And Then There Was One

by Patricia Gussin

  During the night, the temperature had dipped into the low fifties, and he’d shivered on and off all night under the thin bed covers. Twice he’d gotten up and traveled from the master bedroom, across the living-dining area to the guest room where Ma slept with Precious pressed tightly to her bosom in one of two twin beds. As much as he’d wanted to pry the girl off his mother and take her to his bed, he’d opted not to upset the silence of the night. The drive from Detroit to Northern Michigan had sapped everybody’s energy. Besides, he needed time to think. He’d have to make his move today. Once he made that ransom call, the cops would know where to start looking. But he figured it would take some time for them to get organized, and by then he’d be far enough away.

  He padded out to the kitchen and rummaged through their bags of food. He found a banana and ripped open a pack of cherry Pop Tarts. When they’d arrived, the refrigerator had been turned off, but there was electricity. By now the jug of orange juice was cool, and he poured himself a tall glass. He needed something in his stomach before he went over his plan. He’d worked it out while tossing and turning last night. Now he had to expose it to the light of day. He grabbed a second banana and a Twinkie.

  Okay, the plan. Wander down the road. Find that van. Drive to Traverse City, about fifteen miles away, a city big enough to give him some cover. He’d place the ransom call on a pay phone, and disguise his voice. He hadn’t been sure where to call, but he figured he’d call the Monroe house in Florida. The FBI would be tapped in to all the phones. He’d get the phone number simply by calling Tampa information, asking for Scott Monroe. But once he made that call, he’d have to move quickly.

  Spanky had given a lot of thought as to where they should leave the money. At first, he’d been stumped. No way was he giving up Precious. No, she was going with him to Alaska. And he didn’t dare go anywhere near Detroit. So that left his other stomping ground, Miami. He’d tell the Monroes that he’d give them until next Wednesday to drop the money in a marshy place he knew near the Everglades. Guy who worked one of those tourist airboats used to let him stay there and hunt gators illegal-style until the dude got busted. The place was remote enough that he could monitor incoming traffic, and Spanky knew the channels well enough to get away fast. He figured the parents would want evidence that the kid was alive, so he’d record Precious saying that it was Wednesday and that she was scared and all that stuff that kidnap victims say.

  He hoped he had the timing right. Today he’d get Ma and Precious to a campsite in the Upper Peninsula. Ma told him that when he was little, she and his stepfather would take him camping, but he had no recollection of that. What he did remember was the one time Ma’s brother showed up to take him camping with his own kid. Spanky had been ten and his cousin a couple of years younger. They’d gone to a camp called Wells Park in the Upper Peninsula. He remembered driving to the place by going through Milwaukee, the first time he’d ever been out of the state of Michigan. And they’d returned by driving across the Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. The other thing he remembered was that the trip was cut short. His prick of an uncle told Ma that it didn’t work out and no, he didn’t plan to take Spanky on further outings.

  A couple of years after that, Ma’s brother and his wife were killed in an accident, and he never heard anything more about his cousin, a snotty little jerk. But he did love that campsite and he knew that he could get to it by boat and nobody, nobody would know where they were.

  Then he’d make his way to Alaska, after he collected the ransom. He’d simply divert to Miami once he had Ma and Precious settled in that remote campsite, collect the money, come back for them, and cross over into Canada. He’d have to study the maps and choose where to cross. Wisconsin? Minnesota? North Dakota? Even as far as Washington? Or just cross over at Sault Ste. Marie only a four-hour drive from the campsite?

  Yes, Spanky had a plan. He just had to keep Ma and Precious hidden while he made his way to Miami and back. He wasn’t much worried about being caught. There were millions of cars out there, he knew all the back roads, and he knew how to keep changing vehicles. Just the thought made his chest puff up. With all that money, he’d buy himself a sweet piece of land. Spanky chuckled. Other than a healthy supply of beer, he wouldn’t need much. And neither would Ma. And they could each share the girl, total privacy, and no assholes to hassle them, ever.

