The Devil's Dwelling (32 page)

I spent two days driving the streets looking for a brown van.  Finally on day three my phone rang.  It wasn’t a number I was familiar with. 

“Hello.”  The phone was silent for a moment.  “Hello!”

I heard someone say, “Talk.”

“It’s me Tiffany.  It’s Mona.”  I could hear her sobbing.

“Give me the damn phone.”  I heard a gruff voice in the background.

“You listen up.  Baby cakes here wants to go home and I want Natasha McGuire.  Now you find Ms. McGuire and we can do a trade.”

“I don’t have or know where to find Natasha McGuire.”  I pleaded for him to let Mona go.

“You don’t understand.  I can’t seem to blow her up with my bombs so you have to bring her to me.”

“Okay, let me see what I can do. Let me talk to Mona.”

“In your dreams.”  I heard a blood curdling laugh and the phone went dead.

I immideately called Sheriff Reagan. “Randy, I received a call from the kidnapper. I heard Mona’s voice.  He said he wants to make a trade for Natasha McGuire.  He mentioned he couldn’t blow her up with his bombs so he took Mona to make a trade.”

“What! Bombs! He thinks you are Natasha McGuire.”

“That must be why the black sedan is always after us.  They think I’m Gayle Perkins.” 

“I’m going to make a trip to Russellville and tell the McGuire’s Gayle Perkins is using Natasha’s identity.  Maybe they will have some information for me.”

“You think they will tell you they have been trying to kill me?”

“No, but I think I might learn something.”  Randy took his gun from it’s holster and checked to make sure it was fully loaded.

“You be careful.”  I didn’t know what to say. I know Randy is always careful but I couldn’t stand for anything to happen to him.

“I’m taking a deputy with me.”  He looked at me. “Come here, it’s okay. I’ll call you when we get back.”  He put his arm around me. I took a deep breath.  “Okay, just be careful.”

My phone rang. It was Randy.

“Hello.” 

“Everything went well.  You come into the officer tomorrow and I will go over everything with you.”

“Did they know anything about Mona?”

“No, but we have some other information. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The phone went dead.  I knew Randy had news that he didn’t want to discuss over the phone.

I was at Randy’s office at eight the following morning.  The deputy gave me a look and said. “I’ll let Sheriff Reagan know you are here.”

“Thank you.”  I was pleasant.  It looks like he finally realizes I’m not a flake.

Randy came out front and escorted me to his office. He pulled up a chair for me to set down.  He sat down in his chair and leaned across his desk.

“What’s going on? What did you learn?”

“This is what I learned from the McGuire’s.  Natasha McGuire disappeared almost a year ago.  She was last seen with a lady by the name of Gayle Perkins. Gayle Perkins served time for voluntary manslaughter and identity theft. They haven’t been able to find either lady.  A friend working for the Social Security company ran Natasha’s social security number and it came up she was working in this area.  The McGuire’s moved here to try to find her or this Gayle whom they think took Natasha‘s identity. They hit one dead end after another.” 

“Their friend reported to them Natasha or someone using her social  security number was working at Maxine’s Massage Parlor.  The boys had a description of Gayle Perkins. Red curly hair and about your built. They went to confront her or Natasha and that must be when they saw you leaving the house.  That’s when the black sedan the McGuire boys drive started following you.”

“Oh my goodness, just like that they assumed I was Gayle.”

“I told them they were chasing the wrong person.  That you are a bounty hunter and was at Maxine’s Massage Parlor looking for Maxine’s husband.  They were shocked to find out they had been chasing the wrong person.”

I told them they need to leave this to the authorities. But they told me the authorities in Texas didn’t seem too concerned.  The Texas authorities think Natasha and Gayle are lovers and wanted to disappear from the family.  The McGuire’s don’t believe that for a minute.

“I’ve got a big case here.  I’ll let you in on all I can.  You understand my position?”

“I do but right now I have to find Mona.  I can’t worry about the McGuire’s.”

THIRTY-EIGHT

My phone rang. It was the kidnapper’s number.

“Hello.”

“You got Natasha ready to hand over?”  The psycho asked.

“Why do you want Natasha?”

“She gave me a lousy massage.  I paid good for that massage and she just pushed on me for a few minutes.  I’ve been sore since.

“She has red curly hair and she worked at Maxine‘s. I didn’t get a good look at her until I drove by Maxine’s Massage and she was out front in her green Blazer.  I got a good look at that red curly hair and I know what she looks like. I can’t blow her up so I’m gonna trade Mona for her and she will become my slave girl.”

“Is Mona okay?”

“Yeah, we play Scrabble and she can’t beat me.  She’s fun but I want Natasha to be my slave girl.”

“Can I say Hi to Mona?”

“Okay, but don’t try anything funny.”

“Tiffany, I’m okay but…”

The psycho kidnapper grabbed the phone.

“Okay, how about tomorrow I’ll find Natasha and we make a trade. You call me and let me know where you will drop Mona and I’ll drop Natasha off too.  Is it a deal?”

“I thought the kidnapper was suppose to make the plans.”  He said a little confused.

“You decide on how you want to do it and let me know.” I told him. He was right the kidnapper makes the plans.

The phone went dead.

I called Randy and told him the situation.  We made plans to make the switch with the kidnapper.  Randy and his deputies would be in charge and I would be the bait.  Now I had to wait on the kidnapper to call back.

