Vanished

by Kristi Holl

  All was quiet. Then suddenly the door screeched open just far enough for a man to slip through. He stomped his snowy feet and threw back his parka hood. From his stocking cap hung greasy gray hair, reminding Jeri of mop strings. A thin shaft of weak sunlight shone across the floor on Mr. Reeves, still sitting by the post.

  The man glanced at the lightbulb, then the silent radio. “What the–”

  Jeri slapped the van. On signal, the horn blasted and kept honking while the headlights flashed on and off repeatedly. The kidnapper whipped around toward the van.

  Behind him, Mr. Reeves jumped up and lunged at the abductor’s legs, toppling him over backwards. Jeri dashed forward, kicked the man’s gun under the van, and then jumped on his stomach. Rolling from side to side, the man tried to throw her off, but by then Mr. Reeves was on him too.

  The abductor jerked and cracked his head on the cement floor. Stunned and groaning, he barely moved as Mr. Reeves tied his hands and feet with the rope that had been used on him. Jeri gasped for breath, but then wrinkled her nose. Up close, the kidnapper smelled like he’d been hibernating all winter in a musty cave.

  Still breathing hard, Jeri peered out into the storm. Had the honking attracted Houston’s attention? She still couldn’t believe he was a kidnapper! It took all her strength to pull the door shut. Mr. Reeves fished in the man’s pockets and found the padlock key and cell phone. Then he crawled under the van to retrieve the gun. “Just in case,” he said.

  They ran to let the girls out. Four girls had their faces pressed to the inside of the window, but Jeri couldn’t see Rosa. When she pulled the chain from the door handles and freed the doors, they were thrown open and girls tumbled out.

  “Finally!” “Jeri, how did you find us?” “Are we safe?” “What happened?” “Where are the kidnappers? Did we get them?” “Is Mr. Reeves okay?” The babble of voices filled the air, but Jeri was only listening for one voice: Rosa’s. Last one out of the van, Rosa fell into Jeri’s arms so hard they both nearly toppled over. They hugged, but Jeri knew they might not have a lot of time.

  “Quiet, everybody,” Mr. Reeves said. “The danger isn’t over yet. We don’t know where Houston is.”

  Heather Langley pulled her leather jacket tighter around her. “I couldn’t believe it was him when he took off the ski mask.” She raked bitten nails through hair that looked like it had been attacked with hedge clippers.

  “He was nice though,” Rosa said, still clinging to Jeri. “He gave us lots of food and water and blankets.”

  “I couldn’t believe it was Houston either,” Mr. Reeves said, “until I overheard them talking. Houston wants to open his own stable out west. They expected to collect a lot of money today before leaving the state. Ransom money, I guess.”

  “But they didn’t send any ransom note.” Jeri hugged her best friend close. “Things don’t add up.”

  “Why? What happened?” Mr. Reeves asked.

  “They planted phony evidence to make people think you all were in the lake.” She glanced toward the tied-up man. “You were seen in the middle of the Stretch, but you didn’t come out the other end. Rescue workers searched Thursday night and yesterday, but finally gave up at the lake. Then, early this morning, some coats and Rosa’s scarf were found by the edge of the lake, so the teachers and search teams went back to hunt some more. Divers in wet suits even searched the lake.”

  “That’s why Houston swiped my scarf?” Rosa frowned. “I don’t get it. Why bother to do all that?”

  Jeri frowned. “Maybe we’re wrong about them wanting ransom money. What else could they gain by kidnapping you guys?”

  Then it hit her. Of course!

  Thanks to people wanting to help, the campus was deserted. Teachers had joined the search parties, and students were either passing out hot food or confined for their own safety to the dorms. Betty, the secretary, was all alone with the fundraiser money still in the school safe. All the matching donations from parents and businesses would be there by now too. No wonder Houston had so many ideas to raise money for the new riding ring! What if the real purpose of kidnapping the girls was to get everyone away from the school? Then the money could be stolen with little trouble or danger–or witnesses.

  “Mr. Reeves, I need your cell. Quick!”

