THE BLUE STALKER (47 page)

             
“We will be taking Paul and Nellie home for their burial. We love working here with you but we both know we can get our jobs back so we have decided to move back home.” 

             
“Where’s home?” Ella questioned.

             
“Oklahoma City, that’s where we were born and raised.”  Susan said with almost a smile in her voice.

             
“Susan wants to go home. She misses the family and friends we left behind. We love working with you guys but this isn’t home. We have found Paul and Nellie and that’s why we came here. Our mission here is complete and we must get on with our life. If we stayed here we would have too many sad memories to cope with. We will keep in touch.” Ron’s head looked toward the floor hiding his quivering chin.

             
“We are thankful we met all of you but it’s time to move on.”  Susan choked out the words.

             
“We love knowing all of you.  Your were here for us when we needed you most.  Ron said.

             
“Sometimes people play a big part in ones life without them ever thinking about it. You’ve played a big part in my life and I will never forget you. When do you plan on leaving for home?”  Ella inquired.

             
“We need to take Paul land Nellie home on Monday and we’ve decided we will not return. Do you think you can find someone to take our place in the shop?” Ron asked.

“That’s not for you to worry about and you can never be replaced. But there will be someone in need of a job.  That’s the least of my worries. Alicia probably knows someone in need of a job.” Ella assured them.

             
“You will need a ride to the airport when will you be flying out?” Ella asked.

             
“Our flight’s at two Monday afternoon. We thought we could take the bus down to Baker on Sunday and spend the night at a hotel near the FBI’s office. We have papers to sign for the release of the bodies. We can take a taxi to the airport Monday afternoon.”  Ron had it all planned.

             
“I will take you down to Baker tomorrow.”  Ella told them.

             
“Good thing we have four seats in the van or there wouldn’t be room for all four of us.” Alicia said inviting herself along. 

             
Ella nodded approval and put a smile on Alicia’s face.

             
“What time do you want to leave tomorrow?” Ella asked pushing her chair back.

             
“Anytime in the afternoon is fine with us. We need to tell our church family we are moving. We sure appreciate you giving us a ride down.” Susan said.

             
“We will have a nice dinner in Baker on me.” Ella said. “It will be a farewell dinner to good friends.

             
Everyone made their way to the work room. Ella looked at the order box and the day didn’t look too busy.

             
“Hey, you two. Take the day off you have a lot of things to do to get ready for your trip.”

             
“If you think you can do without us that would be great.” They started picking up their things wanting to get on with their last day in Coopersville.

             
“You have the van so pick up Alicia tomorrow and come on over to the shop and pick me up. We will leave for Baker from here. Say about two o’clock?” Ella suggested.

             
“Sounds good, see you tomorrow.” Ron and Susan walked through the shop door for the last time.

             
Alicia was standing on the side walk with her big bag on her shoulder when Ron and Susan drove up. As she stepped on the running board of the van it dipped.

             
Alicia giggled saying, “I can rock this van.” 

             
She plopped herself down in the big chair, pulled the safety belt way up, wrapped it across her round belly, latched it with a snap and they were on their way to pick up Ella.

             
Ella was waiting at the shop for her ride to Baker. 

             
“You’ll have to crawl over me Ella. I ain’t about to scoot over there and do this buckling again.”

             
The sunlight glistened through the trees scattered on the hillside. Water curved its way over and around the large white boulders shaping the river.  The hillside was blanketed with an array of colorful wild flowers. 

             
Ella asked Ron to go down Broadway. She remembered the nice restaurant where she and Mark Brandon enjoyed dinner and danced the night away. There would be no dancing this evening. This was a going away dinner with sadness in the air.

             
Ella dropped Alicia off at her home and proceeded to drive over to the shop to pick up her Corvette. As she drove up to the shop she remembered she left the window slightly down. “I’m sure glad it didn’t rain today.”  She thought as she parked the van and hopped in her car.

             
Ella threw her purse on the passenger set and heard the sound of paper. What could that be? She thought putting her purse on the floor. It was a sealed envelope. Another one of those silly notes. She tore the envelope open. Unfolded the large sheet of paper. Words were cut from newspaper and placed strategically to form a ransom note. It read…

We have Frank Smith held captive. If you want to see him alive we want 500 thousand dollars. Do not call the authorities or he will be killed. We will contact you.

             
Ella sat frozen not believing what she just read. Where am I going to get five hundred thousand dollars? I will call the San Francisco attorney’s tomorrow. They can tell me how to get the money. How will I get in touch with the kidnappers? How do they know I have the money?  Is Frank really kidnapped or is this part of a scam to get money out of me? I must call Agent Peterson he will be able to help me. But if I call him they might know I called the authorities and might kill Frank. She knew she had to take the chance.

