Cry Mercy

by Mariah Stewart

  ���Well, as far as I’m concerned, the why is almost immaterial. She gave us a false application, Robert. The real question is, what are we going to do about it?���

  Anthony Navarro leaned against the fence rail and brushed the dirt from his hands before answering his ringing phone. He’d been out for his afternoon ride on his favorite horse and had just dropped the gelding off at the stable for one of the hands to cool down. Some of his compadres fussed over him because he took off on his own every day for thirty or forty minutes, but he paid them little mind. What was the point in being who he was if he was to be locked in this house or that-he owned several-and could never leave? Besides, he knew he had little to fear. He owned everyone between here and the US border.

  ���Yes?��� He wasn’t wary of answering this most private of phones. Only those closest to him knew the number. He checked the caller ID. It was his brother, Jesus.

  ���We got a call that you might be interested in,��� his brother said. ���We have a tip on the girl.���

  ���We’ve had a lot of tips. She’s in Detroit. She’s in Florida. She’s gone to Canada. Last week she was seen on a beach in Costa Rica. So where is she this week?���

  ���Pennsylvania.���

  ���Of course she is. If I’m going to run with the daughter of a dangerous man, I’d run to Pennsylvania, too.���

  ���Seriously, Anthony. One of our friends was contacted by a cop from Silver Hill.���

  ���The department Nolan worked for?���

  ���Yeah. He says she’s changed her name and she’s working for this Mercy place.���

  ���What is that?���

  ���It’s some like, company, that finds missing persons for free.���

  ���They work for free?���

  ���Yeah. This rich dude, Robert Magellan, runs it.���

  ���Robert Magellan?��� That was a name Navarro knew. ���Rich dude, for sure. This cop says Nolan is working for him?���

  ���Yeah. He said he intercepted a phone call about it.���

  ���Magellan is like, one of the richest dudes in the country.��� Navarro began to walk to the house. ���He probably has mad security.���

  ���At his workplace and his house, sure. But she has to live someplace else, right? And kids are kids. She has to play sometime, has to go to school somewhere.���

  Navarro went through his front door and directly to his office and sat at his desk.

  ���What’s the name of this place again?��� he asked.

  ���Mercy Street Foundation.���

  ���Give me a minute.��� He typed in the name and waited for the website to pull up.

  ���Here we go. Let’s see what they have here. Staff bios��� Robert Magellan��� Susanna Jones��� Mallory Russo������ Navarro laughed. ���He’s even got a priest on his staff. Is that for real?��� He clicked on the icon for Father Kevin Burch. ���Pastor, Our Lady of Angels��� there’s a picture of the church.���

  He went back to the staff page.

  ���Interesting. Only one member of the staff doesn’t have a picture on line. Emme Caldwell.���

  ���That’s her. That’s Nolan.���

  ���You’re sure of this.���

  ���This cop that called, Whittaker, says it’s her.���

  ���What do we know about him? Whittaker?���

  ���He’s helped us out from time to time,��� Jesus told him. ���What do you want me to do, Anthony?���

  ���Nothing, bro. I’ll take care of this myself. Thanks.���

  He hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. His first instinct was to send a squadron of thugs to Conroy, Pennsylvania, grab his daughter and this woman, Ann, Emme, whatever she was calling herself. But that would be stupid. Anthony Navarro was a lot of things. Stupid wasn’t one of them.

  He got up and walked to the window, thinking it through. The woman didn’t matter. As much as he’d love to punish her for taking his only child and trying to hide her away-make this Ann Nolan regret the day she was born-he didn’t have to take her to hurt her. He would simply leave her to live in the hell of knowing that the girl was gone and was going to stay gone, that she’d never see her again.

  He turned his attention back to the website and read, then reread every page until inspiration struck. When it did, he found himself grinning from ear to ear, overwhelmed by his own brilliance.

  He was pretty sure he knew where to find his child, and who to send to bring her to him.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  All Emme knew when she opened her eyes was that it was much later in the afternoon than it had been, and she had one bitch of a headache. She could hear voices from somewhere close by but her head hadn’t cleared quite enough to figure out what was being said or by whom. She lay awkwardly on the ground and hoped the fog would begin to clear soon. She tried to move but her wrists were taped behind her and her ankles were taped together. There was tape across her mouth, which forced her to breath through her nose.

  It took several moments for it to dawn on her where she was, and why she’d gone there. She remembered the conversation with Ava on the phone, the drive to Ballard. She’d parked the car next to a black Mercedes sedan, reached for her phone to call Nick, and from there things began to get fuzzy. She’d gotten out of the car, hadn’t she? A young woman had been walking toward her, a smile on her face.

  ���I’m Ava,��� she’d said, her hand stretched out to Emme.

  Had there been a sound behind her, something she’d not been able to place? A smack to the back of the head-that she was certain of. Something hard that had driven her to her knees, and had flooded her mind with darkness.

