A Father for Danny

by Janice Carter

  As he closed the door behind her, he shouted, “You shoulda stayed out of it. It’s all your fault—and my cousin’s.”

  Skye tucked her legs up beneath her and maneuvered herself into a sitting position. If he’d been foolish enough to bind her wrists in front of her, she could have started working away at the tape on her mouth. She heard his heavy footsteps lumbering up to the ground floor. Doors slammed and voices raised. Guess they’re arguing about me. Skye breathed deeply through her nose, forcing herself to be calm. Giving in to panic would achieve nothing. She lowered her forehead onto her knees and tried to think. Tried to zero in on some kind of twin telepathy to summon her sister.

  Would Sam figure it out? And in time to save her? Those were two questions she decided to tuck away. The answers were just too much to consider at the moment.

  NOT KNOWING where to begin looking for Danny, Chase called Nina Sorrenti. She’d been with Danny yesterday and could maybe shed some light on where he might have gone. The fact that she was listed in the directory was a bonus. Of course, he could have gotten her number from Sam, but he was reluctant to drag her into this. And Nina was every bit as gracious as he’d hoped she’d be.

  First he apologized for calling her without a formal introduction.

  “That’s quite all right,” she said. “I feel as though I know you, anyway.”

  That gave him pause, wondering whether she’d garnered information about him from Sam, Danny or Skye. “Danny seems to have taken off,” he said, giving her a summary of Minnie’s phone call and the need for Danny to get to the hospital.

  “Oh? Samantha told me that Emily wasn’t doing well.”

  “She has pneumonia.”

  After a few seconds, Nina murmured, “Oh, dear.” Her tone said it all.

  “I don’t have any idea where to start looking for him and was wondering if you could give me any suggestions.”

  “Hmm. Let me think.” The line was silent for so long Chase wondered if he’d lost the connection. Finally she said, “Yesterday when we were out sightseeing, we went to the Space Needle, which he loved, and afterward I drove through Queen Anne for an even better view of the skyline. He loved it and said his mother would have loved it, too. I regretted not having a camera, but told him I’d take him back as soon as possible to get a photo of the view for his mother.”

  “So whereabouts in Queen Anne were you?” Chase tried to hide his impatience. The neighborhood she was referring to was huge.

  “There’s an overlook at Kerry Park where we stopped to see the bay and city.”

  Chase swore under his breath. Kerry Park was a long way from Minnie’s place. Still, Danny had no qualms about traveling around the city. “Okay, that’s a start. I’ll check it out.”

  “Is there anything else I can do?”

  He thought for a moment. “Danny’s going to need some professional help, Ms. Sorrenti. I know you’ve been facilitating that and I appreciate it. Emily talked to you about it yesterday, I believe?”

  “Yes, a bit. But I could see she wasn’t having a good day. Please feel free to call me anytime. And please, it’s Nina.”

  “Thanks. I will…Nina.”

  After tucking his phone back into his jeans pocket, Chase went to the nurses’ station on Emily’s floor, leaving his phone number and a request to call him should Danny arrive at the hospital. He called Sam, but her line was busy and, rather than complicate things more, decided not to leave a message. He had a rough idea where Kerry Park was. He just hoped Danny was still there, if indeed that was where he’d gone.

  THE MORE SAM LOOKED at the evidence, the more convinced she was that something bad had happened to Skye. She finally got through to her mother, who told her Chase had called about Danny’s whereabouts.

  “Have you caught up with your sister yet?” asked Nina.

  Sam opted for a white lie. “No, I haven’t, but I’m sure she’ll show up.”

  “She left here ages ago. Let me know when she does. I want to find out if she’ll be home for dinner.”

  Sam was torn between laughter and tears. She knew Nina would want to know what was going on, but she didn’t want to frighten her mother just yet, at least not until she’d contacted Chase. “I’ll call you soon,” she promised, and hung up.

