Taken

by Debra Lee

  For his mother it would make Kyle’s political campaign she planned to run scandal free. As for Elaine, it would mean more money to claim as hers. For Kyle though, it meant losing a daughter, even though that had already happened.

  The doorbell stopped Kyle from telling both women they were grasping for something that would not be proven.

  He was grateful to leave the room. But when he opened the door to the two uniformed police officers he reconsidered.

  Elaine was in a state of shocked disbelief, while Audrey protested fiercely when the officers asked Elaine if she’d come with them to headquarters.

  “You can’t just take her away like this,” Audrey said.

  “Calm down, Mother. They only want to ask Elaine a few questions. It’s routine procedure in a case like this.” Kyle saw he hadn’t convinced his mother. “Refusing to cooperate wouldn’t be good. Understand?”

  Audrey nodded she did. Refusing to answer their questions would only make her look guilty.

  “I’ll be right by Elaine’s side,” Kyle assured before asking Audrey to look after Lisa until they returned.

  Audrey knew Elaine hadn’t taken the baby. There was no way she could have. The most upsetting thing about the whole mess was the newspapers would get wind of Elaine being hauled in for questioning like some common criminal.

  “Well they aren’t having a field day with this if I can help it,” Audrey said as she reached for the phone.

  ***

  On the drive to the police station, Kyle’s mind raced for answers to countless questions. Had he said something in the course of his conversation with Chief Daniels that would have made Elaine a suspect? Or had she already been one before he told him how much Elaine disliked Mary?

  Kyle knew Elaine wasn’t the one responsible for Jena’s disappearance. Besides, what did the police think she had done with the baby?

  Elaine was incapable of cold blooded murder. That Kyle was totally confident of. He knew his wife was intelligent. But to the extent of devising some elaborate kidnapping scheme?

  Then again, maybe she wasn’t being brought in for the routine line of questioning as one of the two officers had claimed. Maybe she really did snatch Jena and left behind evidence.

  Something else suddenly occurred to Kyle. Could it be that someone had come up with a more ingenious plan? One that made Elaine look guilty? The who would do such a thing had him dismiss the idea almost as quickly as it had come to him, which meant returning to the possibility Elaine really could be guilty.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  “Well I’ll be damned,” exclaimed Reilly when Kelly went for a pair of jumper cables in his trunk.

  Kelly’s broad mouth twisted into a snicker. “What, you thought I was bullshittin’ you about havin’ car trouble, Jackson?”

  Reilly popped the hood on the Impala, all the while trying to keep a straight face. “Must say I had my doubts.”

  “Had you worried, ‘eh?”

  “What do I have to be worried about?”

  Reilly didn’t stick around for Kelly’s answer. He crossed the parking lot to pull his car around so it faced the Impala.

  Kelly connected the cables to Reilly’s battery without needling him further. Once he had the clamps fastened and got the car running he gave Reilly a polite, “thanks for the help.”

  “That’s it? No more questions about what I’m doin’ here?”

  “I assumed for a story on the missin’ baby. Am I wrong?”

  Reilly closed the hood on his car, deliberately avoiding direct eye contact with Kelly when he said, “Mary’s a close friend of mine.”

  “Now that’s an interestin’ piece of news.”

  Reilly finally did look at the detective who was cleverer than his sloppy appearance led people to believe.

  “Look Kelly, I want to find out what happened to Jena as much as you, probably more. So just maybe if we put our heads together we can come up with somethin’.”

  Kelly didn’t know what the guy was up to. He was either hiding something or trying to get on Kelly’s good side hoping he’d give up some valuable information. Too bad he didn’t have any.

  “Sounds like a good idea, Jackson. But I don’t have much to go on here. Unless you have somethin’ I can use. Like a theory of who might gain the most from the kid’s disappearance.”

  “Kyle Frederick would gain financially.”

  “The kid’s old man, huh?”