  The voices came closer, and she tried to focus her eyes on the approaching figures. The young woman, Ava-yes, the same one who’d earlier greeted her. Funny, Emme thought, one would think she’d be upset that Emme had been knocked cold and still lay upon the ground. Shouldn’t she have called for the police or for an ambulance?

  Apparently not.

  And the young man with her��� he was familiar in a way, yet Emme was certain she’d never seen him before. It took several moments for her to place him. He bore a strong resemblance to the twins, Will and Wayne, in the photo Ali had sent her, and he matched the description of the boy who’d followed Belle in the museum. Tall, blond, buff. But who was he, and why was he here?

  ������ done with it now. I got her here for you. You do whatever it is you’re going to do, but I don’t want to know about it. I am out of here as of right now,��� the girl was saying.

  ���Oh, for God’s sake, you’re such a fucking wimp,��� the young man sneered. ���What would you do if you didn’t have me to do your dirty work for you?���

  ���Who are you kidding?��� Ava stood with her hands on her hips. ���You’ve loved every minute of this.���

  ���True enough, sister dear.��� He pushed a shock of light hair back from his forehead. ���Well, if you don’t want to stick around for what comes next, I suggest you get on your way.���

  Emme heard the sound of jiggling keys and footsteps that passed close by. She closed her eyes, not wanting it to become apparent that she was awake and alert.

  ���Hey, did you check to see if she’s armed?��� The boy called after her.

  ���No, but she isn’t. I asked her on the phone if she had a gun, and she said she wasn’t a cop and wouldn’t come here carrying one anyway.���

  ���Rule number one: trust no one.��� He squatted next to Emme and ran his hands over her body. It was all she could do not to flinch or cringe with disgust.

  ���Where are you taki
ng her?��� Ava was in the Mercedes, the motor running.

  ���Same place I took the others. Only this time, I think we’ll go by sea rather than by land.���

  ���Where?���

  ���I thought you didn’t want to know.���

  ���I’m just curious.���

  ���Remember that old Indian burial ground at the other end of the woods?���

  ���Where we used to look for artifacts? That’s where you took them?���

  There was no answer, but she could see his shadow. He was nodding his head, and Ava began to laugh.

  ���That’s so gross. What if you dig up some old Indian bones? Aren’t you afraid the spirits would come after you?���

  ���Well, since we never found any artifacts, I’m thinking there probably aren’t any old bones, either. But hey, you never know,��� he replied, and it occurred to Emme that he sounded amused by the prospect. She heard the car creep closer.

  ���What are you going to do if someone comes looking for her?��� Ava asked.

  ���Looking for who? No one’s been here all day except me and my sister.���

  ���What are you going to do with her car?���

  ���I’ll take care of the car later. Now go, if you’re going. Otherwise, feel free to watch. Maybe you should. You might like it.���

  The car shot past where Emme lay on the ground, and a moment later, the boy Ava had called JJ. was leaning over her.

  ���No one’s out that long from a little tap on the head,��� he said, ���so you can stop pretending, Emme Caldwell. I know you can hear me.���

  When she didn’t reply, he pushed a thumb in her eye and pulled the lid back. When she blinked several times to focus on him, he smiled.

  ���That’s better. Now, come on, work with me here. Let’s get you up on your feet.��� He pulled her up by lifting under her arms. She let herself go limp, a dead weight, and he dropped her, letting her hit the ground like a sack. ���I said, work with me, Miss Emme, unless you want me to have a go at you right here and now. I promise you, you won’t like it once I begin, and once I do, I won’t be able to stop. Now, when I lift you, I expect you to take your weight on your legs and feet��� there you go. That wasn’t so hard, was it?���

  He leaned her up against the side of her car and pressed himself against her, his breath coming more quickly.

  ���You’re hot, you know that? For an older woman, that is. Not quite what I’m used to, but beggers can’t be choosers and all that.���

  His teeth toyed with the tape at the side of her mouth, not enough to rip it off, but just enough to excite him.

  Dear God, she thought, what will happen to Chloe if I don’t make it home tonight? This cannot be the end of me.

  She let him tease himself while she assessed the situation. What were the odds she could get him to remove the tape from her mouth? And once unfettered, where might her teeth do the most damage?

  She felt herself being lifted, then hoisted over his shoulder. He began to walk without effort, as if her hundred and twenty pounds were of no consequence.

  She tried to push her feet apart to test the strength of the tape that bound her ankles, but there was no give. She forced herself to take a few deep breaths. She’d have to keep her wits about her, and pray that she could keep herself alive long enough to figure out how to get out of this mess, or until Nick came looking for her. And he would look for her, of that she was certain. He knew where she was going, and he’d expected her to call once she got there. When he didn’t hear from her, he’d know where to go. She could only pray he’d get there in time.

  ���We’re taking a little boat ride, Miss Emme,��� he told her, as they rounded the side of the house and headed toward the water. ���I do hope you aren’t one to get seasick.���

  So much for the posse riding into town in time, she thought as he lifted her over the side of the boat and placed her on a seat near the motor.

