Maya finally got the hint and jumped up from the chair.
“You must want to be alone with Michael, I’ll be going.”
Michael called to her.
“Come back later and tell me the end of that story, okay?”
“I will, goodbye Michael.”
“See ya, Maya.”
Velma leaned over the bed and kissed Michael on the lips.
“How are you today?”
“I’m okay, but still a bit taken aback by the date on the calendar and... other things.”
“Such as our marriage?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, I watched that DVD of our wedding and it was like watching someone else, but wow, was I ever happy that day.”
“You weren’t the only one, and speaking of DVD’s, I’ve brought you highlights from the last few hockey seasons to watch.”
“Hockey? Why hockey?”
“You love hockey.”
“Since when?”
“Ever since your friend George Pepper got you hooked on it, oh, but that wasn’t until the winter of 2011. I’d forgotten that.”
“I also don’t know a George Pepper.”
“He joined your platoon in early 2010. I’m sorry Michael; it seems that I’m having trouble remembering what you’ve forgotten.”
Michael reached over from the bed and took the DVD’s.
“Leave them, maybe I’ll get hooked on hockey all over again.”
“Have they given you therapy yet?”
“Not yet, and I can’t wait. I tried to walk last night and nearly fell on my face. If Maya hadn’t been here, I probably would have.”
“Maya was here last night during her time off?”
“Yeah, she’s been great; I’m lucky to have a nurse like her.”
Velma frowned.
“Yes, she’s very dedicated.”
CHAPTER 4
Caliber Detective Agency - JUNE 2005
Agent John Brice of the FBI shook the hand of the elder Jake Caliber, as the man’s son and daughter-in-law looked on with worried faces. Agent Brice was around forty, with dark hair and blue eyes. He was married and had three children of his own, two of which were the same ages as the Caliber boys.
They were in the main offices on the second floor. Everyone had been sent home early and now only the Calibers and Velma Harper remained in the building.
“You did the right thing in calling us Mr. Caliber, as a man of your experience knows, the first few hours of a kidnapping are crucial. My team is setting up their equipment and the next time a call comes in we’ll be tracking its source.”
Gail came forward, she had obviously been crying, as her eyes were red.
“Do you have much experience in dealing with kidnappers, Agent Brice?”
“Yes ma’am, more than most agents in fact, and we’ll do everything we can to get your boys back safely. But tell me, the two-million-dollar demand, is that something you’ll be able to raise?”
“Oh, um, we’ve spoken to the bank and they’re getting the money together right now. We actually don’t have that much on hand of course, but the company has been valuated beyond that, and so they’re working with us.”
“Good, I doubt we’ll need to use it, but we should have access to it in any event. However, my main concern is the safety of those boys.”
Gail began to cry again, and her husband took her in his arms.
The old man beckoned Brice into a quiet corner.
“They’ll probably call here again, but I understand that you’ll also be ready in case they call our homes, is that right?”
“Yes, we’re having all calls routed here.”
“Agent Brice, my oldest grandson is a savvy kid, if there’s a way for him to help us, he will.”
“Yes sir, but of course you understand that he’ll be under a great deal of stress and may not have the wherewithal to think straight.”
Jake shook his head.
“That boy’s got it, sir.”
“Got what?”
“Grit, my grandson’s got grit, and let me tell you, these kidnappers might have just grabbed the wrong boy.”
***
The tall man, the one with the scar on his nose, landed a punch into Jake’s stomach that buckled his knees. Jake stayed down and fought back his anger.
He was gagged and his hands were still cuffed behind him. Trying to fight back would be useless. He looked over at his brother and saw the fear in the boy’s face. When Chris’s eyes locked on his, he sent his little brother an encouraging wink.
Jake guessed that they were in a warehouse somewhere near the docks, because while he was in the van, he had smelled the water and heard faint sounds, such as those made near a marina, but inside the warehouse with the doors closed, he could hear nothing.
“Marco! Goddamn it, stop hitting that kid, I keep telling you that we need him in one piece.”
The tall man paced about in an agitated state.
“This shit killed Arnie; I’ve known Arnie since high school.”
“I told you, he’s all yours once we get the money, but until then, leave him alone, got it?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The girl spoke up.
“Gabe, I thought you said that no one would get hurt. Is Arnie really dead?”
The one named Gabe touched her on the cheek. He was nearing forty, but looked younger because he was in such good shape.
“Your boyfriend there is a lethal weapon. It must run in the family.”
The girl stared down at Jake, who was still on his knees atop the concrete floor. She then removed his gag.
“You killed Arnie?”
Jake looked up at the other men, Gabe, Marco, and the small silent one who wore dark shades.
“One down, three to go.”
Marco rushed towards him, but Gabe held him back.
“The kids got a smart mouth, so what? You’ll get the last laugh, right?”
Marco let out a heavy sigh and walked away.
