Necessary Decisions, A Gino Cataldi Mystery

by Giacomo Giammatteo

  “Do we still have the two tails on him?”

  “They’re still with him.”

  “All right, they stay. Tell everyone else to stay put. Tell them to stay in range, but if he goes into the garage, do not follow him in. Circle and spread out. Try to catch them coming out the other side. If Doran’s car stops, we go in.” I thought about the layout of the garage, how the kidnappers might work this. “I’m on JFK now. As soon as you know if it’s A or B, let me know. I’m sending two cars to provide more cover. I repeat, unless he stops, we do not go in.”

  ***

  Doran slowed down as he approached parking for Terminal B. He got his ticket and eased onto the ramp. “I’m on my way up.”

  Boss’s voice came through the phone, smooth and confident. “Good. Continue driving slow. Exit the ramp at the first level.” He waited a few seconds. “Turn right and slow down to five miles an hour. Someone will approach the car. Do not stop. They will get in. Do not stop. Keep going at the same speed.”

  Doran let off the gas, easing it down to five miles per hour. He could walk this fast. The parking garage was big, and every space he’d seen so far was occupied. He got almost to the end of the lane when the kidnapper spoke.

  “Take the left turn at the end and continue at the same rate of speed.”

  Doran cast a few quick glances to the sides. Their knowledge of his location seemed too close for them to be guessing. They had to be in the garage. As he navigated a turn, a man appeared from behind a car. He wore a mask and pushed a gun against the driver’s side window, level with Doran’s head.

  “Don’t stop. Open the doors.”

  He climbed in the back seat. Through the mirror, Doran could tell that the gun was aimed at his head. “I’m not armed.”

  “I am. Keep going. Same speed.”

  ***

  I stepped on the gas, kicking it up a notch. When I hit the turn for A and B I slowed so I didn’t spin out of control. I’d never been a very good driver, so I couldn’t do the shit that other cops did, like take hairpin turns doing eighty, or bob and weave in traffic like they do in movies or on cop shows. I called Central. “What’s the news? I haven’t heard anything.”

  “Doran’s in the garage at B, but he’s still moving. Slowly, but moving.”

  “Everyone in place?”

  “Got three cars circling and one at the exit near the freeways.”

  “Tell me if he stops. I’m joining them.”

  ***

  Within fifty yards another person approached the car, also masked. He got in the front seat. “Where’s the money?”

  Doran didn’t say anything.

  The backseat guy put the gun to his head. Pressed firmly.

  Front-seat spoke again. “Where is the money?”

  “They didn’t have time to get it. The bank—”

  Backseat hit him with the gun, and blood gushed from above his right ear. Doran’s head fell to the side, his hand reaching for where he was hit. “Goddamn!”

  Backseat said, “Should I kill him?”

  Doran spoke with real panic in his voice. “Scott said he can get it tomorrow. That’s when you asked for it originally.” Doran could tell by the tone and attitude that backseat wouldn’t mind killing him.

  Front-seat’s eyes bored into him. “Why didn’t they tell us that on the phone?”

  “Scott thought it would be better to tell you in person.”

  “Scott, my ass,” Front-seat said. “Tell Detective Cataldi he made a big mistake.”

  “He didn’t—”

  Front-seat leaned toward Doran. “I know the money is ready.”

  This was no bluff. Doran heard it in the guy’s voice. “The money was tainted,” Doran said. “They put chemical tracers on it. We figured you’d be more pissed if we came with that.”

  “Tell the detective he will be hearing from us. Soon.”

  They weren’t buying anything Doran said. “I will.”

  Front-seat eyed him. “Aren’t you going to ask how your niece is—Uncle Eddy?”

  Doran heard the truth in the guy’s voice. “I think you know I’m not Uncle Eddy.”

  “Give me the cell phone,” Front-seat said. “Now keep driving at the same speed. Do not stop. Go to level two. Repeat the same procedure. Same speed. Someone may approach you again. If not, proceed to level three. Continue until you reach the roof or get new instructions. In any case, do not stop. Clear?”