  ���Now, in case you’re thinking of escaping by throwing yourself over the side, I’d like to remind you that you’d find it real tough to swim with your hands and feet tied. But if you want to give it a go, hey, it’s your life.��� He laughed as if he’d made a great joke.

  Swell, she thought. He thinks he’s a comedian.

  She watched him closely, hoping to find some sign of weakness, searching for some way to gain an advantage. She felt certain that his intention was to rape her before he killed her, which meant that at some point, he’d take the tape off her ankles and free her legs. Between now and then, she’d have to figure out the best way to use them.

  He tried to start the motor, but it failed to turn over the first time. He cursed under his breath and tried again.

  She searched the seating area for something she might be able to use to cut the tape binding her wrists, but there didn’t seem to be anything useful. There was a metal strip along the line where the top of the hull met the inner liner of the boat. She studied it, inch by inch, hoping to find a spot where the strip might be raised up and the metal accessible, but the boat was well maintained and there was nothing loose nearby.

  The motor coughed.

  ���Well, we know we have fuel,��� he told her.

  A few short bursts followed, then he pulled back on the throttle and the motor idled for a minute or so. He walked back to where she sat, his feet just far enough apart to give him balance, and for a split second, she thought about jamming her feet up between his legs, but she hadn’t reacted quickly enough. He stepped to the side of the boat to untie the line, and pushed off from the dock.

  He leaned over so that they were face-to-face. ���Usually I just tell my passengers to hold on while we pull away and accelerate, but I guess we’ll just have to depend on your sense of balance to keep you on that seat. I’ll go nice and slow until you get the hang of it.���

  She muttered behind the tape and he laughed. ���I’ll take that as a thank you.���

  ���Mmmmmmmmmm.���

  ���No need to be so effusive in your thanks, Miss Emme.��� He started back to the wheel, then stopped and turned back to her.

  ���Once we get to where we’re going, I’ll take the tape off your mouth. As long as you promise not to scream.��� He studied her face, and for a moment, his eyes bored into hers. She did not like what she saw.

  He eased out of the lane and seemed to almost drift toward the center of the river before he pushed the throttle forward and sped up.

  ���Hold on,��� he called back to her, laughing at her struggles to remain upright.

  She scanned both sides of the river for signs of life, but there were none: no other boats, no houses on either side, just woods, for the most part. She sat upright, the roar of the motor in her ears, and silently pleaded for just one chance to take him down.

  The black Mercedes shot out of the end of Gardner’s drive like a ball from the mouth of a cannon. Nick slowed the Firebird to get a look at the driver, then craned his neck to try to catch the number on the plate, but the car was moving too fast. He made a left onto that same lane and drove through the pine-lined drive until the house came into view. Emme’s car was parked to the right, and he pulled up behind it and came to a stop.

  When he got out of the car, the first thing he noticed was the quiet. The only sound was that of the stones and crushed shells crunching beneath his feet. He opened Emme’s driver’s-side door and leaned into the Honda. Her bag was on the front seat, her phone next to it, as if she’d taken it out to make a call. Hopefully to me, he thought.

  Where was she?

  There were no other cars in sight, but he walked up to the front door, which stood ajar by only an inch or so.

  ���Hello?��� he called, as he stepped inside. ���Anyone here?���

  He made his way thro
ugh the entire first floor, but there was no sign of life. He ran up the steps and quickly went from room to room, calling out, but the only sound was his own echoing footsteps.

  Something was really wrong here.

  Suddenly he heard what sounded like the sputtering motor of a boat that didn’t really want to start. He went to the landing on the stairwell and looked out through an arched window that faced the back of the house. A stone patio surrounded a pool, and beyond that stretched a river that flowed into the bay several miles to the west. A dock ran along the edge of the property, and several boats were tied up. One was bobbing farther from the dock, and Nick shielded his eyes with his hand and squinted to take a good look. A man stood at the wheel, and a figure sat stiffly upright at the back of the boat. When the late day sun came through the clouds and the light danced off the back of the passenger’s head, her identity was plain.

  Who was driving, and where was he headed?

  Nick ran down the steps and out through the front door, his phone in his hand, dialing 911. He reported his location and his suspicions as ran back to Emme’s car. On the console was a release for the trunk, and his fingers found it quickly. Hadn’t she once said something about carrying a handgun, not on her person, but in the trunk of her car?

  Throwing the lid up, he searched quickly, and found what he was looking for wrapped in a blanket at the very back of the trunk. He pulled the blanket all the way out of the car and shook it, hoping to find some ammunition. A clip fell to the ground, and he picked it up and shoved it into the base of the gun. Cuffs that had been hidden in the blanket’s folds fell out with a clunk and he stuffed them in his back pocket. He grabbed the tire iron for good measure, and took off for the water.

  He was almost to the dock when the motor caught. The boat began to take off slowly before picking up speed. He jumped into the first boat he came to, praying he’d be able to start it without a key. He could hotwire a car with his eyes closed, but he’d never tried it with an outboard motor.