  By the time she reached Chase, she was on her way to her car. She quickly filled him in.

  “Chase? Are you still there? Did you get what I just said?”

  “Yes, Sam. Listen, I’m on my way to Kerry Park. Your mother said he really liked the place, and so I’m thinking he might have returned there. Now, about Skye. Are you positive she simply hasn’t taken off on her own?”

  “Without her purse or wallet? Her cell phone?” Sam heard her voice rising with each word.

  “No, I guess not. This doesn’t look good. But there’s something I should tell you. Yesterday, when we stopped in front of Trade Winds and my cousin Howard saw us? I thought he was reacting to my being there, but this morning I learned it was you he was angry about.”

  “Me?”

  “Not you, but Skye. He saw you and thought he was seeing your sister. He figured I was in cahoots with the FBI and freaked out.”

  “Oh.” Her mind raced, sorting out the implications of what Chase was telling her. She’d reached her car and climbed inside. She ducked her head, searching the floor for any clue to Skye’s disappearance. Nothing. This wasn’t a fairy tale, she told herself. No trail of bread crumbs to follow.

  “You still there?” Chase asked.

  “Yep. Just getting into my car. Listen, I thought of something. After you brought me home yesterday, when we were out front…uh…well…saying goodbye?”

  “I vaguely recall that,” he teased.

  “Right. Anyway, when you left, another car crawled past as I was standing on the sidewalk. The sun was in my eyes, but I could tell the driver was looking my way. As if he was checking out my building—or me. Do you suppose it could have been Howard? Maybe he followed us.”

  “Maybe.” Chase paused. “Probably. This is really not looking good. Call the police.”

  “Skye’s an adult—don’t they make you wait twenty-four hours or something for missing adults?”

  “There are extenuating circumstances. Her purse and things were left behind, you said.”

  “I’m betting one of your cousins has taken her. You said they were ticked off—maybe seeing us together was the last straw. Maybe they found out we’ve got information about those companies.”

  “I can’t believe one of them would be crazy enough to kidnap an FBI agent.”

  “Say they did. Where would they take her?”

  “I’ve no idea. Anywhere.”

  “But if it was an impulsive act, maybe they’d want to just keep her somewhere till they decided what to do with her.”

  There was a moment of silence. “Maybe you should have been the FBI agent, rather than your sister.”

  “Ha, ha. Think, Chase.”

  “Okay. Supposing you’re right. Maybe the best option would be the Trade Winds building.”

  “Okay, I’m going there.”

  “No, wait. Not by yourself. As soon as I get to Kerry Park and hopefully find Danny, I’ll call you back and we can sort this out together. Don’t do anything till I call you. Promise?”

  Sam hesitated. She hated to jeopardize this budding relationship with a lie, but her sister might need her. “Uh, sure. Okay. Call me when you find Danny.”

  As soon as they disconnected, she started to press 9-1-1, but then stopped. Trade Winds wasn’t that far away. She’d check it out first, then call the police.

  CHASE REACHED the Kerry Park overlook ten minutes after talking to Sam. His palms were sweating and his heart racing. He had a feeling she wasn’t going to heed his advice and that scared him. He’d always considered his cousins liars and fraud artists, rather than major criminals. But he knew from experience that Howard had a mean streak and little impulse control. What Sam had suggested was a more likel
y scenario than Chase wanted to admit. Especially after his visit to Bryant.

  He parked the truck on a side street and walked briskly through small knots of people taking photos or simply looking at the view. There were quite a few tourists and locals at the site. It was a Sunday in mid-May and a clear, sunny day. Mount Rainier thrust above the city.

  Chase strode along the fence barrier, eyes scanning from left to right. Then he doubled back. This time he stopped to look out and below, noticing a set of stairs leading down the slope to a playground and tennis courts. He squinted, searching amongst the scattered people for someone who might be Danny. Just when he was considering using one of the telescopes, a familiar shape moved into his line of vision.

