Jennifer went and picked up the twins and then came back home. Sadie had just arrived home.
As soon as Jennifer saw the look on Sadie's face, she was concerned.
"Sweetheart, what is it?"
"Someone rammed into me while I was driving home from school".
"Oh my gosh, are you alright?"
"I think so".
Jennifer gave her a long hug and checked her over.
"Tell me what happened".
"I was in front of our house, waiting to turn left, and they just rammed into the back of me and then sped off. It was a black Suburban."
"Let's go look at the car, sweetheart".
They walked outside and walked over to Jennifer's car. It had a cracked taillight, and a small crack in the bumper and some paint marks.
"I'm sorry, Mom. i was being careful, i swear it".
"Sweetheart, I'm not mad at you. I don't think this was your fault. And this is a car. Cars can be repaired and replaced. What matters to me is that you are ok".
Jennifer gave her another long hug before they walked back inside the house.
"Mom, Dad promised he would take me to pick up my car today. What time will he be home?"
"Oh, shoot. He called and said he had a late meeting. He must have forgotten. It's alright. I can take you".
"Great".
Everyone piled into Jennifer's car and headed to the mechanic.
Jennifer paid the bill and then Sadie drove home with Jennifer and the twins not too far behind her.
It was the usual chaotic afternoon while the twins grumbled about doing homework and she got them a snack and then started dinner.
Jennifer decided to just go ahead and let the kids eat and she would eat when Jonathan got home.
"Mom, can you spot Megan and I some money for pizza and groceries this weekend while we're at the beach?"
"No, because your father and I have to talk about that. I'm not ok with you and Megan spending the night at the beach house alone".
"What? Dad said yes, that's not fair".
"It is too fair. I have no problem with you and Megan going to the beach during the day, and then coming back here to spend the night. But I don't like the idea of you and her staying there alone for the whole night".
"Nothing is going to happen".
"You don't know that. Any number of things could happen".
"Did Poppy and Grandma ever let you do stuff as a kid?"
"Some things. They wouldn't have allowed this, though".
"Mo-oooom! Stop being such a stick in the mud. Nothing is going to happen to me or Megan or to the beach house. We'll be careful. We will lock all the doors, we will be in well before dark, promise. You can trust us".
"I do trust you. And I trust Megan. But you aren't staying alone in the beach house, period".
By the time the kids finished dinner, Jennifer was starting to get worried. She thought Jonathan would have been home by now.
She finally made herself a small plate and told herself that she would make another small plate when he got home.
"Ok, it's Jordyn and Ryan's turn to rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Sadie, you clear the table".
"I can't. I have too much homework".
Sadie stomped upstairs without another word.
Jennifer ended up cleaning up the kitchen all by herself.
Once the twins were in bed, she turned out the lights and headed to bed herself, hoping she would wake up when Jonathan got home.
***The Next Morning***
Jennifer woke up when she heard Sadie getting in the shower. Sadie always blared a song on her phone while she took a shower, even though Jennifer had asked her to not do so first thing in the morning.
She got up and realized that Jonathan had never come home. She called his cell phone and it went straight to voicemail.
She grabbed a quick shower and got dressed and then got the twins up for school and got them breakfast.
After everyone got off to school, she came back home. She called Jonathan at the office, but he didn't answer his personal number.
She called again on his secretary's line.
"Hart Industries, this is Kelly".
"Hi Kelly, it's Jennifer. Is Jonathan in?"
"No, he's not. I was going to call the house in a few minutes and tell him his morning meeting was canceled."
"He never came home last night. Do you know who he met with?"
"Yes. It was a late addition. Someone named Joseph Bunch".
"Would you mind calling Mr. Bunch and finding out whatever you can? What time the meeting ended, if Jonathan said he was going anywhere else, that kind of thing. And Kelly, I don't want to alarm anyone, so let's keep this quiet for now, alright?"
"Yes, Mrs. Hart. Would it be ok if I did the usual protocol?"
"What is that?"
"Asking the parking attendant what time he left and checking the camera footage to see which way he was headed".
"Yes, that will be fine. Call me when you know something, alright? And if you see him, please have him call me".
"Yes, Mrs. Hart".
"Thank you, Kelly".
Jennifer tried in vain to keep herself occupied, but it was no use. She wasn't going to be ok until she heard from her husband.
About an hour later, the phone rang.
"Mrs. Hart, it's Kelly. I think you need to come to the office. I'm afraid something has happened to Mr. Hart".
