Chapter 3



"Caitlyn, that's your name, right?"

"Yeah," Caitlyn answered the young Hispanic agent.

Danny smiled at her. "What can you tell me about Renee and Gabriel Bowman?"

"They're in love. Have been since I met them."

"And how did you meet them?"

"Our nieces are in the same class at school."

Danny nodded. She was holding eye contact with him. He didn't think she was making up anything she told him. Or maybe she was just a good liar. He mentally shook his head. No, he didn't think she was lying. "How are their financial affairs?"

"Good. Really good. Gabe brings in a lot of money with his business, and Renee does pretty good with the newspaper as well as her other writing on the side. And they know how to save. They don't just go and spend it as soon as they make it."

"They're not having any problems?"

"Not unless they can hide it really well. And I would be able to tell from Renee. She doesn't hide things very well. She tries, but she can't."

"And you haven't noticed either of them acting differently?"

"No."

"Can you think of anyone who might've wanted to take Meghan?"

Caitlyn shook her head. "No one that I can think of."

Danny's phone rang before he could ask anymore questions. He glanced at the caller ID then stood. "I'll be right back," he told her as he answered it. He walked over by the door and said, "Hello, Elena. I'm glad you called back. Can I talk to Maggie? Yes, I'm on a case." He glanced back over at Caitlyn while he waited for his sister to get her daughter on the phone. She looked disappointed. He shook his head. It was probably just his imagination. He turned his attention back to the phone when he heard his niece's voice. A few minutes later he returned to the living room. "Just wanted to see how my niece was doing. Called earlier and no one was home."

Caitlyn smiled at him. "She's doing good?"

"Yeah." He handed her a card. "If you think of anything, give me a call."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help more. I really hope you find her."

"So do I."

*******

Meghan hugged her knees to her chest. She had already tried pounding on the door, but no one answered. The door was locked; she was trapped. She whimpered with fear. She was alone in the dark and knew no one was near.

Suddenly, a shaft of light appeared. The man who had grabbed her placed a plate and glass on the floor in front of her. Ignoring it, she jumped to her feet and rushed for the opening. The man pushed her back and chuckled when she gasped in pain from the fall.

"Thought you could get away, huh? Don't count on it."

Meghan looked at him with large fear-filled eyes. Once he closed the door, her chin began to tremble as the tear cascaded down her cheeks. She ignored the food and began to rock back and forth. "Uncle Gabiel," she whimpered. "Please help me."

*******

"Amie, don't climb up there," Renee warned her daughter.

The infant turned from the stairs and grinned. She made her way across the room on her hands and knees. When she reached the bookshelf on the other side, she pulled herself up and ran a small finger along the line of books. Renee had to chuckle. Her daughter seemed to be taking after her already.

Gabriel walked into the room and glanced at his daughter with a smile. She grinned at him. "Dadee!" She cried as she dropped back to her knees.

He lifted her from the floor. "My joy and my love," he said, looking from his daughter to his wife.

Renee knew he was thinking about Meghan. It had been twenty-four hours since she was first missing. "They will find her," she tried to assure him.

He nodded slowly; a sad look in his eyes. "I hope you're right." Handing Amie to her, he said, "I'm going to get the mail."

*******

"How can it be no one saw this guy?"

"It can't, Martin. Someone saw what happened. We just have to find them," Jack told the rookie.

They sat on the bench in front of the school and watched. There had to be some clue here. They were just using the wrong methods to find it. After sitting there for fifteen minutes, Jack jumped to his feet and quickly strode across the street. Martin just stared after him for a moment then hurried to catch up to his boss.

The older man stopped across the street at bus stop sign. A young man, most likely no more than twenty-two, turned to warily look at him. Jack showed him his badge. "Can I ask you some questions?"

The man was still on his guard, but he relaxed slightly. "Sure."

"Have you seen this girl?" He asked after showing him a picture of Meghan.

"Uh, I think so." He closed his eyes, trying to remember. "Yeah, some guy picked her up yesterday. Was strange."

"Why do you say that?"

"Usually an older man, a younger one, probably my age, or a woman picks her up."

"How do you know this?" Martin asked, eyeing him suspiciously

"I catch this bus the same place at the same time everyday. I notice things."

"Who picked her up yesterday?" Jack asked, giving Martin a 'let me ask the questions' look.

"Some other guy. Not either of the two who usually do."

"What did he look like?"

"Not too tall. Neat blond hair. Walked with a slight limp. Tried to hide it. Expensive clothes. Girl didn't seem afraid of him."

"Do you think she knew him?"

The man shook his head. "She always runs and hugs the others that pick her up. She didn't this time. She did go to the car with him though."

"Can you describe the car?"

"It was black. Looked expensive. Think it was a Jaguar."

