Unlawful Imprisonment

by Tracey Higgins

  “On my way out. I think I have something, just keep Tony there.”

  “Wait…”

  Tony jumped up. “What’s going on?”

  “He said he has to check something out.” “Where?”

  “He didn’t say.”

  “HE DIDN”T SAY?”

  “Tony, you need to stay here.” She shut the door. “Let him work.”

  Tony looked out the window. “I can’t lose her.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Frank was on his way back to Tony’s when Chris called. “Get to Michael’sblock now.”

  “What’s up?”

  “Remember the blind neighbor I felt bad about?” “Yeah.”

  “I saw him on the news walking to a car across the street.”

  “Shit. I’ll be right there. Call for back up and get those news vans out of there.”

  “Got it.” Chris called Slomin. “It’s Chris, I need all the news vans out of there.”

  “You got it. What’s…”

  Chris hung up before getting into a long

  conversation.

  Chris turned the headlights off when he was around the corner. His heart was racing. Frank pulled up moments later and walked to Chris.

  “Which house?”

  “Second on the left. I called backup and an ambulance.”

  “So, we just going to knock?”

  “Sure. He doesn’t know we saw him.”

  They went to the house and up the steps. Chris knocked and Frank stepped aside and took out his firearm. He nodded to Chris when he heard a voice.

  “Yes?”

  “This is Detective McDonald. I’d like to ask you a few more questions.”

  “The silence made Chris nervous. “Open up.” Chris heard footsteps running from the door so he stepped back and kicked it in.

  “I’ll take the back!” Frank ran to the side of the house and Chris moved slowly through the living room. There were no footsteps and the lights went out. He saw a door slightly opened through the street light. ‘Fuse box.’ Chris thought. ‘The basement.’ He quietly made his was down the hall. The floor creaked when he walked. Chris put his hand on the basement door. As soon as he pushed it the door flung open and Chris went to the ground. His gun flew out of his hand and he couldn’t see where it landed. Angel ran out the back door and Frank grabbed his arm. Angel lost his balance on the step and took Frank down with him.

  “Son of a bitch!” Frank heard his arm snap. But with the adrenaline pumping he held the gun on Angel and managed to get the handcuffs on. He pulled Angel up and he just starred at Frank.

  “Move it blind man, into the house. Let’s go./” Chris came to the back and met them in the kitchen. Frank was completely flushed and holding his arm. “Are you shot?”

  “No its broken.” He pushed a chair out and shoved Angel in it.

  “I’m going to the basement. Watch him.” Chris found his gun and went down the steps. When he approached the bottom he saw flickering candles and yelled up to Frank. “They’re here!” Chris went to Andrea and removed the gag and blindfold. Frank came down with Angel and sat him on the floor.

  “Jesus Chris.” Frank went to Andrea and Chris went to Dina. “Andrea, are you alright? Are you hurt?” “No.” She sobbed. “Just get me out of here.” “We are.”

  Chris tried to calm Dina and Nicole down. “It’s okay, you’re safe.” Hewent to Angel. “Where are the keys?” “I don’t have them.” He smiled. “My friend does.” “Yeah?” Frank took his gun and pointed to Angel’s temple.

  “My pocket.”

  “Good, where’s this friend of yours?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Frank took the keys, let Andrea up and tossed them to Chris.

  Chris took care of Dina and Nicole. Nicole was shaking and could barely speak. Dina hugged Chris as soon as she was free. “It’s okay, it’s over.”

  Frank took his jacket and covered Andrea. Chris did the same for Dina and used his shirt for Nicole.

  “Police!”

  “Down here!” Frank yelled. He held Andrea with his good arm.

  “Tony, where’s Tony? HE was knocked out.” “He’s fine.”

  She began to sob on Frank’s shoulder. The cops came down and stopped in their tracks. This was like something right out a horror movie.

  “get them to the hospital, we’ll take care of this asshole.”

  “It was fun while it lasted girls!” Angel laughed. Chris took great pleasure in grabbing him by the collar and reading him his rights. They took him to the car and got him in the back seat.

  Chris was concerned about Frank. “You need to get checked out.”

  “I know. Listen, if this guy is telling the truth about a friend, maybe we can get him tonight.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Get Slomin to make sure nothing is reported on the news and we wait here for him.”

  “Hey!” Chris yelled to one of the officers. “Do me a favor and book this guy.” Chris called Slomin while Frank ripped off his tee-shirt and wrapped it around him neck. “Make–shift sling?”

  “Yeah, who knows how long we’ll be here.” “I doubt very long.”

  CHAPTER 108

  While Chris was filling Slomin in on the plan Frank called Tony. The pain he was in could be heard in his voice. “Yeah?”

  “We got her.” Tony sat down and took a deep

  breath. “She’s going to be fine.”