  “I said he has the most to gain financially. He has a lot more to lose when the public gets wind Jena is his illegitimate daughter.”

  Kelly knew all about Kyle Frederick’s political aspirations. Reilly was right. When the papers named him as the missing baby’s father he could kiss his political future goodbye. On second thought, the way people have been voting lately it could just get him elected to office.

  “If it wasn’t Frederick then who?”

  “I was hopin’ you had an idea about that,” Reilly said.

  Kelly didn’t. Unless he went back to his first thought that the kid’s mother was responsible. There was something else though. Nothing that proved anything now, but his gut told him it might eventually.

  “Tell me, Jackson, you always park your car in that stall over there when you visit the Murray woman?”

  Reilly glanced over his shoulder to where he had been parked. Red flags of warning immediately flied within him. He did have something.

  “I don’t know. I guess most the time. Why?”

  Kelly nodded toward the apple red sports car. “That Sanders woman always park there too.”

  “Okay, what’s this about?”

  “I’ll let you know when I know,” was all Kelly would say.

  ***

  At the police station Elaine saw red as Kyle swiftly escorted her past reporters once they left the building and headed for the car.

  “Why did you let him do that to me?” Elaine hissed the minute they were inside the car out of hearing range of the reporters who had stuck microphones in her face and fired question after question at her.

  “Daniels was only doing his job, Elaine. Believe me, he doesn’t have anything on you or you wouldn’t be on your way home,” Kyle told her, but knew differently.

  The police could have something that made Elaine one of their prime suspects. Apparently nothing they could use as evidence yet.

  “Why would I take that baby? Now you, I could see as a possible suspect.”

  “Me?” Kyle quipped as he pulled out of the municipal parking lot and drove out of town.

  “I called your hotel room several times last night, Kyle.”

  Kyle glanced over at her sitting statue like as she stared straight ahead. He suspected, or hoped, she was too embarrassed to look at him after practically accusing him of taking his own daughter.

  It was so outrageous for her to believe he was capable of such a heinous act that he almost broke into laughter. Then the anger set in. If she didn’t know and trust him anymore than that, she didn’t deserve to hear him tell her where he had spent half of the night.

  “I was in my room. In fact, I was in bed by nine o’clock.”

  “Then why didn’t you answer the phone?”

  “I didn’t hear the phone. You know me, when I’m exhausted nothing short of an explosion wakes me.”

  Silence.

  Kyle turned his head so she wouldn’t see his spiteful grin. He could only imagine what was going through her head. She knew he was a very light sleeper. If the phone rang, he would have picked it up by the second ring. That is if he was indeed asleep in his room.

  He didn’t care that Elaine was seething now that she knew for certain he had lied. Let her suffer. Kyle knew he’d eventually tell her he was in the next room deep in a game of blackjack with a group of attorneys he had gone to law school with.

  Not that he was addicted to gambling. But it was the last night he’d see the guys until the next conference. A few drinks and a card game had always been a tradition on that last
night for the guys who didn’t bring their wives or girlfriends. And since Kyle hadn’t this year he eagerly joined in the fun.

  It was a good thing he had. At least he’d have plenty of witnesses to his whereabouts at the time of Jena’s abduction if things got that far. As for Elaine, her only witness to her statement of being at home was baby Lisa.

  Was the woman heartless though? Didn’t it cross her mind that if he wasn’t the one who took Jena how worried he was? His insides knotted in pain the instant he had heard the radio disk jockey cut in on the latest hit to announce Jena’s disappearance.

  The aching hadn’t eased none either. He knew he never took the opportunity he was given to get to know his daughter. And now he regretted it immensely. But not knowing Jena didn’t change the fact he loved her. That whenever he looked at Lisa he thought about Jena too. And that right now he wished Elaine understood so she could put her arms around him and assure Jena was safe.

  But then Elaine wasn’t Mary. It was Mary who would understand and comfort him. If only he had the courage to go to her. To tell her he had made a terrible mistake. It was her he really loved.

