Chapter
3
Luke ran back to the truck with Lucky. He new he had to get him somewhere safe
before he started looking for Laura. He quickly drove back to Maria's house.
He threw the door open and ran inside. Maria looked up startled.
"Luke, how come you're back so soon?" she asked. She saw the worried
look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"It's Laura..." Luke said sinking down into a chair.
Maria stood up and ran to him. "Is she ill? Did her headache get
worse?"
"No, they... they took her," Luke said. He was no longer upset, he
was angry now.
"Who did?"
"It's a long story. I have to find her. Can you watch Lucky for me?"
he asked sitting Lucky on the floor.
"Of course, but..." She never got to continue, because Luke was out
the door.
Luke drove back to the ranch hoping to find a clue to where they had taken her.
He walked slowly through the silent house. The phone rang and he jumped at the suddeness of the noise.
He picked it up. "Hello?"
"Mr Spencer?" said an unknown voice.
"Yes. This is Luke Spencer. Who is this?"
"Mr Spencer, we have your wife."
"Let her go! What do you want? We haven't done anything to you."
"To us? No you haven't done anything to us, but
you have done something to our employer."
"Your employer? Who is your employer?" asked
Luke afraid he already knew the answer.
"Does the name Frank Smith sound familiar?"
"Yes, I know him," Luke said.
"I thought that you would know the name," the man said.
"What do you want?"
"We want you Mr Spencer. If you want your wife
to live, you will come to the Stoneybrook Ranch at midnight. Come alone. If you do as we ask,
your wife will go free. If not, then this pretty little lady will die."
"If you hurt her I'll..."
"Mr Spencer, whether or not she is hurt is up to
you. We just left you a little piece of her hair when we took her, but if you
try to be a hero tonight we will be sending you a much more vital body part
next time. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand. Wait! How do I know that she's still alive?" Luke
asked.
"Hold on," said the man.
"Luke?" said Laura's voice.
"Are you ok? Have they hurt you?"
"No, I'm all right," she said.
"That's enough," said the man's voice. "Remember, be here at midnight Spencer or else."
Before Luke could respond, the man hung up. Luke sat down in the nearest chair
and did something he rarely did. He cried.
