A New Game

by Linda L Barton

  As he walked out of the door, he heard the pleading cries from Jenni begging him not to go. However, he ignored her cries and let the screen door slam behind him as he walked out to the waiting car, and into his new life.

  It was months before he saw Jenni and his grandmother again. One day he had received the news that Maybelle was in the hospital after having a heart attack, and they did not know if she would survive.

  At hearing this news, he knew he must swallow his pride and go see her. Tyrone dreaded the reception, he knew, was to come, but he also knew that he would never forgive himself if she died without seeing her again.

  Chapter 4

  The day was cold and dark, which reflected the mood Tyrone, felt, as he walked down the long hallway to his grandmother’s hospital room. He had stopped by the gift store in the lobby and bought her a basket of daisies, which were her favorite, but he knew no gift would erase the pain he had caused her.

  When he approached the door to her room, he paused a moment to listen to the voices from inside and hung his head in shame.

  “Do you think he’ll come? He hasn’t contacted you for months.” Ruth was Maybelle’s oldest and dearest friend, and she hated seeing the pain and worry on Maybelle’s face.

  “I know he will. He would never stay away at a time like this. He needs to be here for Jenni; they will need each other if I don’t make it.” Each word whispered as she strained to speak. Maybelle was weak, but she knew she had to stay strong for Jenni.

  Ruth looked to the corner of the room by the window where Jenni had curled up in the chair, which made out into a small bed.

  “I told everyone I thought might know where he is, so I hope he knows you’re here. I know you love him and still want to have faith in him, but I don’t know…”

  Maybelle had heard enough. “Never underestimate the love we share as a family! He may be on the wrong path for now, but I know he still loves us and he will always be there for Jenni. He’ll come; you’ll see.”

  Ruth saw the pain in Maybelle’s eyes and knew it was best to drop the subject. “I’m sorry; I know he loves both of you. I only hope he comes soon.”

  Tyrone felt tears streaming down his cheeks. How could I have been so foolish?

  He took a deep breath and stepped inside the door. “Hi, Gran.”

  The look of joy on Maybelle’s face shone as bright as the sun. “I’m so happy to see you. Please come over here so I can see you better.”

  She held up her arm and motioned for him to come to her bedside.

  Tyrone walked toward her with feelings of both shame and joy surging through him. How could he have turned his back on her, and his sister? They had always been there for him and believed in him, but he foolishly chose the streets over their love.

  He stepped up to the side of the bed and gently took her hand in his own shaking hand. “Gran, I’m sorry. I should have been here for you. I could have…”

  “Now, don’t feel that way. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.” Maybelle held onto his hand, afraid it was a dream, and he would disappear.

  The new voice in the room brought Jenni out of her fit filled sleep. “Tyrone, is that you?” She sat up rubbing her eyes, not sure if this was another dream.

  “Yes Jenni, I’m finally back,” he smiled with tears flowing down his cheeks.

  Jenni jumped up and ran to him, grabbing him around the waist.

  “I knew you’d come, I just knew it!” she cried, holding him tightly. “Everyone said you wouldn’t, but Gran and I knew you would come. We are a family, and family sticks together, right? You always told me you would be here for us no matter what. I knew you still loved us.”

  The words slammed into Tyrone’s brain, we’re a family, and family sticks together.

  She was right. He had always believed that, but somehow along the way he seemed to have forgotten. “I’m sorry that I let you down. I promise from now on I will always be there to protect, and take care of you both.”

  ***

  The air seemed unusually crisp as Tyrone walked out to his car. His grandmother was not falling for the story of Jenni camping with friends, so he worried how much longer he could keep her from calling the police.

  “If she calls them, Jenni is dead.” He had begged his grandmother to trust him and not call the authorities because he knew where Jenni was. He had also promised he would bring her home.

  He reached for the ignition when his cell phone rang. “Crap, who is it now? Hello.”

  “Good evening, Tyrone, did you have a pleasant talk with your grandmother? I hope you didn’t tell her about our little arrangement now, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t, but I don’t know how much longer I can hold it off! She’s a strong-willed woman, and she won’t rest until Jenni is home safely.”

  Tyrone was beside himself with worry. He knew if he told her everything she would call the police regardless of the threat, but he also knew if Jenni was not home soon, the worry might cause her to have another heart attack.

  “I have faith in your ability to deceive her as you have for many years now. I am sure she would be surprised to know all you have been up to since you moved out of her home. All the drugs and shootings; you were quite busy, weren’t you?”

  He always enjoyed making the pieces in the game face the truth of themselves. “Now is no time to forget your part in this arrangement. So calm down, and let’s get back to the job at hand.”

  Tyrone could barely contain the rage burning inside him. All, he wanted to do, was get Jenni home and put a bullet in this asshole’s head. “Fine, I’m in control. What do you want me to do now?”

  He had to play his cards carefully with this guy if he wanted to get Jenni back. He would do as told until Jenni was safe, and then he would find this guy, and watch him beg for mercy before a bullet slammed into his brain.