  But how could he? How could he expect Mary to forgive him for turning his back on her and Jena? Especially when he knew now that he’d never be able to forgive himself, only live with the pain.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Kelly left for police headquarters, leaving Reilly standing in the middle of the parking lot thinking about his questions. What did where he and Carol parked have to do with Jena’s disappearance?

  Before Reilly could give it another thought, he spotted Ellie Webber‘s car turning into the lot and park in a close by stall. Reilly hurried toward her car.

  “Let me help you with that,” he offered as he went ahead and relieved Ellie of her overnight bag.

  “Why thank you, Reilly,” Ellie said with a smile.

  “Is your friend all better?”

  For a moment the question stumped Ellie. Then she remembered the story she had told Reilly and Mary about Louise coming down with the flu.

  “She’s comin’ along.”

  “Well Mary will be glad you’re back,” Reilly told her as he reached for the front door to hold open for her.

  Ellie entered the apartment building and shivered. “Oh my, I believe it’s colder in here than it is outside.”

  Reilly tilted his head to the side and gave the woman a curious look. Why was she smiling so much? Didn’t she know?

  “Haven’t you heard, Ellie?”

  “Heard what?”

  “About Jena?”

  Reilly could tell by the way her brow suddenly had a few more wrinkles in it when she looked at him that she did not know Jena was missing.

  “Somethin’ has happened, Ellie.”

  Reilly took an extremely deep breath. No use trying to stall. It was up to him to tell her whether he liked it or not. He exhaled slowly and got on with it. “This would have been easier for me if you’d heard it on the radio like everyone else has.”

  Ellie’s concern was beginning to wear on her patience. “What is it, Reilly?”

  “Jena. Someone took her from her crib last night.”

  ***

  Mary finally uprooted herself from the chair she had pulled next to the phone in the kitchen and went into the bathroom. She thought she heard the phone ring shortly after she shut the door, but when she listened closer she heard nothing.

  The last time the phone rang it was Nelson. He offered his help if she needed anything. “Don’t be afraid to call.” He had said. “And don’t worry about coming into work.”

  Mary wasn’t. Jena, where she was and what was happening to her consumed all of Mary’s thoughts. So much so that she believed if she didn’t soon hear something she’d go out of her mind.

  Carol was hanging up the phone when Mary returned to the kitchen. As much as she wanted to know who Carol was talking to, unexpected fear ripped through her.

  Mary assumed Carol saw her terror when she said, “It was Kyle. He wondered if he should come over.”

  First her lungs filled with the oxygen that had been cut off in that one instant. Then her heart began pumping again. And finally, she laid claim to her voice. “What’d you tell him?”

  “I said I’d ask you. Before I had a chance he needed to know something else.”

  “What?”

  Carol hedged. Only because she didn’t want to see Mary hurt more than she already was. On the other hand, why not get the pain over with all at once so they could get on with their lives? Get back to the way things used to be.

  “He wanted to know if Reilly was Jena’s father. Can you imagine? Anyway, I told him to go to hell and hung up.”

  Mary collapsed in the chair near the phone. “I almost wish it were true.”

  “You can’t be serious. That little worm would be my last pick.”

  Mary’s eyes widened when she peered up at Carol. She knew Reilly always seemed to rub Carol the wrong way. But what she just heard sounded more like downright hatred on Carol’s part. Before Mary had a chance to question her about it, she heard Reilly talking to someone as he came in the door.

  Ellie sniffled back tears when she hugged Mary. At least Mary thought she had. But the very next minute she was bustling about the kitchen preparing dinner for everyone.

  Mary attempted a few bites of the spaghetti. Only because everyone took a turn insisting she had to eat to keep up her strength.

  “Do it for when Jena comes home.” Reilly was the one who added that statement.