  He took the steps two at a time, brushing rudely past people, ignoring their protests as he kept his eyes fixed on Danny. The boy had moved to a bench and was watching some children playing on the climbing apparatus in the playground.

  Breathless, Chase could barely speak when he reached the bench. Danny turned, but hardly seemed surprised to find him there. Chase sat down on the bench and waited until he’d caught his breath.

  “I was worried about you, Danny.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “No one knew where you were.”

  Danny frowned. “How’d you find me, then?”

  “I called Nina Sorrenti. She told me how much you liked it.”

  “She’s pretty nice.”

  “Yes.” He craned his head, noticing the camera on the other side of Danny. “You wanted to take some photos for your mother.”

  Danny just nodded.

  “It’s a good day for picture-taking. I haven’t seen Rainier that clearly in a while.”

  Another nod.

  Chase grit his teeth. He was desperate to call Sam back, but knew he couldn’t rush Danny. He thought about telling him what was happening, but decided the kid had enough on his mind. “Get many pictures?” he asked.

  “Enough.”

  “Shall we go show them to your mother?”

  Danny’s head swiveled. “Now?”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “No reason. Thought maybe you’d be angry.”

  “I wasn’t angry, Danny. I was scared.”

  Danny searched his face. “You don’t look scared.”

  “Adults are good at hiding their feelings.”

  “Yeah. I’ve learned that.” He stopped for a minute. “Yesterday, Nina and I talked about my mother and some other stuff. Nina gave me permission to call her that,” he quickly explained.

  Chase tried not to smile. “So do you think you might be interested in talking to one of her colleagues?”

  “I think so,” Danny said. He looked back at a group of children chasing some others, laughing. Suddenly he got to his feet. “Maybe we should go now.”

  Chase followed him up the stairs, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder. When they got to the top, Danny said, “One more picture, okay?”

  “Sure. How about I take one of you with the Space Needle behind you?”

  “Okay. Did you know Mom and I never went up there? Yesterday was my first time.”

  Chase pretended to be setting up the camera. He wished, suddenly, he’d been around before, when Danny was younger. He fought tears. Well, you’re here now. And here to stay. When he could safely raise his head, he smiled at Danny, who was leaning against the fence. “Move a bit to your left,” he said.

  As he raised the camera, a woman beside him said, “Would you like me to take a picture of you and your son together?”

  Chase glanced at Danny. Their eyes locked. “Yes, we’d love that,” he said. He walked over and stood beside Danny, draping one arm loosely across his son’s shoulders.

  SAM NOTICED a small side street about half a block from the Trade Winds building and turned onto it. She guessed there might be parking behind the buildings and she was right. An alley led off to her left, running parallel to the main street. When she got out of the car, she stood for a moment, planning her next move. The predominantly residential area was quiet, with few people around. It was almost five. She checked her phone again but no messages. Had Chase not found Danny yet?

  She put that worry aside for the moment and focused on her missing twin. Now that she was here, she might as well check the place out. She stowed her purse under the driver’s seat and locked up. Set her phone on vibrating mode and tucked it into her shirt pocket. Took a deep breath and walked into the alley. Most of the houses were enclosed by tall fences, but at the rear of the Trade Winds building was a small parking area. Sidling along the fence, she reached the place where the fence ended and the parking began. She stopped short of it, protected by the neighboring fence, to see if anyone was around. So far so good. Then she poked her head out for a quick peek.

  Two cars were parked at strange angles in the small space. Behind one of the cars was a windowless door. Sam froze. Her phone was vibrating in her pocket. Keeping her eye on the door, she flipped open the phone. It was Chase.

  “I’ve found Danny,” he said, his voice low.

  “Speak up,” she hissed.

  “Can’t. He’s too close. Wait.”

  Static, followed by Chase, a bit louder now. “It’s okay. He’s gone to look at some flashy sport car parked near us. I’m taking him back to the hospital, but I can’t just leave him there. He’s bound to be upset when I tell him Emily has pneumonia.”