"I'm on my way".
***Jonathan***
Jonathan slowly opened his eyes. He felt like he was waking up from a dream that he couldn't remember. As soon as his eyes were open, his head began to pound. He slowly took stock of his surroundings. His hands were tied, behind his back. He was propped up against a bean bag type chair. He had a handkerchief tied around his mouth. He looked across the room. Stanley was across the room, staring at him. There was no use trying to speak because he too had a handkerchief tied around his mouth. His hands were also tied behind him, and he was propped up against a bunch of pillows.
Jonathan began to feel his way through the ropes that were holding his hands together. He knew he couldn't do anything until he got his hands untied.
He immediately wondered what time it was and where he was, and if Jennifer and the kids were ok.
He looked around and saw a window. It was light outside. He racked his brain trying to figure out what his last memory was. He remembered walking to the elevator with someone, and realized that he had been away from his family for at least one night.
He had to figure this out so that he could free Stanley, free himself and then get back home to Jennifer and the kids.
***Jennifer***
Jennifer arrived at Hart Industries and her heart sank when she saw his car in the parking garage.
She made her way to his office and found Kelly waiting outside.
"Hi Kelly".
"Hi Mrs. Hart."
"Where's my husband?"
"We don't know yet. But I thought you should see this".
They went into the viewing room, where Kelly had the footage pulled up.
"Ok, so here he is coming back from lunch, getting off the elevator. The timestamp indicates 1:45, and that coincides precisely with what the parking attendant recorded. And here is the man that introduced himself to me as Joseph Bunch."
"Is that who he had the meeting with?"
"Yes, it is. This meeting was one that Stanley had set up, and when we realized that he was missing, Mr. Hart had me call and cancel it. But Mr. Bunch refused. So, Mr. Hart agreed to the meeting and he mentioned to me that he was going to end the partnership that Stanley had agreed to."
"Ok, that sounds reasonable".
"The problem is, the company doesn't exist and neither does Joseph Bunch. All the phone numbers we had for them have been disconnected. I have called other businessmen and they have never heard of either the company or Joseph Bunch. I even sent the intern with the company camera to go take pictures of the building at the address they gave us. That address is a fast-food chicken restaurant, not a technology corporation. And then when I was looking at the footage this morning, this caught my eye."
She hit play again, and they watched as Joseph Bunch and Jonathan walked back to the elevator. As they stepped onto the elevator and turned around, you could see a gun being held to Jonathan's back. Just before the elevator doors closed, Joseph Bunch began removing his disguise.
"So, there's no way to tell who this person is, unless they are seen".
"Exactly. I hate to say it, but I think it's time we call the police".
"I agree". Jennifer pulled out her cell phone and called Lieutenant Gray.
"Herschel, it's Jennifer. I need you. Can you meet me at Jonathan's office?"
"I'm on my way".
"Ok, he's on his way. Now, look, I don't have the first clue about how to run things here. I know that if Jonathan wasn't available, he would put Stanley in charge. Who's next in line after Stanley?"
"Warren Simonson".
"Perfect. Ok, so the official word until we have to say more is simply that Jonathan is unavailable. Who is the head of the legal team?"
"Scott Bowden".
"Ok, so Jonathan would probably want someone to write up a statement that stated that while we are searching for him, he wanted everyone to carry on business as usual. And that Warren is in charge until further notice. I would think he would want Scott to be the go to person if anyone knows anything. And I'll be available as needed, but definitely not on a day-to-day basis. No selling of anything till Jonathan gets back."
"Yes, Mrs. Hart".
Lieutenant Gray got there and quietly canvassed Jonathan's office for clues.
He agreed with everything Jennifer and Kelly had set in motion so far.
"Call me when you know something, I need to go get my kids from school".
"I'll walk you to the car".
"I'd love that".
As soon as they got to her vehicle in the parking garage, Lieutenant Gray took her hand in his.
"We're going to find him. He's strong, he's smart and he will figure out how to stay safe and how to get out of wherever he is, and when he does, we'll be there. I promise".
Jennifer's voice cracked.
"I don't know how to break this to my kids. They love him so much".
"Just be straight with them. And it might be a good idea to be extra cautious for a day or so, just until we know something".
She nodded.
"Promise me you'll contact me?"
"The minute I hear from him, you'll hear from me".
"Thank you".
"I'll have my guys dust his car for evidence when they finish in the office and then we'll tow it to the house".