  Doran made sure to get as good a look as he could at the guy—this had to be the top man. “Clear,” he said, and noted the man’s big hands covered with gloves. For the first time, he realized the man was very large, much bigger than Doran.

  Front-seat nodded to the back, and the man with the gun exited, disappearing into a mass of parked cars close to the elevator. When Doran glanced toward Front-seat, the man had a gun. Doran turned down the next aisle at the same monotonous rate. About halfway down, Front-seat opened his door.

  “Remember what I said. We’ll be watching. And when you talk to Detective Cataldi, tell him it was a very big mistake.”

  In the rearview mirror, Doran saw Front-seat reaching for his mask just as he disappeared behind a minivan. Pretty soon Doran reached the ramp going up to level two. He wanted to speed through this thing, get out of here, and report to Gino. But these guys were too unpredictable. They might be watching. Without Gino’s permission, he wouldn’t risk that girl’s life.

  ***

  Boss removed his mask and ducked behind the van, watching to make sure the cop followed instructions. When the cop got on the ramp, Boss got in the elevator. He changed out of his jogging pants, turned his shirt inside out, removed his gloves, and tucked everything into a dark plastic bag. When the elevator opened, he walked at a steady pace to the airport entrance, depositing the bag in a garbage can on the way. A long corridor led him to another set of elevators, which he took to the bottom level, and then he got on a tram car bound for Terminal C. If things went according to plan, Number Three was already there, waiting to board a shuttle bus that would take him to long-term parking. Driver would be waiting.

  ***

  I punched the seat next to me. Too much time had passed. Something was wrong. First Doran’s phone disappeared, and now he’d been in the garage driving around for what seemed like half an hour. It might have really been half an hour. I called Sameena, who was in one of the cars tailing Doran. “Anything?”

  “Been too long. I know that.”

  I sighed. “I’m with you. Something is up.” I thought for a moment. “Sameena, go in. See what the hell is going on in that garage.”

  “On my way.”

  Sameena called back a few minutes later. “I’m on the top level before the roof. Doran’s right in front of me, driving real slow.”

  “Anyone with him? Or in sight?”

  “No one but him in the car. I’m checking the lot…got a few people walking, but they’ve got luggage. None of them fit the role.”

  What the hell was going on?

  “What do you want me to do, Gino?”

  “Stop him.”

  “Sure?”

  “Do it.”

  I waited. It seemed a long time, but I knew it was less than a minute.

  “They’ve been here and gone. Weren’t happy about the money.”

  “Aw fuck!” What to do? Where would they go? “Sameena, you and Doran go inside Terminal B. See if he recognizes anyone. I’m splitting everyone else up at the other Terminals.”

  “What are we looking for?”

  I thought about that as I punched the gas pedal. “I have no fucking idea. If Doran thinks of anything, let us know.”

  From my car, I watched as a mass of people exited Terminal C. One group alone had twenty or more people. I didn’t even know what I was looking for or why I was here. No one was coming out holding signs that read, “we’re the kidnappers.” I felt pretty confident of that.

  Maybe I was hiding from the Hacketts, afraid to face them after pr
omising to bring their daughter home. How would I tell Lucia? I got a sick feeling in my gut. Mostly though, I thought of Jada and how frightened she must be. How she must have been counting on us—on me—to find her. Now all I could think about was Betty Ming back in Philly, and how she used to tell me over and over that she wished she’d died. I didn’t want that happening to Jada. Couldn’t let that happen to her.

  Chapter 40

  Naked and Scared

  Jada lay spread-eagle on the bed, shivering, her hands and feet tied to the four corners. Was he in the room with her? Rope burns had rubbed her ankles raw, and the insides of her thighs had cramped from trying to cover herself. The thought of him looking at her naked made her skin crawl.

