Chapter 14
The next day, Detective Rizzoli entered the Park Street entrance to Boston Common at exactly 5:55pm and walked slowly along the rows of benches. She read the eroded plaques of dedications to spouses and couples who had enjoyed these seats many years ago. Jane wondered briefly what it would be like for her name to be on a bench like that.
She took a deep breath, listened. She'd followed Adam's directions to the letter and insisted that no police come with her. Maura hadn't objected this time. That didn't mean that ten different police cameras were trained on her right now, complete with snipers in discrete positions using telescope lenses.
Jane stopped in front of one bench. Something about it was different and she read the plaque. "In memory of Amy, beloved daughter of Dana and Roger." Jane's skin crawled and she immediately looked up and around. The bastard. This was the bench. Jane checked her watch. 5:59pm. She sat down and stared straight ahead.
What the hell am I supposed to do here?
A flicker of light caught her eye on the roof of one of the lower brownstone buildings across the park. A door opened and a little girl walked out stiffly, looked over her shoulder and then suddenly looked forward as if directed.
Amy.
Jane stared.
"Miss?"
Jane looked over to see woman in a business suit walking hurriedly over to Jane. The detective half-rose. Then looked again at the rooftop door of the building. Amy was still standing there.
"Miss? I was told you dropped your phone."
The woman handed Jane a phone identical to the one she found yesterday in the warehouse.
"Where did you find this?" Jane asked, looking again at Amy, then back to the woman.
"A man just stopped me just now on the corner, said he saw you drop this. I'm sorry, I'm really late. Here." The woman started off.
"Did you see his face?" Jane tried to stop the woman.
"No I'm sorry, I lost him in the crowd as soon as I got the phone. Look I'm really late, here. I thought good Samaritans were non-existent these days."
The phone began to ring.
"Oh, just in time."
"Thank you," Jane managed before picking up the phone. "Hello." Jane turned to look at the rooftop door. The door was shut. Amy was gone.
"Nicely done, detective. Now don't do anything crazy like think about interrogating my helper there, or storming the building. We've already gone."
"What do you want?" Jane stood staring through where Amy had been only seconds earlier.
"Roger Green's business was valued at two million when he sold it. That's what I want."
"You want two million for Amy?" Jane shook her head. "We're in a recession, Adam. Any chance of a friendly discount?"
"Left in multiple lockers at South Station. Got a pen? The lockers you're looking for are 36, 56, 74 and 125. For your convenience, I've picked ones located on opposite ends of the station. I don't want you to get a leg up now, Rizzoli. All money must be deposited simultaneously at 7am two days from now. No tricks or the girl dies."
Click.
"Goddamnit." Jane exchanged the ransom phone for her own and quickly dialled Frost. Boston Hotel, brown and white building, south corner of the park, rooftop door."
"Meet you there," said Frost.