“Let my little brother go; you don’t need us both.”
“Maybe you’re right, so why don’t I just kill him?” Gabe said.
Jake turned pale, and Marco laughed.
“Well hell, you finally found a way to shut him up.”
“Yeah, but unfortunately I need him to talk again. Hand me that cellular phone.”
Marco grabbed a phone off a table and passed it to Gabe, who then spoke to Jake.
“I’m calling your grandfather again to check on that ransom. You’re going to tell him that you’re fine and that your brother is good and that’s it, got it? You try any shit and I’ll hurt you bad.”
“I understand.”
Gabe made the call, and the phone was answered on the first ring.
“This is Jake Caliber.”
“It’s your friendly neighborhood kidnapper. I know the FBI is tracing this call and so I’ll make this quick. Do you have the money?”
“Yeah, but let me talk to my grandsons.”
“Hold on,” Gabe said, and then he covered the phone. “No shit, kid, got it?”
Jake nodded, and Gabe pressed the phone to his head, even as he bent down so that he could hear both sides of the conversation.
“Hello, Granddad?”
“It’s me, boy, how are you and—”
“I’m good Granddad, and Butchie’s good too.”
There was a flash of silence, but then Jake spoke again.
“That’s good boy, now you and Butchie hang in there and we’ll get you back.”
Gabe ripped the phone away.
“We’ll call back with instructions—CLICK!”
Marco walked over and stared down at Jake.
“What was that ‘Butchie’ shit?”
“It’s my brother’s nickname, we’ve haven’t called him Christopher in years.”
“It sounded like a code of some sort.”
“Chill,” Gabe said, “The old man didn’t even blink, so it must be a nickname, and besides,
the kid looks like a Butchie.”
***
Back at the Caliber building, the younger Caliber was snapping his fingers in triumph, as he suddenly recalled why the name Butchie was familiar.
“I got it! That was the name of the ice-cream parlor I used to take the kids to. It’s been closed for years, but it’s right by our apartment building. That must be what Jakey was trying to tell us.”
“So you know the street address?” Brice said.
“Not exactly, but I can take you right to it.”
“Then let’s go.”
As Brice barked out orders to his technical team in regards to analyzing the call, Gail grabbed her father-in-law’s arm.
“You find my boys, Jake, please?”
The old man opened his arms.
“Come here.”
As Gail fell into them, he whispered in her ear.
“Those boys will be back in your arms soon, Daughter. I swear it.”
Gail straightened up and kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, now go, go and find my boys.”
As the two Jakes raced out into the night with Agent Brice, Velma came over and put an arm around Gail.
“We’ll get those boys back, honey, and those kidnappers will wish that they were never born.”
Gail laid her head on Velma’s shoulder.
“Still the real deal,” she whispered, and wiped the tears from her eyes.
CHAPTER 5
THE PRESENT
Rayne was watching Christopher from the corner of her eye.
She was attracted to him, but had heard through the office grapevine that he never dated the same girl for more than a few weeks, that same grapevine had also said that he had a thing for Velma Channing, and also that it was mutual, but never consummated.
Rayne gave a mental shrug. Office grapevines rarely got things right.
She and Christopher had spent the last few days together. They were in Astoria, Queens, parked down the block from Glenda Robert’s home. They had talked to the neighbors about Roberts, and the consensus was that Ward and Glenda Roberts had seemed to get along. Ward Roberts had been a financial planner and reportedly an avid golfer, while Mrs. Roberts was a stay-at-home mom whose only child had recently gone off to college.
Chris opened a bag of chips and offered some to Rayne.
“No thanks.”
“You don’t like chips?”
“I like them too much. If I have one, I’ll want a thousand.”
Chris looked her over.
“You don’t need to worry; you’re in great shape.”
“That’s because I stay away from chips.”
Chris went back to staring at the Roberts’ house, which was actually the left side of a building that contained two townhouses.
“Tell me again about the neighbor, what started the feud?”
“Herb Karlo, he owns the other townhouse. Apparently, the feud dates back to the summer, before her son went off to college. The kid threw a party that got loud. Karlo called the police. The other neighbors said that it wasn’t that bad, but Karlo’s an old man, and cranky.”
Glenda Roberts came out of the house and got in her car. She was in her early forties, in good shape, with dark hair, but wore clothes made for a younger woman.
“It looks like we’re on the move,” Chris said.
They followed Roberts to a strip mall, where she entered a hair stylist.
“I wonder who she’s getting pretty for,” Rayne said.
“One of the neighbors told me that she lost a lot of weight about a year ago; maybe she has a lover.”
Rayne drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.
“If she has one, they never see each other; I’ve been following her for over a week and haven’t seen her with anyone. Still, my gut says she’s wrong.”
“I looked over your record last night; you’re amazing at this.”
“Thanks, but what I’d really love to do is work with you and your Grandfather.”
