The Case of the Lunchtime Abduction-Part Seven

by HA Senidal

Stink was lying on his bed when he heard knocking on his door. He sighed and got up. When he opened the door, he found Shirley standing there with Bo and Blake. Bo was finishing up the last of the French fries Blake had brought.

"Hi, guys," Stink greeted, trying to sound cheerful. "Can I help you?"

"As a matter of fact, you can." Shirley took out a small piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Stink. "We need these items from your dad's joke store. Can you get them for us ASAP?"

Stink looked at the short list. "No problem, but why?"

"We're about to do something crazy and stupid," Bo said.

"We're going to rescue Molly," Blake said.

Stink stared at them as if they had announced they were going to Mars. "You guys are going to save Molly?"

"Sadly," Bo said. "To be honest, there's a part of me that wants to leave her with ENIGMA."

"Bo!" Shirley and Blake said at the same time.

"It's true," Bo said, sounding a little angry. "I'm sorry if I sound heartless, but Molly's done nothing but cause trouble for us ever since she came here. Shirley, she almost tricked you into flying to Rwanda and locked you in the museum vault, among other things. As Y, she ruined my cousin Zack's music career. She's self-centered, power-hungry, and let's not forget about her being a sociopath."

Stink stared at Bo with disbelief in his eyes. His hands hung at his sides and opened and closed into fists.

"Bo, who are we to judge her?" Blake said.

"Blake, if Molly Hardy vanished from the face of the Earth, the world would be a better place."

Shirley remembered everything Molly had done to her. Stealing the Magna Carta ruby ring and attempting to frame her for its theft. Having Stink send her an e-mail that falsely reported the whereabouts of her then-missing mother. Tricking her into believing something happened to her grandmother and locking her in the museum vault. Yes, Molly was everything Bo had said. However...

"Look, we're going to save Molly. End of story," she said. "She may be bad news, but she's still a human being, and she needs our help."

"What about the police?" Stink asked.

"ENIGMA's fooled them before," Shirley said. "They'll fool them again."

"Do you know where they've got Molly?"

"We're about to find out," Shirley said, taking out a small device. "Bo bugged a van belonging to ENIGMA. This device will enable us to track them to their hideout."

Stink put the list into his pocket. "I'll get the stuff for you, but I'm going with you."

Bo blinked. "Come again?"

"I said I'm going with you."

"Why?" Blake asked.

Stink bowed his head. "I let Molly down. I could've taken out those guys and saved her. Instead, I let them push me around."

Bo rolled his eyes. "Oh, brother."

Shirley placed her hand on Stink's shoulder. "Stink, I doubt you could've made a difference. Those men were strong, and one of them had a gun. You wouldn't have been much help to Molly if you were killed."

Stink shook his head. "I could've at least tried, Shirley. I could've at least tried."

Bo turned to Blake. "I can't believe this. After all the times Molly's treated him like dirt, he's still willing to rescue her."

Blake shrugged. "Love's a funny thing, Bo."

Shirley saw that she could not dissuade Stink from coming. "Okay, Stink, you can come along and help us."

Stink looked up. "Thanks, Shirley. You won't regret it."

"You will if ENIGMA catches us," Bo muttered.

At the police station, Detective Tremain glared at the ruby ring's box in his head. "I can't believe this!"

"I warned you about ENIGMA," Inspector Hewitt said. "They're too smart to fall for hidden homing devices."

Detective Tremain returned to his desk. "I can't believe they found it and planted it in a ladies' restroom in a restaurant." He buried his head in his hands. "Now I have two kidnap victims and a ring to recover."

"I'm afraid we can't do anything until ENIGMA makes another move," Inspector Hewitt said. "Unfortunately for now, we have to wait."

"I demand to see the person in charge of finding my daughter now!"

Detective Tremain looked up to see a tall man in a business suit heading his way. With him was an elegantly dressed woman. He got up to meet them. "I'm Detective Tremain, the one in charge of the Hardy case. May I help you?"

"I'm Mr. Hardy, and this is my wife," the man said, gesturing to the woman.

"Have you heard anything from the kidnappers?" Mrs. Hardy asked.

"We have," Detective Tremain said. "They wanted the ruby ring owned by you in exchange for your daughter."

Mr. Hardy took out a cell phone. "I'd better call the museum and have it delivered here at once. After all, Molly's safety comes first." He paused. "You will make sure nothing happens to the ring, correct?"

Inspector Hewitt raised an eyebrow at him, but said nothing.

Detective Tremain stared at Mr. Hardy. "But your lawyer already gave the ring to the kidnappers."

Mr. Hardy gave Detective Tremain a puzzled look. "My...lawyer?"

"Yes, the one who was authorized by you to get the ring," Detective Tremain said. "Because of your difficulties."

"Henry Mortson was his name," Inspector Hewitt said.