             
First thing Monday morning Ella called Agent Ben Peterson. She told him about the ransom note.

             
“Do you have access to five hundred thousand dollars? 

             
“Yes, but I really don’t know how to go about getting that much cash.” 

             
“We can help you with that but I still wonder if Frank’s disappearance isn’t a scam.”  Agent Peterson said.

             
“Frank’s a good man and I have to believe he is kidnapped and give them the money.” 

             
“You don’t understand even if Frank isn’t in on the kidnapping chances are they will not release him. They will take the money, kill Frank and head out of the country. If you want to follow through with this we are ready to work with you on it.” Agent Peterson advised her.

             
“Give me the name of your bank and I will get access to the money and get it set up. If you hear from them make the exchange of money plans and tell them it will take a while to get the money together. We will need to make a plan.

             
Ella agreed on everything and waited to hear form the captors. Monday was a long day. She wondered when she would be contacted.

             
Ella stayed near the phone all day. Hoping it would ring, hoping the kidnappers would call. About four o’clock the phone rang. 

             
“Hello.”  Ella said.

             
The call was from a man trying to disguise his voice. 

             
“Yes, this is Ella Smith.” She said with her voice box bouncing all over.

“Honey, you need to listen, your boyfriend will be buzzard meat if you don’t follow my orders.

             
“Yes sir, please don’t hurt Frank I will give you the money but I need time to get it.” She begged for more time.

“I will need to call my bank and make arrangements for the money. They are going to ask questions,” She said.

             
“You tell them it is none of their business.”  He said.

             
“Okay.”  Ella said.  “But the local bank will not have that much money and it will have to come by Brink’s armored truck from Baker and it will take a while to get here.”

             
“You get it together by tomorrow. I will call back.”  The phone went dead.

             
Ella called Agent Ben Peterson and relayed the message.

             
“You go to your bank and authorize the withdrawal. I have already talked with the bank president. He can be trusted and will get it together. Ms. Smith this is the first time I have ever dealt with a ransom of such a large amount.”  Agent Peterson said.

             
“This is the first time I’ve paid a ransom.” Ella said.

             
Later the phone rang and again it was the kidnapper.

             
“You listen and you listen well. Wednesday morning at six you drive out of town going north. At the city limit sign notice your odometer. Drive exactly 20 miles north.  You will see a dirt road leading off the highway into the desert to the right. Follow that road for exactly ten miles.  There you will see a cross road. Stop thirty feet before you enter the intersection. You have the money in a duffel bag in one hundred dollar bills. Wait there until someone picks up the money.” He ordered.

             
“I’m not giving you the money until you hand over Frank to me.” She said in a matter of fact voice.

             
“Frank will just drop from the air into your arms.” He laughed as he hung up.

             
Ella called Agent Ben Peterson and told him the exact words from the kidnapper.

             
“Ms. Smith, you do just as they say. I will take care of everything. Are you still willing to take a chance? We are sure this kidnapping is part of the body smuggling ring.” Agent Peterson told her.

             
“I will pick up the money at the bank and leave for the desert at six in the morning just as the kidnapper told me.  Will the banker have the money ready for me and will he be at the bank?”  Ella asked.

             
“Yes, an FBI agent and the president of the bank will be at the bank and will hand you the money. You will need to sign for the money.” Agent Peterson said.

             
“I will be there.” 

THIRTY-SEVEN

             
Frank heard the sound of the whirling copter blades as the black bird descended to the desert floor. A Mexican man entered the shack. Frank checked his dirt floor calendar.  It looked like he had been in the shack for forty five days.  The man blindfolded Frank and dragged him to the helicopter for his ride back to the United States. As quickly as the black helicopter dropped from the sky it ascended into the clouds. The sound of the whirling blades muffled the conversation between the husky man and the tall thin man. Frank hoped they were taking him home but he knew that would be too easy. The pilot wore a heavy parka jacket with a ball cap pulled down over his forehead. 

             
Frank could tell from the shuffle of feet there must be two men and the pilot aboard. He wondered where they were taking him. Were they ready to kill him and dump his body in the desert? Sobeit, he’d rather be dead than to live in the squalor of the shack.

The rising sun began to warm the helicopter.  Frank could see the light of day through the side of his blindfold. As Frank turned his head he could see one of the men. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was FBI Agent Parker. This answers a lot of questions Frank thought to himself. The other man was tall and thin. Frank could see the back of his head but didn’t recognize him. 

             
“Okay, listen up.”  The tall thin man said with authority. “We are going in, picking up the ransom and take care of business. We will be able to see for miles. No vehicles except the red sports car should be anywhere around.