  “Call my mother. She’ll meet him at the hospital and take him home for a sleepover, if necessary.” She waited. “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes. Okay. I hate to do it, but it’s the best option right now. I’ll come by your place right after.”

  “Uh…well…don’t do that.”

  “What? Why not? Where are you?”

  “Um…at Trade Winds. In the little parking lot behind the building.” She heard him swear.

  “Look, go wait by your car,” he said. “In fact, get inside it and lock the door. I’ll get there as quickly as I can. We’ll figure out our next step then.”

  “Uh-huh. Say, remember telling me how you used to play here when you were little? You said you explored all the nooks and crannies?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Where were some of them? Think you could still find them?”

  “For sure. But wait for me, okay? Promise?”

  “I’ll do my best,” she said, and disconnected before he could say another word.

  She put her phone back in her pocket. Checking the rear door once more, she took a deep breath and crept across the parking space.

  Heat emanated faintly from the first car she passed, but the car closest to the door was cool. When she reached the windowless-door, she saw that the latch was resting lightly on top of the frame. Someone had been in a big hurry. Sam splayed her fingers on the edge of the door and gently tugged.

  Somewhere in the building two men were arguing, loudly and fiercely. She pulled the door open wide enough to squeeze through onto a small landing. A set of stairs at her right led to the ground floor and another, down to a basement. The voices were definitely up, so Sam took the other route.

  She made sure the door was left in the same position as she’d found it, in case she needed a fast exit. The stairs descended into darkness, but there was enough light from the small gap in the door to orient herself. She waited at the bottom for her eyes to adjust. There was a long, narrow hall with closed doors off each side. She moved slowly ahead, her fingertips running along what felt like a wood-paneled wall at her right. If there was a light switch, she didn’t find it. Reaching the first door, she turned the handle. Locked. Likewise for the second and third. Sam stopped at the end of the hall.

  The voices above were muted by the thick basement walls and ceiling. She dreaded the possibility of having to go up there, but she would if necessary. Skye was in the building somewhere. She could feel it.

  Her cell phone vibrated again. She flipped it open and whispered a hello as loudly as she dared.
/>   “Sam? Where are you? Why are you whispering? No, no. Please don’t tell me…”

  “Yes, I am,” she hissed. “I’m in the basement. I can hear men’s voices upstairs. They seem to be arguing.”

  “How many cars in the parking lot?”

  “Two. One got there just before me, I think.”

  “I’ve left the hospital and your mother is there with Danny. Why don’t you go back out and wait for me at your car? I can get to you in about fifteen minutes.”

  “All the doors in the basement are locked. Is there another way in or out of here?”

  “Where exactly are you?”

  “At the end of this corridor. It’s a dead end.” She heard a muffled exclamation. “Chase?”

  “It’s not a dead end. There’s a secret panel in the wall—not sure if it’s to the left or right. I found it when I was a kid. Face the wall dead center and press your fingertips against it, up high. Try left and right. There’ll be a click and the panel will open. Small room behind. It was a storage room for booze during Prohibition.”

  “Okay. I’ll call you back.”

  “Wait—”

  Sam disconnected before he could tell her again to leave. Sorry, Chase, I’ve got to do this. She reached up and ran her fingers along the wall to her right, pressing lightly in a line. Back and forth and again. The voices upstairs seemed to be lower now, with longer pauses. That worried Sam. As long as she could hear arguing, she knew where they were. She decided to try the left side, but had no success there, either.

  Her underarms were damp with perspiration and her pulse pounded in her ears. Chase must have got it wrong somehow. She went back over his instructions. Found it when he was a kid. When he was much shorter. High then, lower now. Starting at shoulder height, she repeated the process, reading the wall with her fingertips. And by the time she had scrolled down to just above her waist, she felt a slight give.