Chapter 23
Amanda slipped her key into the driver's door lock when she heard someone calling to her from across the parking lot, "Miss Keane!" Slightly confused, she looked around to see a familiar-looking man walking briskly in her direction. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" she asked. As the man got closer, her eyes widened slightly as she recognized him.
"No, but I know who you are. You stopped by Happy Hearts the other day," Dr. Schuster smiled at her.
Amanda gasped and exclaimed, "Um, yes. I was with a friend of mine. I was just looking at all my options, you know… options… for the baby… because… I'm not sure what I'm going to do just yet."
Dr. Schuster nodded, "I know what you're going to do. You're going to get into your car and you and I are going to go on a little drive."
Amanda shook her head rapidly, "No, no I can't. I have to be getting to work." She glanced around the parking lot to see if there was anyone who could help her but the small lot was virtually empty and the street was quiet behind her.
"No, I don't think so," Dr. Schuster insisted. He reached inside his jacket and produced a small revolver which he pointed in her direction. "Now, hand me the keys and get inside."
Amanda gasped, "What's going on?"
"Just follow my instructions and you and your baby will not be hurt," Dr. Schuster insisted. He pointed the gun in her direction once more and stated again, "Give me the keys and get into the drivers' seat."
Amanda nodded slowly, turned the key to unlock the door before she handed the keys to her abductor. She climbed into the car and Dr. Schuster immediately depressed the lock button and closed the door. He quickly jogged around the front of the car, unlocked the passenger door and slid in beside her, his gun trained on her belly. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice shaking with fear.
"I'll tell you as we go. Now, take a right out of the parking lot. You follow all my directions and no one will hurt you," Dr. Schuster said coldly. Amanda swallowed hard, started up the car and slowly pulled out of the parking lot. After an hour of twisting and turning through side streets and neighborhoods, Amanda pulled into the driveway of a Colonial style home that blended in with the other houses around it. "Pull around back," Dr. Schuster instructed. Amanda steered the car down the narrow driveway to a paved area behind the house. "Now, don't move until I come around the car. No sudden moves. Remember, you won't be hurt if you do everything I say."
Amanda watched as Dr. Schuster took the keys out the ignition and exited the car. When he closed the door she muttered to herself, "Okay, Amanda, just listen to what he says and you won't get hurt. Lee will find you… Lee… he doesn't even know where I am." Lost in her own thoughts, she jumped when Dr. Schuster rapped on the window with the muzzle of the gun. She opened the door and climbed out, rubbing her belly protectively.
"Now, head up to that door right there," Dr. Schuster pointed to the green painted wooden door behind the house. Amanda silently walked across the driveway and up the three narrow, concrete steps and stopped at the door. Dr. Schuster reached past her and twisted the knob before he pushed the door inward. "Now, we're going upstairs to check on our other guest first." They stepped into a small kitchen located in the back of the house.
"I need to use the restroom," Amanda requested nervously.
Dr. Schuster closed and deadbolted the door behind them, slipping a small keyring into his jacket pocket. "Of course. You're a guest, Ms. Keane. I would never deny my guest use of the facilities."
"I wouldn't exactly call myself a guest," Amanda retorted. The look on Dr. Schuster's face silenced her immediately. He escorted her to a small half-bath on the first floor. Amanda stepped into the small space and closed the door. She sunk down onto the toilet as the tears slid down her cheeks. A few minutes later she opened the door and found the hallway empty. She took two steps toward the back door and found Dr. Schuster standing in the kitchen, placing cheese, crackers, and fruit on a small dish.
"Would you like something?" he offered; his tone much softer than it had been previously. Amanda shook her head, "No, thank you, I'm not hungry."
"Well then, follow me, please. I'll introduce you to our other guest. You won't be alone while you're here," Dr. Schuster assured her.
Amanda looked around the small, antiquated room, "Where is here, exactly?"
Dr. Schuster laughed, "Somewhere no one would ever think to come looking for you or anyone else." He lifted the dish and picked up the gun that was sitting on the counter. He waved it in the direction of the hall and stated, "She's upstairs waiting."
Amanda cleared the hall and took the steps slowly, Dr. Schuster very close behind. They reached the second floor where Amanda heard a muffled voice call out, "Is anyone there?"
"It's just me, Camilla. I have another guest with me," Dr. Schuster stated loudly. He stopped at a paint-chipped door at the end of the hall. He placed his gun into the waistband of his pants. He twisted the auxiliary lock to the open position, removed the two slide chains before he twisted the old brass knob. "How are you feeling this morning, Camilla?" he asked as he stepped into the room.
Sitting across the room, on the edge of a full-sized bed sat a young, very pregnant woman. "I'm not feeling so well, Doctor. I don't know what's wrong with me," she admitted.
Dr. Schuster placed the small plate on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed beside the woman. "What seems to be the problem, Camilla?"
"I'm not sure. I just don't feel right," Camilla stated. She looked up at Amanda, "Hello. I'm Camilla."
"Hi, Camilla, my name is Amanda," she replied with a tentative smile.
"Dr. Schuster, will I be able to leave soon? My sister must be worried about me by now," Camilla requested.
Dr. Schuster glanced at Amanda and stated, "It's not time just yet. Remember, we talked about this Camilla."
Camilla looked down at her swollen belly and rubbed it with both hands, "I don't know if I want to do this anymore. I mean, I thought, when we talked before… I thought we were just going to go over a few family profiles, so I could make my final decision as to who would adopt my baby, but I was thinking… I don't know that I can give him up now. Being here… I think-"
"Nonsense!" Dr. Schuster snapped angrily. "I brought you a snack. Why don't you and Amanda get to know each other for a little bit." He left the room, slamming the door behind him. Amanda cringed as she heard the bolt slide into place.
Amanda rushed to Camilla's side and sat beside her, "Camilla, how long have you been here, exactly?"
Camilla shook her head, "Um, a day or two I think. I'm not really sure anymore." She grunted and immediately covered her belly with her hand. "Something's wrong."
Amanda placed her hand over Camilla's and calmly stated, "Just relax. You're worked up so your baby is going to get worked up too. Take a deep breath and breathe out slowly."
Camilla did as instructed, repeating the process several times, "Thank you. I feel a little better now. How did you get here?"
Amanda quickly deduced her abduction was different from Camilla's by her simple question. "I drove here with Dr. Schuster," she explained.
Camilla looked at Amanda's rounded belly and asked, "Are you giving your baby up, too?"
Amanda exhaled before she explained, "Not really. Listen, Camilla, I'm a federal agent. We've been investigating the murders… you know, the ones on the news…"
Camilla's eyes widened quickly, "You don't think Dr. Schuster has anything to do with that, do you? He's been so wonderful… well, except when he locked me in here. But he's brought me food every few hours and it's so quiet and peaceful here I've been able to get some extra sleep."
Amanda patted Camilla's leg assumingly, "I can't be sure but I also think it's very strange that he locked us both in. But don't you worry. My husband is also a federal agent and he'll find us. He's expecting me at work in a little while, so I know he'll know something is wrong."
Camilla looked at Amanda and asked, "But what if he doesn't?"
