the number?”
I shook my head. “No, but I have Ford’s.”
“You think he’s got it on him?”
“I think so. I didn’t see it at the house. I tried it earlier, but it went straight to voice mail.”
“Makes sense, he probably turned it off so we couldn’t track it. Let’s try anyway. He
might have it on, waiting for a call. It’s worth a shot.”
I was already accessing my phone, but Bill put a hand on my arm.
“If it’s on, my guess is that Linc will answer. You’re to tell him that you know he’s got Ford and that you want to move up the appointment time to — let’s see — eleven this morning. Tell him your staff has gone home and you’ll be waiting for him, alone. Tell him that you know if you get anyone involved, he’ll hurt the boy and you’ll give him whatever he wants for his safe return. We might be able to flush him out of the house and get a shot at him from this distance. Scotty? You ready?”
A man nodded and his sniper rifle came off his shoulder strap. He found a solid footing on a stack of hay bales and slid open the window above it, taking aim at the house.
Bill knew what I was going to ask. “Don’t worry, Worth. He can pick off a fly at ten times that distance. He won’t hurt the boy. Okay, you ready?”
I looked at the thugs, expecting them to step in, wanting Linc for themselves. But they surprised me by backing off. I looked back at Bill and nodded, taking a deep breath. This call would be the most important of my entire life. Everything depended on my staying calm and letting Linc think he held all the cards. I cleared my throat and tapped on Ford’s number in my address book. Bill held a finger up for silence and I put it on speaker.
It rang three times and then clicked. There was no sound. “Linc?” I said, holding my breath.
“Father?” It was Ford’s voice and my knees almost buckled with relief. So far, so good.
“Son, let me speak to the man with the beard.”
“I can’t, Father.” I could picture Linc holding a gun to Ford’s head and my thoughts raced with what to say next. We hadn’t planned this into the scenario discussed.
“Ford, it will be fine, son. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No, Father, I’m not hurt. I’m just fine. Can you come and get me?”
What a strange thing to ask. “Ford, can you talk?”