  “Time to get the show on the road.” Spanky grunted as he replaced the orange juice in the refrigerator. “Oops, not yet. I’d better write down exactly what I’m gonna say.”

  Searching in Ma’s bag, he found a ballpoint pen. After a few futile scratches, he began to write:

  Scott Monroe: I have your missing daughter. If you want to see her alive you need to leave two hundred grand in twenties.

  Spanky crossed out “twenties” and wrote, “hundreds.” Then he went back to the “twenties.”

  Put it in an unlocked, waterproof trunk. Bring it to the Miami area. I will leave you a message later and tell you exactly where to leave the money. You have to bring the money yourself. I can recognize Scott Monroe. Come alone. Don’t bring anyone with you. I promise that if you don’t come alone, I will kill your PRECIOUS daughter. She’s a sweet kid, but I’ll kill her, I swear. So bring the money. Alone.

  Then he’d hang up. Spanky thought something was missing, but he couldn’t think of what. He reminded himself to disguise his voice and hang up quickly no matter if anyone came on the line and started to talk to him. But was he asking for enough money? Going through all this trouble. Maybe he’d ask for two fifty, an even quarter million?

  He changed the number, tore the paper off the pad, and tucked it into his shorts pocket. Then he headed for the second bedroom. Without knocking, he walked inside.

  “Ma,” he said, tapping her shoulder.

  “Spanky?” Marge stirred and one arm went protectively around the girl.

  Spanky could see that Precious was awake. Her eyes were red and a tear started to trickle down her cheek. He reached over his mother’s hulk to wipe away the tear with his hand. Precious was wearing a Disney character nightgown that made his pulse quicken. Not now, he told himself. There will be plenty of time. “Just you and me, Precious,” he murmured.

  “What do you want, son?” Marge asked, bunching up the sheet and pulling it over the girl. “What time is it?”

  “I hafta to go out for a while,” Spanky said. “You and the girl stay here. Whatever happens don’t open the door to any nosy neighbors.”

  “But —” Marge stopped.

  “I got everything figured out. Ma, you got us into this, and I’m gonna get us out. You just do as I say.” Spanky reached over to pull the sheet back off Precious, far enough back to tell that under the pink nightgown were little white panties. He could feel the child cringe, and with the same hand, he then covered her back up.

  CHAPTER 52

  Two of Monroe Triplets Reunited at Children’s Hospital. But Where is Alex?

  — Saturday News, June 20

  Katie questioned the wisdom of letting Sammie see Jackie so debilitated, but Susan Reynolds overruled her trepidation.

  “Jackie’s not talking to us right now,” Susan explained to Sammie once she had been shampooed, scrubbed from head to toe, and dressed in the extra clothes they’d brought in for Jackie.

  “I think it’s because she’s so worried about you and Alex.” Susan bent down to meet Sammie at eye level. “She’s lying in bed and she looks like she’s asleep. She’s not really sick. She just has decided she doesn’t want to talk.”

  Sammie’s eyes went wide. “But why —”

  “Sammie, just understand. Jackie is going to be okay.” Katie tried to sound reassuring, but she was being torn in two: wanting Susan to work with Sammie and Jackie; and wanting Agents Streeter and Camry to question Sammie more extensively about where to find Alex. Having Sammie back and safe just intensified her desperation to have Alex back with them. How could any of them survive wi
thout Alex? She knew she couldn’t.

  “Mom, are you sure she’s not going to die?” Sammie nudged closer to Katie, as Susan stood poised to lead the way into the hospital room.

  Katie nodded, but her eyes filled with tears. Two of her daughters were with her under this roof, but Alex, the most vulnerable of the three, was with those evil people.

  Finding Jackie lying still, Scott stroking her forehead, whispering to her, Katie checked her watch. Had it been the Spanskys who’d made the ransom call? Would they really return Alex, today, at the coffee shop in Birmingham?

  “Sammie, come here,” Scott said as Sammie started to shrink backward. “Jackie will be okay, I promise.” He looked to Susan who nodded. “Why don’t you come over and talk to her.”