"Thank you".
She got in the car and headed to get the twins, fighting back tears the whole way.
As soon as they came in the house, she went and made them a very special snack, Rice Krispy treats with chocolate chips.
Sadie came in, and headed for the kitchen.
"Mom, would it be ok if I went back to school tonight for a basketball game? Starts at 7, and should be over by 9 or 10".
"I'd rather you didn't. I want all of us to stay home tonight".
As soon as the Rice Krispy treats were ready she cut them up and put them on a plate for the kids.
"Ok, out with it".
"What do you mean?"
"You never let us have these unless you want to tell us bad news".
"Well, we do need to have a talk. Let's all go sit in the living room".
They went to the living room and sat down.
"Sadie, I need you to stay off your phone while I tell you all this".
"Fine".
"Daddy had a business meeting yesterday afternoon. And we aren't sure when he'll be back. Wherever he is, he's in a place where we can't talk to him and he can't talk to us, so we just have to wait and be patient".
Jordyn started to cry and wrapped her arms around Jennifer.
"It is important to remember that Daddy is strong and Daddy is smart. And if someone tries to hurt Daddy, he'll do what they say in order to get back to us. I know him well enough to know that. And Daddy would want us to be extra, extra safe. So, for the time being, we are only leaving the house to go to school, and that's it. We aren't letting anyone in the gate unless we know them really well, like Lieutenant Gray or Mrs. Rodriguez. If you answer the phone and it's Daddy, I want you to get me right away. If you answer the phone and someone is mean or threatens you, I want you to get me right away. Sadie, as much as I want you to be able to do normal things, I don't think it's a good idea for you to go back to the basketball game tonight".
"What if I go with a friend and they bring me home? I promise we will only go to school and back again and that's it".
"Ok fine. If they will drive you and you come straight home, then it's ok".
"Whomever gets Daddy is in for a real surprise. Because I know that as soon as Daddy has the chance, he's going to kick their butts and wipe the floor with them". Ryan got up and did a series of punches and kick moves that Jennifer found both amusing and distressing.
"Yes, Daddy will protect himself and us the best he can. And son, we don't say butt".
"Yeah, I know, Mom. But sometimes, calling it a behind just doesn't cut it".
Jordyn was still crying.
"Princess, it's ok. Daddy will be ok".
"Daddy lied to me".
"He did? When?"
"We were at that house on the trip. He said he wasn't going anywhere and now he's gone".
"He didn't lie, sweet pea. He told you the truth. He had no way of knowing this was going to happen. And we don't know that anything has happened to him. He might just be on a business trip and not able to call and tell us".
"What if he's not? Why would someone take Daddy?"
"I'm not sure, exactly."
"I want Daddy to come home".
"We all do, sweet pea. We just have to be patient, that's all".
Jordyn calmed down enough to try and do her homework, while Jennifer made dinner. Ryan sat next to her and did his too, which made Jordyn feel better.
Jennifer made spaghetti and meatballs, always a kid favorite. They all had a strained, quiet dinner together with nobody really wanting to say anything. Sadie cleared the table and then headed to the basketball game. Jennifer loaded the dishwasher and then took the twins upstairs. They both got showers and then she tucked them into bed.
"Goodnight, I love you".
She kissed them both and then headed to her room.
She double checked that the gate was shut, and had just crawled into bed when both twins appeared at her door.
"Come on".
They climbed into bed with her and got comfy.
As they fell asleep, she struggled to hold the tears back.
Jonathan…where are you?
She managed to drift off to sleep once she knew the kids were asleep. She was so exhausted that even though she wanted to stay awake till Sadie got home, she slipped into a deep sleep. She didn't hear anyone come in the house, or into their bedroom. And she certainly didn't feel them give her a shot in the arm.
They gave the kids shots too, and then carried everyone downstairs. They got each of them seated in a chair, and tied their arms behind their backs and put gags on them to keep them from screaming.
"I think we are missing one".
"Well, she has to come home at some point. We'll wait".
About 20 minutes later, they saw headlights in the driveway.
Sadie came bouncing into the house and as soon as she did, they grabbed her from behind.
"Let me go!" She tried to break free but they injected her with the same thing her mom and siblings had gotten and she passed out.
They sat her in a chair next to Jennifer, put a gag on her and tied her hands behind her back as well. They took a few pictures to send to their boss.
"Perfect. Now we have everyone right where we want them. Ball is in their Daddy's court now".