Playing WIth Fire 2

"Alright," Michael continued. "You mentioned they said if you called the cops, they'd hurt your Mom. What else did they tell you, and where is your Dad?"

"THey said they'd call Dad," Melvin said, pulling out a cell phone. "And Bobby had Dad, but we put him in the guest room."

"Bobby?"

"Bobby!" Melvin pointed out into the back yard at...apparently nothing. "He's too big to fit in the house."

"...right. Well, when they do call, put it on speaker so we can plan, okay?"

Melvin nodded. The phone rang, and Melvin looked at it. "It's Mommy!" She flipped it open on speakerphone. "Mommy, is that you?"

A scrambled voice came through. "If you ever want to see your mother again, you will do what we say. Wire $5,000,000 to the following account in-"

"But I don't have that much! I only have $50 in my piggy bank!"

"Don't play dumb. We know how much money your family is worth. We know about your accounts."

"But only Mommy and Daddy know the numbers to access them!"

"Then get your father to do it. WHy didn't he answer?"

"Because you hurt him when you took Mommy, and now he won't wake up."

There was silence for a while. "Then your mother will just have to give you the numbers, and you will get the money for us."

"Mommy won't go for that. She's stubborn."

"She will if she cares about your safety."

"I wouldn't threaten us to Mommy's face if I were you," Melvin said shaking her head.

"Oh? Why not?"

"Cause if you do, Mommy will make you pay. First, she'll rip out a length of your intestines to hang you from a thorn tree with while kicking you over the side of a cliff, and then-"

Melvin proceeded to describe more and more graphic and terrifying mutilations and other tortures her Mommy would inflict on anyone foolish enough to endanger her kids. Madeline looked somewhat pale. FIona's mouth was hanging open in shock at the perfect calm Melvin and her brothers exhibited while describing this. Michael stayed quiet, although he blanched at a few of them.

When Melvin finsihed, the voice spoke again. "You're exagerrating. You can't do all that to someone and keep them alive."

"Yeah, but Mommy wouldn't allow you to die until she was finished. Besides, there's more than one of you, isn't there?"

"...we will be in contact." The phone clicked as the signal was cut.

Melvin turned to Michael and the others. "You were wondering why I wasn't too freaked out by the bad men. They weren't all that scary." As adorable as it was, her grin managed to be evil. "Mommy's the scary one!"

"I want to meet your Mom," Fiona said, her voice awed.

Michael looked at Melvin. "Well, I can honestly say you have them terrified out of their wits in all likelihood."

Melvin frowned. "That's not good, is it?"

"No, scared criminals go for the quick exit. Clean up the mess, dispose of hostages and witnesses. If they are scared...they may kill your Mom."

Melvin started to tear up. Michael's phone rang. Turning, he answered. "Sam, now's not a good time-"

"Well, you'd better make it a good time! WHile you were gone, I managed to bug one of the guys going into the building. Turns out they've got a kidnapping going on, and it looks like they aren't getting paid the ransom! If we're gonna save the kidnapee, we need to hit this place now!"

"Wait, Sam, slow down. Tell it to me again."

"I don't exactly have time to slow down. Apparently they were negotiating with the woman's kids and things didn't work out. If they don't get the money out of the woman, they're gonna kill her!"

"Wait! That's where they're holding her? Sam, we're on our way." Michael hung up. "Melvin, my friend Sam has managed to locate your Mom, so we're going to go get her out."

"Michael, Sam was watching the other location," Fiona piped up. "Are you saying-"

"Yes, Fiona, we're going to need the big guns...and we're going in blind."

"Wait!" Melvin spoke up. "Take me with you!"

"No," Madeline spoke up. "It's too dangerous!"

Melvin pouted. "THen...then at least take Bobby! He can help!"

Michael frowned. "I'm not sure how much help your imaginary friend is going to be."

Melvin glowered and stomped her foot. "Bobby is real!"

Michael rubbed his forehead. "Tell you what, if he can keep up with our car, he can come along."

Melvin nodded. "Okay."

TImmy pulled on Fiona's pant leg. "The animals around here know Dad. They'll help, too."

Fiona smiled indulgently. "I'm sure they will, Timmy." She got up. "Let's go, Michael. We don't have much time, but I've got most of what we'll need in the trunk."

In a rush, they drove to Sam's location.