The Douglas Farm
After Oliver managed to clear the house, he was finally able to lie down and concentrate on his thoughts, but he didn't stay that way for long. The silence and loneliness began to get to him again. He started to worry that the kidnappers had called earlier and he didn't hear the phone ring. Soon, he got up and began to pace around like a caged tiger, wondering when the phone installers would arrive.
About an hour later, to Oliver's immense relief, the men finally arrived and installed the phone. In a matter of minutes, the phone was installed and the phone installers left Oliver alone to his silence. He took his seat at the table and anxiously stared and the phone.
Before, Oliver had assumed that having the phone right in the kitchen would ease his tension, but to his chagrin it only increased it tenfold. He began to drum his fingers nervously on the table, wondering why it was taking so long for the kidnappers to call.
Ten minutes passed by, then twenty, and by forty minutes, Oliver couldn't take it anymore. He jumped up from his seat and ran over to the phone.
"Ring! For the love of God, ring," Oliver exclaimed at the phone. He knew his was being ridiculous for yelling at the phone, but at that moment he didn't care. All he cared about was that one call that he was waiting for.
Finally, after a few more minutes of phone reprimanding, it finally rang. Oliver anxiously picked it up from the first ring was through and yelled, "Hello," into the receiver.
"Oliver Vendell Douglas," a sinister voice asked, mocking his wife's thick accent.
"Yes," Oliver replied, already feeling the anger rise within him.
"Now you listen, and you listen good. I'm assuming you already know we have your darling wife, but if you ever want to see her alive again, you will do exactly as we say! You got that," the voice demanded to know.
"I understand," Oliver said in a tight voice. His hatred and contempt for these men was overwhelming, but he knew he had to control himself if he ever wanted to get Lisa back.
"Good! Now listen closely. There are bushes on the right side of Drucker's Store. Leave one hundred thousand dollars cash in a paper bag after closing hours. You have until midnight tomorrow or you'll never see you precious wife again….well, not alive at least!" The voice cackled evilly and hung up.
Oliver stood staring at the earpiece in his hand for a second in shock. He saw his knuckles turn white as he squeezed the earpiece with all his might as the anger rose within him.
"Mr. Douglas, what's the matter," he heard a voice from behind his ask. He turned around to find Eb home from his errand and carrying an armful of groceries, a look of concern written all over his face.
Oliver loosened his grip on the phone and slammed it down on the hook so hard he nearly broke it off. He then began to storm out of the kitchen and into the living room. Eb put the groceries down on the kitchen table and followed him.
"Come on, Eb," Oliver said as he put on his hat and coat.
"Where are we going," Eb asked confused.
"Into Pixely," Oliver replied. "We got a few errands to run."