  Mary was not hungry. She tasted nothing. If anything, she was tired. Yet she knew she wouldn’t sleep if she went to bed. She wouldn’t allow herself for fear she’d have nightmares. But that didn’t prevent Ellie and Reilly from leaving shortly after dinner, insisting she try and get some sleep.

  Carol lingered a while longer. She tried to strike up a conversation with Mary by telling her she had lost her job earlier in the week. Even though she sensed Mary didn’t want to hear about the terrible shock she had suffered. But that didn’t keep Carol from continuing with how she just had to get away to think.

  “Are you listening to me, Mary?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry you lost your job.”

  “I’m just another casualty in the state’s recent layoffs. That’s what my boss told me before asking me to try and be more understanding.”

  Mary appeared to be off in her own private world but she really was listening. Even Carol’s bad news was better than the grisly thoughts of what might be happening to Jena.

  “I packed a bag and went to the Pocono Mountains,” Carol went on to say. “You know, to sort it all out. I was on my way home when the news about Jena came across the radio.”

  Something within gave way and Mary broke into tears. Carol put her arms around her. She wanted the tears to be for her because Mary felt bad she hadn’t been there for Carol when she needed her. But Carol knew better. It was Jena Mary cried for.

  Carol continued to hold her, comfort her until Mary’s eyes could not ring out another tear.

  “She’s still alive, Carol. I have to believe that.”

  “Well of course she’s alive.” Carol drew her close again. “Hey, you want me to spend the night? I can crash on the couch.”

  Mary braved a smile. “No. I’ll call you when I hear news.”

  After a brief speech on the importance Mary not lose a night of sleep, Carol left, leaving Mary to face the demons of the night alone.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Mary’s insides ached more severely since Carol was gone. The apartment felt cold and empty without Jena. Going into the nursery, seeing and touching Jena’s things didn’t ease the pain as she hoped it would. The powerful scent of baby powder and lotion that filled the air made her hurt more.

  She let herself down onto the rocker. When she couldn’t bear looking at the empty crib any longer she looked at the window. Why hadn’t Chief Daniels called? Or that detective to tell her the fingerprints t
hey had lifted from the windowsill belonged to someone other than herself. Then Carol and Ellie’s would be there too. Reilly’s could be there as well.

  She remembered Carol was the one who had stood there just a few days ago, her fingers pressed to the sill as she peered up to see if the lock had been installed yet.

  If only Mary had gone out and purchased a lock herself Jena might still be safe with her. If only she knew who had taken her then she might be able to put some kind of reasoning behind the madness.

  She got up and went to the window and stared out into the black of night. The window rattled and cold air slivered in between the cracks.

  Mary hugged her arms to her chest, shivering. How easy it would be to crawl into bed. Bury herself beneath the warmth of the blankets. But she knew blankets would not take away the cold she felt. Holding her baby again was the only way of ridding herself of the bone chilling cold she felt.

  For all she knew Jena was out there now frozen from the frigid night air.

  The knock at her door was the only thing that saved her from breaking down all over again. She did not take time to think when she dashed out of the nursery and headed for the door. Before she reached for the knob, she closed her eyes, held her breath and said a quick prayer.

  “Mary it’s Reilly.”

  Her hopes plummeted. She knew it wasn’t fair to blame Reilly for her unanswered prayer.

  “Couldn’t sleep,” Reilly said as she opened the door.

  “That seems to be going around.”

  “Saw Carol’s car was gone and thought you might like some company.”

  They settled on the couch. Mary was at one end and Reilly at the other. For a few stressful seconds there was total silence between them.

  “Dropped in on your grandmother,” Reilly’s voice broke into the silence with. “The old gal’s a tough cookie. But I could see she’s shaken up by this.”

  “I should’ve called her before she heard it from someone else. But I kept hoping Jena would be home any minute and…”

  Mary had held out as long as she could. Once that first tear escaped the corner of her eye there was no preventing the heavy downpour that followed.