Jack looked at Warren, who again nodded in confirmation.
“Once you catch the so-called ‘watcher,’ what do you do?” Jack questioned.
“Best not to ask,” Grover said. “First we make certain the individual is a watcher on the case in question. Then we ask him or her where the victim is being held. As I said earlier, in contrast to the police or FBI, our hands are not tied by legal niceties. Our interest and concern are finding and rescuing the victim. Sometimes it takes more persuasion than others.”
“And once you have the location, what then?”
“It depends to an extent on how concerned we are about the victim’s plight. If the risk is low, we’ll try to determine before a raid where and under what conditions the victim is being held. Sometimes, like with your son, we would move on a rescue immediately. But that’s when Colt here comes into play. He is CRT’s major rescuer. His talents are legendary. He’s capable of entering a home and taking pierced earrings out of people’s ears without waking them.”
“If we hire you,” Jack questioned, “how will the police react? Do you or we tell them or keep it a secret?”
“We tell them. Actually, we try to work with them, even to the point of giving suggestions when appropriate. We never tell them what to do, just what we’ve done in the past that seemed to work. Plus, we’re all for the police to have the credit when the victim is rescued or exchanged. We truly do not want the credit in the media, because we do our job better with anonymity.”
“Can I ask the cost?”
“By all means. Colt and I as a team will be two thousand dollars a day plus expenses. Obviously, with no travel the expenses will be minimal.”
“Excuse me for a moment,” Jack said, rising to his feet. He motioned for Laurie to step out into the hallway. Once there, he asked, sotto voce, “Well, what do you think?”
“I was impressed by Detective Bennett and how the police have responded, but I’m also impressed by these two men. They have enormous experience. I’m just so upset I don’t know if I can make a rational decision, although the idea of being proactive appeals to me.”
“Well said,” Jack responded. “I can’t claim to be clear-thinking, either. Let’s get Lou’s and Warren’s opinions.”
“Good idea,” Laurie said.
Jack stuck his head back into the room. He motioned to Lou and Warren that he’d like to speak with them, and they responded immediately. When they were all in the kitchen and out of earshot of the men from CRT, Jack said, “Laurie and I realize we’re not in the best condition to be thinking rationally, and frankly are a bit overwhelmed. What do you people think we should do?”
“I think you should hire these guys,” Lou said. “That’s why I called them. I think it is a lucky break they are available.”
“What about you, Warren?”
“I’d hire them. What can you lose? And I’m more than happy to help for JJ’s and for Leticia’s sake. And all the guys will be happy to pitch in. It’s not a problem.”
“Terrific!” Jack said decisively, trying to find a way to lift his spirits as the nightmare continued to unfold around him.
37
March 27, 2010
Saturday, 9:16 a.m.
It had not been a good night for Laurie or Jack. Once the house was empty, save for the single detective hidden away manning the telephone equipment, the horrors of their experience set in with a vengeance. Knowing their child was in harm’s way in the company of terrible strangers who might be mistreating him, and being powerless to do anything about it, was a kind of torture they had never experienced. They also spoke of Leticia and the tragedy she represented, and how her death would be a source of guilt for them for the rest of their lives.
Laurie finally fell asleep around seven, after a particularly long binge of tears, but Jack had not slept at all. By seven-thirty he’d given up, made himself a pot of tea, and sat in the family room. He was breathing, but that was about all, his mind an exhausted blank.
It was in that state that the phone rang. Jack answered it in a panic, not because of who he thought might be calling but rather to try to keep it from awakening Laurie.
“Hello,” Jack blurted.
“I want to speak to Laurie Montgomery-Stapleton,” Brennan ordered, again trying to sound angry and demanding, as if he’d had reason to feel slighted.
“She’s asleep,” Jack answered. Although he’d not heard the man’s voice the evening before, Jack knew instantly with whom he was speaking, which filled him with boundless fury and resentment. He had to restrain himself from verbally attacking the man.
“She’ll speak to me if she knows what is good for her son.”
“You can speak with me,” Jack ordered. “I’m the father and the husband.”
“I need to speak to her, not you but her,” Brennan insisted. “Don’t argue with me. Otherwise, I’ll go out to the car, drag the bloody bastard kid back in here, and make you regret giving me a hard time.”
“Okay,” Jack offered, obviously not pleased but unwilling to put JJ at any additional risk. Jack laid the phone onto the side table and rushed back to the bedroom. When he pushed open the door, Laurie was sitting on the side of the bed. She was leaning forward, head in her hands, elbows on her knees.
“I’m sorry. It’s him, and he insists on speaking with you.”
Laurie nodded, reached over, and put her hand on the phone, but she didn’t answer immediately. Rather, she took a deep breath to try to prepare herself. She had a wicked bi-temporal headache as if she had drunk herself into a stupor the evening before.
“Hello,” Laurie said with a voice as tired as she felt.
“Tell your husband that when I call in the future, I want to speak to you and no one else. Is that clear? He tried to insist that I talk to him. Tell him if that happens in the future, something will happen to the tyke. Your kid will lose something, like I said last night, such as an ear or a finger, which I’ll be happy to send to you to make sure you know we are serious.”
“Is my child there with you now?”
“No, not this time. He’s out in the car. But later this afternoon, when I call again, I’ll bring him to the phone. Now I’m ready to give you our demands. Remember, no police or the kid gets hurt. We want a million dollars, but not in cash. Cash is too bulky, and it can be marked. We want a million dollars in D perfect diamonds. We don’t care about the size, but the diamonds have to have a combined wholesale value of a million dollars. They are easy to get in New York City. Any questions?”
“What do we do if we don’t have a million dollars?” Laurie asked in a matter-of-fact fashion.
“You and your husband are doctors,” Brennan said. “You can get a million dollars.”
“All our money is tied up in our house.”
“Whatever,” Brennan said, and then hung up.
Laurie replaced the receiver slowly and looked up at Jack. “Could you hear his side of the conversation?”
“Pretty much.” Jack said.
“It sounds like he’s role-playing to me.”
“I think Grover was right about these people being novices and that the ransom is of secondary importance,” Jack said. “Otherwise, why would he be so insistent about talking with you? He wants to make sure you are here and not back at OCME.”
“Maybe so,” Laurie said. The fact that these goons, whoever they were, had her son and were threatening to harm him was the only issue she was at all concerned about, and she desperately wanted him home.
“Can I bring you anything?” Jack asked.
“No,” Laurie said, a flood of despondency washing over her.