  He handed her the phone. Six silent girls clustered around Jeri. First she called the main office at the school. A series of squawks was followed by a telephone company recording: “The number you are trying to reach is out of order. Please try again later.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of,” she muttered.

  Next she dialed 9 – 1 – 1. She explained to the dispatcher where the van was located, then gave details as to why she believed there was a theft in progress at the school’s administration building. She was sure now that Houston was there, stealing the fundraiser money. He’d have to force the secretary to open the safe. What would he do to Betty if she refused?

  The dispatcher thanked her and said several police officers would be at the farm as soon as possible. “They’ll have to come on snowmobiles. The roads are drifted shut, and there’s no sign of the blizzard letting up. We’ll start the snowplows headed in your direction too.”

  Jeri hung up, turning when she heard moaning sounds behind her. Mr. Reeves planted a knee on the kidnapper’s back and tightened his bonds. Then he opened the barn door a few inches, and snow blew in on gusts of wind. He started the van and let it run.

  “Are we leaving now?” Rosa asked.

  “I wish we could. I want to be here in case Houston gets here before the police.” Mr. Reeves patted his pocket where the kidnapper’s gun rested. “The van would be stuck before we got out of the driveway anyway.”

  Heather stomped her feet. “Can’t we walk out? Jeri hiked in.”

  “I nearly didn’t make it, though, and the snow’s even worse now. We’d get lost and freeze out there.”

  “Back in the van, girls,” Mr. Reeves said. They groaned. “The heater’s on, and you’ll feel better.”

  The girls piled back inside. Jeri hadn’t realized how frozen her fingers and feet were until she huddled in the warm van. She shivered violently, partly from cold and partly from fear for the secretary. Betty could be hurt – or worse. Even if she turned over the money, Houston might not leave her alive to identify him.

  When three police officers arrived a few minutes later on snowmobiles, Jeri and Mr. Reeves climbed out of the van to talk to them. Jeri was relieved to hear that the officers had interrupted a theft at the school–and just in time. The secretary said she’d tried to phone out when Houston demanded she open the safe, but the telephone wires had been cut. He’d taken her cell phone too. The secretary was all right – just shaken up.

  Police Chief Reynolds brushed at his pants, encrusted with snow. “I should have seen that this was an inside job. Houston must have read the notices posted about field trip events and chosen when to intercept the van. He was used to driving the huge horse trailer for the school. He just rented a truck the same size.”

  “I still don’t get it,” Jeri said. “He could have just quit his job and gone out west to start his own stable. He didn’t need to do all this.”

  “I can explain that,” Mr. Reeves said. “Time was running out for Houston. He’d been skimming the books.”

  The police chief flipped open a small notebook and began writing. “How do you know this?”

  “I heard them talking about it. I pretended to be asleep.”

  Jeri frowned. “What’s skimming the books?”

  “He’s been charging the school more than he paid for feed, hay, and tack. He even got free horses once and charged the school for them. He kept the extra money himself. He was skimming to buy his own place.” Mr. Reeves stomped his feet several times. “Then he heard that the school was being audited next month. That’s where someone goes over your accounts to make sure everything is legal. Houston knew the auditor would catch him.” Mr. Reeves rubbed his chapped hands toget
her. “That would mean more prison time. So he needed the rest of the money for his own stable fast. He’d planned all along to steal the fundraiser money. He just had to step up the timetable a little.”

  “Whoa! Back up a minute. More prison time?” Jeri asked.

  “Yup. He did time a few years ago,” Mr. Reeves explained. “He changed his name when he applied to the school. His accomplice over there is an old prison pal. Houston sounded downright frantic. He’s claustrophobic from being in prison once before.”

  Jeri nodded, remembering when Nikki locked Houston in the tack room, and how he panicked before he got out.

  After the police officer handcuffed the kidnapper and dragged him out to his snowmobile, Jeri turned to Mr. Reeves. “Your mom will sure be glad to see you!”

  “I should give her a call now.”

  “Can I ask something first?” asked Jeri.

  “Sure.”

  “Where do you disappear to at night that you won’t tell her?”