  “I need you to make another visit to the home of our guest. I have something for you to leave for the loving parents.” He was excited to be at this stage of the game. He had always enjoyed watching the response from the participants with each new move.

  ***

  It had been a long day for Mac. She had gone to all the addresses for the cars matching the reported license plate, but one, so she was glad finally see the street for the last one on her list.

  “Well, Mr. Tyrone Beltane, let’s see if you’re the one I’m looking for.” As she turned down the street, a strange feeling came over her as if something was missing.

  Come on, get yourself together, she thought to herself as she pulled up to the curb and parked.

  She was about to get out of her car when her cell phone rang, “Hello.”

  “Mac, you need to get over to the Afton’s house right away. There has been a delivery. Someone dropped off a few items that belong to the boy.” The quivering voice of Officer Taylor lets Mac know it was not pleasant.

  “I’m headed there now.” She started her car and pulled back out onto the street.

  I sure hope this isn’t bad news! She groaned silently.

  Twenty minutes later, she pulled up in the driveway of the Afton home. Damn it, why are all these people here? She got out of her car and walked to the front door.

  “My poor, little Joey!” Cheryl Afton sobbed on her husband’s shoulder. “Oh, my God….no!”

  Brian Afton was at a loss for what to say as he was also in shock. He had gone to the kitchen to make some tea when something had caught his eye in the backyard. He had strained to see what it was when to his horror he realized it was a pair of Joey’s shoes.

  He knew they had not been there before because the police had taken anything that was on the lawn for evidence. He had yelled to Cheryl as he picked up the telephone and called the police Department.

  Officer Ed Taylor greeted Mac at the door. “I’m glad you’re here. The father was in the kitchen about to make some tea when he looked out the window and noticed a pair of his son’s shoes in the backyard. He called us immediately.”


  “He didn’t move them, correct?” Mac moved past Ed and walked to where the Afton’s were seating on the couch.

  “No, he didn’t. He said he didn’t even go out into the yard for fear he might disturb the evidence, and harm our investigation.”

  “Good.” Mac sat in the chair across from Brian and Cheryl. “Mr. Afton, I want to thank you for remaining calm and not disturbing the shoes. Your actions are a great help to us in this investigation. May I ask you if you noticed anything else out of place?”

  Brian did his best to compose himself before he spoke, “No, just the shoes. I was standing at the kitchen sink about to fill the teapot with water when I looked out the window and saw them lying there…as if Joey had taken them off and left them…” His voice trailed off.

  Mac knew he would be no more help for now, so she excused herself and walked out to the backyard. The sight of the little pair of shoes lying in the yard tied together by the laces stirred a sick feeling in her stomach. She knelt down to get a closer look at them and wondered what type of person would do this, but then in her next thought she knew that as she had dealt with this sort for many years.

  People can be so cruel and selfish. They will do terrible things to get what they want, and it does not matter who, or what they use to achieve those goals.

  Mac had learned from a young age the world was full of darkness, and she had decided to make it her mission in life to destroy the darkness every chance she got. She had witnessed the destruction by those who gave in to their cravings and hatred first hand in her own family. She closed her eyes for a moment to gather her thoughts and to focus on the case before her.

  Detective Rick Jameson walked over and knelt down next to Mac. After a few tense moments, he finally spoke in a hushed tone.

  “When we arrived and came out to the backyard, we only noticed the shoes at first, but then when we took a closer look, we found that...” Rick turned to point to the far corner of the yard where they had found a doll dressed in a pair of children’s blue jeans, and a red shirt with cartoon car characters on it.

  “Mac this doesn’t look good. It looks like a real sicko has this kid,” his voice quivered at the thought of the child in the hands of a monster.

  “We were about to take a closer look at the shoes. Do you want the honor of doing it?” Rick knew Mac wanted to take control of things, and to be honest he was glad. As he looked at the little shoes lying there without the child who had worn them, he thought of his youngest daughter. He tried to imagine the horror this poor child must be going through, let alone the anguish his parents felt. However, he knew he was supposed to separate his personal feelings, but sometimes a case would hit a little too close to home.

  Mac looked at Rick and saw the pleading look in his eyes. “I sure do Rick, you know me too well.”

  Mac knew what Rick was thinking because she had the same thought go through her mind, but she forced herself to focus on the case at hand. She slipped on a pair of gloves and picked up the shoes to examine them closer.

  “What the hell?” She reached inside one of the shoes and pulled out a small plastic bag with what appeared to be hair and a piece of paper inside of it.

  “It looks like we may finally have a contact here,” she whispered then placed the shoes and the plastic bag in evidence bags. “Let’s get everything to the lab, now!” Mac stood, and looked at Rick. “You haven’t told the parents of the doll yet, have you?”

  “No, we didn’t want to cause any more hysteria at the time,” Rick whispered.

  “Good, let’s keep this information within the Department for now. I have a theory I want to test.” Mac waited for the numerous questions she knew this comment would bring.

  “Theory… what theory?” Rick knew Mac was the type to explore all avenues during an investigation, but he could not begin to imagine what she meant this time.

