A New Game

by Linda L Barton

  Is she being kept, in the same way, cold, scared, and in the dark? The words slammed into his mind and caused a feeling of guilt to swallow his entire being.

  “If I don’t get her back home soon, Gran is gonna call the police. Crap, I don’t know what to do!”

  He decided to stop and pick up some food for the boy, but to be honest he wanted to make sure he was all right. “Come on, you need to pull yourself together for Jenni.”

  ***

  The room was dark and damp with the only source of light coming from a single fifteen-watt bulb in the corner. Joey was cold and scared. He had cried when the man grabbed him and put him in the cold, dark room, but now he just lie on a cot, wrapped in a thin blanket. He cried when the man came to take his clothes and then left him in only a girl’s tee shirt, his underwear, and his socks to wear.

  Joey had cried so much that he believed he could do nothing else. He had no idea how long he had been in this place, but it felt like forever. The man had told him he would be home soon, but Joey knew he was lying. “Mommy, Daddy…I want to come home.”

  The drive to the building where he hid the boy took roughly twenty minutes. Tyrone understood why the strange caller had him put the boy there because no one was around for miles. The old building had once been a manufacturing plant but now was left to the elements.

  Tyrone was surprised at the way the room was prepared. There was a small cot with one sheet and a thin blanket, a dim light in the corner, and a small hole cut in the floor. There was a coffee can set over the hole in the floor that had the top and bottom removed as a makeshift toilet. He wondered if Jenni was also in a place like that.

  He pulled around the back of the building and parked by the door. The sun had set, and the evening air was crisp. Tyrone turned the car off and grabbed the bag of the food and the bottle of water he had picked up earlier. “Let’s get this over with,” he groaned.

  He retrieved the blanket brought from home. “It’s getting too cold for the kid to only have that thin blanket,” he whispered to the cool night air, as much as to himself.

  When he walked to the door of the room, Tyrone could hear the soft whimpers coming from the other side. Damn it, I hate doing this! The words burned into his soul with the knowledge that he had no choice.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! “Cover your head, and no peeking. I’ve got your food and water.” After pounding his warning on the door, Tyrone removed the pin holding it in place and slowly opened it.

  “Keep your head covered, and no talking!” He grumbled.

  “I want to go home. I want my mommy and daddy,” Joey cried from under the blanket.

  “I told you no talking, now shut up! Here’s your food and water,” he groaned as he tossed the bag on the bed next to the small, whimpering figure hidden under the thin blanket.

  “And here’s another blanket.” Tyrone tossed the blanket at the small figure hiding in fear and groaned again.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow.” He walked back out the door, hooked the lock pin in place, and then rushed out to his car.

  The sight of the small boy under the blanket begging to go home ripped at Tyrone’s heart. He had done many terrible things in his life, but this was by far the worst. He had always been able to detach himself from his victims, but this was different. He could see the fear firsthand, and he was sure his little sister was experiencing that same apprehension.

  ***

  The note surprised Mac, and the blood ran cold in her veins as she read its terrifying words. Your son is alive for now, but whether he stays that way depends on you, and if you can follow directions. I will contact you later with my demands.

  “Well, at least we know the boy is still alive, but why did he send hair in the bag with the note and why the doll dressed in the child’s clothes?” Mac looked Rick, as she examined the hair spread out on the evidence tray.

  Rick was silent the entire time they had been in the lab, trying to shake the image of his sweet, little Mandy from his mind. She was petite and such a gentle spirit. How would she handle a stranger taking her away from her home?

  “Rick, are you paying attention?” Mac hit him in the arm with her elbow.

  “Ah, yes…I’m sorry. I just keep visualizing Mandy in my mind; she is the same age as the Afton boy. Mac, I don’t know what I would do if anything like this ever happened to one of my girls,” the fear was evident in Rick’s voice.

  “I know, but we need to stay focused. That little boy needs us to stay sharp and in control of our emotions, not surrendering to weakness and fear!” Mac understood how Rick felt because she was scared herself. This person was dangerous. He was calm and calculating, and not the kind to make mistakes.

  “You’re right; I need to put my personal feelings aside and focus on the investigation. You know, I have an idea about the hair. I think he puts the hair in the bag to add shock value. If it was my child, and I received a note with a lock of hair cut from their head, I would fall to pieces and be willing to do anything to ensure their safe return. The hair and clothes are more than enough proof he has the boy.” Rick fought to push the growing feeling of dread out of his mind, but he knew the time was running out for Joey.

  “I think you’re on to something, Rick. This guy did seem to fancy himself above everyone, and he does enjoy playing games…wait a minute! It can’t be, can it?”

  It surprised Mac the direction her mind was going. He said he had chosen me to be a Tracker in some sort of game.

  “Okay, what game? Does this have anything to do with that theory you spoke of earlier?” Rick asked, unsure if he wanted to know the answer.

  Mac turned to Rick with a new excitement in her voice, “Yes, it does, and I need to get to the bottom of something before I can say more, okay?”

  Chapter 5

  Maybelle refused to wait any longer. She knew Tyrone was not being honest with her, but she could not figure out why. Why would he be afraid of the police getting involved? Has he done something wrong, and is hiding from them?