“Really? Well, I’ll keep that in mind the next time we need an extra hand.”
“How long will Velma Channing be gone?”
“I don’t know. I... haven’t spoken to her recently.”
Rayne noticed the change in Chris’s mood and decided that maybe the rumors were true.
“Where did your brother go on vacation?”
“He and Kelli are in Mexico, and they’re taking two weeks. Kelli had to threaten him to get him to go.”
“Why?”
“He loves to work, and he’s a great private eye.”
“I’d like to meet him.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for him?”
“No, it’s not that, but I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner tonight?”
“What about Mrs. Roberts? She might have company later.”
“One of the other investigators owes me; I’ll have him watch her this evening.”
Chris studied her for a moment.
“Having dinner, is that your idea or my mother’s?”
“What do you mean?”
“Having us work together was her way of playing matchmaker.”
“Ah, so that’s why she asked me if I was seeing anyone.”
“Yes.”
“Anyway, my offer still stands.”
“You know... I don’t think I’d be good company. I’m sort of involved with someone else. Well, I’m not involved with her, but I’d like to be, and there are complications.”
“Is that someone, Velma?”
“How the hell did you know that?”
“Company grapevine,”
Chris laughed.
“And here I thought my feelings for her were a big secret.”
Rayne patted his hand.
“If things don’t work out give me a call and we’ll go out for drinks, as friends.”
Chris looked at Rayne’s beautiful face.
“Why don’t we have that dinner tonight?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, and I look forward to it.”
Rayne smiled.
“So do I.”
CHAPTER 6
Velma blinked in surprise at the news.
“Albany?”
Cynthia smiled at her daughter-in-law.
“Of course, Albany, why should Michael recuperate in this God-awful city when he can come home to Albany?”
“Albany is your home, Cynthia, not ours,” Velma said.
“That may be true, but it’s what Michael wants.”
They were inside Michael’s hospital room waiting for him to return from having therapy. His legs muscles had atrophied during his coma, but the doctors assured him that he would walk normally again soon.
“Michael agreed to go to Albany without consulting me?”
“He needs to be at home. I can care for him there far better than you could here, why I’ve even hired a full-time nurse for him.”
“I should have been consulted about that as well, and in any event, we can’t move to Albany. My job is here in New York.”
“Your job? Why I assumed that you had quit. Besides, being a private detective is unbecoming for someone married to my son. Why don’t you become a teacher, if I recall, you minored in education, didn’t you?”
“I don’t want to be a teacher. I’m a private detective working with Jake Caliber, the Jake Caliber. The man is a legend and I’m lucky to be working there.”
Cynthia sighed.
“I see you and I still don’t agree on things.”
“No, we don’t.”
The sound of laughter echoed down the corridor and soon Maya wheeled Michael into the room. The laughter had come from the two of them, and they were still giggling together as they entered the room.
“How was your therapy, son?”
“I took twelve steps and collapsed, but that’s three more steps than yesterday.”
“That’s splendid! Why you’ll be walking normally in no time.”
Velma leaned down to kiss Michael, and as she did, she felt him tense up.
“Hello Michael, it’s so good to see you laughing.”
“You can thank Maya for that, every time I get down in the dumps she cheers me up. She always knows just what to say.”
Maya touched his shoulder.
“You just have to be patient, you’ll walk again, in fact, I plan to have you running by summer.”
“Are you involved in Michael’s therapy, Maya?”
“Yes, and I’ll be administering it once we’re in Albany.”
“What?”
“Don’t look so surprised, Velma, I told you that I hired a full-time nurse for Michael, and Maya here also has a degree in physical therapy.”
“Fine, but I just thought that it would be someone else.”
“I hope that you don’t mind, Mrs. Channing, and of course I won’t take the position if you have a problem with me.”
“I don’t have a problem with you, Maya, my problem is with the whole idea of moving to Albany. If you and Cynthia wouldn’t mind, I’d like to speak to my husband alone.”
Maya’s face scrunched up, and she hurried out of the room.
“I’ll see you later, Michael.”
Michael called to her.
“Hey Maya, are you all right?”
Cynthia patted him on the arm.
“She’ll be fine; I think she just had her heart set on going to Albany with you. You two talk, but keep in mind that I still believe coming home would be what’s best for Michael, and that’s what’s important, isn’t it, Velma, what’s best for Michael?”
“Yes, of course, now please excuse us.”
Once Cynthia left the room, Velma sat on the edge of the bed and took Michael’s hand.
“Moving to Albany is a big step. It would mean that I’d have to quit my job.”
“Is that the only reason that you don’t want to leave New York?”
“What do you mean?”
“Maya mentioned that you came here the other night with a guy, a very good-looking guy, she said, and... four years is a long time to be without someone.”
Velma broke eye contact.
Caliber Detective Agency Box Set 1 Page 15