I drove around town most of the night looking for the brown van.  I decided I was barking up the wrong tree and headed to Hayden’s place.  I pushed the fob buttons and the garage door opened. I drove in and the door slowly closed.  I knew I was being watched on surveillance camera’s.  I got out of the Honda, entered the elevator. The elevator took me to the top floor.  I stepped out of the elevator and Hayden was standing in the foyer in his skivvies.

“My my don’t you look dapper.”  I smiled looking him up and down.

“I was worried about you.  Randy called and told me about the psycho.” He put his arm around me and walked me through the door.

“I was driving around town looking for the brown van. He must park it in a garage.”  I set down at the bar and put my elbows on the bar and rested my head in my cupped hands..

“Would you like a nightcap?”  Hayden took two cups from the cupboard and poured two cups of hot cocoa from a pot on the stove. 

“You had cocoa waiting for me? How nice of you.”  I blew on the hot cocoa causing steam to go up my nose.  “Whee!  That’s hot.”

“Hot cocoa, what did you expect?”  He laughed as he blew on his cocoa before sipping it.

Hayden pulled a bar stool near me and set on it. “I don’t think the psycho man will harm Mona.  If they are playing Scrabble like Randy said she must not be tied up. Mona‘s no one to mess with.” 

“She will over power him if she gets a chance.”

“I hope she plays it cool and Randy and his deputies can haul him in tomorrow.”

I pushed the barstool back, hopped down, picked up my empty cup and took it to the sink, rinsed it and heard a screeching sound on the granite counter.  Hayden was pushing his cup toward me.  I picked up Hayden’s cup and rinsed it and put both cups in the dishwasher. As I was closing the dishwasher I felt Hayden’s arms encircle me.  My libido went up to a ten.  He turned me around and kissed my lips, my neck and nibbled on my ear.

I woke to the sound of music coming from the kitchen.  The smell of breakfast lingered throughout the penthouse.  Hayden must have left for work early.  I slipped on my tank top and sprinted to my bedroom.  Showered and got ready for the day.  I walked out of my bedroom to the sound of Hayden singing along with the radio.

“Hayden, I thought Lee was cooking breakfast.” 

“You in the mood for an omelet?”  He asked as he flipped an omelet over. I was amazed at Hayden’s culinary skills.

“Of course, I would love an omelet.” I pulled a barstool out and climbed on.  Hayden slid the omelet onto a plate and placed a fruit cup on the side. He poured two cups of coffee, while making another omelet and joined me.

‘Where’s Lee?  I wondered how she allowed Hayden to cook in her kitchen.

“This is her day off. I have the run of the kitchen.”  Hayden laughed.

I drove to the office keeping my phone near by.  Randy called and said the team of deputies was ready when we get the call from the psycho man.

I walked in the office and the smell of donuts permeated the office.  I walked into Peewee’s office.

“We heard from the kidnapper.”  I turned the chair around and straddled it.  My hands were tapping on the back of the chair.

“What did he say?”  Peewee set forward in his chair with his fingers laced together.

“I’m expecting a call from him any time. Randy has his deputies ready to take over  when we get the call.”  I stood up and paced the floor.

“Mona’s tuff, she’ll take care of herself.”  Peewee tapped his pencil on the desk.

My phone rang. “It’s him.”  I said before answering the call.

Peewee sat quietly with ears perked up.

“Hello.”

“You got Natasha?”  The voice came from the phone.

“Yes,w…I do.”  I almost said we.

“What do you mean we?”  He yelled. “You aint got no cops around.”

“No, I’m working alone.  I’ve got Natasha and  I’m ready to hand her over to you. What’s your plan?” I waited for what seem to be forever before he came back on the line.

“You take Natasha to the dog park and put her in the men’s bathroom.  I’ll be watching.  Then you leave.  Be sure she’s tied where she won’t give me any trouble.  When I get Natasha I’ll tell you were to pick up Mona.”

“No deal.  I have to have Mona before I can hand over Natasha.  I can’t trust you.” 

“You can trust me.“

“You are a kidnapper. Why would I trust you?”

“Cause I keep my word.”  He sounded like he thought everyone should trust him.

“Think of another way and call me back.”  I hung up the phone.  Wondering if I did the right thing.  I called Randy and he said we would not turn me over to psycho man without seeing Mona.

The phone rang. It was psycho man. 

“Okay, you listen and listen good.”

“You take Natasha to the laundrymat on B Street.  I’ll be watching. You leave her in the bathroom.  When you walk out of the bathroom Mona will be under a pile of clothes in one of those big roller baskets. You take Mona and get the hell out of there.”

“Okay, what time shall I put Natasha in the bathroom?”

“One o’clock sharp. Don’t be late  or I‘ll have to take Mona far away and she can be my slave girl .”

“Okay, I’ll have Natasha there at one.”

The phone went dead. 

I hit speed dial and told Randy the plan.  “How am I going to be two people?”  I asked.

“We’ll take care of everything.  Let me call you right back.” 

We had two hours to get our plan together.  This all sounded crazy but we are working with a psycho.

Randy called back.

“Hello.” 

“One of my deputies is a red head.  She will drive up in your Honda and lead you to the bathroom with your hands loosely tied behind you. She will walk out and search for Mona in the rolling laundry baskets.  When she gets Mona they will run to your Honda getting  Mona out of the way.  Our kidnapper is  probably hid around the back of the laundrymat or maybe in the office.  Plain clothes men will be covering the laundry mat.”