  “I can’t stand this anymore!” Maybelle reached for the telephone when Tyrone walked in the back door. “Oh, thank the Lord, where is she? Where is my sweet baby? Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I want her home, now!”

  Tyrone’s heart broke at the relieved look on his grandmother’s face. How could he tell her the truth without causing her to panic? He found himself unable to speak, so he stood there looking down at the floor.

  “Tyrone, where is she? You did bring her home, right?” her words were pleading and full of fear. “Tyrone, look at me and tell me where your sister is!”

  He lifted his eyes and looked into hers, “I don’t know where she is Gran, but I know what happened to her.”

  He had swallowed hard before he continued, “I’ve done a lot of bad things, and this is my punishment for them. I cannot tell you everything, but I can tell you if you call the police; Jenni will die. I’m doing everything I can get her back home to you, but you have to promise me you won’t call the police.”

  “What have you done? Did one of your drug friends take her? Do you owe them money, and are they holding her until you pay them? How could you do this to her…and to me?” The pain and grief overtook her, and she collapsed to the floor.

  “Gran…oh, God, no!” Tyrone rushed to her and leaned down to feel her pulse. It was still there, though barely.

  He reached for the telephone and dialed 911. “Please send an ambulance. I think my grandmother is having a heart attack!”

  The drive to the hospital was the most painful thing Tyrone had ever experienced. If Gran and Jenni both died, it would be because of him and his choices. He did not know what he would do if he lost them, and he wished he would have realized this sooner.

  ***

  “Tyrone, what have you done?” Ruth cried as she rushed through the doors of the emergency room. “You’ve been nothing but a burden to your grandmother these last few years! Where’s Jenni?”

  Tyrone was in no mood to put up with
Ruth, and her accusations; even though he knew she was right. “I haven’t done anything. She collapsed, so I called 911, and Jenni is staying with friends.”

  He hoped this would pacify Ruth because he was not in the mood for any of her crap.

  Ruth was unsure if she should believe him. He seemed to be hiding something, but she was not able to put her finger on what it might be. “Have they told you anything about Maybelle yet?”

  “Not yet, but it doesn’t look good. She was so pale when they put her on the gurney…” His voice faded off at the memory of her lying there motionless.

  “Maybelle is a strong woman, so we need to keep the faith. I know the good Lord is with her and if it be his will, she will be just fine. I need to call Pastor Monroe and let him know.” She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed the number.

  Tyrone decided to step outside to get a breath of fresh air, and away from Ruth. He looked around for a place to sit and noticed a small bench next to the sidewalk that led to the parking lot.

  He walked over to the bench and sat down. How could things have gone so wrong?

  He sat there lost in his thoughts when his cell phone rang. He looked at the number. “Damn it, I can’t handle you right now!”

  However, he knew he had to answer the call. “Hello.”

  “Good evening, Tyrone. I’m sorry to hear your grandmother is back in the hospital. How is she doing?”

  “She’s not doing well at all, thanks to you!” Tyrone groaned.

  “I haven’t done anything to her. It’s the years of worry that have finally taken their toll on her,” he responded in a chastising tone.

  “You do have to admit this is quite fortuitous in its timing, though. I’m sure you had a difficult time keeping her from calling the authorities, and we both know what would have happened to sweet Jenni if she had.”

  “Damn you, why would you do this? I have done everything you have asked. Why can’t you just let her go?” Tyrone shook with anger and frustration, as he felt himself growing light-headed.

  “You don’t need to know why; you only need to do as told. We have more to do, but first you need to make sure your grandmother is all right. So, pull yourself together and get back in there for her. We’ll talk tomorrow.” The called ended.

  “He’s right; I need to focus on Gran tonight and stop feeling sorry for myself.” Tyrone stood, and walked back to the door leading to the emergency waiting room. He noticed Ruth sitting with her head bowed when he walked over and sat next to her.

  Tyrone looked at Ruth and noticed that she had been crying, so he took her hand in his while they both sat there in silence.

  ***

  Mac pulled into the driveway of her apartment complex and typed in the code for the gate. Once it opened, she drove through and then parked in her parking space. It had been a long and emotionally draining day, so Mac was glad to be home. All, she wanted to do, was to eat the hamburger and French fries she had bought on the way home, take a nice warm shower and relax.

  As she walked to her front door, that strange feeling came over her again. Why do I feel this way when I come home lately? It must be this damn case; it has me on pins and needles.

  Mac took her key and put it in the keyhole, but something made her hesitate. “Knock it off, you’re acting crazy!” she scolded herself.

  She walked to the kitchen table and set the bag with her dinner down then got a beer out of the refrigerator. Mac was tired. She knew this case was not going well, but she had no idea what to do next.

  “I think I know what you’re up to now,” she said aloud to herself with the hope maybe the strange caller would somehow know what she had said.

  She opened the beer and took a long swallow. What did I miss? There has to be something I have overlooked.

  Mac reached for the bag and took out the burger and fries. She ate a couple of the French fries then opened the container with the hamburger. “I can’t eat anything right now.”