  “I’d rather not say right now, but I promise you’ll be the first to know,” Mac prayed this would suffice. She knew Rick would want to help, but she had to do this on her own for now.

  ***

  On the drive back to the Department, the vision of the doll and shoes kept swimming around in Mac’s mind. Rick is right. A real sicko has taken the kid. She pulled up into her parking space at the Department and turned off her car.

  Rick was walking to her car, when Mac’s cell phone rang, “Hello.”

  “Good evening, Lucinda, or I should say Detective since you’re still on duty,” the voice teased.

  “How do you know what I’m doing all the time?” Mac was furious at the sound of this arrogant person. Knowing what response he desired, she fought to control her feelings.

  “I told you there isn’t anything you can do that I won’t know about.”

  “Fine, so you know everything I’m doing? Where did I just come from, and what was I doing there?” she held her breath, waiting for him to answer.

  “So, you’re testing me now? Let’s just say you were at a mutual friend’s house and found some treasures.”

  “It is you! You’re the one who took the kid!” Mac felt the excitement growing inside of her. This guy is the sicko!

  “I hate to disappoint you, but I did not kidnap the child. I do, however, know who did and where he hid the child,” he paused to wait for her response.

  “Where is he then? Tell me where he is so I can return him to his family!” Mac felt as if her head was about to explode. She could not believe this guy knew of the kidnapping and would not do anything to help…unless.

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth? It would be easy to call, and act as if you know details about the kidnapping simply by listening to the news. Tell me something new, something no one outside the Department knows, and then I’ll believe you.”

  He paused a moment before he spoke, relishing the moment. “Let’s see, so you need some proof; fair enough? I know the parents called and reported the child’s shoes left in the backyard, correct?”

  “Yes,” Mac hesitated a moment before answering.

  “But the most interesting finds are not known to the parents, are they?” He knew this would get her attention.

  “Go on…” she held her emotions and waited.

  “The kidnapper left some rather interesting tidbits, didn’t he? First, we found a pair of shoes, tied together and left in the yard. However, the interesting part was the plastic bag with the child’s hair and the ransom note tucked inside of one of the shoes. I gather from your questions that you haven’t read the note yet, am I correct? I bet you’re wondering why the hair and the doll dressed in the child’s clothes would be left there, aren’t you?”

  Mac could no longer hold back, “You asshole, where’s the kid? You know too much information to not be involved! You better not have hurt him or I’ll…”

  He marveled how the passion had awakened in her. She has turned into an exciting Tracker; he thought to himself.

  “Lucinda, such passion, I love to hear you stand up for a child that means nothing to you.”

  When Rick walked up to her car, he saw the look of rage on her face, but since her window closed, he was unable to hear what she was saying. However, he could tell she was not pleased.

  “I stand up for all children hurt by assholes like you. Now where is he?” Mac shook uncontrollably from the anger burning inside of her. She could not understand how this person could act as though the life of an innocent child meant nothing.

  “He’s safe for now, but his continued well-being depends on you. We have a game to play, and you need to learn how to follow the rules.”

  “Rules, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t plan to play anything with you! The only thing, I want to do, is arrest you for kidnapping!”

  “I told you I did not kidnap the child; someone else did that. I simply know a few important details, that’s all.”

  “You’re lying! You have to be intimately involved to know about the baggie and the doll because no one outside of the Departmen
t knows that information. Hell, his parents don’t even know of them. If you tell me where to find the boy, I’ll do my best to go easy on you.” Mac knew she was wasting her time negotiating with him, but she had no other choice.

  “I wish I could, but it would interfere with our game, Lucinda. You see, we have so much more fun ahead of us, and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out. Goodbye for now.” The phone went dead.

  “Damn it!” Mac yelled. She looked at the cell phone for the incoming call number, even though she knew it would not be there. Realizing that she was no longer alone, Mac turned to see a confused Rick standing outside her car door. She composed herself the best she could and got out of the car.

  “Is everything okay?” Rick asked with a look of concern clearly on his face.

  “Yeah, but remember when I told you I had a theory? Well, it just got a big ol’ twist to it,” she looked at Rick, unsure, if she wanted to tell him about the phone call.

  “Mac, can you let me in on what that was all about?” He knew something was on her mind.

  “I can’t right now, but I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve figured out a few things.” Mac cared for Rick and his family, so the idea of involving him frightened her. If this guy kidnaped the Afton child for some game, the last thing, she wanted, was to jeopardize Rick’s family.

  “Come on, let’s forget that stupid phone call for now, and go see what the lab has come up with from the baggie and doll.” Mac smiled and then walked to the back door of the Department.

  Realizing that Mac would not elaborate more, Rick nodded and followed her inside.

  ***

  Tyrone shook with fear when he jumped into his car and headed out of the neighborhood where the little boy lived. He knew he ought to turn himself into the authorities, but Jenni’s life was at risk. The last time the strange caller had let him talk to her, she sounded scared and weak. She had told him she was cold, and it was dark, the same words he had heard the Afton boy say when he came to give him food.