  She tried thinking of getting back to a normal life, of going home to her family, but that focused her worries in a new direction—on all the things she’d done wrong. Hurtful things she’d said to her mom. The way she’d gotten her dad so upset about the prom dress. The lies she’d told… If she ever got home safe, things would be different.

  The uncomfortable feeling of having to pee came again, growing worse every minute. She relaxed her pelvic muscles and focused on squeezing the muscles around the urethra, staving off the inevitable for a few minutes. If she asked to go, he’d watch. Another shiver raced through her body. She felt sick.

  Jada tried seeing through the blindfold to see if he was in the room. All she saw was black, the kind of black like when she and Mars used to lock each other in the closets at night and put a towel under the door to see who could stay the longest. She missed Mars, his laughter and jokes, even his teasing. Right now she’d take a lifetime of that. She’d even take a lifetime of helping her mother do the dishes, or of listening to her dad’s warnings about boys and the things they wanted from girls.

  A noise in the room made her jump. She squeezed her thighs, pushing them closer together. Please, Lord, get me out of here.

  She listened, trying filtering out sounds to figure out what had made the noise. Silence. Is he here? Is he watching?

  A car pulled up outside, and a door opened and closed. She heard someone walking, but the footsteps faded. For a moment, she relaxed, but that only increased the pressure on her bladder. As much as she didn’t want to, she had to go. The thought of peeing on the bed crossed her mind, but then she’d have to lie in it. And how would he react to that? Instead she moved as much as she could and made grunting sounds, hoping he’d hear.

  “Need something?” he whispered in her ear. Very close. Too close.

  Jada’s muscles tensed. It had only been seconds. So he was here all the time.

  She nodded then felt the gag being removed. “I have to pee.”

  He pressed on her stomach, almost forcing it out.

  “Please?”

  “Don’t worry. I don’t want you peeing the bed. I might be in there with you soon.”

  She clenched her teeth. Prayed for someone to rescue her.

  He untied her then stepped back. “Try anything like last time, and it will be a lot worse for you. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  He led her to the door. When she reached to close it, he stopped her. “Oh no.”

  “I can’t go with you watching me.”

  “Learn.”

  She sat on the toilet, closed her legs, and covered herself as much as she could. Her shoulders hunched to hide her breasts. She relaxed her muscles and pushed, but nothing came out. She closed her eyes and tried again. Still nothing.

  “Hurry up.”

  “I’m trying. I can’t go.”

  “Get up.”

  “No! Wait.”

  “Take a shower. You’re filthy. I want you clean…just in case.”

  “I don’t want to shower.”

  “Take one!”

  He sounded closer. In the bathroom. She squeezed her legs tighter together. “Okay.”

  She heard the water running in the shower. After a moment, he said, “It’s ready,” then he grabbed her arm and yanked her up.

  “You’re hurting me!”

  His breath was in her ear again. Too close.

  “Shut the fuck up,” he said.

  Jada got in the shower, her hands touching the walls to help her balance. She reached to close the door, but he stopped her. “I’ve got to take the blindfold off,” she said.

  “No need to take it off. I’m not concerned about your face being clean.”

  He grabbed her arm and placed a bar of soap in her hand. “Take all the time you want.”

  Jada turned her back to him, let the warm water soothe her as much as it could. Her ankles stung from the rope burns. She wanted to rub them, but there was no way she was bending over with him there. As she washed the lower part of her face, she squeezed her legs together and peed, letting it run down her leg so he couldn’t see. After that, she cleaned herself with the washcloth and did a quick scrub on the rest of her. “I’m done.”

  Five led her out of the shower and handed her a towel. “Hurry up.”

  “Can I get dressed?”

  “No!”

  There was finality about that answer. She didn’t argue.

  He led her back to the bed, tied her, then put the gag back in. The room went silent. Had he gone, or was he there watching? Then she felt his finger tracing up her thigh. She tried screaming, thrashing about. He stopped.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. You need to be fresh until we get the ransom.”

