Chapter 2
Mitch sighed.
"Shit. This is just what we need. A goddamn kidnapping," said Mitch. Megan took the note from her boss.
"Hmmm. No ransom demand. No instructions at all. Maybe someone has a grudge against the Bakers," said Megan.
"They've been in town three months. From what I know, they're well liked and have fit perfectly into the community," said Mitch.
"Well someone took Jake Baker. We have to explore every possibility," said Megan.
"This is going to rip this town apart. Especially if one of our own did it," said Mitch.
"We need to start coordinating with the Minnesota Highway patrol. If someone outside of the town took Jake, we need to start shutting down the highways," said Megan.
"Start getting our boys down here. Have Jimmy start getting a search party together. I'm going to talk to Tom," said Mitch. Megan went to the car to contact the station. Mitch walked back into the building. Tom was still pacing.
"Did you find him?" asked Tom. Mitch felt a knot in his stomach. This was the worst part of the job.
"No. Tom, could you sit down?" asked Mitch. The color drained from Tom's face. His instincts as a father were kicking into high gear.
"Mitch, what'd you find out there?" asked Tom. Mitch sighed.
"Jake has been abducted," said Mitch. Tom looked like he had been punched in the face.
"No. No, that's impossible," said Tom.
"We found a note," said Mitch.
"Ransom note?" asked Tom.
"No. But it does make it clear that Jake has been kidnapped," said Mitch.
"Oh my God," said Tom. He went over and sat down next to Mike.
"Tom, look at me," said Mitch. Tom looked up at Mitch.
"We're going to find him. We've got a good police force. We'll get help from law enforcement across Minnesota. Everything will be OK," said Mitch.
"Have you ever handled a kidnapping, Mitch?" asked Tom.
"No. But I know someone who has," said Mitch.
"Who?" asked Tom.
"Dr. Mac Parrish. He used to work as a criminal profiler for the FBI. He resigned from the FBI about a year ago. He lives here now. He's our best hope," said Mitch.
Dr. Mac Parrish finished typing. Another chapter complete. His wife, Dana, walked into the office.
"Dinner's ready," said Dana.
"Thank you," said Mac.
"Almost done?" asked Dana.
"It's getting there. I still have to edit," said Mac.
"Mac, I've been thinking. Maybe you should take that job Mitch offered you. He could use a guy like you down at the station," said Dana.
"Maybe. If this book doesn't sell," said Mac. Dana nodded.
"You'd better hurry up and get some dinner. The boys beat you to the table and you know they can eat twice their own body weight," said Dana. Mac snickered and nodded. Dana left. Mac sighed and saved his work. He was about to get up when his office phone rang.
"Mac here," said Mac answering.
"Mac, it's Mitch," said the caller.
"Hey, Mitch? Whats up?"
"We've got a kidnapping." Mac's breath caught in his throat. A kidnapping? Here?
"Who?"
"You know Tom Baker?"
"Yeah. The new football coach."
"His son Jake was taken from outside the skate park."
"When?"
"I'm not sure about that yet. I could use a criminal profiler though."
"Of course I'll help. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"See you then."
"Bye." Mac hung up. He grabbed his coat and walked into the kitchen.
"I've got to go," said Mac.
"What? Go where?" asked Dana.
"Mitch just called. He needs my help," said Mac.
"He needs a criminal profiler at this hour?" asked Dana.
"Something big just happened. Do me a favor and lock the doors. Boys, I want you to sleep with Mom tonight. This town is about to change," said Mac, leaving.
"Mom, what's he talking about?" asked Robby, the oldest son.
"I don't know. But I've got a bad feeling," said Dana.
Sheriff Jim Strickland cursed as the rabbit jumped from behind a stack of boxes.
"Hey, Red, the things heading your way," said Jim. Deputy Bill Redding, known as Red to his friends, went on the offense.
"Son of a bitch," said Red, as the rabbit ran by him.
"I'm going to hang the bastard who left the damn door open," said Jim, coming out of the storage closet. "Oh, the sled Mitch was looking for is back there." Natalie Michaels, a robust African-American woman and the personal assistant to Mitch, Megan, and Jim, stuck her head out of Jim's office.
"Megan on the phone for you, Jim," said Natalie.
"One second. Red, when you catch that thing, shoot it and we'll have some dinner," said Jim.
"You shoot that thing and I'll whoop your ass, Red," said Natalie. Jim laughed as he walked into his office and picked up the phone.
"Yeah, Megan," said Jim. Jim felt his stomach drop out as Megan brought him up to speed on the kidnapping.
"Holy shit. Yeah, I'll have an army of guys out there soon. See you, Megan," said Jim. He hung up.
"Natalie," said Jim.
"Yeah, Jim," said Natalie, walking in.
"Start calling in anyone whose off-duty. We need to form a search party," said Jim.
"Search party?" asked Natalie.
"An 11-year-old boy was just kidnapped from the skate park," said Jim, his voice gruff with sorrow.
"Oh my God," said Natalie, putting a hand over her mouth.
"Megan wants us to set up a search party as soon as possible," said Jim.
"I'll get right on that," said Natalie. A shot went off from down the hall.
"Red, you son of a bitch," said Natalie.
"The thing was pissing me off," said Red.
"Red, get your ass down here!" shouted Jim.
"Someone's in a mood," said Red, walking towards Jim's office.
"We've got a serious problem," said Jim.
"I'm listening," said Red.
"A kid was snatched from the skate park tonight," said Jim. Red raised an eyebrow.
"You mean kidnapped?" asked Red. Jim nodded.
"Oh, shit," said Red.
"It's going to be a long night," said Jim.
"Henry, save some for your father and brothers," said Kate, as Henry went for his seventh piece of garlic bread.
"Dad probably stopped at McDonalds," said Henry.
"He wouldn't dare if he knew I was making dinner," said Kate. Tom walked into the house at that moment. Mitch was behind him with Mike behind him. All of them were not looking forward to what was about to happen.
"You're late," said Kate. She then noticed Jake wasn't with Tom.
"Where's Jake?" asked Kate. Mitch felt those words hit like a punch in the stomach. Kate was about to experience every mother's worse nightmare.
"Kate, honey. This is going to be hard for you to hear," said Tom. All eyes went to Tom. The color began to drain from Kate's face. She stood up. Her eyes fell on Mitch.
"Oh my God. What happened to Jake?" asked Kate. Tom couldn't speak. Mitch came to his rescue.
"I'm sorry to tell you this but Jake has been abducted," said Mitch. Kate let out a choked gag. She put a hand on her mouth. She started to sway. Charlie and Nora got up and helped her sit down. The nightmare had begun.
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