"Mortson?" Mr. Hardy put away his cell phone. "I never gave anyone authorization to get the ruby ring. Even if I did, Mortson wouldn't be the one."

"Why's that?" Inspector Hewitt asked.

"Henry went on vacation to Florida with his family yesterday," Mrs. Hardy said.

Detective Tremain and Inspector Hewitt looked at each other silently, trying to take everything in.

Shirley checked the tracking device. "This is the place," she told the others.

Bo looked at the building before him. "Well, this would make a great hideout."

Shirley, Bo, Blake, and Stink were standing before an old warehouse. The metal loading doors had several rust spots. The black tinted windows were slightly cracked. The paint on the walls was coming off. Parked in front of it was the blue van.

"You're right, Bo," Blake said. "From the looks of things, this place hasn't been used for a while."

"It's occupied right now." Shirley pointed towards the roof. Everyone noticed the satellite dish there. "It looks brand new, so it must've been put there recently."

"Are you sure Molly's in there, Shirley?" Stink asked. "You said that these ENIGMA guys are tricky."

"It's more likely," Shirley said. "Let's try the back way."

They went to the back. Shirley checked the door while the others kept an eye out for trouble. "It's unlocked," she said, staring at the knob as it turned in her hand easily.

"It is?" Stink asked. "Why'd they do that?"

"It could be a trap," Bo said.

Shirley carefully opened the door to keep the creaking to a minimum. "Let's find out," she said, stepping inside.

Blake was next to go in, followed by Bo and Stink. After closing the door, all of them were standing in almost total darkness. Shirley motioned to the others to stand still and not to make a sound. She listened for any unusual sounds. Hearing nothing, she pulled out a flashlight and turned it on.

The boys looked at Shirley in amazement. "Always be prepared for anything," Shirley said in a low voice.

They walked further inside with Shirley leading the way. "I'm amazed we haven't run into any ENIGMA agents yet," Blake whispered.

"Let's hope our luck doesn't run out," Bo whispered back.

"Can't we find a light switch or something?" Stink asked.

"Might give away our position," Shirley said.

"Isn't that flashlight already doing that?"

Shirley ignored Stink and moved her flashlight around. The light revealed piles of crates along the walls. She pointed her flashlight forward again and found the object of her search. "There," she said, leading the way.

They ran toward the center of the room. There, a girl was apparently tied to a chair. Shirley was the first to reach her. She recognized the Sussex Academy uniform. "Molly."

The others joined Shirley at her side. "Oh my God," Bo whispered.

Molly's arms were tied behind her back with rope. Her feet were tied as well. Her school uniform was wrinkled and filthy. Her beautiful long blonde hair was tangled and dirty. A black blindfold covered her eyes and her mouth was gagged with a white cloth. Her head was bowed.

Stink noticed that Molly wasn't moving. He let out a loud gulp. "Is she...?"

Blake put her fingers on Molly's neck. "She's alive. She still has a pulse. She's just sleeping."

"Let's get her out of here," Shirley said.

Blake reached for the gag and removed it. He saw how pale Molly was and tapped her shoulder. "Molly?"

No response.

Blake shook her a little. "Wake up, Molly."

Molly slowly began to stir. Her mouth started to move.

"Molly, are you-?"

Then came a loud, long scream that echoed around them. Blake stepped back and winced along with the others. After a while, the screaming ended with a gasp for air.

"No no no no no..." Molly shook her head frantically. "I won't cause any more trouble," she said. "Just don't put me back in there! Don't put me back in there!" She bowed her head and sobbed, her tears soaking the blindfold. "Please let me go. Please..." She continued to cry. "Please let me see Mommy and Daddy again. Please..."

Everyone was shocked at the sight before them, especially Shirley. During the time she knew Molly, she saw how tough and ruthless she was. She couldn't believe the scared girl before her was Molly Hardy.

Blake quickly pulled off the blindfold. "No!" Molly shouted, keeping her eyes closed as she turned away from him. "You'll put me in the box if I see you!"

"Molly, it's me," Blake said softly. Shirley handed Stink the flashlight. "It's Blake Hewitt," he said, with Stink lighting his face with the flashlight.

Molly carefully opened one eye. Blake saw how red it was from crying. "B-Blake?" she said softly.

"Yeah, it's me, Blake," Blake said, smiling a little.

Shirley went behind Molly and started to untie the rope binding her hands. Bo started untying Molly's feet.

Molly opened both her eyes. "Blake," she said weakly. "Is it really you?"

"It is," Blake said kindly. "Shirley, Bo, and Stink are with me. We're here to rescue you."

"Holmes...is here?" Molly managed to say.

"Right behind you, Molly," Shirley said, finally untying Molly's hands.

Bo untied Molly's feet. "Okay, you're free."

Stink walked up to Molly. "Are you okay?"