  More silence. She waited, tense. Her muscles aching. The sound of a zipper opening startled her. Then she felt the bed sink down. God, please. No.

  Even with the blindfold on, she squeezed her eyes tighter, trying to shut out the images of him sitting there with his…thing out. The bed shook in short jerky movements. Jada could only imagine one thing doing that. She felt sick, as if she would throw up. The movement continued. His breathing increased. She squeezed her legs tighter, her eyes even more. When she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he got up. Her muscles relaxed, breathing slowed.

  Then she felt it. A feeling like aloe vera gel being dropped on her stomach. Jada cringed, tried reaching with her hands to get it off her. Tried turning over. Screaming. She kept it up for as long as she could, the grunting, thrashing, struggling to get free. Finally she surrendered and just lay there.

  Why is this happening, God? Why me?

  The phone rang. He answered it.

  “Everything’s fine. Uh huh. So what do you want me to do? Okay.”

  A faint clicking sound, almost like a camera shutter, and then it was silent.

  “That was Boss. Looks like your daddy doesn’t love you so much. He didn’t pay. I’m just waiting for the word. When it comes—you’re mine. Or maybe Number Three and I will share you.”

  Chapter 41

  Consequences

  As I exited the airport, I looked at the driver of every car. I had no idea why, other than to slow down traffic. But I did it anyway. Some drivers I glared at. Most glared back with a what-the-fuck-are-you-staring-at look.

  The phone rang. It was Delgado. “I hope it was her in that room,” I said.

  “You got two wishes left.”

  “No connection, I presume.”

  “No, but it wasn’t all bad. We got another nut off the streets. Lance and his crew made sure he won’t push drugs on any young girls again. And we got a runaway to send for treatment somewhere. If we can find a house with open beds.”

  “But no kidnappers.”

  “No kidnappers.” A bit of silence followed, then, “I guess we didn’t do any good with Doran.”

  I didn’t answer for a moment, not wanting to vocalize my frustrations or the disappointment I felt. “They made us look like fools.”

  And me, the biggest one of all.

  “We’ll get them, Gino. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m heading back to Scott’s house. I’m sure we’ll be hearing from them soon. Besides, I’ve got to tell the Hacketts.”

  “You need me
there?”

  “Yeah, but I need you checking those motels more. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  “I’ll call if we do.”

  It took me about forty minutes to get to Scott’s house with the traffic. The delay gave me time to think of what I’d tell Jada’s parents. As soon as I walked in, they were all over me—Lucia, Lonny, Mars, and Alexa. Must have been watching out the window, waiting for me to pull in.

  “Did you find her? What happened?” That from Lucia.

  Lonny stared at me from the back of the room with worried eyes. He had already figured it out, probably knew we’d have called if the news was good. I took hold of Lucia’s shoulders, trying to be as calming as possible. “It wasn’t her at the motel. And—”

  “What happened with the kidnappers? What about the money?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. They said they’d call.”

  Lonny took hold of Lucia, supporting her as he walked her to the other room. “Call? What they hell are they calling for? We don’t have any money.”

  When they had gone, Alexa came to me. “What’s going to happen to Jada?”

  It was the first time I’d seen any real concern from the girl since this started. Maybe it took kids longer to accept or believe what was really happening.

  “Like I said, Alexa, I don’t know.” I made sure my voice was low. “Things aren’t good. We’re going to have to get lucky to catch them. Without a ransom…” I shook my head. “It’s just not good.”

  She nodded and walked away, reaching for her cell. She started to dial.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “A friend.”

  “Don’t,” I said, and went over to her. “I asked you before. Please do not tell anyone what you hear in this room. Nothing.”

  “It’s one of our friends. She’ll want to know.”

  I pulled her back into the kitchen so the Hacketts couldn’t hear. “Listen. Someone is leaking information to the kidnappers. We—”