  “The others?”

  “They are all on their way to the hospital. The guy is

  on his way to the station.”

  “I’m on my way to the hospital.” Tony yelled to

  Maggie to give him a ride. “Frank, did he…was she..?” “No. But there is someone else involved so Chris

  and I are waiting. As long as the press stays away, he will

  be back here soon.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Don’t even think about it. Go toAndrea.” “Thanks. I don’t know how to…”

  “No need. See you later.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tony got to the hospital and a cop was waiting for

  him. “Tony?”

  “Yeah.”

  “This way.”

  Tony was brought to the emergency area to a

  curtain. “Thanks.”

  He took adeep breath. “Baby?” He pulled the

  curtain back and saw her. Andrea sat up. “Hi.” She said

  in tears. He sat on the bed and hugged her.

  “I’m sorry baby, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?” “A little sore, but that’s it. Who is he?”

  “He goes by the name Angel. Once they get his

  prints we’ll find out the details.”

  “Was he a parolee?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I knew the voice. I could have sworn I recognized

  it.” Andre leaned back and sighed. “where’s John and

  everyone?”

  “I’ll find out. Chris and Frank are waiting for the

  other guy.”

  “What other guy?”

  “Angel said something about a friend, and Dina and

  Nicole also said there were two.”

  “How are they?”

  “Shaken up but okay.”

  “I take it this is the guy with my notes?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “I need to see him.”

  “I know.”

  Chapter 109

  Chris and Frank stayed in the basement, waiting.

  Frank was sweating from the pain. “Are you sure you’re up

  to this?” Chris was crouched in a small space behind the

  door looking at Frank on the bed.

  “Yeah. I wouldn’t miss this.”

  “I don’t want to hear the details of what happened

  here.” Chris looked around at the hooks in the ceiling. “Me either.”

  “Did you hear that?” Chris whispered.

  Tony nodded and got up. He went to the other
side

  of the doorway and held his gun. His stomach jumped

  when he heard a man clear his throat on the other side. “Hey!” He yelled. “What the fuck happened to the

  lights?”

  Chris saw the shadow of a man coming down the

  stairs. He was wearing a mask. “If you laid one hand on

  her you’re dead.”

  The man stopped at the doorway and saw him

  empty palace. “What the…”

  “Down NOW!”

  Chris grabbed his shoulder and forced him down.

  Frank held the gun on him while Chris removed the hood.

  “Let’s see who we have here.” He took the mask off and

  Frank’s mouth dropped open.

  “You have got to be shitting me.”

  CHAPTER 110

  Frank looked at the man who he had seen a few times when he would meet Andrea at her office. Michael Amalfitano did not look the same. He had the look of a sociopath. There was a coldness in his eyes, and he grinned at Frank.

  “So, you finally caught on.”

  Frank and Chris looked at each other in completely disbelief. Chris began reading him his rights as he put Michael in handcuffs.

  “No need to do that, I’ve said those words thousands of times before.”

  “Yes well we don’t want a false arrest because a piece of crap like you wasn’t read his rights now do we?” Chris slapped him on the back of the head and they led him up the stairs.

  Outside were news vans waiting for the first shot of Michael. Frank called John to give him the news. He could only imagine what a beating the Parole Department was going to take after two of their officers turned out to be psychopaths.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  Tony and Andrea were not watching the news. He was just overcome with relief that she was safe. John came into the hospital room and was white as a ghost.

  “It’s over.” They both looked at him. “Michael.”

  “What?” Andrea sat up.

  “It was Michael. He was right under my nose the entire time.”

  Tony could not believe what he was hearing. “That goes for all of us John.”

  John rubbed his temples. “We all have a dark side, and Michael couldn’t hide his anymore. It was perfect for him. While he was out apparently making visits, he was plotting. The guy working with him is George Manor, some guy he met along the way. We just never saw the evil. Taking his own wife was his perfect alibi. Who would kidnap their own wife? He would never be considered a suspect.” Andrea was at a loss for words. “I…. I can’t understand…” Tony took her hand. “It’s not for us to understand. Who knows why people do the things they do. He definitely got what he wanted.”

  John was confused. “Which is?”

  “To be remembered forever.”

  EPILOGUE

  Within a year, the trial of the parole officer turned serial killer was over. Michael was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Andrea finally felt free of this man and tried to get back to a normal life. Or, as normal as it can be for a parole officer. She had one more week on the job until her wedding day.

  David, having finally confronted his demons, completed his parole program, and was finally able to leave the state and start anew, leaving his family and memories behind. Nicole and Dina did the same, leaving the state and all that served as a memory of Michael behind them. Frank, John and Tony remained at their jobs and amazingly Frank and Chris became partners. Funny how things work out in the end.