  She left the meal on the table uneaten but grabbed the beer and walked to her bedroom. As she stood by her bed, she looked at the picture sitting on the bedside table. It was from happier days before her mother got sick, and the beatings from her stepfather begun.

  “I miss you, Matty. Life sure isn’t fair, is it?” She began to undress when that strange feeling of not being alone came over her again.

  What is wrong with me? Mac knew she was tired, but this feeling unnerved her.

  Why do I feel this way? She had lived in this apartment for three years, and never had this feeling until recently.

  “Knock it off, this is crazy! Maybe a warm shower will help me relax.”

  The water felt warm and soothing as it caressed her body. She had finished shampooing her hair and was letting the water flow over her head when her mind wandered back in time to the day Matty died.

  He was only nine years old and the light in Mac’s life. She was fourteen years old and one Saturday afternoon she had wanted to go to the movies with her friends. Matty, of course, had wanted to go along, but she refused to take him. She had told him she wanted this time for herself and that she would take him the next time she went. The last memory she had of him was him standing at the front door waving goodbye.

  She had gone to her friend’s house after the movie to eat dinner when the phone call came telling her of the accident. Her mother had called to say Matty died in a terrible accident, and she needed to come home immediately.

  The next few days were a mixture of anger and sorrow for Mac. She tried to understand how her mother could have let Matty go with her stepfather to the liquor store for more beer when she knew he had already been drinking.

  The accident had happened only two blocks from their house. Her stepfather was driving through the intersection when another car ran a red light and struck their car. The impact had caused Matty to hit his head on the dashboard with such force that he had broken his neck and had serious brain swelling. The hospital did everything they could to save him, but the swelling on his brain was too great. He died a few hours later, causing Mac’s world to crumble around her.

  It took years to forgive her mother for allowing him go with their stepfather, but Mac never forgave herself for not taking him with her that day.

  “Damn it, you need to stop doing this to yourself!” she turned the water off and stepped out of the shower.

  As she reached for the towel on the shelf the telephone, began ringing. “Shit, who would be calling at this time of the night?”

  She wrapped herself in a towel and ran to the phone, “Hello.”

  “Good evening, Lucinda. I see you’ve had a rather eventful day,” the voice teased.

  “I had hoped you would call again. You’re the one, who took the boy and left the note, aren’t you?” she said breathlessly.

  “Well, they are important parts of our game if that’s what you want to know.” The excitement began to grow inside him for her now participating with him in The Game.

  “Game…what do you mean by that? Taking a small boy from his family is no game!”

  “I knew you would pick up on my message. Now you need to get busy, Lucinda. There is much more to all of this than you realize. Lives are at risk, and it’s up to you to save them,” he chuckled.

  “So, you think this is funny, do you? Okay, I’ll play along with your little game, but I want to warn you that I don’t play fair!” Mac needed to get him off guard somehow, but first she needed to learn more about him, and his game.

  “You told me I was chosen to play because of some unique traits I have, may I ask what those traits are? My asking isn’t breaking any rules, is it?” She held her breath, waiting for his response.

  He was surprised at this turn of events. In all the games, he had played in the past, not once had a Tracker stood up to him in this manner, and he found it to be quite exhilarating.

  “We have plenty of time to share information as The Game goes on, but for now, just know that you have pleased me beyo
nd all expectations. Goodnight, Lucinda. We will talk again soon.” He hung the up telephone without saying another word.

  Mac stood for a moment and went over the conversation in her mind.

  “I’ve knocked him off his game!” she laughed to herself.

  “And I’ve learned more than he realizes. He has done this several times before, and the others did not stand up to him or question his authority in The Game. Bring it on, but this time we’ll play your little game by MY rules,” she laughed with a newfound sense of strength.

  ***

  He had to admit that she looked lovely standing there wrapped in her bath towel with her wet hair teasing her shoulders. He also enjoyed watching the fire in her green eyes, as she challenged him. To find an opponent such as her was a rare gift.

  In the past, it had been too easy to destroy his opponents, but this time it would take extraordinary care and patience. “Ah, my dear Lucinda, we are going to have such fun.”

  ***

  It had been a long night for Tyrone and Ruth. The doctor had finally moved Maybelle to a room once she stabilized, allowing Ruth, and Tyrone to spend the night by her bedside.

  In the morning, the sun shone through the window and brought Ruth out of a restless sleep. “How is she doing? Did they say when the doctor would be here?”

  Tyrone took Maybelle’s hand in his. “She’s doing the same, and the nurse told me the doctor ought to be in sometime early this afternoon. I want to thank you for being here. I don’t know how I would have done this alone.”

  Ruth looked deeply into his eyes, “I wouldn’t have been anywhere else. I love Maybelle; she has been my best friend for many years. I only hope you know how much she loves you, son,” her eyes glistened with tears.

  “I’m hungry, how about you? What time is it?” She looked at her wristwatch. “Oh my, it’s already 10:45! Would you mind getting us something to eat? Here, I have some money in my purse, take this.” She picked her purse up off the floor and pulled out her billfold.

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of it besides I could use a smoke. Would you like anything, in particular?” He stood and stretched.