Molly looked up at Stink. "Stink...can't believe I'm happy...to see you."

"Molly, can you get up?" Shirley asked.

Molly tried to get up. "No...so weak...can't..."

Blake took Molly's right arm. "Stink, take her left."

Stink gave the flashlight back to Shirley and took Molly's left arm. Together with Blake, he lifted Molly gently out of the chair and held her up.

Shirley and Bo saw how pale and thin Molly was. The bruises on her wrists didn't escape the young detective's notice. "What did they do to you?" she asked Molly.

Molly looked at Shirley and tried to articulate the past events. "Tied me to chair...gagged...blindfolded me...fed me little...let me out only to use bathroom...bad...lock me in box..."

"She's malnourished," Shirley said. "We've got to get her out of here quickly."

"Impossible," Molly said, still weak. "He knows...my every move." She sounded frightened. "He knows. He'll put me in the box if I try to escape...he'll put me back in the box..."

"Who knows?" Bo said. "Who's 'he?'"

"I believe she was referring to me," a voice declared from the darkness.

Shirley listened carefully. The voice was electronically disguised, making it sound regal and malevolent.

They all looked around, trying to find where the voice came from. Shirley tried to look around with her flashlight, but a red beam shot it out of her hand. "Aaaaa!" she cried out, feeling a little heat.

"Now, now, my dear Holmes," the voice said. "I'll show myself only when I want to."

Shirley grabbed her hand and saw that it was burned slightly. Bo rushed to her side. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Just fine." Shirley winced. "I'll live."

Blake and Stink felt Molly shaking. "No no no no no no..." she said.

"Oh, dear, I think poor Hardy is scared of me." The voice let out a laugh. "If Hewitt and Patterson weren't holding her up, I think she would collapse and die of fright."

Shirley looked around the darkness.

"You seem to know our names," Bo said.

"Oh, I do, Sawchuk, plus so much more," the voice said with a chuckle. "Let's start with the unexpected guest. Sterling Patterson, better known to his friends as 'Stink.' Father owns a chain of gag shops know as Laugh Riot. Parents are divorced. Loves to do practical jokes and stand-up comedy. Hopelessly in love with the charming female sociopath he's helping stand up.

"Let's not forget Blake Hewitt, whose father is Christopher Hewitt, a member of Interpol. His mother is Dr. Lauren Hewitt, a well-known archeologist. Spent most of his life trying to find out who was really responsible for his father's apparent demise. Loves mystery stories and is a top-notch computer hacker. I must confess that your little programs are masterpieces."

"How did you...?" Blake said.

"Ah, let's not forget Bo Sawchuk. Full name is Francis Boris Sawchuk, but he hates being called 'Francis' or 'Boris.' Parents are of Ukrainian origin. Used to be a member of a street gang. Attends Sussex Academy in order to avoid reform school. Works at his parents' fish store. To coin a phrase, a 'street rat.'"

Bo balled his fists at his sides. He gritted his teeth. If he could see whoever was talking, he would teach him a lesson for calling him a street rat!

The voice continued. "Of course, last but definitely not least, Shirley Holmes, great-grandniece of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes! Father is Robert Holmes, a British diplomat stationed at the British Embassy here in Redington. Mother is Dr. Joanna Holmes, a virologist thought to have died in Rwanda. You spent some of your young life looking for her, I believe, my dear Holmes. Grandmother is Peggy Holmes, affectionately called 'Gran.' Rather active for a woman her age. As for Holmes herself, she likes to carry on her famous ancestor's legacy. Fortunately, she doesn't have a drug habit like her great-granduncle." The voice laughed.

Shirley continued to look around in the darkness. "I'm impressed. You've been doing your homework."

"Oh, I've been watching you all for some time," the voice said. "I have information on everyone in Redington, especially those who are close to you, Holmes. Some of it is rather...personal."

"Since you've proven that you know about us, would you like to extend the courtesy of knowing who you are?" Shirley asked coolly. After listening to the voice for a while, she picked out some sort of accent.

"Oh, I think I will, but not because of your request, my dear Holmes," the voice said with a chuckle. "It is because I feel it is time for you to meet me."

A spotlight was turned on suddenly and shone downward about two meters away from Shirley and the others, revealing two piles of crates. The crates started moving away from each other. When they were done, Shirley saw a man dressed entirely in black sitting in a large metal chair. He had most of his face covered with a kerchief and wore a wide-brimmed hat over his head. A cape was draped over him. Gloves covered his hands. A pair of red lens goggles covered his eyes. Next to him stood a thin man dressed in a blue uniform. His head was covered by a blue hood with an eyeslit. Shirley saw a gun in the man's hand.

"Allow me to introduce myself." The voice came from the man in black. "Watashi wa...Mr. E desu."

END OF PART SEVEN