Author's Note:
Because this story is pretty long, I decided to break up the usual four Acts into smaller sections, four parts per Act. I will also be posting frequently, three times a week.


Act One, Part One ~~~~

Colonel Richmond threw the ransom note down on his desk in frustration. "Gentlemen, I don't like this!" he growled.

"Nor do we, sir," said Jim. "It's just a little too specific."

"The note directs West to deliver the ransom - $20,000! - at midnight at one location, while Gordon is to be at a different location miles away, also at midnight, to pick up the child once the ransom is paid." The colonel shook his head, scowling. "And no guns."

Jim gave a tight smile. "No guns for us, at least," he said dryly.

"And we know what you mean, Colonel," Artie added. "It sounds like a classic divide-and-conquer maneuver." He was pacing the colonel's office like a caged tiger, his face haggard, his hair a mess from him repeatedly running his fingers through it. "The note insists on the pair of us going out separately and alone. And you know there's no guarantee that they - whoever they may be - will keep their word and release Peanut. Unless they have a telegraphic set-up, the ones on my end will have no way of knowing whether Jim has paid the ransom…"

"…which means," said Jim, "that it's very likely they aren't interested in the money at all."

"Yeah," grunted Artie.

"This, Colonel," Jim continued, "smells like a ploy to get each of us alone in a remote location in order to capture us."

"Or worse," put in Artie.

"So you're saying it's a trap," said the colonel.

Artie made an eloquent snort. "Yes sir. And," he added, looking sharply at Jim, "I suppose we're going to do what we usually do when we see a trap, hmm?"

Jim grinned back at him. "Naturally."

The colonel glanced at one, then the other. "Meaning?"

Artie's hand ran through his hair once more. "Aw… it's just that once, just once, I'd like for us to see a trap laid for us, acknowledge that it is in fact a trap, and not then march up to it and stick our feet in and trigger it!"

"What easier way to find out who set the trap for us, Artie?"

Artie made that sound again. "That's what you always say, Jim!"

"And we aren't dead yet."

Artie shot him a look, "Yeah, well, it's the 'yet' part that gets to me."

Clearing his throat, the colonel said, "Mr Morgan has graciously agreed to put up the $20,000 for the ransom. And we should have the money ready for you soon, Jim - marked, of course." Turning, he added, "Ah, Artemus?"

"Yes, Colonel?" There was something odd in Richmond's tone of voice, so much so that Artie broke off his incessant pacing to exchange a glance with Jim.

"Artie," said the colonel, using Gordon's nickname, something he rarely did, "if you would, ah, prefer to be taken off this case, I'll understand."

"Taken off?" Artie echoed. "But why? Because it involves my grand-niece?"

"Cousin," Jim corrected automatically.

Both Artie and the colonel shot him a quelling look.

"You're obviously worried about her, Artemus, considering the fact that you've nearly worn a rut in my office floor."

"But that's not from worry," said Artie. "Now, granted, yes, I am worried about her. But I'd be worried about any two-year-old in the hands of kidnappers. No, what I've been pacing the floor over is trying to figure out who's behind all this."

"And?"

"And I can see two possible motives, Colonel. Either it's someone out for revenge on Jim and me, which explains this being such a personal attack, or else whoever-it-is has a grander scheme in mind and feels the need to have the two of us out of the way first."

"Or could be both," added Jim.

"Yes," said Artie. "It could! At any rate," and he tapped the ransom note on the colonel's desk, "my presence has been specifically requested. And I don't think it would be safe for Peanut for a substitute to be sent in my place."

"If you're sure then…"

"Colonel, I'm sure."

"Very well. But who is it you believe to be behind this?"

Artie glanced at Jim. "Well, there's any number of old acquaintances of ours who might be looking for vengeance, sir. But…"

Jim was nodding. "I know whom I would put at the top of my short list."

Artie winced. "Was that pun deliberate?"

Jim just smiled. "Pun? What pun?'

"Right… You realize how well that remark would have gone over it you'd said it in front of him!"

"In front of whom?" asked Richmond. Almost immediately, the penny dropped. "Loveless!"

"Dr Miguelito Loveless, yes sir."

"One of our dearest old friends."

"You think this is his work, gentlemen?"

"Could be, sir. But could be others," said Artie.

"Count Manzeppi comes to mind."

"As well as a few others who are still at large."

"Not to mention some who aren't at liberty, but have friends who would like them to be."

"True. But if I had to place money on it…"

"Yes, my most likely candidate would definitely be Loveless."

"In which case Jim's probably right that it's both revenge and some scheme."

"All right," said the colonel. "What do you gentlemen propose to do then?"

"Well, sir," said Artie, "we've got a few hours before the drop…" He glanced at Jim, who asked, "Has there been any word on the housekeeper, Colonel?"

Richmond shook his head. "The last information we have is that she was still, ah, still the same."

Jim nodded. "I'll go see if I can talk to her yet. Artie?"

"I'll suit up and prowl around, see what sort of news there is out on the street."

"We'll be back here by ten, Colonel, to get ready for the pay-off," said West.

"All right, fine, gentlemen. Good day."

"Good day, Colonel." The pair collected their hats and left the office, only to find a familiar figure sitting outside it in the anteroom.

"Niecie! What are you doing here?"

"Hullo, Uncle Artie." She sounded exhausted. "I, uh, I thought if there was any news about, about Missie… Well, I thought I'd hear of it more quickly here than at the Morgans'. Besides," she added, "everyone there was being so sweet and solicitous, I was beginning to think I might scream."

