"Whatcha got, Frank." Ed and Danny were seated in the older man's office huddled around the speakerphone.
"Not much. These guys are good, Ed. They cover their tracks like pros. I do think they've got an inside man on all these jobs though. They know too much about the target's movements not to."
"Wouldn't the inside man disappear right after the robbery?" Danny asked, not understanding why this obvious clue had been missed.
"You would think," Frank replied, "but I couldn't find evidence of any employees leaving or disappearing. I checked security personnel at all three casinos and there's no common thread. The only thing interesting I did find was that within two weeks of each heist, a member of the security team committed suicide."
"That's pretty suspicious," Ed commented.
"Not on the surface. They were all loners--single, no family, and few friends… So far, I can't find any link between them. It might just be an odd coincidence, but I really think it's worth digging into."
"Agreed. Get on it, Frank, and let me know what you find." With his last words Ed disconnected the call and looked at Danny. "Any ideas?"
"Maybe they recruit these guys to help. They promise them a cut and then when it's all over they kill them—make it look like a suicide."
"Maybe," Ed thought about it for a moment, but he couldn't come up with any other explanation. "Start running background checks on all security personnel—let me know what you find."
Danny nodded and headed out of Ed's office and back to his own.
---
Mary struggled with the key to Danny's apartment as she balanced the two grocery bags on her hip. Finally, able to get the door open she pushed inside just as she felt her cell phone vibrate in her purse. She dropped the groceries on the couch and reached into her bag to retrieve it.
"Hello?"
"What's wrong? Why are you out of breath?"
"I just carried the groceries in, Danny, and I was rushing to answer the phone."
"Oh, so what did you get?" Danny sounded like an 8 year old on Christmas morning. He'd been salivating over the thought of a home cooked meal since they'd made these plans two days ago.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Mary teased him. "What time are you going to be home?"
"That's why I was calling. I'm going to be a little late. I need to get the guys started on a couple of things before I can get out of here. I should be there by 9 at the latest."
"Okay, sweetie. I need to get dinner going so I'll see you then."
"Okay. Love you, baby."
"See you soon…baby," Mary whispered, but Danny had already hung up. Her hand unconsciously drifted across her still flat stomach as she grabbed the groceries and put them away.
Unable to stand the waiting, she had gone to the drugstore on her lunch break. The test had confirmed her suspicions--she was definitely pregnant. After a good fifteen-minute cry in her bathroom, she'd called the doctor to make an appointment for next week. Now she just had to tell Danny. Mary had bought everything to make his favorite meal and had even stopped at Victoria's Secret to get something special to wear tonight. Her grand plan was to dazzle him with dinner and sex and then when he was completely satisfied and content—she'd drop the bomb. She'd rehearsed her speech a million times in the car, but she knew that the words would probably fail her when the time came.
She really didn't know why she was obsessing so much about actually telling him the news. Mary wasn't worried that Danny would be upset. She remembered one night, not too long ago, lying wrapped in his arms as they whispered their dreams of the future. Danny loved her and he wanted them to have a family someday—someday being the key word. Since fate had decided that their someday was now, she hoped he'd feel the same way she did—excited, but terrified.
A noise from outside startled her and she realized that in her haste she had neglected to shut the front door completely. She walked across the living room and pushed it closed-- reaching up to secure the chain in place. Suddenly, Mary felt a presence behind her and before she could react a rag was placed over her mouth and nose, effectively stifling any screams for help. Forced to breathe in the putrid scent, Mary's last thoughts were of her baby as her whole world went black.
---
"Honey, I'm home," Danny's voice bellowed through the apartment as he tossed his coat and tie across the back of the couch. Not getting a response he moved to the kitchen. "Mary?"
That was strange--nothing was cooking. He walked towards the bedroom and noticed a Victoria's Secret bag perched primly on his freshly made bed. Danny smiled curiously as he peeked inside and encountered something unexpected. He pulled the square plastic DVD case out of the bag and immediately noticed the bold, red letters spelling out "WATCH ME" across the front of the case. A little confused, Danny popped the disc into the player and sat down on the bed. The screen filled with images of a non-descript room and he watched the camera slowly pan across the beige carpeted floor –finally focusing on a beautifully tanned pair of legs--Mary's legs. Danny's interest was immediately peaked as he remembered they'd joked about this very thing a few weeks ago. The wife of one of Sam's whales had made a boudoir video for her husband. She claimed it had put the spark back in their thirty-year marriage and Danny had teasingly begged Mary to make one for him. He never thought in a million years she'd actually go through with it. The camera moved up her body and Danny noticed the soft green silk of her dress begin just below her hips. His hands itched to touch her as the rest of her body was slowly revealed to him.
In an instant Danny's desire was gone and replaced by absolute horror. As the camera moved to Mary's face he could see she was anything but a willing participant. Her mouth was covered with duct tape and her face was flushed with terror and sweat. A thin line of blood trickled from her hairline and across a dark bruise on her cheekbone. Her arms were raised above her head—obviously bound to some unseen object out of frame. Danny's fists clenched in rage and he stood from the bed, moving to kneel on the floor in front of the television.
"Now that we have your attention, Mr. McCoy," the distorted, disembodied voice on the video sent chills down his spine and he reached his fingers up to trace the lines of Mary's face on the screen. Her tears were flowing in earnest as the camera stayed focused on her face and Danny's heart was in his throat. "Let the game begin."
"If you ever wish to see Ms. Connell again, you will do exactly what we say. You will not contact any member of law enforcement. You will not inform ANY ONE that Ms. Connell has been taken. Your movements and actions are being monitored so this will be your only warning. If you deviate from our instructions in any way we will not hesitate to kill her."
Danny couldn't move—couldn't breathe as he watched Mary struggle to calm herself and blink back her tears. He knew what she was doing—she was trying to show him that she was okay. In the midst of this hell, she was trying to reassure him and it shattered his heart even more.
"Hang on, baby. Please hang on," Danny whispered as the voice began again.
"You will remain in your apartment until morning. Do not make any phone calls. Tomorrow you will go to work in the usual fashion. We will contact you with further instructions at that time."
"NO! TELL ME NOW. OH GOD, PLEASE! TELL ME HOW TO GET HER BACK!" Danny screamed in agony as the tape suddenly cut off and Mary's image disappeared from the screen.