  Mr. Reeves flushed so red that he looked sunburned. “Mom’s worried about that, is she?”

  “It didn’t look good.”

  “Well, it’ll be common knowledge soon anyway,” he said, grinning suddenly. “My girlfriend in Rock River will soon be Mrs. Reeves. Last week, I bought her an engagement ring. I proposed, and Cynthia said yes.”

  “Oh! Congratulations!” So that’s where the money went. “Rings cost a lot of money, right?”

  “Yes, but Cynthia’s worth it.” He grinned even wider. “As soon as I knew she was the one, I set up a special savings account for it. I’ll tell Mom tonight. She’ll live with us, I hope. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to call them both.” He walked away while dialing.

  11

  for the record

  Saturday, 2:30 p.m. to 9:56 p.m.

  By two-thirty that afternoon, the blizzard had died down. The heavy snow – someone said twelve inches – had bent trees, loading down the branches till they snapped and fell on electrical wires, bringing those down as well. The girls were starving when they returned to school, but lunch was delayed due to the power outage.

  Then, in an unprecedented move, Headmistress Long opened up the dining hall in the midafternoon, had a roaring fire built in its eight-foot-wide fireplace, and invited the girls to gather there. The girls passed around sticks and then hot dogs, and they crowded together to roast

  their hot dogs over the fire. The blaze roared, providing both warmth and a cooking fire. Someone found bags of jumbo marshmallows to roast over the fire and then squish between graham crackers with a square of chocolate.

  Mmmm, Jeri thought. There was no better way to celebrate than with s’mores.

  Jeri stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Rosa, watching her hot dog brown. Juices sizzled as they dripped into the fireplace. Abby and Nikki peppered them both with questions about the rescue.

  “The police really brought you out on snowmobiles?” Abby asked.

  “Yup.” Rosa giggled. “They wrapped us in blankets first ‘cause the snow was so bad. When we got back, the drivers were so crusted white that they looked like snowmen.”

  “Hey,” Nikki said, grinning. “What do you call a frozen policeman?”

  Jeri shrugged. “What?”

  “A copsicle.”

  Abby, Rosa, and Jeri groaned. Rosa bumped Nikki with her hip. “That was bad.”

  Jeri grinned, so glad to see everyone laughing and joking after the horrendous two days they’d all endured. The dining hall was filled with relieved students, parents, and teachers grouped around the rescued girls.

  Glancing over her shoulder, Jeri barely recognized the Head. She nudged Rosa. “Get a load of that!”

  “No way!” Rosa stared, open-mouthed. “She’s wearing jeans and a sweatshirt!”

  “And look at her hair!” Abby said.

  Instead of piled high and starched, the Head’s hair hung loose and actually looked messy.

  “She’s even eating with her fingers!” Rosa said. “The shock might kill me.”

  Abby laughed. “That’s because everyone knows ‘a Landmark girl only uses proper utensils,’ “ she said, quoting the Head.

  Even more shocking than her casual appearance was how Head Long was acting. Jeri watched her move around the dining hall, talking to the teachers and the girls. She smiled. And she actually hugged someone.

  When she saw the Head glance her way, Jeri whipped around to stare at the fire. Head Long might act differently with the others, but Jeri was well aware that she was probably still furious with Jeri–about calling the reporter, about antagonizing Heather’s rich parents, and who knew what else?

  A tap on her shoulder startled her. She turned to find the headmistress. “Can we talk a moment, Jeri?”

  “Um, sure.”

  “Bring your hot dog with you. You’ve certainly earned it.”

  “Okay.” Jeri got a bun, wrapped it around her hot dog, and pulled the hot dog off the stick. After adding a squirt of ketchup, she followed the Head to a deserted table.

  “First,” the headmistress said, “I want to apologize for my exchanges with you this weekend. Your motives for your actions were the same as mine – saving the girls and saving the school.” She gazed around the room, her relief obvious. “I’m afraid I let the school’s reputation and our financial status assume too much importance. You were right. We needed to leave no stone unturned to find the missing van.”

  “Thank you,” Jeri said, stunned into forgetting her hot dog.