"Did you catch a license plate?"

"No. I'm sorry."

"Thanks for your help."

"Think we've got a lead?" Martin asked on the way back to the car.

"Maybe. It's a start at least. Let's head back and see if the other three had any luck."

*******

"Gabe, what's wrong?" Renee asked, noticing how pale her husband's face had grown as he read the mail.

"Damn him," he whispered.

Renee took the paper out of his quivering hands, then let it drop. She couldn't believe what she had read.



Mr. Bowman,



Your niece is fine...for now. She will not be harmed as long as you do as I say. I want 1,000,000 transferred into account number 34411272. Do this by tomorrow morning at five o'clock, and your niece will be returned to you.



Wouldn't you like to know who?



P.S. I know the FBI are investigating. They won't find me. Nobody will. If I even think they're getting close, however, I will kill her. Call off the dogs.



"Oh no. Gabe." She couldn't say anymore. She started over to him, but he pulled away. "Gabe, please."

"I need to call Sara."

She let him go, feeling helpless to comfort him. Five minutes later he hung up the phone. "She said she had to contact the Missing Persons department. She'll be coming over with them."

"Gabe, they're going to find her."

"How can you be sure?"

"Come here," she said, holding her arms out to him. I can't, she thought as she wrapped her arms around him.

When Sara arrived sometime later, Gabriel pulled out of Renee's arms. The team of FBI agents followed the Homicide detective into the house. Danny saw the paper on the floor and bent to look at it. He grabbed the letter and quickly scanned it. "Oh, great. We're dogs now," he said, sarcasm hiding in his voice.

"What does he want?" Jack asked.

"One million dollars transferred to his account by five tomorrow morning."

"What's the account number?"

"34411272."

"Okay, we have a couple possible leads on this guy. Sam, you and Martin go check on the vehicle. Vivian, we'll go check the bank. Danny you stay here with them."

Sara was sitting on the couch, trying to console her friends. She glanced up as four of the agents left. "Can I see the ransom note?"

Danny nodded and handed it to her. As soon as her hand touched the paper, she was attacked by flashes of images. A large house. A number, 110. Cries coming from the house. A sense of fear.

She shook herself out of the vision and started for the door. "Where are you going?" Danny called after her. She didn't stop to answer him. He turned to Seth who had just come down the stairs.

"Where'd she go?"

"Who knows. Does she usually space out and leave like that?"

Seth just shrugged. He'd promised not to tell her secret. He kept his promises. They turned when they heard Renee raise her voice. "Gabriel, where are you going?"

He mumbled a reply but was already on his way out the door. Danny saw the extreme worry etched on Renee's face and took off after Gabriel. The younger man was turning around a corner when the agent saw him. He skipped the steps, landing on the sidewalk with his knees bent. He sprinted toward Gabriel and caught up to him in a few seconds.

Danny grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face him. Gabriel started to swing his other arm around to hit Danny, but the agent grabbed that one as well. "Your family does not need you getting yourself killed now."

"I have to find my niece."

"Leave that to us."

"You're not doing a good job of it here," he retorted.

"We will find her. We're very close."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Making sure you don't do what you just tried to. Now, get back to your wife and daughter. That's where you need to be right now."

Gabriel hung his head and followed the agent back to the house. When they returned, Renee ran over to her husband. "Where did you think you were going?"

He looked at the floor and mumbled something in reply. "Gabe, look at me."

His eyes moved up to meet hers. "I'm sorry, Renee. I acted before I thought. Like I always do. I'm sorry."

"Come here," she said. He did, and she wrapped her arms around him. Danny turned around to give them at least a semblance of privacy. Renee brushed Gabriel's hair out of his face then ran her finger across his cheek. "Everything will be fine. I promise you that." She knew she couldn't promise him that, but she also knew she had to be strong for him.

"No. He's going to kill her. They're going to get her killed. I should just pay the ransom."

No," Renee said forcefully. "Do you really think it matters to him. As soon as you pay, he won't need Meghan anymore and will kill her. They'll find her. She's going to come back to us."

Danny had to smile at her insistence. At least she was there for the young man. Even if her strength was just an act, he had her to lean on. It was more than some women in the same position would offer. His mind drifted back to Caitlyn. She seemed like the strong type. Not the type to be weighed down by anything that came her way, but the type that would push on no matter what happened. His mind was still musing over this when he heard a engine being shut off in front of the house.

He opened the door to see Sara walking up to the house with Meghan on her shoulders. When they reached the front door, she lowered the little girl to the floor. Once she was on her feet again, Meghan ran over to Gabriel and Renee. "Mommy, Daddy!"

Gabriel lifted her in his arms and held her close to him. "Don't worry, sweetie. You're safe now."