Artie took her hand in his own and patted it. "Everything's going to be all right, Sunshine," he promised.

"But that's what I'm talking about, Uncle Artie. Everyone keeps telling me that, assuring me of that. But nobody knows."

"We'll pay the ransom tonight just as the note says, and we'll get her back."

"Will we?" Denise's eyes, red and steely, bored into her uncle's. "Mr Morgan agreed to pay the $20,000. But how do we know they won't hold onto her and demand another $20,000? Or $50,000? And…" Now her eyes dropped, "and how do we know that they haven't already…" She closed her eyes, sternly fighting to hold back the threatening tears.

Artie sat down by her, slipped an arm around her shoulders, and kissed her on the head as he pressed his handkerchief into her hand. "Don't you worry, sweetie. We'll do everything we can to get Peanut home to you safe and sound."

"I, I know you will, Uncle Artie. And you too, Mr West…"

"It's Jim," he put in.

"…but what if your best isn't good enough?"

"Shhh," said Artie. "Don't think that way. It'll only drive you nuts." Forcing a twinkle into his eye, he reached over and tapped the tip of her nose. "Have I ever let you down, Sunshine?"

She returned a crooked smile. "Well… you always have been my knight in shining armor…"

"And there you go then." Gesturing at his partner, he beamed, "Jim and Artie to the rescue!"

She gave a hiccup of a laugh, glancing up bashfully at her uncle's best friend.

"Denise," said Jim, "is there anything more that you can tell us about what happened?"

She shook her head. "Only what I already told the police and then Uncle Artie. It was mid-morning; we were in the classroom. Missie had been in the corner quietly playing with her toys while I taught the Morgan girls. Then Missie came to me complaining that she was hungry, so I rang for a servant to come and take her down to the kitchen to get her a little snack."

"And it was the housekeeper who answered the bell."

"Yes, Mrs Beecham." She shook her head and added, "Oh, poor Mrs Beecham!"

"Did the housekeeper seem odd in any way this morning? Anything unusual in her words or actions?"

"No… she was a bit gruff. But that's perfectly normal for Mrs Beecham."

"So she took the child away to get a snack." Denise nodded. "Then what happened?" Jim continued.

"Well… nothing happened. I continued the lessons and only realized about, say, half an hour later that Missie hadn't returned. So I rang for a servant again, and this time one of the maids came - Rhoda. I explained about the snack and asked her to see what was keeping Missie…"

"And she was the one who found the housekeeper then?"

Denise shook her head. "No, that was Cook. But Rhoda walked in on the ruckus in the kitchen, then came and fetched me. On the kitchen table was the ransom note. And… well… I don't know how to describe what had happened to Mrs Beecham. She…" Denise paused, mouth open as if to say more, then gave up and spread her hands.

Jim glanced toward Artie, who shook his own head. "Sorry, Jim. They'd already taken Mrs Beecham off to the hospital by the time I arrived."

Jim turned his attention back to Denise. "Is there anything else?" he asked.

"Well, we read the note, of course, then searched the house and yard for Missie anyway. Someone - I suppose it was Mrs Morgan - summoned the police. I assume she also sent someone down to the office to fetch Mr Morgan, because suddenly he was there." She paused and turned to her cousin. "And then you showed up, Uncle Artie. I don't understand that. How did you know to come?"

"I didn't. I simply had a free afternoon and decided to swing by and visit you and Peanut."

Tears were threatening again. "She's never been away from me, never in her whole life. I can't imagine how frightened she must be!"

"If she's anything like her mother," said James, "I'm sure she's being a very brave little girl."

Denise shot him a look. "Well, that was a none too subtle hint telling me to be brave, wasn't it?"

"It worked. You're smiling now."

Denise gave a snort. But it was true; he had made her smile - a tight and sardonic smile to be sure, but a smile nonetheless.

"Well," said Uncle Artie, coming to his feet, "Jim and I are going to go do some more investigating. Why don't you head on back home?"

"I'd rather stay here."

"Are you sure? I would think you'd be more comfortable at home…" He caught the look in her eye and gave up. "All right then." He gave her another kiss on the top of her head. "Try not to worry, sweetheart."

She gave a little laugh. "Oh, because Gordons never worry…"

Jim glanced at his partner, amusement in his eye. "Artie, I believe she's got you pegged."

"All right," Artie amended. "Try not to worry - too much!"

"I'll try," she promised. "Oh! Your handkerchief!" She held out the cloth, but her uncle shook his head. "Just keep it."

"Oh but…" She looked at it. "It's not completely sodden."

He grinned in reminiscence. "And you didn't soak my shirt front with your tears."

"Well, sit back down here and give me a little more time!" she rejoined.

He reached out a hand and ruffled her hair. "That's my girl!" Then, seriously, he added, "If we have to move heaven and earth, Niecie, we will bring Peanut back home to you."

Tears brimming her eyes again, she answered, "Thank you, Uncle Artie. And I love you too."

He smiled somberly, gave her another tap on her nose, then turned to Jim, who made a "Let's go" gesture.

Once they were out of earshot, Jim queried softly, "I love you too?"

"Very old running joke between us. Look, you go on, Jim. I want to say a word to the colonel's secretary."

"All right, Artie. Meet you back here at ten."

As Jim headed out to check on the housekeeper, Artie spoke to young Keeley, asking him to keep an eye on Denise Sparrow and get her anything she might need. Satisfied, Artie spared one more glance at his cousin, then headed off to the Wanderer to get dressed for the afternoon's work.