  “And now I have an announcement to make.” She stood and clapped her hands loudly. “Girls! Attention, please. I don’t have a microphone, but I think you can hear me.” She paused while the chatter died down. “The money that Houston systematically stole from the school–a very sizable chunk–has been recovered. He was also prevented from stealing the fundraiser money today. I’m grateful to Jeri McKane and Jake Philips, who were both instrumental in solving this crime and bringing it to its happy conclusion.”

  The girls whistled and applauded, and Jeri saw Jake and Lindy heading her way. She was flattered by the headmistress’s words, but what did Jake have to do with solving the crime? He only reported what others told him–including her.

  Jeri waited, not sure what to say. She hadn’t gone after the kidnappers to get public praise or attention. And yet something really irritated her about Jake getting credit too. She watched him approach, feeling awkward. Her last two encounters with him had been very uncomfortable. He’d been rude to her–even threatening–and she didn’t quite know what to think of him. But, she realized, she no longer wanted to be like him.

  Jake gave her a quick hug. “I heard from the police chief what you did at the farm. You should have called me to interview you right at the scene. You’re a celebrity.”

  “I only wanted to find Rosa and the others,” Jeri said. “I don’t care about being a celebrity.” She paused. “Or ratings. Or being a TV news anchor.”

  He looked embarrassed, but only for a moment. “I think we would have made a great team though. Correction. We did make a great team.”

  Jeri bristled a bit. “Well, I told you things I found out, but I don’t recall you telling me what you were up to.”

  He laughed. “Point taken. So let me do it now. What would you like to know?”

  “When I called you late Thursday night, where were you, and how far did you drive to get here?”

  “In Rock River, about two hours away. Yes, I lied about that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I was working on an investigation that involved your school, and I couldn’t tell you.”

  “What investigation?”

  “I’d been doing a feature on the costs of boarding schools in the state, to see which schools give you the most for your money. When studying the public records, I noticed that Landmark’s equestrian program’s costs were about twice as high as the other schools. We all know why now.” He pulled a notebook from his pocket and showed her pages of n
umbers. “After Houston was caught today, I asked the headmistress for her records to double-check what I found. I warned her that I’d be going public with it soon.”

  Ah, the phone call she’d intercepted in the Head’s office … So that’s why he was sneaking around on campus. He must have come from the Equestrian Center when she saw him. Even with all his facts and figures, though, Jeri didn’t think he’d done all that much. Left to Jake alone, the kidnappers would have been long gone with the fundraiser money by now. He must have bragged a ton for the Head to think he’d contributed a lot.

  They were interrupted by the noisy commotion of Heather and her parents arriving. Mr. Langley briefly searched the room, spotted Jeri, and headed in her direction, with Heather and her mother in tow. What a mother-daughter contrast, Jeri thought. Heather’s hair looked like some rodent had chewed on it. Her mother, on the other hand, had blonde braids wound into a crown on top of her head. As they got close, she saw strands of silver threaded through it that looked like tinsel. Jeri longed to hide. She was in no mood for Mr. Langley to yell at her again.

  “Miss McKane! I’m glad I found you!” His voice boomed across the room. Heather turned red and stared at the floor. “I want to thank you in some tangible way for helping to find Heather when your own police force failed.”

  Jeri blinked twice and had no reply.

  He pulled an envelope from his coat pocket and then raised his voice even more. “I am, of course, keeping your scholarship money coming. No fear of that.” He rolled back and forth on the balls of his feet. “And… I am flying your mother down here for Parents’ Weekend at the end of the month. These are her plane tickets. I will overnight them to her immediately.”

  Jeri couldn’t believe it! “Thank you!” She knew Mr. Langley was just showing off in front of the whole school, but she didn’t care. Her mom was going to come after all! “I’m really grateful for this. I know Mom will be too.”

  Heather’s dad beamed again at everyone in the room, as if waiting for his photo to be snapped. Then he left, his family trailing behind him. Jeri watched them go and caught Rosa rolling her eyes. She agreed one hundred percent. No wonder Heather wanted to get away from him.