  Susan took Sammie’s hand and led her to Jackie’s side. Katie and Scott stood behind her.

  “Jackie?” Sammie said, creeping closer, leaning over her sister. “Jack, wake up, it’s me. It’s Sam. I’m here. I’m okay.”

  Katie held her breath, and she felt Scott hold his, too. They both exhaled slowly as Jackie’s eyes fluttered open.

  A knock interrupted, and all eyes but Sammie’s turned to see Agent Camry standing at the door. “Sorry,” she said softly, “Katie, and you too, Scott, could I speak with you both?”

  “I’ll stay with the girls,” Susan said.

  Reluctantly, Scott and Katie joined Camry in the hall, but Katie kept one hand on the door knob.

  “I … I think that Jackie’s eyes opened,” Katie said. “Please, I need to be there for her when she wakes up.”

  “You both need to hear this,” Camry said. “We’ve received another ransom message. This one came in on your home phone in Tampa. Male voice demanding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the release of Alex.” Camry nodded at the tape recorder she held in her hand. “There’s a brief recording. We need you to tell us if this is Alex’s voice. Let’s go across the hall and sit down.”

  “My God.” Katie felt Scott’s body slump and she reached to steady him. “What about the other ransom, the drop-off in Birmingham?”

  “If you can identify your daughter’s voice, we’ll send a look-alike decoy there.”

  “So this new call may be real?” Scott breathed, as they followed Camry into a conference room across the hall.

  Before Camry started the tape recorder, she insisted that they both sit down. They did, holding each other’s hand so tightly that their knuckles turned pale.

  When Camry clicked on the tape, they heard a male voice sounding muffled, yet gruff.

  I have your girl. If you want her back you gotta give me two hundred fifty grand. I know you can get the dough. Get it to the Miami area. I’m takin’ her to Miami. You wanta see your girl again, Mr. Monroe, you be in Miami and leave that money where I tell you. Put it in a waterproof trunk. Small bills. I’ll leave you a message same place. No foolin’ around. Nobody else. No cops. I got your girl. You want proof? Here, Precious. Say somethin’.

  Katie and Scott had to bend over the recorder to hear the small voice. “Daddy,” it said. “Please find me. I’m scared …” Then a click and the machine went silent.

  That sweet, innocent voice, so terrified, so alone. Katie felt a pain in her chest so intense that she thought she’d been stabbed. Then she felt a terrible trembling next to her. Scott’s body was shaking violently. She grabbed both his hands as a wail, loud and plaintive escaped from his being.

  “Yes. It’s Alex.” Katie nodded and Scott dropped his head and started to cry.

  As the tape played, Camry’s phone had vibrated. She listened briefly before terminating the call.

  Camry nodded to Katie and said, “The call came from a pay phone in Traverse City. I know that hearing Alex’s voice must be devastating, but we need you to focus. You’re quite sure that this is Alex’s voice?”

  Both Katie and Scott said, “Yes.”

  “We now have something to work with. Who do you know in Traverse City?”

  “Some of my family’s friends have summer places up there,” Scott’s voice shook and his body still trembled, but the tears had stopped. “But why did he say to come to Miami?”

  “We don’t know, but Agent Streeter would like you to come down to headquarters,” Camry said. “And we’d like for you to bring Sammie. We haven’t had time to talk to her more than superficially. She may have the answers we need.”

  Then Camry’s phone buzzed again. Katie detected accelerated intensity as the agent grasped her phone more tightly, got up, and started to pace. “Do you still want Sammie downtown?”

  Katie felt her heart start to race way too fast. Why would she ask that question about still wanting to bring Sammie in? She’d been ready to tell Agent Camry that Sammie would stay at the hospital with Jackie and that the FBI could question them there. But now, she wanted Sammie to go to the FBI building. She prayed for a reason for her to go.

  “Let me tell you about that call,” Camry said right away. “We just got a call that we think is important. We want to put off bringing Sammie to the field office.”

  Katie felt her body slump forward onto the conference table, Scott’s arm now encircling her, very tightly. “Just tell us —”

  “We have a lead on a possible destination in northern Michigan where they might have taken Alex. I need to emphasize might.”

  “Where?” Scott asked. “Can we go there? Now?”

  Please, God, let this be true. Let them find Alex, safe and — Katie almost said alive, but couldn’t say the actual words, not even to herself.

  “Elk Lake,” Camry said, “just fifteen miles from Traverse City, which is where the call with Alex’s voice was placed. We have a SWAT team on the way and the area is being put under surveillance. Agent Streeter is on his way up there now, and he wants me to stay here with you. I would like to question Sammie though, to see if her captors said anything about where they may be heading.”

  “I need to go there,” Scott said, standing up. “Katie, did you hear what Alex said? She said, ‘Daddy, please find me .’ My baby is so scared.”

  “No chance,” Camry said. “We sit tight. Don’t forget the message said to go to Miami. We need to keep all options open. Even if they did have Alex in Elk Rapids, they could have moved her to the Miami area. Or she could be anywhere in between northern Michigan and southern Florida.”

  Scott came around to massage Katie’s shoulders. His hands were strong, but she could feel his body shake.

  CHAPTER 53

  Scott Monroe Will Not Be Home for Father’s Day Tomorrow. Alex Still Missing.

  — Tampa News, Saturday, June 20

  Marge rummaged through the plastic bags of food for something that Jennifer liked. So far the child had refused anything to eat or drink. The twins liked Hershey bars, but she’d run out. Finding a box half full of stale donuts, she took one over to her little girl. Jennifer lay facing the wall curled up in a little ball.

  “It’s okay,” she said, caressing Jennifer’s short, choppy hair. “I know you miss Jessie and so do I, but she’s gone now so —”

  The child stirred and Marge’s heart filled with hope. “Jennie, it’s you and me now. We’ll be okay. I promise.”

  Marge mourned the loss of Jessica, but she had to pull herself together for Jennifer’s sake. She couldn’t fall apart like she had before. She needed to get Jennifer to Evan so they could raise her together. She reasoned that even if they’d lost Jessica, he’d still want to be there for their surviving daughter. But first she had to get Jennifer to Canada. She hadn’t told Spanky her plan yet, but she felt that everything would work out since they were so far north and Canada was so close. Wasn’t it just across the Mackinac Bridge?

  Marge suspected that Spanky was cooking up some plan, but she didn’t know what. Spanky was a good kid, always doing nice things like fixing her car. Hadn’t he even said he was going to buy her a new one? And sometimes he’d bring her stuff from his trips. She liked to collect shells and every once i
n a while he’d bring her a new one from his runs to Miami. But she knew she had to face the facts. Evan didn’t like Spanky, and she needed to get Jennifer to Evan. Spanky was a grown man now; he’d be okay on his own. And if he no longer had to take care of her, he’d be free to go off and marry a woman of his own. And, then, maybe he’d get over his one very bad habit. One she’d never dared discuss with him. One he didn’t even know that she knew about.

  Alex woke up after the first night ever that she’d been separated from both of her sisters. When she wiped that sticky stuff out of her eyes, she turned over to find Maggie just staring at her.

  “Oh, you’re awake, Jennie. Good, I’ve got a donut and orange juice for you. We didn’t bring any milk. Afraid it would spoil, you know.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Alex said. That was not true, but Alex needed time to think. She turned to face the wall and pretended to go back to sleep.

  First, Alex thought, she had to figure out where she was. Just in case there was a telephone around. She remembered the long, bumpy ride in the trunk last night. So she wasn’t near Detroit anymore. Could they be taking her back home to Florida? She had to try to think. What was wrong with Maggie that she kept calling her “Jennie” ? And where was that big, ugly man? He scared her so much. She figured that she would have to pretend to trust Maggie to find a way to get out. She used to tell Sammie that’s what they should do, but all Sammie wanted to do was fight her.